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Home » Recipes » Seafood Recipes

Baked Garlic Butter Salmon

Published: Jan 24, 2023 by Chef Dennis Littley

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My Baked Garlic Butter Salmon is the perfect dinner for busy weeknights. Savory garlic butter seeps into the salmon fillet, creating perfectly cooked, moist, flavorful salmon. And the aromatics of the rich garlic butter make this simple dish a culinary event.

garlic butter salmon with broccoli and potatoes on a white plate


 

This tender, flaky salmon takes very little prep and can be on your dinner table in less than 30 minutes. After one bite, I know you’ll agree that this is the best baked salmon recipe you’ve ever had.

garlic butter salmon with potatoes and broccoli on a white plate

Serve this easy salmon recipe bake in a delicious garlic butter sauce with your favorite veggies and my smashed potatoes. I promise this simple recipe will be a crowd-pleaser at your house.

Table of Contents:
  • Ingredients to make Garlic Butter Salmon
  • How to make Garlic Butter Salmon
  • Recipe FAQ’s
  • More Salmon Recipes You’ll Love!
  • Recipe: Baked Garlic Butter Salmon

Ingredients to make Garlic Butter Salmon

ingredients to make recipe

Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make Garlic Butter Salmon. In Chef Speak, this is called the “Mise en Place,” which translates to “Everything in its Place.”

Not only does setting up your ingredients ahead of time speed up the cooking process, it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.

Simple Ingredients

  • Salmon fillets. Leftovers can be used up in my tasty pistachio crusted salmon recipe.
  • Sea salt
  • Black pepper
  • Garlic
  • Red pepper flakes
  • Parsley
  • Lemon juice
  • Unsalted butter
  • White wine – optional
  • Lemon slices

What type of salmon is best?

Any type of salmon available in your markets can be used for this recipe. My favorite salmon is salmon from the Pacific Northwest, including Sockeye Salmon, Coho Salmon, and King Salmon.

Atlantic Salmon is more plentiful and usually less expensive and can also be used for this recipe. I prefer wild-caught fish to farmed seafood.

How to make Garlic Butter Salmon

collage showing how to make garlic herb butter
  • Melt the butter in a saute pan.
  • Add the garlic to the melted butter.
  • Let the mixture cook for 30 seconds, then remove the pan from the heat.
  • Add the parsley, black pepper, salt, and red pepper flakes to the butter mixture.
  • Return the pan to the burner and let it cook for 30 – 60 seconds.
  • Add the white wine and lemon juice to the pan and continue to cook for 30 seconds to let the alcohol burn off. Then remove the pan from the heat.
collage of preparing recipe
  • Place the four skinless salmon fillets in a casserole or baking dish.
  • Pour the seasoned butter over the salmon filets. Make sure to get the seasoning on top of the salmon.
garlic butter salmon in a baking dish

Place the baking dish on the center rack of the preheated 375-degree oven and bake for 12-14 minutes.

garlic butter salmon with potatoes and broccoli on a white plate

I love adding something green to the plate; broccoli, green beans, or asparagus are my great choices. Add crispy roast potatoes, rice, or your favorite grain, and you’ve got an easy-to-prepare restaurant-quality dinner in less time than picking up take-out.

Garnish the plate with lemon circles or add a little grated lemon zest with fresh chopped parsley for the finishing touch.

Recipe FAQ’s

Should I season the salmon before cooking?

Absolutely! Salmon and other fish should always be seasoned with salt and pepper before cooking. Seasoning will enhance the flavor of the fish and help the flesh stay firm and moist.

How do I know when the salmon is done?

Gently press down on the salmon with a fork or your finger. The salmon will flake when it’s fully cooked. I like to undercook the salmon just a little bit so it remains moist and tender. The internal temperature should be at least 145 degrees f before serving.
Using a meat thermometer is a good way to make sure you don’t over cook the salmon.

More Salmon Recipes You’ll Love!

  • overhead view of marinated grilled salmon with lime slices on top sitting on a bed of wilted spinach on a white platter
    Easy Marinated Grilled Salmon
  • overhead view of honey mustard salmon
    Grilled Dry Rub Honey Mustard Salmon
  • overhead view of pan seared seasoned salmon with mango salsa on a bed of rice on a white plate
    Pan-Seared Seasoned Salmon with Mango Salsa
  • roasted salmon fillet topped with feta olive tapenade on a white plate
    Mediterranean Style Salmon Recipe – Chef Dennis

garlic butter salmon with broccoli and potatoes on a white plate

Baked Garlic Butter Salmon

Chef Dennis Littley
Perfect dinner for busy weeknights, my Baked Garlic Butter Salmon in savory garlic butter creates perfectly cooked, moist, and flavorful salmon. And the aromatics of the rich garlic butter make this simple dish a culinary event.
5 from 38 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 18 minutes mins
Total Time 28 minutes mins
Course Entree
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 306 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 4 6 oz salmon fillets skinless
  • 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt or ½ teaspoon fine grain salt
  • ½ teaspoon cracked black pepper or ¼ teaspoon of regular black pepper
  • 2 tablespoon garlic finely minced
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes – optional
  • 1 tablespoon Italian parsley finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice fresh juice
  • 2 tablespoon unsalted butter melted
  • 2 tablespoon white wine dry is preferable
  • 1 lemon slices garnish

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F
  • Melt the butter in a saute pan, then add the garlic. Allow to cook for 30 seconds and remove from heat.
  • Add the parsley, black pepper, salt, and red pepper flakes to the butter and place back on the burner and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
  • Add the white wine and lemon juice. Allow the wine to reduce by half then remove it from the heat.
  • Place the four skinless salmon filets in a casserole or baking dish. Pour the seasoned butter over the salmon filets. Make sure to get the seasoning on top of the salmon.
  • Place the baking dish on the center rack of the preheated oven and bake for 12-14 minutes.
  • Serve with smashed potatoes and your favorite green vegetable.

Nutrition

Calories: 306kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 34gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 109mgSodium: 661mgPotassium: 873mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 0.2gVitamin A: 368IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 35mgIron: 2mg
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5 from 38 votes (38 ratings without comment)

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My name is Chef Dennis Littley, creator and owner of Ask Chef Dennis Productions. As a classically trained chef with 40+ years of experience in the kitchen, I share my time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen.

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