Baked Salmon with Lemon Garlic Butter
Butter that’s infused with lemon, garlic, and a touch of honey helps give this salmon tons of flavor and keeps it extremely moist and tender. This baked salmon recipe is a spinoff of my recipes for Sheet Pan Honey Lemon Salmon, Honey Dijon Salmon, and Sheet Pan Orange Chili Salmon. This version incorporates garlic, because why not? My family loves garlic and since salmon is a robust fish, it can stand up to the garlic without being overwhelmed. And I love a dinner that’s easy, ready in 30 minutes, tastes better than the salmon you get in a restaurant (which I find to be dry and bland usually), and cleanup is as easy as throwing away the foil.
What’s in Garlic Butter Salmon?
For this butter garlic lemon salmon recipe, you’ll need:
Skin-on salmon fillet Whole lemon + lemon juice Unsalted butter Honey Garlic Kosher salt Black pepper Fresh parsley
How to Make Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon
Lemon garlic salmon is so easy to make! Here’s how this recipe is made: The interior is so tender and juicy while the edges have a bit of crispiness — a perfect contrast.
Do I Have the Broil the Salmon?
No, just note that the edges of the salmon won’t be as crispy if you don’t broil it. Your salmon will be safe to eat after baking it, so feel free to enjoy it as is!
What to Serve with the Garlic Butter Salmon
This garlic butter salmon pairs nicely with a side salad, roasted veggies, or another vegetable. Here are some of my favorite sides to serve with salmon:
Best Mashed Potatoes Herb Roasted Potatoes Broccoli Salad Superfood Salad Spinach and Apple Salad
Tips for Making Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon
Butter: I prefer using unsalted butter for this lemon garlic salmon because it lets me control the amount of salt in this dish. If you only have salted butter on hand, that should be fine to use but you may want to scale back the amount of kosher salt you season the salmon with. Lemon juice: If possible, use freshly squeezed lemon juice for this baked salmon recipe. The fresh stuff has a much better flavor than the pre-bottled kind, and you only need about one lemon’s worth of juice for the buttery sauce! Broiling tip: And as always, anytime you’re broiling something you should keep a very close eye on your food because it can burn very quickly under the broiler. Remember that you don’t have to broil on the top rack (you can use the second rack), and while it will take slightly longer, there’s less chance of it burning. And finally, you don’t have to broil at all – and can simply skip this step if you don’t care about that extra golden browned top.
What Readers Are Saying
This garlicky lemon butter salmon has been a hit with readers since I first hit “Publish” on this recipe! Here are some of the 5-star reviews that readers have left in the comment section below: “Made it for dinner tonight! Very yummy! And so simple! Made Greek seasoned rice for a side.” — Shannah “My son served himself 1/2 of it before I could take a photo. He wolfed it down along with rice and coleslaw. He nodded his head and asked me to add this to the list. We repeat recipes that we like. This made the list.” — Romy T. “I love this recipe. I am a big salmon lover, and this buttery, lemony recipe is a perfect way to cook it. Will definitely make it again.” — Elizabeth “Made this exactly as recipe directed and thought it was great! Two servings fit nicely in toaster oven. Recipe is a total keeper!” — Doreen
More Easy Salmon Recipes:
ALL OF MY SALMON RECIPES! Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Honey Lemon Salmon — This baked honey lemon salmon is ready in under 30 minutes! It’s impossible to wind up with dry salmon when making this recipe, it’s just that good! All you need is one sheet pan and 30 minutes and dinner is served! Easy Salmon and Potato Foil Packets – Juicy, moist salmon that’s loaded with flavor! Ready in 30 minutes, zero cleanup, and a foolproof way to cook salmon and look like a gourmet cook! Foil Pack Orange Molasses Salmon – EASY and ready in 10 minutes! Tender, juicy, and bursting with layers of FABULOUS flavors! Grilled Honey Lemon Butter Salmon – A FOOLPROOF way to make grilled salmon!! Wonderfully tender, so juicy, just melts in your mouth, and has incredible flavor!! Foil Pack Lime Cilantro Salmon – Tender, juicy, and bursting with Mexican-inspired flavors that everyone LOVES! Maple Barbeque-Glazed Salmon – The glaze is smoky and sweet with a bit of heat and makes this easy 15-minute recipe just pop! Salmon Niçoise Salad with Basil Vinaigrette — An ELEGANT French-inspired salad with juicy salmon, tender potatoes, soft-boiled eggs, crispy haricots verts, and more. And it’s all drizzled with a super FLAVORFUL fresh basil vinaigrette!! This BEAUTIFUL salad has something for everyone!! Honey Lemon-Glazed Salmon Salad – Coated with a tangy-sweet glaze that doubles as a light and bright salad vinaigrette! Fast, easy, fresh and healthy!! An awesome 15-minute meal! Lemon Dill Salmon with Vegetables in Parchment – Tender salmon with vegetables and it’s so easy, healthy, ready in 20 minutes, and loaded with bold lemon and dill flavor! Put it on your dinner rotation! Sheet Pan Asian Salmon and Broccoli — An EASY recipe that only uses 7 ingredients, is ready in 20 minutes, and tastes way BETTER than salmon you’d get in a fancy restaurant!! IMPRESS your family and friends with this FOOLPROOF recipe!! Salmon Florentine — You don’t need to go to Florence, Italy to enjoy this FAST and EASY Italian-inspired salmon recipe at home! Tender flaky salmon is bathed in a decadent cream sauce made with heavy cream, wine, Parmesan cheese, and more! Fresh spinach and mushrooms add extra texture and flavor to this super flavorful fish dish! Sheet Pan Balsamic Salmon and Vegetables — An EASY recipe that has so much flavor from the balsamic glaze!! IMPRESS your family and friends with this restaurant-quality tasting baked salmon!!
Originally posted May 2, 2018 and reposted with updated text April 2, 2021 and March 24, 2023.
