Description
This Easy Baked Salmon Recipe delivers tender, flavorful salmon fillets seasoned with a simple blend of spices and lemon juice, baked to perfection in under 20 minutes. Ideal for a quick, nutritious meal, it offers a moist and flaky texture with an optional crispy crust finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Salmon
- 4 salmon fillets
Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Additional Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C) and optionally line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil to make cleanup easier.
- Prepare Salmon: Pat each salmon fillet dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture, which helps achieve a crispy skin.
- Mix Seasonings: In a small bowl, combine onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, kosher salt, and black pepper thoroughly.
- Prepare Baking Sheet: Brush the rimmed baking sheet with olive oil to prevent the salmon from sticking during cooking.
- Season Salmon: Place the salmon fillets skin-side down on the baking sheet. Drizzle lemon juice evenly over each fillet, then sprinkle the spice mixture evenly across the top.
- Optional Foil Covering: Cover the pan with aluminum foil for more tender salmon if desired.
- Bake Salmon: Bake the salmon for 12 to 15 minutes, adjusting the time depending on the thickness of the fillets (aim for an internal temperature of 145°F at the thickest part). The salmon is done when it flakes easily with a fork.
- Optional Broil: For a crispy crust, broil the salmon for 1 to 2 minutes after baking.
- Rest and Serve: Allow the salmon to rest for 2 to 3 minutes before serving to retain juiciness.
Notes
- Line the baking tray with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easy cleanup.
- Dry salmon thoroughly before seasoning to promote crispy skin.
- Let salmon sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before baking for even cooking.
- Cover salmon with foil while baking for a more tender texture.
- Adjust baking time based on salmon thickness to avoid over or undercooking.
- Rest salmon for a few minutes after cooking to keep it juicy.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 salmon fillet (about 6 oz)
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 0.5 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
