Oven baked salmon fillets are perfect for a weeknight dinner as well as any special occasion. Only a few ingredients and a little time are needed to make this salmon dinner!
Perfectly seasoned, juicy and tasty oven baked salmon dinner is a keeper.
4 reasons to make oven baked salmon fillets
- Easy recipe – you only need a few ingredients to make it.
- Quick prep – we all love recipes with a quick prep time, right?
- Nutritious meal – that is high in high-quality protein!
- Healthy dinner – the health benefits of salmon definitely worth mentioning. This fish is one of the best sources of Omega-3 fatty acids. It is also rich in B Vitamins and potassium and other minerals.
Oven-baked salmon fillets are definitely a proof that healthy recipe can taste delicious too. Just give it a try!
Ingredients
- Salmon fillets
- Lemon
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Butter
- Cream cheese
How do you bake salmon fillets?
Simply place the seasoned fillets (skin side down) onto a baking tray and bake until they are cooked through. That is it.
I also lined my tray with baking paper, which makes the cleaning easier. You can also use a silicone mat or a non-stick tray.
How long do you cook salmon in the oven?
Please note that the time will always vary. This will depend on the size of your fillets and also on your oven (unfortunately, not every oven cooks the same way).
Salmon fillets cook relatively quickly so it’s important to keep an eye on them. These fillets weighed about 5 ounces per piece. I baked them at 400°F/200°C for about 15 minutes. If yours are not ready after 15 minutes, let them in longer.
They are ready when the meat easily falls apart.
What side dishes go well with salmon?
I personally prefer serving baked salmon fillets with a potato side dish. Among my absolute favorites are rosemary parmesan roasted potatoes, creamy potatoes au gratin and garlic smashed potatoes.
Light salads, roasted vegetables or couscous are also great options. However, if your favorite side dish is not on my list, just give it a go and you’ll see if you like the flavor combo.
After all cooking is all about trying new things and tasting new flavors, right?
Useful tips
- To achieve the best taste, use real butter. Don’t be tempted to use any butter substitutes.
- If you like to garnish this easy salmon dinner with some fresh herbs, then go ahead. Dill, parsley or chives are great choices.
- Count with ⅓ pound (150 grams) of salmon per person.
- The amount of salt and pepper you use is entirely up to you. I used about ½ teaspoon for all 4 fillets and a generous sprinkle of black pepper.
- Salmon is juicy and flaky when cooked to perfection. If it is over-cooked, it turns dry and you might not enjoy it as much as you would like.
Guys, if you give this easy oven baked salmon recipe a go, please let me know what you think in the comments below!
Oven Baked Salmon Fillets
Ingredients
- 4 salmon fillets (5 ounces/150 grams each)
- salt , to taste
- pepper , to taste
- 1 lemon
- butter
- 4 teaspoons cream cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F/200°C.
- Cut the lemon in half. Cut one half into slices and set aside.
- Place the fillets skin side down onto a baking tray lined with baking paper. Season them with salt and pepper and squeeze some lemon juice over.
- Top each fillet with 2 thin slices of butter, a teaspoon of cream cheese and a slice of lemon.
- Transfer the tray to the oven and bake at 400°F/200°C for 15 minutes or until cooked through.
- Serve with a side dish of your choice.
Notes
- The amount of salt and pepper you use is entirely up to you. I used about ½ teaspoon for all 4 fillets and a generous sprinkle of black pepper.
- Real butter should not be substituted with any margarine.
- The cooking time might vary slightly. This will depend on the size of your fillets and your oven. The fillets are ready when the meat falls apart easily.
Jen says
Simple recipes are the best. Great for busy weeknights!
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Exactly! :)
Mary says
Oh my goodness this look absolutely amazing! It truly looks delicious! I can’t WAIT to try this! Thank you for this great recipe! So YUMMY!
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
You are welcome!
Veena Azmanov says
Baked Salmon Sounds Yummy…I am planning to make it for Dinner tonight for my Family.
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
That’s great to hear :)
Lathiya says
We all love fish in our family and this looks delicious and so easy to make with minimal ingredients..I love that
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Thank you!
Ellen says
This just looks absolutely delicious! Love that it’s done in the oven. Pinning!
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Thanks, Ellen!
Lanz says
Hi Julia! This is so great!!! I tried it and my son and hubby loved the dish! It takes a little time to finish from preparation to cooking yet it yields an awesome result. Thanks for this recipe!!
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
You are welcome, Lanz! Thanks so much for finding time to leave feedback. Hope you find more recipes here you like.
Lynn says
Great dish, quick and easy, my guests loved it.
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
I am glad to hear that, Lynn.
Carmen says
Just made this, very good and easy
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Thanks for your feedback, Carmen!
John says
Baked in toaster oven. Used parchment paper on pan. Didn’t have cream cheese, used Kerry’s Irish butter with herbs. Delicious, will do again.
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
That’s great to hear, John! Thanks for your feedback!
Kim says
I’ve made this salmon dish several times and love it.
My family loves it.
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Thanks so much for your feedback, Kim.
Julie Britt says
Absolutely delicious and so easy to make. I prepared my fillets without cream cheese because I had none on hand. Even without the cheese, the fillets were 5-stars. I look forward to trying it with the cream cheese in the future. Should be decadent!
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Thanks so much for your feedback and rating, Julie! Hope you find more recipes you like on our blog!
Sally says
It was very good and easy to do.
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Thank you for your feedback, Sally!
Quiency says
I love it! Thank you very much for sharing. Even my mom, who usually criticizes what I cook, likes this particular dish.
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
That’s so great to hear, Quiency! Hope you find more recipes you like on our blog :).
Dustin says
This is my go-to recipe for salmon very tasty and easy to do.
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Thanks for your feedback, Dustin!
Azza says
Absolutely delicious …. Everyone loved it
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
That’s so good to hear!
Blitzo says
Wow! so tasty and yummy the salmon fillet. My mom was so happy to get home from work to taste her favorite.
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Thanks so much for your feedback, Blitzo!
MJ says
This was over the top! Just when you think that you can’t elevate something to the next level…..you nailed it! I served this for a dinner party and it was raved about. Thank you for sharing your scrumptious ideas :-)
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
Thanks so much for your feedback! Hope you try more recipes from our blog. Happy Cooking!
Demo says
I made this yesterday.. its officially my favorite way to make salmon now! Thank you so much!
I covered my tray in foil for 15 min on 200 c then opened it and turned the broiler for a couple of minutes 🤍
Julia | Happy Foods Tube says
You are welcome, Demo! Thank you for your feedback! :)