Baked Salmon With Garlic

Written by
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about our editorial process
Diana Rattray
Portrait of Diana Rattray smiling
Published on 10/21/19 by Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats's Editorial Process

Updated 10/21/19

Baked Salmon With Garlic
The Spruce
  • Total: 30 mins
  • Prep: 10 mins
  • Cook: 20 mins
  • Yield: 4 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
513 Calories
31g Fat
15g Carbs
43g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 servings
Amount per serving
Calories 513
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 31g 40%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 114mg 38%
Sodium 146mg 6%
Total Carbohydrate 15g 6%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Protein 43g
Calcium 102mg 8%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Fresh salmon fillets–or steaks–make a fast and easy meal. Not only are they great for a weeknight dinner, but they are also special enough for a dinner party menu!

The health benefits of salmon cannot be overstated. It's an excellent source of Omega-3 fatty acids, and baking does not decrease that content. In case you were wondering, salmon is also rich in B12, vitamin D, and selenium, and is low in mercury.

Keeping that in mind, if you enjoy seafood, then salmon is a great source of protein for you, especially this baked salmon. It gets its fabulous flavor from minced garlic, olive oil, and some chopped fresh parsley. A drizzle of lemon juice provides the perfect finishing touch.

If you're looking to add a bit of extra oomph to this dish, we recommend adding some fresh herbs that complement salmon nicely, such as mint, fennel, chives, chervil, tarragon, and dill.

For serving, consider placing the baked salmon fillets on a bed of sautéed spinach or kale. Or serve them over a base of vibrant pureed peas. Add simple baked potatoes or roasted potatoes and a tossed salad for a well-rounded dinner. For wine, a chardonnay or sauvignon blanc pair well with the herb and citrus flavors. Or choose a pinot noir or rosé, both of which go well with all kinds of salmon preparations.

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Ingredients

  • 4 cloves garlic (small, minced)
  • 1 tablespoon parsley (heaping; chopped)
  • 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • Dash kosher salt
  • Dash black pepper
  • 4 salmon fillets (about 4 to 6 ounces each)
  • 3 lemons (divided)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Baked salmon ingredients
    The Spruce

  2. Heat oven to 375 F.

  3. Lightly grease a 9-by-13-by-2-inch baking pan or line the pan with foil and lightly oil the foil

  4. In a small bowl, combine the minced garlic, parsley and olive oil; blend the ingredients well.

    Combine garlic and parsley
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  5. Arrange the salmon fillets in the prepared baking pan and spread the garlic and parsley mixture evenly over them. Sprinkle the fillets lightly with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

    Arrange salmon on baking dish and add parsley mixture
    The Spruce

  6. Bake the salmon for about 20 minutes or until the fillets register 145 F or flake easily with a fork.

    Bake salmon until flaky
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  7. Juice lemons for salmon
    The Spruce

  8. Drizzle the baked salmon fillets with two tablespoons of lemon juice.

    Drizzle salmon with lemon juice
    The Spruce

  9. Slice the remaining lemon into wedges (see below) and serve them with the salmon.

    Serve baked salmon with lemon wedges
    The Spruce

  10. Enjoy!

    Tips

    • The fish is done when you can lift flakes with a fork and the fish is opaque. The US Food and Drug Administration recommends an internal temperature of 145 F. To be sure the salmon is perfectly baked, check with a reliable instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of a fillet. It should read 145 F. To check with a fork, insert it into the center of a fillet and twist it slightly. The center should flake and be opaque, but not dry.
    • To cut a lemon into wedges, slice off the top and bottom of the lemon. Stand the lemon up on a cut end and slice it to make two halves. Cut each half lengthwise into four wedges.

    Recipe Variation

    • Salmon With Garlic and Herbs: Add 2 teaspoons of minced fresh thyme and 1 teaspoon of minced fresh rosemary to the parsley and garlic mixture.

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