How to Bake Salmon in the Oven

A salmon filet garnished with a lemon round is served on parchment paper over a silver platter

Tired of overcooked, dry salmon? Learn how to bake salmon perfectly in the oven with this tutorial. Makes 4 filets, though the recipe can be halved, doubled or tripled easily.

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 6

Total Time 11

Servings servings

Calories 502kcal

Ingredients

4 salmon filets
1 tablespoon unsalted butter melted
Salt and pepper
Fresh herbs for garnish
Lemon wedge for garnish

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Pat the salmon dry with a paper towel.
Brush the tops of the salmon with unsalted butter. Season with salt and pepper.
Add lemon rounds and fresh dill. Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, too.
Bake for 6-9 minutes, depending on thickness. (Keep an eye on it.)
Test the salmon’s doneness by gently sticking a knife into the thickest part of the fish. If it flakes—meaning it begins to separate along the white flesh lines on the filet—it’s done, and you should remove it from the heat.
Serve with an additional squeeze of lemon juice with your favorite side dish!

Notes

You can easily double or half this recipe, depending on how many people you need to feed. The cook time should not change.

Substitutions you can use in this recipe:

Use avocado oil or another high smoke point oil to brush onto the salmon if you don't eat dairy products.
If you're out of fresh dill, you can use the dried kind. Use a light hand when sprinkling it on, though, since dried herbs have a more intense flavor, and you don't want to overwhelm the fish.
If you don't have fresh dill, you could also use other fresh herbs like rosemary, sage, basil, oregano or even parsley. The flavor profile of the salmon will obviously change, but these herbs will add a nice pop of brightness to the final fish.
You can use this same cooking method with another type of fish. The cooking time might change, though, so keep an eye on it while it bakes.

Nutrition