My favorite way to bake salmon is at a high temperature, locking in moisture, for the best baked salmon every time! Learn how to bake salmon in a few easy steps.
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Learning how to bake salmon is one of those essential cooking skills! I always use this baked salmon trick. Whether you want Lemon Garlic Salmon, Maple Glazed Salmon, a pre-made marinade, or a Blackened Salmon rub, this method will never let you down!
Want to learn how long to bake salmon, at what temperature, and when the salmon is done? This recipe covers it all!
Looking for a different way of cooking salmon? Try Poached Salmon and Grilled Salmon!
Why You’ll Love This Baked Salmon
- 20-minute easy recipe
- Customizable, with seasonings and sauces of your choice
- Makes great leftovers!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Salmon fillets – salmon fillets are the most common cut of salmon that you can get at pretty much any grocery store or fish market.
- Marinade or topping of choice – you can choose a premade marinade or make your own marinade or topping. Try my Lemon Garlic Salmon topping shown in the photos!
How to Bake Salmon In the Oven
Baking salmon is as easy as 1-2-3!
- Prep.
Preheat oven to 450°F. Place salmon in a dry pan or baking sheet.
- Bake.
Bake salmon for 14-18 minutes at 450°F, depending on how thick your salmon fillets are. If you’re adding a topping, add it with about 5 minutes left of the bake time. Salmon is done when the center starts to flake, or the internal temp reaches 135-145°F.
- Serve.
Remove salmon from pan right away and serve.
How to Buy the Best Salmon
When you’re buying salmon, go for fillets that feel firm and look fresh…bright pink or orange, not dull or brownish. Give it a sniff: it should smell clean, not “fishy.” Wild salmon usually tastes richer and has more omega-3s, while farmed salmon is milder and easier to find.
Best Temperature for Baking Salmon
450°F is the magic number for moist, tender baked salmon every time!
How to Know When Salmon Is Done Baking
You can test salmon in the thickest part with a thermometer, or use a fork to test whether the salmon is starting to flake and is opaque (not translucent). The internal temperature should be between 135-145°F (the USDA recommends 145°F).
My Pro Tip
Tips for Perfectly Baked Salmon
- Baking salmon at a high temp (450°F) locks in the moisture of the salmon.
- If you marinated your salmon ahead of time, add the marinated salmon right to your pan, and bake!
- If you did not marinate your salmon but have a topping that you’d like to add, add it towards the end of the baking process depending on how caramelized you’d like the topping to be.
- I recommend about 1/4 pound of salmon per person for a side dish, and about a 1/2 pound per person for a main dish.
Storage and Reheating
Once cooled, cover salmon in the fridge until you’re ready to enjoy it chilled or reheated. Salmon keeps very well in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Reheat salmon in a 300°F oven, wrapped in foil, until warm (about 10-15 minutes).
More Salmon Recipes You’ll Love!
Easy Weeknight Dinners
Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon (Easy!)
Appetizers
Fresh Salmon Croquettes
Easy Weeknight Dinners
Salmon Salad (With Lemon & Dill)
Appetizers
Smoked Salmon Salad
Easy Weeknight Dinners
Fresh Salmon Burgers
If you’ve tried this Bake Salmon Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please let me know in the comments below. I love hearing from you. Please consider leaving a 🌟 star rating while you are here!
Easy Baked Salmon Recipe
Ingredients
- Salmon fillets
- Marinade or topping of choice, like my Lemon Garlic Salmon shown in the photos
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450°F. Place salmon in a dry pan or baking sheet.
- Bake salmon for 14-18 minutes, depending on how thick your salmon fillets are. If you’re adding a topping, add it with about 5 minutes left of the bake time. Salmon is done when the center starts to flake, or the internal temp reaches 135-145°F.
- Remove salmon from pan right away and serve.
Video
Notes
- Here’s the lemon garlic salmon with herbs (shown in the photo) if you’re looking for a topping idea! More topping and marinade ideas in the post above.
- Nutrition information reflects 1 pound of salmon cut into 4 servings without any toppings/marinades.
- If you marinated your salmon ahead of time, add the marinated salmon right to your pan, and bake!
- If you did not marinate your salmon but have a topping that you’d like to add, add it towards the end of the baking process depending on how caramelized you’d like the topping to be.
- I recommend about 1/4 pound of salmon per person for a side dish, and about a 1/2 pound per person for a main dish.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
