Easy Baked Salmon Recipe with Lemon Butter Sauce

Updated: 29 May 2023

162

Spread the love

Busy families need easy, tasty dinner options that everyone will eat and enjoy.

This Baked Salmon with Lemon Butter Sauce recipe is perfect for those hectic weeknights. Both adults and kids will love the flavorful fish fillets with the zesty, lemony sauce.

In only half an hour, you can have a restaurant-worthy meal on the table without all the effort. Making this nutritious baked salmon dinner can become your new weekly tradition that leaves everyone satisfied.

Now, let’s cook some tender salmon in a bright citrus sauce!

Table of Contents

What is Salmon?

This wondrous pink fish packs a nutritional punch in every tender flaky bite. Leaping salmon journey from icy seas and rushing rivers to adorn plates with their mild sweetness and luxurious buttery quality unlike any other. Salmon’s luscious omega-riched meat effortlessly transforms into cuisine fit for kings through simple preparations loved worldwide.

Baked Salmon with Lemon Butter Sauce Recipe

Here is an ingredients/shopping list for the Baked Salmon with Lemon Butter Sauce recipe:

For the Salmon:

4 trimmed salmon fillets, approx. 6 oz each, granting you sweet pink flesh once cooked in liquid gold
2 Tbsp of smooth, fragrant olive oil to brush up on each fillet
Sea salt and stone ground pepper, 1⁄4 tsp of each, to subtly season

For the Sauce:

4 Tbsp of grass-fed butter to gently melt
3 fresh garlic cloves, minced into flavorful bits
Zest of 1 vibrant lemon’s outer coat and 1⁄3 cup of its bright juice
1⁄4 cup Italian parsley, chopped to confetti to stir through
Again, 1⁄4 tsp salt and a match of crisp peppercorns

Essentials for Preparation

Tin foil to tent over fish
Wide baking sheet to hold each portion
Small pan for quick sauce-making

Instructions ( Step By Step )

1. Preheat Your Oven

First, preheat your oven to bake the salmon. Setting the oven temperature early allows it to fully heat before the fish goes in.

2. Prepare Your Pan

While heating, cover a baking sheet with foil and drizzle it with oil to prevent sticking.

3. Season Your Salmon

Next, brush both sides of the salmon filets with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

4. Bake Your Fish

Arrange filets skin-side down on the pan. Bake for 12-15 minutes until the salmon is opaque and flakes easily.

5. Whip Up Your Sauce

As salmon bakes, make the zesty lemon butter sauce in a saucepan.

6. Plate and Serve Your Meal

Finally, remove the finished salmon from the oven, pour sauce over it, and garnish with parsley.

Some Suggested Serving Ideas

1. Serve with Rice or Potatoes

A bed of rice, roasted potatoes, or creamy mashed potatoes makes the perfect pairing for soaking up the delicious lemon butter sauce.

2. Add a Green Vegetable

Balance out the meal by adding a fresh, green vegetable side like sautéed spinach, green beans, or asparagus.

3. Make it Mediterranean

For a Mediterranean flair, serve with couscous tossed with cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, and feta cheese.

4. Top with Fruit Salsa

For a fresh, fruity twist, top your salmon with homemade mango, pineapple, or peach salsa.

5. Round Out The Plate

Serve with a leafy green side salad topped with avocado, tomato, onion, and your favorite dressing for added nutrients.

6. Keep it Low-Carb

For a lower-carb option, serve your lemony salmon over a bed of fresh zucchini noodles or roasted cauliflower rice.

Nutrition information

This radiant fish overflows with favorable qualities to fortify your family. In one 6 oz portion of salmon, behold the following nutritional virtues:

40g of satisfying protein to nourish growing bodies and recovering muscles
Over 2g of omega-3s, the heart-protecting fats our modern diets oft lack
Astounding amounts of B vitamins, those guardians against sickness and fatigue
Selenium and phosphorus which promote hormone and enzymic action
Abundant vitamin D and magnesium, ward off depressive woes

When paired with the vibrant lemon sauce which contributes mere traces of sugar, the compiled meal remains sublimely balanced. Each serving rings under 500 calories with no unwanted carb overload.

Truly, this baked salmon dinner provides a weighty dose of dense nutrients without tipping the scales. Its nutritious simplicity makes this recipe a shoo-in for any family’s regular rotation.

Final Words

This easy-baked salmon with Lemon Butter Sauce is a winner for busy families. Taking just 30 minutes from start to finish, it’s ready in a jiffy on hectic weeknights but tastes fancy enough for weekends too.

Kids and adults alike will love the flavor combination of the fresh and zesty lemon sauce with the rich, tender salmon. Served alongside fresh veggies, rice, or salad, you have a balanced, nutritious dinner on the table in no time.

This will surely become a recipe your whole family asks for again and again!

FAQs

What Kind of Salmon is Best to Cook?

There are many salmon varieties like Atlantic, Pacific, and sockeye but wild-caught Alaskan is considered the best for cooking. Its deep orange-red flesh has the highest flavor and omega-3 fatty acid content.

How Should You Cook Salmon?

Many chefs recommend baking salmon as the best way to cook it. Baking gently ensures it stays moist with crisp, flavorful edges. Broiling, grilling, poaching, and pan-searing are also delicious cooking methods. Frying salmon is not recommended.

How Do You Serve Baked Salmon?

Serving salmon with a flavorful sauce or fresh vegetables makes the perfect meal. Creative options include pasta or salad, in tacos or sandwiches, with rice, with potatoes, or with a bright, acidic sauce to complement the rich fish.

Is Salmon Healthy to Eat?

Yes, salmon is among the healthiest fish you can eat! It is packed with protein to build muscle, omega-3 fatty acids for the brain and heart, plus important vitamins and minerals. Salmon is a nutritional powerhouse.

Which Salmon Cut is the Best?

The fattiest, most flavorful part of salmon is the belly cut from the mid-section. However, the tail section is usually cheaper and still tastes quite good when cooked right. Filets from any salmon cut work beautifully.

Why is Salmon Expensive?

Salmon prices have risen lately partly because of high demand. However since most salmon available at markets is wild-caught in remote, cold regions like Alaska, availability is seasonal, and producing it for market remains challenging and costly.

Should You Fry or Bake Salmon?

Baking salmon allows it to retain more healthy fats and moisture compared to high-heat frying which can make it dry. Most chefs recommend baking for evenly cooked salmon that stays tender.