Garlic Butter Baked Salmon is an evergreen recipe that’s simple yet sophisticated. You can elevate it to a Michelin star-worthy plate, but it’s also accessible for cooks of every skill level with consistently impressive results.
With crispy roast potatoes and fresh asparagus in a delectable garlic butter sauce, all baked on a sheet pan, it makes for an easy, quick dinner. This salmon recipe is a dream come true, with a bursting mixture of garlic butter, lemon juice, and wine seeping into every crack and crevice of the salmon! A complete meal on one pan, packed with bold flavors and effortlessly made with minimal ingredients.
Why This Garlic Butter Salmon Is A Must Try
One of the best aspects of this Garlic-Infused Butter Baked Salmon recipe is its simplicity and ease. Made with everyday staples like garlic, butter, lemon, and fresh herbs, it manages to create an irresistible flavor that is unconventionally rich and fragrant.
I’m quite confident you might already have these kitchen essentials on hand! If not, they’re easily found at your local supermarket, no need to wander through the aisles searching for that elusive ingredient. Even more importantly, you’ll find yourself reaching for these ingredients again and again for dishes like our Chili Garlic Butter Shrimp.
While Pan-Seared Salmon With Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce guarantees a crispy exterior with a tender, pull-apart interior, my baked salmon recipe offers something equally delightful. It delivers a soft, buttery, and tender inside with charred, crisp, garlicky edges. A delicious, restaurant-quality dinner made effortlessly at home!
Key Ingredients For Garlic Butter Baked Salmon
One of my favorite aspects of this Garlic Butter Baked Salmon recipe is its simplicity and ease, I know it. However, as with any dish that is both simple and delicious, the quality of the ingredients will ultimately determine the final result:
- Salmon Fillets: Fresh and tender, salmon fillets aren’t just the star of the show. Opt for wild-caught salmon for an even better flavor and nutritional boost!
- Potatoes: Crispy and golden, roasted potatoes add a hearty and satisfying crunch to the meal. Choosing baby or new potatoes can offer a creamy texture that contrasts well with the crispy exterior.
- Garlic: Infuses the dish with aromatic, rich flavor. Fresh garlic cloves provide a robust taste unmatched by pre-minced or powdered garlic. Finely mince for even distribution and a burst of savory goodness in each bite.
- Butter: Key to the luxurious, silky texture and mouthwatering flavor. Use unsalted butter to control saltiness and high-quality butter for the best results. It melts beautifully, coating the salmon and vegetables with a rich, velvety sauce, and helps achieve those crisp edges on the potatoes and asparagus.
*Note: Please see Recipe Card at the bottom for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Additions And Substitutions
When making Garlic Butter Baked Salmon, there are several additions and substitutions you can consider to tailor the dish to your preferences or what you have on hand:
- Vegetable Variations: Swap asparagus for broccoli or green beans to mix up the flavors and textures. Roasted vegetables will still complement the salmon beautifully.
- Herb Alternatives: Replace parsley or dill with fresh basil or thyme for a different aromatic profile. Each herb brings its unique flavor to the dish.
- Citrus Twist: Substitute lemon with lime or orange for a zesty variation. The citrus notes will add a refreshing twist to the garlic butter sauce.
- Potato Options: Instead of using regular potatoes, try sweet potatoes or baby potatoes for a slightly sweeter or different texture.
- Garlic Adjustments: For a milder garlic flavor, reduce the garlic quantity or use roasted garlic instead of raw.
Creating Perfect Garlic And Butter Baked Salmon: Step-By-Step
Here are the few, easy, and crucial steps needed by the Garlic Butter And Salmon Bake to achieve that soft, buttery, and tender with charred, crisp, garlicky edges:
- Preheat And Roast Potatoes: Heat oven to 400°F (200°C). On a large rimmed baking sheet, toss potatoes with oil, garlic, salt, and pepper. Spread out in an even layer and roast for 15 minutes until they’re just starting to soften and brown.
- Arrange Salmon and Asparagus: Push potatoes to one side of the sheet pan and arrange salmon down the center. Rub salmon evenly with minced garlic and parsley. Add the asparagus to the other side of the pan.
- Add Lemon Butter: Combine lemon juice and melted butter. Pour the mixture over the salmon and asparagus. Season everything with salt and pepper.
- Continue Baking: Return to the oven and continue baking until the potatoes are golden and fork-tender, and the salmon is opaque throughout, about 10 minutes.
*Pro Tip: Broil for the last 2 minutes for charred edges.
- Prepare Sauce: Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the remaining butter, garlic, and lemon juice with the wine (or chicken stock).
- Serve: Serve with the salmon, veggies, and lemon slices!
Now that you’ve mastered the Garlic And Butter Baked Salmon, let’s talk about sides! The Easy Garlic Butter adds an extra burst of flavor, which is why we used it for this recipe. For a wonderful side dish, try our Parmesan Roasted Carrots. For a rich and savory option, our Garlic Butter Roasted Brussels Sprouts are a fantastic choice. These sides not only enhance the salmon’s flavors but also create a satisfying meal that everyone will love.
Alternatively, if you loved this recipe, be sure to check out our One Pan Lemon Garlic Baked Salmon And Asparagus, another fantastic one-pan wonder full of flavor! Enjoy your cooking and happy eating!
Recipe FAQ’s
I love a chilled glass of white wine with my salmon. For this dish, we enjoyed a glass or two of chilled Moscato—it’s perfect! If sweet wines aren’t your thing, you can’t go wrong with a good Pinot Gris or Sav Blanc. Both will complement the flavors beautifully. Cheers!
Store your cooked salmon in an airtight container or tightly wrapped in foil or plastic wrap. It will last up to 3 days in the refrigerator. For longer storage, freeze it for up to 2 months, however, I would not recommend doing so.
Yes, you can use frozen salmon. Just make sure to thaw it completely in the refrigerator before using it in the recipe.
Other Dinner Recipes
Love The Food? Follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, TikTok and Instagram to be notified about our new recipes!
Garlic Butter Baked Salmon
Ingredients
- 1 pound fingerling potatoes or Yukon golds or halved white/red baby potatoes, halved
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt divided
- ½ teaspoon black pepper cracked, divided
- 4 skinless salmon fillets
- 2 ½ tablespoons minced garlic divided
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
- ⅓ cup lemon juice freshly squeezed
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
- 3 asparagus bunches, 18 spears, woody ends removed
- 2 tablespoons dry white wine substitute with ¼ cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 lemon sliced to garnish
Instructions
- Heat oven to 400°F | 200°C. On a large rimmed baking sheet, toss together potatoes with the oil, ½ tablespoon of garlic, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Spread out in an even layer and roast for 15 minutes until they’re just starting to soften and brown.
- Push potatoes to one side of the sheet pan and arrange salmon down the centre. Rub salmon evenly with 1 ½ tablespoons of the minced garlic and 2 tablespoons of parsley. Add the asparagus to the other side of the pan.
- Combine ¼ cup of lemon juice and ¼ cup of the melted butter together and pour the mixture over the salmon and asparagus. Season everything with the remaining salt and pepper.
- Return to oven and continue baking until the potatoes are golden and fork-tender and the salmon is opaque throughout, (about 10 minutes). Optional: broil in the last 2 minutes for charred edges.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the remaining butter, garlic and lemon juice with the wine (or chicken stock). Serve with the salmon, veggies and lemon slices!
Christine says
Made only the salmon and it is spectacular! I can see this entire sheet pan meal becoming a staple. Thank you for the recipe!
Patti says
Tried this on the BBQ… turned out awesome!!
Anita Swiss says
I wish I had taken a picture. It looked like I slaved in the kitchen or was a seasoned chef. I was so proud, it was a beautiful dish, hubby loved it, & it was delicious! Thank you! I will be looking for more of your recipes.
Shanda says
OMG! Seriously delicious
I paired with asparagus and uncle Ben’s Cilantro rice. Yum
Heather says
Absolutely love this! I made with a homemade tartar sauce (mayo, sweet relish, garlic powder and onion powder), also topped with lemon juice straight out of the oven!
Tamara says
I’ve NEVER cooked “real” fish before (other than pre-breaded frozen) and this turned out AMAZING!!!
Thank you so very much for making it so easy! Any type of fish or seafood is intimidating to me even though I (as everyone I’ve cooked for tells me) am a good cook. I still find it intimidating as it can be quite finicky.
This recipe is now saved, written down and will be a weekly staple in my home!
You have a new follower because of this! Thank you!!!
JoRene says
Karina, I have been using Pinterest recipes for some time, and most have been excellent. I know I’ve used several of yours in the past too, however, this recipe prompted me to actually post a comment which I’ve never done before. This was one of the easiest recipes to prepare to have such an amazing outcome. I really wasn’t expecting it to be so delicious. Not only was it easy, the cleanup was a breeze. We usually eat salmon twice a week, so I’m always looking for new ways to prepare it. This preparation will be the star of my salmon recipes, and one I’ll use often. I didn’t change a thing and it was perfection. Thank you.
Stephanie J says
I didn’t have parsley but it didn’t matter. Used green beans instead of asparagus because my family doesn’t care for it. The BEST salmon I have ever had… EVER. Making this all of the time.