The Best Garlic Baked Salmon
A fast, flavorful, and foolproof weeknight dinner. Four skinless salmon fillets are lightly oiled, seasoned with Kosher salt and pepper, topped with plenty of fresh minced garlic, and baked to flaky perfection in under 20 minutes.
Ingredients
- 4 6 ounce salmon fillets skinless
- 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2-3 cloves garlic minced
- lemon for garnish
- parsley for garnish
I always use Kosher salt in my kitchen! If using table salt, start with half the amount and adjust to taste, as it is much "saltier" by volume.
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Pat both sides of each salmon fillet completely dry with a paper towel and lay them out on a baking sheet.
- Drizzle both sides of the fillets with a light drizzle of olive oil. Season both sides evenly with the Kosher salt and black pepper.
- Divide the minced garlic evenly and sprinkle onto the top of each seasoned fillet.
- Place in the preheated oven and bake for 12 to 13 minutes, or until the thickest part of the salmon registers between 140°F-142°F on a digital thermometer.
- Remove the pan from the oven. Garnish immediately with fresh chopped parsley and a generous squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Let the fish rest for 2–3 minutes (where it will finish climbing to 145°F) before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
- Skin-On Salmon Option: If your fillets have the skin on, don't sweat it! Just place them skin-side down on your baking pan. The skin acts as a natural heat barrier that keeps the fish incredibly juicy, and the flaky meat will slide right off it easily when you go to serve.
- Pat the Fish Dry: Thoroughly patting the salmon fillets dry with a paper towel before adding the olive oil ensures the seasonings stick to the fish and prevents it from steaming while it bakes.
- For the absolute best texture, pull the salmon from the oven when a digital thermometer reads between 140°-142°F at the thickest part. The temperature will gently rise to the recommended 145°F while it rests on the counter for a few minutes.
Nutrition
Calories: 384kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 38gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 107mgSodium: 685mgPotassium: 662mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 0.02gVitamin A: 393IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 1mg
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