This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.
In 20 minutes and with minimal work, you can bake a delicious salmon that everyone at home will rave about.
Baked Garlic Butter Salmon
Flaky salmon infused with garlic, lemon, and butter is a tasty 20-minute dinner you can cook effortlessly and pair with your favorite sides. Yep, this Garlic Butter Salmon will disappear from the table as fast as you cook it!
For this recipe, I’m baking salmon in foil to keep it from drying out while making cleanup a breeze. Baked salmon is delicious AND protein-rich seafood packed with vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats. Serve it with veggies, and you have a terrific dinner that couldn’t be any healthier. Or tastier. Or easier!
When I’m going through busy days and need to spend the least possible time in the kitchen, I can always rely on salmon recipes like this one to take real food to the table in a snap. My Baked Cajun Salmon and this Quick Salmon Pesto Pasta always hit the spot too!
What is the Tastiest Way to Cook Salmon
While there are many delicious ways to cook salmon, nothing beats baked! The oven brings all the flavor to life while yielding a juicy, tender-flaky texture that melts in your mouth. Yummy!
Ingredients
Making the most tender and delicious garlic butter salmon doesn’t require more than everyday staples to add tons of flavor:
- Salmon fillets: they can be fresh or frozen. If using frozen, thaw before cooking.
- Butter: melted and mixed with garlic makes a delicious sauce.
- Lemon: we’ll use both the zest and the juice.
- Garlic cloves: add the most delicious taste and aroma.
- Salt and pepper: for seasoning.
- Fresh parsley: you can swap it for dried parsley or Italian seasoning.
You’ll find the measurements for this recipe in the printable card below.
Making the Garlic Butter
The garlic butter sauce adds tons of incredible flavors to the salmon, and it’s super easy to make! First, you melt the butter in a bowl. Then you add lemon zest and juice, minced garlic, salt, pepper, and chopped parsley.
Mix all the ingredients to combine and your garlic butter is ready to spread over the salmon fillets!
How to Make Garlic Butter Salmon
I use foil for baking salmon in the oven, so it traps the steam and it turns out perfectly cooked. Plus, less cleanup! Check out how easily you can prepare this delicious Garlic Butter Salmon recipe:
- Prep
Preheat the oven to 400F (200C). Place a sheet of aluminum foil on the baking sheet. Place the salmon fillets in the middle of the baking sheet. - Make the garlic butter
In a medium bowl, combine the melted butter, lemon zest and juice, garlic cloves, salt, pepper, and parsley. - Bake
Spread the mixture over the tops of the salmon. Close the foil into itself to create a packet and bake, in the preheated oven, for 12-15 minutes (time will vary based on the thickness of your salmon). - Check for doneness
Remove from the oven, and poke with a fork to check for soft, flaky, salmon. - Serve
Serve with lemon wedges and your favorite side dish.
How Long to Bake Salmon
At 400F oven temperature, salmon fillet pieces take 12 to 15 minutes to be cooked. If you’re baking an entire salmon fillet, bake it at 375F for 15 to 20 minutes.
Salmon cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of your salmon. You’ll know salmon is ready once it is flaky and soft when poking with a fork. More on the best temperature and time to cook salmon here.
How to Know When Garlic Salmon is Done
Garlic Butter Salmon is done when you press the thickest part of the fillet with a fork and the meat separates easily into flaky pieces and doesn’t look raw in the middle.
You can also check doneness with a meat thermometer. When internal temperature reaches about 130F, the salmon is cooked, and you can remove it from the oven.
What to Serve with Garlic Butter Salmon
Salmon pairs great with simple, light side dishes. Roasted veggies go amazingly well, like these Roasted Broccolini or this Lemon Asparagus.
Salads are also a perfect choice! My favorites? This Corn and Tomato Salad, Bruschetta Salad, and Cranberry Quinoa Salad.
Want to indulge yourself a little with a warm, cozy side? Serve salmon with Parmesan Polenta, rice, or cauliflower rice. EPIC!
How to Store Leftover Salmon
Once garlic butter salmon has cooled down, store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. You can use the microwave or oven to reheat leftovers without drying them out.
If using the microwave method, place the salmon in a microwave-safe dish and add water to cover the dish’s surface. Cover with plastic wrap or a damp paper towel and microwave for 1-2 minutes until salmon is warmed through.
To reheat salmon in the oven, preheat it to 275F. Wrap the fillets with foil, place them on a baking sheet, and bake for 12-15 minutes or until heated through.
Garlic Butter Salmon
Ingredients
- 4 salmon fillets, – about 4 ounces each
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 lemon, zested & juiced (more for garnish)
- 4-5 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley*, chopped
Instructions
Prep:
- Preheat the oven to 400F (200C). Place a sheet of aluminum foil on the baking sheet. Place the salmon fillets in the middle of the baking sheet.
- In a medium bowl, combine the melted butter, lemon zest and juice, garlic cloves, salt, pepper, and parsley.
Bake:
- Spread mixture over the tops of the salmon. Close foil into itself to create a packet and bake, in the preheated oven, for 12-15 minutes (time will vary based on the thickness of your salmon).
- Remove from the oven, and poke with a fork to check for soft, flaky, salmon.
- Serve with lemon wedges.
TAYLER ROSS says
This is my new favorite salmon recipe! Easy to make and so full of flavor!
Justine says
This was DELICIOUS. Super easy to make and tastes amazing!
Heather says
A totally approachable Salmon recipe, so easy and so flavorful! We loved it, and I’ll be making it again soon, thank you!
Beth says
I really love the flavor of this garlic butter with the salmon. You just cannot beat fresh garlic for the best flavor.