Name: Baked Salmon with Lemon
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 2
Ingredients: 1 (5 ounce) salmon fillets; 2 lemons; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 2 tablespoons butter; 1 garlic clove, finely minced; optional - microgreens for topping

This easy baked lemon salmon with garlic butter is full of flavor. It’s a healthy pescatarian recipe that’s easy to make on a weeknight. It’s ready in less than 30 minutes.

Why You’ll Love this Baked Salmon Recipe

This baked salmon in foil is a delicious weeknight meal. It’s got a wonderful lemon zest topping with garlic butter topping that makes the salmon extra decadent. This recipe is easily doubled or tripled.

It’s cooked on a bed of citrus so the citrus flavor isn’t overwhelming but is still deeply flavorful. Lemon zest and salt are rubbed into the salmon before the garlic butter topping is added, ensuring the tenderness of the fish.

Cooking the salmon in foil locks in moisture and also makes the fish incredibly tender. This is a wonderful way to gently add flavor and moisture to fish that you won’t get from frying or grilling.

Ingredients You’ll Need for Baked Lemon Salmon Recipe

2 (5 ounce) salmon fillets
2 lemons
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons butter
1 garlic clove, finely minced
optional – microgreens for topping

How to Make This Recipe

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Zest one of the lemons, then thinly slice both lemons into rounds.
Place a long strip of aluminum foil on a baking sheet. Lay the lemon slices in the center of the aluminum foil, slightly overlapping to create a bed for the salmon.
Lay the salmon on the lemon slices. Pat the salt and lemon zest into the salmon.
Melt the butter and then add the garlic to the butter.
Using a spoon or a pastry brush, top the salmon with the garlic butter.
Fold the aluminum foil together, completely enclosing the salmon. Use a second piece of foil if your first piece is not large enough.
Bake for 15 to 25 minutes, until the salmon is fully cooked through (145 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer). The salmon should flake apart and be opaque in the center.
Remove the salmon from the oven and carefully open the foil.
Serve the salmon with optional microgreens or other toppings.

lemon salmon in a foil packet before being baked

More Salmon Recipes to Try

If you love salmon, we think you’ll like these recipes as well!

Spinach and Feta Stuffed Salmon – a delicious, healthy meal for four – ready in less than 20 minutes.
Sesame Salmon with Everything Bagel Spice – using everything bagel seasoning adds a wonderful crust to the salmon.
Salmon with Blueberries – everyone loves this unusual and delicious recipe – the rich blueberry sauce pairs beautifully with the moist salmon.
Cara Cara Orange Salmon and Lentil Bowl – an awesome, healthy weeknight meal. You’re going to love how quick and easy it is to make.

Be sure to check out our favorite salmon recipes as well as our list of pescetarian recipes.

piece of baked lemon salmon on a grey plate

Tips for Making Baked Lemon Salmon

Salmon is done at 145 degrees F. The best way I’ve found to check this is to use an instant-read thermometer like this one.
If you like fresh herbs, you can also add dill or parsley to this recipe. Either add them to the lemon slices base or chop them up finely and add them to the garlic butter.
Make sure to use a rimmed baking sheet for your salmon, just in case you don’t get the aluminum foil packet fully sealed, the lemon + butter combo does get a little juicy and you don’t want it dripping off the side of a cookie sheet!

I hope you love this baked salmon with lemon recipe as much as I do! Let me know if you make it. You can tag us on Instagram @thishealthytable.

If you’re looking for some side dishes, here’s a list of our favorite sides for salmon.

Yield: 2 servings