Easy Lemon Salmon Recipe

Easy Lemon Salmon Recipe

This easy baked lemon salmon is roasted until tender with tangy lemon, garlic, and dill, which delivers a burst of freshness in just 20 minutes.

Ingredients

  • or 4 salmon fillets

    wild caught if possible, 6-ounce

    1 ½ lb
  • kosher salt
    1 tsp
  • lemon

    cut into rounds

    1
  • salted butter

    cut into thin pats, or olive oil

    2 tbsp
  • garlic powder
    1 tsp
  • onion powder
    ½ tsp
  • dried dill
    ½ tsp

Directions

  1. 1

    Preheat the oven to 400°F. Allow the salmon to come to room temperature (or brine it in Step 2).

  2. 2

    Brine the salmon (optional): While the oven preheats, in a shallow dish mix together 4 cups room temperature water and 3 tablespoons kosher salt. Place the salmon in the water and wait for 15 minutes (this should be about the time it takes to preheat).

  3. 3

    Brush a medium baking dish with olive oil. Place the lemon rounds on the bottom of the baking dish. Place the butter pats on top of the lemons rounds (or drizzle with olive oil). Place the salmon filets on top of the lemon. Sprinkle the salmon with the kosher salt evenly divided among the fillets.

  4. 4

    In a medium bowl, mix together the garlic powder, onion powder, and dill. Sprinkle the mixture evenly on top of the fillets.

  5. 5

    Bake the salmon for 10 to 16 minutes, depending on thickness, until just tender and pink at the center (the internal temperature should be between 125 to 130°F in the center). A 1-inch thick fillet should cook in about 15 minutes total.

  6. 6

    For a crispy top, when the salmon is at 115°F, broil for about 2 minutes (about the last 2 minutes of the cook time). Spoon the melted butter over the salmon before serving. Leftovers last refrigerated for up to 3 days.

Easy Lemon Salmon Recipe

Easy Lemon Salmon Recipe

288 cal

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About this Recipe

Looking for a restaurant-quality meal that’s both effortless and incredibly delicious? This Easy Lemon Salmon Recipe delivers perfectly tender, flaky salmon bursting with bright, tangy lemon, savory garlic, and aromatic dill in just 20 minutes.

The magic of this dish lies in its elegant simplicity. By roasting salmon fillets with fresh lemon slices and a carefully balanced blend of garlic powder, onion powder, and dried dill, you create a harmonious flavor profile that’s both vibrant and comforting. This method ensures the salmon remains incredibly moist and never dry, allowing the natural sweetness of the fish to truly shine.

Prepare for a truly delightful culinary experience. Each bite of this roasted salmon offers a tender, flaky texture that yields to a burst of fresh, tangy lemon, complemented by the savory depth of garlic and the herbaceous notes of dill. It’s a light yet satisfying main course that feels sophisticated but is surprisingly straightforward to execute, making it ideal for busy weeknights or when you want to impress with minimal fuss. Plus, this dish is naturally gluten-free, fitting easily into many dietary preferences.

Customization & Serving Tips

While this Easy Lemon Salmon Recipe is fantastic as written, it’s also quite adaptable. You can easily swap the salted butter for olive oil if you prefer a dairy-free option. For the salmon itself, while wild-caught fillets are often prized for their flavor, any good quality salmon will yield delicious results. Feel free to adjust the amount of dried dill, garlic powder, and onion powder to suit your personal taste preferences for a more subtle or pronounced flavor.

This lemon salmon makes for an elegant yet effortless main course, perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a relaxed weekend meal. Serve it alongside simple roasted vegetables, a light green salad, or a bed of fluffy quinoa or rice to complete the experience.

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