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Easy Lemon Butter Baked Salmon – Perfect Light Dinner

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This easy lemon butter baked salmon is a quick, delicious dinner that comes together in under 30 minutes. The salmon bakes in a silky lemon butter sauce, resulting in tender, flaky fish that’s perfect for a light yet satisfying meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 salmon fillets (6 oz each, about 170g), skin on or off
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika (smoked or sweet)
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (56g), melted
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 large lemon, juiced (about 3 tablespoons) and zested
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (plus more for garnish)
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Give it a full 15-20 minutes to come to temperature.
  2. Remove the salmon fillets from the refrigerator about 10 minutes before cooking. Pat each fillet dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.
  3. In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, minced garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, chopped parsley, and red pepper flakes if using. Whisk together with a fork.
  4. Place the salmon fillets skin-side down (if using skin-on) in a 9×13-inch baking dish, leaving a little space between each fillet.
  5. Spoon the lemon butter mixture evenly over each fillet.
  6. Bake for 12-15 minutes, depending on thickness, until the salmon flakes easily with a fork and internal temperature reaches 145°F (63°C) at the thickest part.
  7. Optional: For golden-brown color, switch the oven to broil for the last 1-2 minutes, watching carefully.
  8. Remove from the oven and let rest for 2-3 minutes. Spoon pan sauce over each fillet before serving. Garnish with extra fresh parsley and lemon slices if desired.

Notes

For best results, use fresh salmon and pat it very dry. Let the salmon sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before cooking. Don’t skip the lemon zest—it adds brightness. If fillets vary in thickness, check thinner ones early and remove if needed. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: lemon butter salmon, baked salmon, easy salmon recipe, quick dinner, healthy salmon, salmon with lemon butter sauce

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