This Garlic Butter Baked Salmon is tender, flaky, and brushed with a drool-worthy garlic butter sauce! Baked on a sheet pan with your favorite veggies, it’s quick, easy, and perfect for busy weeknights.

For more delicious salmon options, try my wonderful salmon en papillote recipe or this easy baked sockeye salmon. These dishes are just as easy and packed with flavor, making them great additions to your dinner rotation.

 

Whipping up an easy salmon recipe for dinner doesn’t get any better or simpler than this garlic butter baked salmon. It’s the best way to enjoy fresh salmon, requiring just a few ingredients and minimal prep time. We’re talking tender salmon filets slathered in a mouth-watering garlic butter sauce! Every bite is a delicious affair, you’ll see.

And don’t forget the veggies! These air fryer roasted broccoli, my easy roasted green beans, and this recipe for roasted asparagus are great companions and can also be cooked to perfection right alongside the fish. Plus, the salmon stays juicy and tasty enough for the next day, making it perfect to add to my chopped salmon salad to take to work!

Why I Love This Garlic Butter Salmon Recipe

• Easy sheet pan dinner. Everything, from the fish to the veggies, is cooked right on one baking sheet, which means less mess and clean-up for me!
• Tender, flaky salmon every time. If you’ve ever wondered how to cook salmon in the oven, this garlic butter salmon is the answer. You’ll have perfectly flaky salmon each time.
• Ready in 30 minutes. From start to finish, this recipe takes just 30 minutes. Easy enough for a busy weeknight but just as elegant for a special occasion!

What You’ll Need

This easy salmon recipe is the secret to a quick, nutritious, and universally loved meal that can be prepared in about 30 minutes. Here’s a closer look at the simple ingredients for this delicious and healthy dinner, but for the full ingredient amounts and directions, please refer to the recipe card further down the page.

• Salmon Fillets: Ideal size is about 5 to 6 ounces each. Ensure they are roughly the same size and weight for even cooking.
• Broccoli: Fresh broccoli is preferred, but feel free to substitute with your favorite green veggies.
• Garlic: Use fresh minced garlic. Garlic powder could be used in a pinch, using 1/8 teaspoon for every clove.
• Butter: Unsalted butter is used to control the saltiness of the dish. Substitute with olive oil if butter is unavailable.
• Brown Sugar: A spoonful adds warmth and sweetness. Honey can be used as a substitute.
• Dried Herbs: Oregano, thyme, and rosemary are used for flavor. Feel free to use any dried herbs you have available.
• Salt and Black Pepper: To taste.
• Lemon: Fresh lemon juice to brighten the dish. If not available, a dash of vinegar might work as a substitute for acidity, though the flavor profile will change.
• Chopped Fresh Parsley: For garnish. If not available, other fresh herbs like dill or chives could also complement the salmon well.

How to Bake Salmon

There are two steps to making this recipe, but both of them are super easy! First, you will make the garlic butter sauce, then you’ll add it to the salmon and bake everything together. Cooking salmon this way ensures a juicy and flavorful dinner that’s sure to be a hit with the entire family.

1. Make the Garlic Butter. Place the butter in a small bowl, melt it in the microwave or on the stove in a small saucepan, and then whisk in the brown sugar, oregano, thyme, and rosemary.
2. Prep. Next, preheat the oven to 400°F, and while it heats, get out a big sheet pan. Lightly grease the pan, arrange the vegetables and salmon fillets skin side down. Rub minced garlic over the fish, and pour the butter mixture over everything. Squeeze lemon juice over as well, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
3. Bake! Slide that sheet pan into the oven, and let it roast for about 15 minutes, or until the fillets flake easily with a fork.

How Long Do You Bake Salmon?

Salmon is usually done baking in about 15 to 18 minutes, depending on the oven’s temperature. You can tell if it is cooked through when it flakes easily with a fork. But the most reliable and easy way to tell when meat, fish, or poultry is done is just to use a meat thermometer! The safe internal temperature for salmon is 145°F.

Serving Suggestions

This is probably the best salmon recipe, and the one thing I really love about it is that everything, including the veggies, is cooked in the same pan. That means one less side dish to prepare! But you can also serve this meal with a side of quinoa stuffed tomatoes, Mediterranean rice, or a simple salad, like Jennifer Aniston’s bulgur salad. I am partial to smashed potatoes myself, but this mashed cauliflower would also pair well.

Proper Storage

Place completely cooled leftover salmon in an airtight container; close and store in the fridge for 3 to 4 days, or freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. You can gently reheat the salmon in the oven or in the microwave, and even reuse it to make my favorite salmon patties!

Flavorful Salmon Recipes

• Salmon Tacos with Mango Avocado Salsa
• Creamy Pan Seared Salmon Recipe
• Smoked Salmon Dip
• Maple Teriyaki Salmon with Veggies
• Air Fryer Salmon