If you’re craving a simple but irresistibly delicious dinner, this Oven Baked Salmon with Garlic Butter Recipe is where it’s at. It’s the kind of meal that makes you look like a kitchen pro without breaking a sweat, and trust me, your family or guests will be asking for seconds. The garlic butter melds with the tender, flaky salmon perfectly, giving you that rich, buttery flavor accented just right by herbs and spices. If you’ve never baked salmon this way, you’re in for a treat — so stick around and I’ll walk you through every step to nail it at home.

💚

Why This Recipe Works

Perfect Moisture Balance: The garlic butter keeps the salmon juicy, preventing dryness during baking.
Flavor-Packed but Simple: A few quality ingredients make a big impact without overwhelming the fish.
Easy Cleanup: Baking in foil “boats” means no scrubbing pans afterward—hello, stress-free cooking!
Customizable Temperature: You control how flaky and tender your salmon gets by watching the internal temp.

Oven Baked Salmon with Garlic Butter, baked salmon recipes, easy salmon dinner, healthy salmon fillet, flavorful salmon recipes - A large piece of cooked salmon lies on crinkled aluminum foil in a baking pan, with a golden-brown seasoned crust on top sprinkled with green herbs. The salmon is flaked in the lower right area, showing moist, soft, pink layers inside with some parts breaking apart. A silver fork rests next to the flaked salmon on the right side. The baking pan sits on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

This Oven Baked Salmon with Garlic Butter Recipe relies on fresh, simple ingredients that bring out the best in your salmon. The garlic butter adds a luscious richness while the brown sugar and spices balance with a touch of sweetness and smoky warmth. Here’s why these ingredients are my go-to picks.

Oven Baked Salmon with Garlic Butter, baked salmon recipes, easy salmon dinner, healthy salmon fillet, flavorful salmon recipes - Flat lay of a large whole salmon fillet with skin on, a small white bowl of melted butter, two whole brown garlic cloves, a small white bowl of brown sugar, a small white bowl with a mix of Italian seasoning, ground paprika, garlic powder, salt, and ground black pepper, all arranged with perfect symmetry on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Salmon fillet (skin-on): Skin-on helps lock in moisture and gives a beautiful presentation, plus it’s easier to keep the fish intact while cooking.
Butter (or olive oil): Melted butter enriches the salmon and carries the garlic flavor perfectly; olive oil works if you want a lighter option.
Garlic: Fresh minced garlic is best for that punch of aromatic flavor, but dried garlic powder works in a pinch.
Brown sugar: Adds a subtle sweetness that balances the savoriness and helps create a nice crust.
Italian seasoning: A blend of herbs that adds depth and brightness—oregano or rosemary can be swapped in if you prefer.
Paprika: Offers a mild smoky note and vibrant color that makes your salmon look as good as it tastes.
Garlic powder: Boosts the garlic flavor and complements fresh garlic perfectly.
Salt & black pepper: Essential seasonings that bring everything together by enhancing natural flavors.

📝

Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love how this Oven Baked Salmon with Garlic Butter Recipe is a blank canvas you can easily personalize. For me, it’s all about balancing flavors with fresh herbs or spices I have on hand, and sometimes swapping the butter for olive oil if I want a lighter dish. You’ll find that tweaking it makes every batch feel fresh and keeps dinner exciting.

Variation: Adding fresh lemon slices on top before baking adds a zingy brightness that’s amazing — I started doing this after a friend recommended it, and it quickly became a favorite.
Herb swap: If you don’t have Italian seasoning, try mixing thyme and dill for fresh herbal notes.
Dietary change: Use olive oil and skip the brown sugar for a paleo-friendly version that’s still super flavorful.
Spicy twist: Sprinkle a pinch of cayenne pepper or chili flakes into the seasoning mix for a subtle kick.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Oven Baked Salmon with Garlic Butter Recipe

Step 1: Prep Your Salmon Like a Pro

First things first, preheat your oven to 375°F—it’s the sweet spot for the perfect bake. Lay down a large piece of foil on a rimmed baking sheet, then place your whole skin-on salmon fillet right on top, skin side down (the pink side should be facing up). Crimp the edges of the foil up around the salmon to create a little “boat” that will hold all those tasty juices. This step ensures your garlic butter glaze stays right where the salmon needs it and makes cleanup a breeze.

Step 2: Mix and Spread That Garlic Butter

Melt 3 tablespoons of butter until just liquid and stir in your minced garlic—you want the garlic to infuse the butter while it cools for about 5 minutes, which also thickens the mixture so it’s easier to brush on. Brush half of this garlicky goodness evenly over your salmon. In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, Italian seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, then sprinkle this fragrant spice blend all over the fish. Finally, drizzle the rest of your garlic butter over the top to seal in those flavors.

Step 3: Bake to Tender, Flaky Perfection

Pop the baking sheet into your preheated oven and bake for 15 to 22 minutes, depending on how you like your salmon done. I always keep a food thermometer handy—when the internal temperature hits about 125°F, it’s beautifully moist and just starting to flake. I then let it rest for 5 minutes; the temp will rise to about 130°F, which is my sweet spot for tenderness. If you prefer your salmon cooked through to USDA’s recommended 145°F, bake a little longer but pull it right when it hits that mark to avoid drying out. If you want, halfway through baking, baste your salmon with the pan juices for an extra burst of buttery flavor.

💡

Tips from My Kitchen

Let Butter Cool a Bit: I let the melted butter sit at room temp for 5 minutes before brushing—it thickens slightly and spreads way easier without dripping all over.
Don’t Skip the Foil “Boat”: I learned the hard way that baking salmon directly on the pan causes the garlic butter to evaporate and cleanup to be a headache.
Use a Food Thermometer: This changed my salmon game — I avoid overcooked fish and always get perfectly flaky, juicy results.
Rest Before Serving: Letting the salmon rest 5 minutes after baking locks in the juices and makes it easier to slice beautifully.

How to Serve Oven Baked Salmon with Garlic Butter Recipe

Oven Baked Salmon with Garlic Butter, baked salmon recipes, easy salmon dinner, healthy salmon fillet, flavorful salmon recipes - The image shows a close-up of cooked salmon with a crispy, browned spice crust on top. The salmon flakes are visible, showing soft, pink layers underneath the browned surface with some green herb bits scattered on top. The fish is placed on a piece of shiny foil inside a metal baking tray. To the right side, a fork is partially stuck into the salmon, lifting some flakes. The whole scene is set on a white marbled surface with a white cloth nearby, and a woman's hand is holding the tray. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Garnishes

I’m a sucker for finishing off my salmon with fresh parsley or dill because the bright green adds a fresh contrast to the rich butter. Sometimes I’ll throw on a few lemon wedges or thinly sliced lemon rounds I baked with the fish—they bring this lovely acidity and that extra pop of color. A sprinkle of flaky sea salt also takes it up a notch if you want to impress people at the dinner table.

Side Dishes

For sides, I’m all about balance—roasted asparagus or green beans with a squeeze of lemon are perennial favorites. Creamy garlic mashed potatoes or a light quinoa salad work great to round out the meal without overpowering the salmon. If I’m in a hurry, steamed broccoli and a slice of crusty bread to mop up the garlic butter are always crowd-pleasers.

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I’ve laid the salmon fillet on a bed of wild rice pilaf studded with toasted almonds and cranberries, which pairs beautifully with the garlic butter. You can also serve it atop a salad of arugula, cherry tomatoes, and shaved parmesan for a fresh one-pan feel. I once garnished with edible flowers for a dinner party—it was a big hit and made the dish feel extra fancy.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover salmon wrapped tightly in foil or in an airtight container in the fridge, and it keeps well for up to 3 days. I’ve found that storing it with some of the garlic butter juices poured over helps maintain moisture, making leftovers taste almost as fresh as the first day.

Freezing

Freezing cooked salmon isn’t my favorite because it can get a bit dry, but if you do it carefully wrapped in foil and then sealed in a freezer bag, it can last a month without losing too much flavor. I recommend freezing before baking if you plan to batch prep the raw side instead.

Reheating

To reheat leftovers, I gently warm the salmon in a low oven (about 275°F) wrapped loosely in foil to prevent drying out. It takes about 10-15 minutes. Avoid the microwave if you can—it tends to make the fish rubbery and overcooked.

FAQs

Can I use salmon fillets instead of a whole salmon for this Oven Baked Salmon with Garlic Butter Recipe?

Absolutely! While I prefer a whole salmon fillet with skin on because it’s harder to overcook and stays moist, you can use individual fillets. Just reduce the baking time to about 10-15 minutes depending on thickness, and watch closely to avoid drying them out.
What if I don’t have fresh garlic for the garlic butter?

If fresh garlic isn’t on hand, simply add an extra teaspoon of garlic powder to your seasoning mix. It won’t give you the same punch as fresh garlic but will deliver good garlic flavor you’ll enjoy.
How do I know when the salmon is cooked properly?

The best way is to use a food thermometer. For richly tender salmon, aim for 125°F, let it rest, and enjoy the continued cooking to about 130°F. If you prefer it fully cooked, pull it at 145°F. The fish flakes easily with a fork and looks opaque when done.
Can I skip using foil and bake the salmon directly on the pan?

You can, but I don’t recommend it. Foil keeps the garlic butter from evaporating, keeps the salmon moist, and saves loads of cleanup time. Without foil, you might lose some flavor and face a sticky pan afterward.
Is olive oil a good substitute for butter in this recipe?

Yes! Olive oil makes a great substitute if you want a lighter or dairy-free version. Just melt the olive oil slightly to mix with garlic and brush it on the salmon just like you would with butter.

Final Thoughts

This Oven Baked Salmon with Garlic Butter Recipe is one of my all-time favorites because it combines effortless preparation with a richness that feels like a treat. I love how flaky and tender the salmon turns out every time, and the garlic butter flavor is like a warm hug for your taste buds. Honestly, whether you’re making it for a cozy weeknight or a special occasion, this recipe will quickly become your go-to. Give it a try—I’m confident it’ll become a staple in your kitchen too!

Oven Baked Salmon with Garlic Butter Recipe

Why This Recipe Works

Ingredients & Why They Work

Make It Your Way