Description
Garlic butter baked salmon delivers a restaurant-worthy dinner straight from your kitchen with minimal effort and maximum flavor. Tender fish emerges perfectly seasoned, bathed in rich, herby butter that makes weeknight meals feel special.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 4 (6 ounces) salmon fillets
Butter and Seasonings:
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 garlic cloves
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Finishing Touches:
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Fresh chopped parsley
- Lemon slices
Instructions
- Warm your oven to 400F and position a rack in the center. Cover a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
- Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a small bowl. Finely chop 4 garlic cloves and whisk them into the butter with 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, and optional ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes.
- Remove salmon fillets from packaging and gently pat each 6-ounce piece dry with paper towels. This helps create a beautiful golden surface when baking.
- Arrange salmon skin-side down on the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each fillet. Generously brush each piece with the seasoned garlic butter mixture, ensuring complete coverage.
- Slide the baking sheet into the preheated 400F oven. Bake for 12-15 minutes, checking that the salmon reaches an internal temperature of 145F and easily flakes with a fork.
- Pull the salmon from the oven and let it rest for 2-3 minutes. Sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley and add lemon slices alongside the fish for bright, zesty flavor.
Notes
- Let the salmon come to room temperature before baking to ensure even cooking and prevent dry edges.
- Pat salmon completely dry with paper towels to help create a beautiful golden-brown crust when baking.
- Check salmon at 10 minutes to prevent overcooking, as thinner fillets will cook faster than thicker pieces.
- For a gluten-free version, use certified gluten-free butter and double-check all seasoning ingredients.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 410 kcal
- Sugar: 0.3 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 29 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 0.2 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg