Description
A quick and healthy baked salmon recipe featuring tender, flaky salmon fillets topped with a refreshing and creamy lemon dill sauce. Perfect for weeknight dinners or entertaining, this dish combines bright citrus, fresh herbs, and simple seasonings for a nutritious meal ready in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Salmon
- 4 fresh salmon fillets (skin-on, about 6 oz each)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Lemon Dill Sauce
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt or mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease a baking sheet or line it with parchment paper. Pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels to ensure even cooking and a crispy skin.
- Season the Salmon: Place the salmon fillets skin-side down on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle evenly with olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt and black pepper to enhance the natural flavors of the fish.
- Bake the Salmon: Bake the salmon in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, depending on fillet thickness. The salmon is done when it flakes easily with a fork yet remains moist and succulent inside.
- Prepare the Lemon Dill Sauce: While the salmon bakes, whisk together Greek yogurt (or mayonnaise), fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, and finely chopped dill in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste. This sauce adds a creamy and bright finish to the salmon.
- Serve and Enjoy: Once baked, spoon the lemon dill sauce generously over each salmon fillet or serve it on the side for dipping. Garnish with additional dill sprigs or lemon slices for an elegant presentation.
Notes
- Let salmon sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before baking for even cooking.
- Begin checking for doneness at 12 minutes to avoid overbaking and drying out the fish.
- Always use fresh dill to maximize flavor, as dried dill loses potency.
- For more tender salmon, bake at 275°F for 20-25 minutes as a low and slow method.
- Baking skin-on fillets keeps the fish together and creates a deliciously crispy texture.
- Leftover salmon and sauce can be refrigerated in airtight containers for up to 3 days.
- Reheat salmon gently at 275°F for about 10 minutes and add fresh sauce afterward.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 salmon fillet with sauce
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 33 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
Keywords: baked salmon, lemon dill sauce, healthy dinner, quick salmon recipe, weeknight dinner, easy seafood
