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A close-up of a glazed Baked Lemon Garlic Salmon fillet served over mashed potatoes with green beans.

Baked Lemon Garlic Salmon

This recipe for Baked Lemon Garlic Salmon is a simple yet elegant dish that is perfect for a weeknight dinner. It features flaky salmon fillets baked with a flavorful lemon garlic butter marinade, making it a healthy and gluten-free option.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Preheating Time 20 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 fillets
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Lemon Garlic Butter
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter melted
  • 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 tsp freshly minced garlic
  • 1 tsp honey
  • 1 tsp sweet paprika
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp sea salt flakes
  • 0.5 tsp freshly cracked black pepper plus extra to serve
  • 0.5 tsp chilli (red pepper) flakes optional
For the Salmon
  • 4 skin-on salmon fillets
For Serving
  • 1 Freezer-friendly mashed potato
  • 1 Steamed greens or leafy green salad sprinkled with parmesan (optional)
  • 1 Fresh lemon slices
  • 1 Fresh flat-leaf (Italian) parsley finely chopped

Equipment

  • Oven
  • Roasting tin

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 220°C (425°F) (200°C/400°F fan-forced). Ensure the oven is preheated for at least 20 minutes.
  2. Make the lemon garlic butter by mixing together the melted butter, olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, honey, paprika, oregano, sea salt flakes, black pepper, and chilli flakes (if using).
  3. Place the salmon fillets skin-side down in a roasting tin. Spoon the lemon garlic butter marinade evenly over the top of the salmon.
  4. Bake the salmon for 12 minutes. Then, turn the oven grill (broiler) to high and cook for an additional 3 minutes, or until the salmon is caramelized and cooked to your preference.
  5. Serve the Baked Lemon Garlic Salmon with mashed potatoes, steamed greens or a green leafy salad. Garnish with extra black pepper, fresh lemon slices, and a sprinkling of chopped fresh parsley.

Notes

This recipe also works well with trout, barramundi, snapper, or other firm-fleshed white fish like cod or sea bass. Adjust the cooking time for thinner fillets to 8–10 minutes. If using frozen salmon, ensure it is completely thawed and patted dry before baking for the best texture. The lemon garlic butter marinade can be prepared up to 3 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Leftover salmon can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days and is not suitable for freezing. Reheat gently in the oven, on the stovetop over low heat, or in the microwave. Leftover salmon is also delicious cold in salads, sandwiches, or pasta dishes.

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