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Baked Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon

A tender, flaky salmon fillet baked with lemon, garlic, and rich butter for a bright, savory weeknight favorite.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 420
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1.5 pounds center-cut salmon fillet, skin on if you like
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice – about 1 lemon
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 0.5 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
  • 0.25 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional) for heat

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly oil the baking dish or line it with foil for easy cleanup.
  2. In a small bowl, combine melted butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Stir until combined.
  3. Place the salmon in the prepared dish skin-side down. Pour half of the lemon garlic butter over the top and gently spread with a spoon so the fillet is evenly coated.
Cooking
  1. Transfer the dish to the oven and bake at 400°F for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on thickness – cook until the salmon flakes easily with a fork or reaches 125°F to 130°F for medium-rare, or 140°F for well-done.
  2. For a golden top, switch the oven to broil and broil for 1 to 2 minutes – watch carefully to avoid burning.
  3. Remove from the oven and spoon the remaining lemon garlic butter over the warm fillet. Let rest for 3 to 5 minutes to allow juices to redistribute.

Notes

Use room-temperature salmon to promote even cooking. If using frozen fish, thaw completely in the fridge overnight. To prevent garlic from burning during broil, add extra garlic butter right after you remove the fish from the oven. For a lighter finish, swap half the butter for olive oil.