Garlic Butter Baked Salmon

This garlic butter baked salmon transforms ordinary fillets into a restaurant-worthy dish with minimal effort. The rich, aromatic butter sauce infuses the salmon with incredible flavor while keeping it perfectly moist during baking.

I discovered this recipe when hosting my first dinner party as a newlywed. What started as a desperate attempt to impress my in-laws has become our family's most requested special occasion meal for over a decade.

Ingredients

• Salmon fillets: Choose fresh, bright-colored fillets with firm texture and mild scent. Wild-caught offers superior flavor but farm-raised works well too.
• Unsalted butter: Creates the luscious base for the sauce while allowing you to control salt levels. European-style butter adds extra richness.
• Garlic: Fresh minced garlic provides aromatic punch that powdered simply cannot match. Look for firm bulbs without sprouting.
• Fresh parsley: Brightens the dish with color and fresh herbaceous notes. Flat-leaf Italian parsley offers more flavor than curly varieties.
• Lemon juice: Adds essential acidity that balances the richness of the butter and salmon. Always use fresh-squeezed for best flavor.
• Lemon zest: Contains concentrated oils that infuse the butter with intense citrus essence without additional liquid.
• Dried thyme: Provides earthy notes that complement salmon beautifully. Rub between fingers before adding to release more flavor.
• Dried rosemary: Adds piney aromatics that stand up well to rich salmon. Use crushed rather than whole needles for better texture.
• Salt: Enhances all other flavors in the dish. Kosher salt or sea salt offers cleaner flavor than table salt.
• Black pepper: Adds gentle heat and complexity. Freshly ground delivers significantly more flavor than pre-ground.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Prepare the oven:

Preheat your oven to 400°F to ensure it reaches the proper temperature before the salmon goes in. This high heat creates the perfect environment for quick, even cooking that locks in moisture.

Prepare the baking surface:

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper which prevents sticking and makes cleanup effortless. The parchment also helps steam the salmon slightly, contributing to its tender texture.

Arrange the salmon:

Position your fillets skin-side down with space between each piece. This spacing allows hot air to circulate around the salmon, ensuring even cooking and preventing a steamed texture.

Create the garlic butter:

Melt butter slowly over medium-low heat to prevent browning. This gentle approach preserves the butter's sweet, creamy flavor rather than developing nutty notes that would compete with the salmon.

Infuse the aromatics:

Sauté garlic in the melted butter just until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. This brief cooking mellows garlic's harsh edge while releasing its essential oils into the butter without risking bitterness from overcooking.

Build the flavor base:

Incorporate parsley, lemon juice, zest, and dried herbs into the butter mixture. This brief cooking allows the dried herbs to bloom and release their essential oils while the lemon brightens the entire mixture.

Dress the salmon:

Pour the garlic butter sauce evenly over each fillet, ensuring complete coverage. This generous coating creates a protective layer that prevents the salmon from drying out while infusing flavor during baking.

Season the fillets:

Sprinkle salt and pepper directly onto the butter-coated salmon to ensure proper seasoning. The salt draws out and enhances the salmon's natural flavors while the pepper adds subtle complexity.

Bake to perfection:

Cook the salmon for 12-15 minutes until it just begins to flake. This timing achieves the ideal medium doneness where the salmon remains moist and tender rather than dry and chalky.

Rest before serving:

Allow the salmon to rest briefly after removing from the oven. This crucial step lets the proteins relax and the juices redistribute throughout the fish for maximum tenderness.

Pin it

The lemon zest is my secret weapon in this recipe. Most people focus on the juice, but the zest contains intense citrus oils that permeate the butter completely. My grandmother taught me this trick, saying the zest is where the true essence of the lemon lives.

Perfectly Cooked Salmon Guide

The most common mistake with salmon is overcooking it. For perfectly tender results, remove the salmon from the oven when it reaches 125°F for medium-rare or 130°F for medium. The fish will continue cooking from residual heat after coming out of the oven. If you don't have a thermometer, look for the fish to be just barely opaque throughout but still moist and juicy. When gently pressed with a fork, it should begin to flake but still maintain some firmness in the center.

Make-Ahead Options

This recipe works beautifully as a prepare-ahead meal. You can make the garlic butter mixture up to three days in advance and store it covered in the refrigerator. Simply rewarm it gently before pouring over the salmon. You can also prepare the entire dish up to 8 hours before cooking just keep the seasoned salmon covered in the refrigerator until ready to bake. This makes the recipe perfect for entertaining when you want to minimize last-minute preparation.

Serving Suggestions

This garlic butter salmon pairs wonderfully with simple sides that won't compete with its delicate flavor. Try serving it with steamed asparagus, roasted baby potatoes, or a light lemon rice pilaf. For a complete restaurant-quality presentation, add a small side salad with a light vinaigrette. I particularly love serving this with a chilled glass of Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio to complement the buttery richness of the salmon.

Pin it

This recipe will bring elegance and ease to your dinner table in no time.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ What temperature should I bake salmon at?

Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) for optimal results. This ensures even cooking while keeping the salmon tender and juicy.

→ How long does salmon take to cook in the oven?

Typically, salmon takes about 12-15 minutes to bake at 400°F (200°C). Check doneness by seeing if the fillet flakes easily with a fork.

→ Can I use dried parsley instead of fresh?

Yes, you can use dried parsley if fresh is unavailable. Use about 1 teaspoon of dried parsley as a substitute for fresh.

→ What sides go well with garlic butter salmon?

Garlic butter salmon pairs well with roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, steamed rice, or a crisp green salad for a balanced meal.

→ Can I prepare the garlic butter mixture ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the garlic butter mixture a few hours ahead and store it in the refrigerator. Reheat gently before using.

→ How do I know if salmon is fully cooked?

Salmon is fully cooked when it flakes easily with a fork and reaches an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C).