Name: Baked Salmon
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 4 frozen salmon filets (about 1 pound); 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1/2 large lemon (freshly squeezed); 1 teaspoon black pepper; 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning; 1 teaspoon garlic salt; 1 teaspoon dried oregano

This recipe is the best way to get juicy, tender, flavorfulBaked Salmonin under an hour! With just a handful of low cost ingredients you can have restaurant-quality salmon without any hassle.

baked salmon filet dinner on a round white plate with a thing lemon slice

Salmon can be tricky to work with. If you cook it too long then it will be dry and tough. If you add too many spices then you will over power the natural, buttery flavor of the fish. With this baked salmon recipe you don’t have to worry about those problems at all. I have also had great success with making salmon in theAir Fryer.

This recipe features a light spice blend and uses lemon juice to provide a complimentary zest to the fish. The olive oil helps the spices adhere to the fish and also helps give the salmon a beautiful, perfectly cooked crust on the outside.

Being able to use frozen salmon filets will cut down on the cost of the recipe a little bit, but you are more than welcome to use fresh fish if you would like!

POV on a wooden spatula lifted above four salmon filets seasoned and baked on a cookie tray

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

It is quick and easy to make.
Only uses a handful of low cost ingredients.
Provides an easy way to prep salmon.

Recipe Ingredients

top view of digitally labeled portion dishes of raw ingredients for the baked salmon recipe

Salmon Filets—Skinless and frozen.
Olive Oil—Helps the seasonings adhere to the salmon.
Lemon Juice—Adds a little bit of zest to the dish. You can use fresh or bottled lemon juice.
Seasoning Mix—A flavorful mix of pepper, Italian seasoning, salt, and oregano.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How to Make Baked Salmon

Step #1.Preheat oven and prepare the needed ingredients.

raw ingredients and spices for baked salmon recipe

Step #2.Whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, and spice mix until homogeneous.

four salmon filets seasoned on a cookie tray before baking

Step #3.Pour the whisked mixture over the salmon and use your hands or a paper towel to rub the mixture into each filet.

four salmon filets seasoned and baked on a cookie tray

Step #4. Transfer your filets to a baking sheet and cook until soft and tender. Your salmon should reach an internal temperature of 145°F.

Recipe FAQs

Should I cook my salmon skin up or skin down?

If you are cooking salmon that still has the skin attached then you will want to cook it with the skin facing down so that the meat of the salmon does most of the cooking. However, since we suggest using skinless salmon in this recipe you can cook it either way. Since there won’t be any skin to obstruct the cooking you can place it on your baking sheet face up or face down.

Should I reheat my salmon in the microwave or the oven?

While you can technically reheat your salmon in both the microwave and the oven we recommend using the oven. Heating your leftovers in the oven allows you to cover the salmon in tin foil, which will prevent the fish from drying out. This method takes longer than zapping your fish in the microwave, but it is worth it if you have time to spare.

Is it better to use fresh or frozen salmon?

It is really up to you! We have used both fresh and frozen salmon without noticing a major difference in flavor. With that being said, it is important to note that fresh salmon will come with a shorter cook time than frozen salmon. We like to lower the cook time by about 5 minutes when using fresh salmon to make sure it does not overcook and dry out.

a salmon filet on a wooden spatula lifted above four other salmon filets on a baking sheet.

Expert Tips

If you aren’t sure your salmon is finished cooking then you can use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. Ideally,you want your salmon to reach 145°F.
You can use bottled lemon juiceif you don’t have any lemons available. Make sure you use about ½ cup of lemon juice either way.
To switch up the flavor of your salmon, try replacing the spice mix with lemon pepper seasoning.
For some extra lemon flavor, tryadding the zest of one lemonto your coating mixture.
We found frozen salmon easier to find at our local grocery store, but you can also use fresh salmon.If you are using fresh salmon filets then your fish will cook about 5 minutes faster.

How to Serve Baked Salmon

This salmon is rich, savory, and high in protein! As a result, it makes a great entree and will be the star of any meal. Since this dish is so rich, we like to serve it alongside some lighter sides. Some of our favorites includeasparagus, aside salad, wild grain rice, androasted cauliflower.

How to Reheat Your Salmon

The best way to reheat your salmon is in the oven, not the microwave. This will prevent your salmon from drying out as it reheats.

Simply transfer your salmon filets wrapped in tin foil to a baking sheet and cook for 15 minutes at 300°F. Keeping the salmon wrapped in tin foil will prevent moisture from escaping and keep the fish tender.