Description

This Garlic Butter Baked Salmon combines rich garlic butter with tender salmon, resulting in a perfectly balanced dish that’s quick, healthy, and packed with flavor. It’s the ideal choice for a nutritious, mouthwatering meal.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Salmon:

4 salmon fillets (about 6 oz each)
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon olive oil (for greasing the pan)

For the Garlic Butter Sauce:

¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
1 teaspoon dried parsley or 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon dried thyme (optional)
A pinch of red pepper flakes (optional for heat)
Zest from 1 lemon (optional for extra citrus flavor)

Instructions

Preheat oven: Set oven to 400°F (200°C). Prepare a baking dish or sheet pan.
Prepare the salmon: Pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper on both sides.
Make the garlic butter sauce: In a small saucepan, melt butter. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1–2 minutes until fragrant. Stir in lemon juice, parsley, and thyme, then remove from heat.
Brush the salmon: Brush the garlic butter sauce generously over the salmon fillets.
Bake the salmon: Place salmon in the preheated oven and bake for 12–15 minutes, or until salmon flakes easily with a fork and reaches an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C).
Serve: Drizzle remaining garlic butter over salmon and garnish with parsley or lemon slices. Serve immediately.

Notes

Do not overcook: Salmon cooks quickly, so check for doneness at 12 minutes to avoid dry fish. It’s ready when it flakes easily with a fork.
For crispy skin: If you prefer crispy skin, sear the salmon skin-side down in a hot skillet for 1-2 minutes before baking.
Use fresh garlic: Fresh garlic will give your garlic butter sauce the best flavor. Avoid using garlic powder for a richer taste.
Customize your glaze: Add a teaspoon of honey or more red pepper flakes for extra flavor variations.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: Baked
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 fillet
Calories: 400
Sugar: 2g
Sodium: 360mg
Fat: 25g
Saturated Fat: 10g
Unsaturated Fat: 12g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 4g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 34g
Cholesterol: 70mg

Keywords: Garlic Butter Baked Salmon, Healthy Salmon, Easy Salmon Recipe, Garlic Salmon, Baked Salmon Recipe, Omega-3 Salmon, Healthy Fish Dinner, Simple Salmon Recipe