Oven Baked Salmon Recipe

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This oven baked salmon recipe is an easy healthy main dish ready in 20 minutes! Salmon is brushed with olive oil, seasoned with a delicious homemade rub and baked.

oven baked salmon on a plate with a fork


My kids adore salmon – and this oven baked salmon recipe is their favorite (they also love maple salmon)!

Seriously, the 6 of them can devour many pounds of salmon in one sitting, and I absolutely love making it for them because it’s so good for their little growing bodes (plus, I love it too).

In this baked salmon recipe – a delicious homemade spice mixture is rubbed all over the salmon, then it’s baked to just the right temperature to ensure it remains moist. The entire recipe takes 20 minutes from start to finish – making it perfect for busy weeknights.

Oven Baked Salmon on the baking sheet with a fork

Oven Baked Salmon: Ingredients & Substitutions

overhead photo of the ingredients in this Oven Baked Salmon recipe
  • Wild caught salmon. I always try to buy wild-caught salmon when it’s available. Any variety of salmon will do – but this will yield the best results.
  • Spices: I use a blend of spices that compliment the fish very well. Feel free to adjust them as you wish, or substitute dried herbs with fresh.
  • Cane sugar. white sugar or brown sugar are good substitutes for canes sugar.
Oven Baked Salmon on a plate with salad

How to Bake Salmon in the Oven

Let’s walk through how to cook salmon in the oven step-by-step, and don’t forget to watch the video.

Begin by making the rub. Plus the rub ingredients together in a high-powered blender or food processor until a coarse powder forms (no more large pieces of rosemary remain), about 5 seconds.

two photos showing making a spice rub for Oven Baked Salmon in a food processor

Once the rub is ready, place the salmon on a baking sheet or in a 9×13” baking dish and brush it with olive oil.

two photos showing How to Bake Salmon - rubbing olive oil on the salmon

Then, sprinkle the rub evenly over the salmon on the top and sides.

At this point, you can cover the salmon with aluminum foil and let sit in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours to let the rub really penetrate the fish. Or, you can bake it right away.

I usually prepare the salmon at lunch to cook for dinner!

two photos showing How to Bake Salmon on a baking sheet

Next, bake the salmon at 425°F for 10-15 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 135 degrees F. 

Salmon Thickness/Baking time

The baking time depends heavily on the thickness of your salmon. Bake salmon for 10 minutes per 1 inch of thickness.

two photos showing How to Bake Salmon - salmon on a baking sheet before and after baking

Serve

Remove the salmon from the oven and serve warm with your favorite side dishes. Here are some serving suggestions:

 a fork taking a bite of Oven Baked Salmon from a baking sheet

Store/Freeze

Store leftover baked salmon in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 1 month.

up close view of Oven Baked Salmon with a fork

Oven Baked Salmon Recipe FAQS

Can I double this recipe?

Yes, you can double or triple the recipe.

Is 425°F too high to bake salmon?

No – I believe salmon is best when it’s baked at 425°F. It crisps the outside while keeping the center soft and moist.

Can I use a store-bought rub.

Absolutely you can use whatever rub you prefer.

Should I cook salmon with the skin on?

If your salmon filets have skin, bake with the skin side down. The salmon is easily moved from the skin after baking.

Do you oil or season salmon first?

Brush with olive oil first so the seasoning sticks to the salmon.

Oven Baked Salmon on a plate with a fork and salad

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Oven Baked Salmon Recipe

Laura
This oven baked salmon recipe is an easy healthy main dish ready in 20 minutes! Salmon is brushed with olive oil, seasoned with a delicious homemade rub and baked.
5 from 2 votes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings
Calories 194
Prep Time3 minutes
Cook Time13 minutes
Total Time18 minutes

Ingredients  

  • 1.5 pounds wild caught salmon
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil

Rub

Garnish

  • Fresh parsley or rosemary (optional)

Instructions 

Make the rub

  • Pulse rub ingredients together in a high-powered blender or food processor until a coarse powder forms (no more large pieces of rosemary remain), about 5 seconds.

Prepare the salmon

  • Place the salmon on a baking sheet or in a 9×13” baking dish, skin-side down.
  • Brush the salmon with olive oil.
  • Then, sprinkle the rub evenly over the salmon (top and sides).
  • At this point, you can cover the salmon with aluminum foil and let sit in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours to let the rub really penetrate the fish. Or, you can bake it right away.

Bake

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
  • Bake the salmon in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 135 degrees F. (baking time depends heavily on the thickness of your salmon).

Serve

  • Remove from the oven and serve warm, garnished with fresh parsley or rosemary if desired.

Video

Notes

Salmon Thickness
The baking time depends heavily on the thickness of your salmon. Bake salmon for 10 minutes per 1 inch of thickness.
Ingredient Notes/Substitutions
  • Wild caught salmon. I always try to buy wild-caught salmon when it’s available. Any variety of salmon will do – but this will yield the best results.
  • Spices: Feel free to adjust them as you wish, or substitute dried herbs with fresh.
  • Cane sugar. white sugar or brown sugar are good substitutes for canes sugar.
Store/Freeze
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 1 month.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25lb salmon | Calories: 194kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 441mg | Potassium: 578mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 260IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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4 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This was seriously the BEST salmon! Even my children who don’t “like” fish went back for seconds lol.
    Every recipe we have tried here has been amazing ( started with the best chocolate chip cookies which literally ARE) I am printing off so many that I purchased a binder just for your recipes. Thank you so much and God bless you!