Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon (Print Version)
Salmon fillets baked with lemon, garlic, and butter for a vibrant, tender main course.
# Recipe Ingredients:
→ Fish
01 - 4 (6 oz) salmon fillets, skin-on or skinless
02 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce
03 - 4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
06 - 1 tsp lemon zest
07 - 1 tbsp olive oil
08 - 1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
→ Garnish
09 - Lemon slices, for garnish
10 - Extra fresh parsley, for serving
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease a baking dish.
02 - Pat salmon fillets dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
03 - Arrange salmon fillets, skin-side down, on the prepared baking sheet.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together melted butter, garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, olive oil, and chopped parsley.
05 - Drizzle the lemon garlic butter sauce evenly over the salmon fillets.
06 - Top each fillet with a lemon slice, if desired.
07 - Bake for 12–15 minutes, or until salmon flakes easily with a fork and is just cooked through.
08 - Remove from oven, garnish with additional parsley, and serve immediately.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Buttery, zesty sauce that keeps the salmon incredibly moist
- Ready in under 30 minutes with almost zero cleanup
- Impresses dinner guests but simple enough for weeknights
02 -
- Salmon keeps cooking after it leaves the oven, so pull it when there's still a tiny bit of translucency in the center
- Patting the fish completely dry before seasoning is the secret to getting a better texture and no soggy spots
03 -
- Room temperature salmon cooks more evenly, so let it sit out for 15 minutes before baking
- The lemon zest is where most of the flavor lives, so don't skip this step