Description
This Oven Baked Salmon recipe offers a simple and flavorful way to prepare a whole salmon fillet with a garlic butter glaze and a blend of aromatic spices, resulting in tender, flaky, and succulent fish perfect for an easy and impressive meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Salmon
- 1 (2-pound) whole salmon fillet skin-on preferred
Seasoning Mix
- 3 tablespoons melted butter OR olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon ground paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Heat oven to 375°F. Place a large piece of foil on a rimmed baking sheet and lay the salmon fillet on top, skin side down and pink side up. Crimp the edges of the foil around the salmon to form a little “boat” to catch the juices.
- Make Garlic Butter and Season: Combine the melted butter and minced garlic. Brush half of this mixture evenly over the salmon. In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, Italian seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and ground black pepper. Sprinkle this seasoning blend evenly over the salmon, then drizzle the remaining garlic butter on top.
- Bake the Salmon: Bake the salmon for 20 minutes, aiming for a tender and flaky finish. Optionally, baste the salmon with its juices halfway through baking to keep it moist. Once baked, remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Use a whole skin-on side of salmon for easier cooking and reduced risk of overcooking compared to single fillets.
- If fresh garlic is unavailable, substitute with 1 extra teaspoon of dried garlic powder.
- Italian seasoning can be replaced with other dried herbs like oregano or rosemary to change the flavor profile.
- Stir garlic into just-melted butter and allow it to cool and thicken slightly before brushing to enhance flavor and application.
- Using aluminum foil helps with cleanup and retains garlic butter flavor by reducing evaporation.
- For cooking times and internal temperatures: 15 minutes yields about 125°F internal temp (very succulent), 20 minutes about 140°F, and 22 minutes about 145°F (USDA recommended minimum). Adjust cooking time based on your preferred doneness.
- A food thermometer is highly recommended to ensure precise and safe cooking.
- If using 4 cut fillets instead of a whole fillet, bake for 15 minutes for optimal results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
