Easy Baked Salmon

Bake a delicious and healthy pan of salmon for the whole family! Flavored with lemon, garlic, and parsley for a tasty dinner everyone will enjoy.

There are some main dishes that appear way fancier than they actually are, and this baked salmon is one of those! It’s nearly effortless to make. Similar to our Baked BBQ Chicken, you just marinate and bake!

Easy, Healthy + Delicious

If you’re looking for a lighter and healthier dinner idea, this baked salmon recipe is for you!

Salmon has so many beneficial nutrients in it. It’s very high in protein, Omega-3 fatty acids (which help to lower blood pressure), and it may help reduce the risk of heart disease (all great things and more!)

This salmon is also baked in the oven, which makes it a cinch to whip up for dinner. You can have this salmon prepped, baked, and ready to eat in under 40 minutes.

How simple is that!?

My family loves this dish—even my pickiest eaters. The lemon and garlic make it SO YUMMY!

Baked Salmon Seasonings + Variations

The marinade for this salmon is super simple. The ingredients are as follows:

• minced garlic
• olive oil
• dried basil
• garlic salt
• pepper
• lemon juice
• fresh parsley

Feel free to switch up different ingredients for a different taste or flavor. You could add a little rosemary, or a sprinkle of paprika for some spice! If you want to be a little indulgent add a couple of slices of butter to the top of each filet.

How to Bake Salmon

Prep. Before you start prepping your salmon, preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Prepare the marinade by mixing the garlic, olive oil, basil, garlic salt, pepper, lemon juice and parsley in a medium bowl. Mix it together.

Marinate. Grease your baking dish and place the salmon fillets in it. Pour the marinade over the salmon and make sure the salmon gets coated on all sides with the marinade.

Bake. Bake the salmon in the oven uncovered for 35 minutes. The salmon should reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees when it is done cooking.

TIP: I do want to note that, unless you are poaching the salmon, you should leave the skin on. It will protect the bottom of the salmon from overcooking. The skin will slide right off of a cooked filet.

Useful info + salmon tips

You can cook salmon at different temperatures. Just be sure to adjust the cooking time.

• 450 degrees – 10-12 minutes
• 425 degrees – 12-14 minutes
• 400 degrees – 18-20 minutes
• 375 degrees – 20-25 minutes
• 350 degrees – 30-35 minutes

If you do not have a meat thermometer you can check for doneness by inserting a fork or knife in the center of the filet.

• Perfect cook: The outside is opaque. In center meat should easily separate and look translucent pink.
• Under cooked: The meat doesn’t separate well and looks completely translucent.
• Overcooked: It flakes and looks opaque. Also, the longer the fish cooks it will begin to develop a white film on top. Overcooked salmon will have a lot of it.

To store any leftover baked salmon, wrap it in foil or plastic wrap and keep in an airtight container in the fridge. It should last 3 to 4 days. Wrap it and store it the same way in the freezer and it will last 4 to 6 months.

For more baked dishes, try:

• Baked Chicken Parmesan
• Baked BBQ Chicken
• Oven Baked Drumsticks
• Baked BBQ Chicken
• Baked Pesto Chicken