Baked King Salmon Recipe

This baked king salmon recipe involves brushing a buttery seasoned sauce onto the salmon and baking it to perfection. It's an easy, flavorful recipe that is sure to be a hit, and it's ready in less than 30 minutes!

You'll start by making a quick sauce of butter, honey, Dijon mustard, and seasonings and brushing it on top of the fish before baking. This gives salmon the most perfectly balanced flavor. It's also delicious cold the next day over a salad. 

I love cooking fish on busy weeknights because it cooks so quickly. This salmon is no exception.

If you need a quick meal the family will love, pair this salmon with an easy green salad or some sautéed zucchini for a fast, delicious, and healthy dinner. Check out our full list of side dishes for salmon for more inspiration!

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Tips for Making this Recipe
• Substitutions & Variations
• Storage
• How to Choose the Best King Salmon
• What to Serve with King Salmon
• More Delicious Seafood Dishes
• Baked King Salmon

Ingredients

Here are the simple ingredients you'll need to make this fantastic dish!

• King salmon fillets - King salmon are also called Chinook salmon. During the summer, you may be able to find fresh salmon at your local grocery store. Unlike other salmon varieties, most king salmon you find will be wild-caught. 
• Butter - I love the buttery taste with king salmon, as opposed to another oil, like avocado or olive oil. It pairs well with the buttery flavor of the salmon. 
• Lemon juice - Use fresh lemon juice for the best flavor. It provides a light citrus flavor that pairs well with the butter and seasoning mix. 
• Honey - The honey adds a little bit of sweetness, which is delicious with salmon. 
• Dijon mustard - Mustard provides additional acidity that helps to flavor the salmon. 
• Seasonings - Paprika, cumin and garlic powder come together to give just the right flavor balance of bold and savory.
• Optional toppings - Fresh herbs like dill and parsley can be sprinkled on top for serving, along with lemon slices to give a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to the salmon.

See the recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.

In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, honey, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, paprika, kosher salt, cumin, and garlic powder. Stir to combine.

Place the salmon, skin side down, on a parchment or aluminum foil lined sheet pan. Pat dry with a paper towel.

Brush the butter mixture all over the top and sides of salmon till it is fully covered.

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until the salmon easily flakes apart and reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees on an instant-read thermometer.

Serve immediately with lemon wedges and fresh herbs.

Tips for Making this Recipe

• If using frozen salmon, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature before cooking. Make sure to squeeze out as much excess water as possible before cooking.
• Don't overcook the salmon. The internal temperature should be 145 degrees when done. Test by inserting an instant-read meat thermometer into the thickest part of the fillet. 
• The cold leftover salmon is delicious over a salad with a simple citrus honey salad dressing, or next to eggs and some baby greens for breakfast. It's also nice when served on a slice of ricotta toast.

Substitutions & Variations

• Types of Salmon - If you can't find king salmon, you can use other types of salmon, like farmed Atlantic salmon or sockeye salmon. Just note that king salmon is loved for its superior flavor than other varieties.  
• Oil - If you'd prefer, you can swap the butter for olive oil or avocado oil.
• Herbs - you can use your favorite fresh herbs to dress the salmon after it's baked. I always love dill on salmon but oregano, cilantro, and thyme are also nice. You could also add fresh microgreens as well.

Storage

Store cooked salmon in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. 

How to Choose the Best King Salmon

King salmon is widely regarded as having the best flavor of all types of salmon. It's extremely rich and buttery! You can find king salmon fresh starting in April or May and going into the fall months. 

• Color - The flesh of the king salmon will be firm and a bit translucent with an orange and dark pink color with white lines. Avoid any dull looking or dry-looking salmon filets. 
• Smell - fresh salmon will have an ocean smell and won't be acrid or acidic. Salmon past its prime will smell overly-fish.

If you can't find king salmon, another wild salmon variety, like Pacific, will more closely resemble the flavor of king salmon than farm-raised salmon like Atlantic salmon.

What to Serve with King Salmon

Here are some delicious side dishes that pair great with this salmon recipe. 

• Parmesan Green Beans - These green beans are topped with panko and parmesan and are a delicious side to this baked king salmon. 
• Roasted Purple Potatoes - Roasted purple potatoes with garlic and herbs are a flavorful and beautiful side dish with salmon.
• Cucumber Sweet Pepper Salad - Leave off the chicken in this delicious salad, and it's the perfect side to baked salmon. 

More Delicious Seafood Dishes

There are tons of seafood recipes on this site. Here are a few of our favorites!

• Easy Broiled Salmon (with skin) - Another easy salmon recipe that comes together in about 20 minutes and tastes delicious. It pairs perfectly with this dill sauce. 
• Blacked Tilapia - This tilapia comes together in 15 minutes on the stovetop. A simple salad used as a topping is included with this one. Making it an all in one quick weeknight meal.
• Teriyaki Glazed salmon - This teriyaki salmon ahs just the right amount of sweet and savory. It will be a hit with the whole family. 

If you try this baked king salmon recipe, let us know! Connect with us on Instagram and share your photos, or leave us a rating.