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Best Easy Garlic Butter Baked Salmon in 15 Minutes

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This quick garlic butter baked salmon is proof that the best recipes aren’t always the most complicated. Ready in just 15 minutes with pantry-friendly ingredients, it’s a family-approved dinner hero that saves busy weeknights.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 salmon fillets (about 6 oz / 170g each), frozen or fresh
  • 4 tablespoons (56g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 4–5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 whole lemon (juice and zest)
  • ½ teaspoon (3g) fine sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon (1g) black pepper, freshly ground
  • ½ teaspoon (1g) paprika (optional, smoked preferred)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
  2. In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt 4 tablespoons (56g) of unsalted butter. Add 4-5 minced garlic cloves, the zest of half a lemon, 1 tablespoon (15ml) of lemon juice, ½ teaspoon (3g) of salt, ¼ teaspoon (1g) of black pepper, and ½ teaspoon (1g) of paprika. Stir to combine.
  3. Place 4 frozen or fresh salmon fillets skin-side down in a 9×13-inch (23x33cm) baking dish, leaving a little space between each fillet.
  4. Spoon the garlic butter mixture evenly over each fillet, letting it pool around the edges.
  5. Bake in the preheated oven: for frozen fillets, bake 15-18 minutes; for fresh fillets, bake 10-12 minutes. The salmon should be opaque and flake easily with a fork.
  6. Check for doneness by gently pressing a fork into the thickest part of a fillet. If it flakes easily, it’s done. If still translucent, bake another 2 minutes. Do not overbake.
  7. Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the top. Squeeze extra lemon juice if desired. Serve immediately with buttery pan juices spooned over the top.

Notes

For best results, use individually frozen salmon fillets. If fillets are different sizes, check the thinnest one first. Garlic can burn at high heat; add halfway through baking if concerned. Leftovers keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a skillet with a splash of water or extra butter, covered, over low heat for 3-4 minutes, or in the oven at 300°F (150°C) for 5-7 minutes.

Nutrition

Keywords: garlic butter salmon, baked salmon, quick salmon, easy salmon recipe, 15 minute salmon, frozen salmon, weeknight dinner, healthy salmon

Find it online: https://jollyfork.com/best-easy-garlic-butter-baked-salmon-in-15-minutes/