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.
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.
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.
Ingredients to make Garlic Butter Salmon
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
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
Place the baking dish on the center rack of the preheated 375-degree oven and bake for 12-14 minutes.
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
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.
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!
Baked Garlic Butter Salmon
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.
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