Easy Baked Salmon with Lemon Butter Cream Sauce (2024)

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An easy Salmon recipe with a silky smooth Lemon Butter Cream Sauce is a quick and easy dinner recipe! You will be drinking the sauce straight out of the pan.

The kind of recipe perfect for busy weeknights when you don’t have time to cook. Baked Salmon with an incredible Lemon Butter Cream Sauce comes together so easily you won’t believe it when it’s done!

Easy Baked Salmon with Lemon Butter Cream Sauce (1)

EASY SALMON RECIPE

A truly effortless 15 minute recipe,salmonis baked first with garlic, lemon and optional white wine, then drizzled with a crazy good sauce straight into the pan. The natural pan juices released from the fish while baking mix through the cream sauce to create one hell of a salmon dish!

Minimal ingredients you may already have in your kitchen cooks the most tender salmon fillets… Perfection!

Easy Baked Salmon with Lemon Butter Cream Sauce (2)

When salmon is cooked in the oven, it doesn’t get that sexybrightly searedorange colourwith crisp edges, but what you DO get is tender salmon just about falling apart with each forkful. The only thing salmon needs is a good amount of flavour rubbed all over it before baking, PLUS a magic sauce to drizzle all over it.

Enter this EASY salmon recipe. You’ll love and appreciate the decent amount of cream sauce to mop up with garlic bread orto pour over rice or creamy mashed potato!

WHAT YOU NEED

  • Salmon fillets – middle pieces roughly the same size and thickness are the best for even cooking.
  • White wine – can be omitted or subbed for dijon mustard. Wine adds that restaurant flavour.
  • Garlic – just because.
  • Cream – use heavy cream (or thickened cream) if you can. You can also use half and half (an American product using half milk and half cream).
  • Butter –more flavour!
  • Lemon – is salmons best friend.

Easy Baked Salmon with Lemon Butter Cream Sauce (3) Easy Baked Salmon with Lemon Butter Cream Sauce (4)

WHAT TEMP SHOULD SALMON BE COOKED?

Bake your salmon, uncovered, at 425°F (220°C) on the middle shelf of your oven.

HOW LONG TO BAKE SALMON

Roast for 4 – 6 minutes per ½-inch (1 cm) thickness of fillet. Bakingtime depends on the thickness of your salmon fillets.

  • MEDIUM: 4 minutes PER ½-inch.
  • WELL DONE: 6 minutes per ½-inch.

The salmon fillets pictured needed 11 minutes. Be careful not to over bake as salmon can become dry and unpleasant to eat when over-cooked.

Easy Baked Salmon with Lemon Butter Cream Sauce (5)

HOW TO KNOW WHEN SALMON IS READY

Check the thickest part of your salmon fillets with a fork. Once the flesh easilyflakes and softly falls apart, it’s ready!

You can also use an instant read thermometer to check for doneness. The USDA recommends a minimum internal temperature of 145°F (61°C). For an accurate reading, insert thermometer into the thickest part of the salmon.

LEFTOVERS

Refrigerate for up to 3 days in an airtight container. Gently reheat in the microwave.

MORE BAKED SALMON RECIPES

Crispy Garlic Parmesan Salmon
Honey Garlic Butter Salmon In Foil
Lemon Baked Salmon with Asparagus

Easy Baked Salmon with Lemon Butter Cream Sauce (6)

Easy Salmon Recipe Lemon Butter Sauce

Author: Karina

Tender Baked Salmon with a silky smooth Lemon Butter Cream Sauce is a quick and easy dinner recipe! You will be drinking the sauce straight out of the pan it is so good! A salmon recipe perfect for busy weeknights when you don't have time to cook.

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Serves: 4 serves

Ingredients

EASY SALMON:

  • 4 (6 oz | 170 g) skinless salmon fillets
  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, divided
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 2 tablespoons dry white wine, (optional -- can sub with 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard))
  • Salt, to season
  • Cracked black pepper, to season

CREAM SAUCE:

  • ¼ cup unsalted butter
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 2 tablespoons dry white wine, (can sub with 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard)
  • ½ cup cream (heavy, whipping or thickened)
  • 1-2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice,
  • 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley, divided

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 425°F (220°C). Lightly grease a baking dish.

  • Pat the salmon dry with a paper towel. Combine lemon juice, olive oil, garlic and wine together in a small bowl. Rub salmon with the mixture and arrange in baking dish. Season with a good pinch of salt and pepper.

  • Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until salmon is opaque throughout.

  • While salmon is baking, melt butter in a small pot over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant (30 seconds).

  • Pour in the wine and let cook for 2-3 minutes until just starting to reduce. Add in cream and cook until sauce thickens slightly.

  • Take off the heat and stir through lemon juice and parsley.

  • Pour the sauce over the cooked salmon in the dish to mix through the natural pan juices released from the salmon while baking.

  • Serve and enjoy!

Notes

HOW LONG TO BAKE SALMON

Bake for 4 - 6 minutes per ½-inch (1 cm) thickness of fillet. Bakingtime depends on the thickness of your salmon fillets.

  • MEDIUM: 4 minutes PER ½-inch.
  • WELL DONE: 6 minutes per ½-inch.

HOW TO KNOW WHEN SALMON IS READY

Check the thickest part of your salmon fillets with a fork. When the flesh easilyflakes or softly falls apart, it's done.

You can also use an instant read thermometer to check for doneness. The USDA recommends a minimum internal temperature of 145°F (61°C), which should be taken inside the the thickest part of the salmon.

Leftovers

Refrigerate for up to 3 days in an airtight container. Gently reheat in the microwave.

Nutrition

Calories: 261kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 16mg | Potassium: 47mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 876IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 1mg

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Flor S says

    Easy Baked Salmon with Lemon Butter Cream Sauce (13)
    So delicious!!!! I made this and followed the recipe. I just added salt and pepper to my sauce and made pita bread sandwich style and it was so yummy

    Reply

  2. Carla @ Foodie Digital says

    Easy Baked Salmon with Lemon Butter Cream Sauce (14)
    This recipe proves that fancy restaurant calibre sauces don’t have to be difficult! I happened to have some whipping cream in the fridge so decided to make this for dinner and the results were incredible. I didn’t have white wine opened so opted for the dijon mustard and it was super.

    Reply

  3. Deb says

    Easy Baked Salmon with Lemon Butter Cream Sauce (15)
    Loved the sauce !!! I pan fried our salmon to get the crispy skin, but added the pan juices to sauce. Super easy, Super tasty !!! Loved it !!! 💖

    Reply

  4. Wayne Broadley says

    Easy Baked Salmon with Lemon Butter Cream Sauce (16)
    5* from me and my wife. I used less garlic than recommended and I’ll use even less garlic next time as I’m not a lover of it, but the wife thought it was perfect.
    Will be making it again.

    Thank you for the delicious recipe

    Reply

  5. Blitzo says

    Easy Baked Salmon with Lemon Butter Cream Sauce (17)
    Wow! really amazing I love it.

    Reply

  6. Shecky Calrissian says

    Easy Baked Salmon with Lemon Butter Cream Sauce (18)
    Good recipe, but why does all this info have to be presented in such an embarrassingly flaky manner? Cripes, fewer screwy adjectives and dispense with the exclamation marks PLEASE,

    Reply

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Easy Baked Salmon with Lemon Butter Cream Sauce (2024)

FAQs

What is the best sauce to eat with salmon? ›

Whether you're cooking a summertime light lunch or an internationally-inspired feast, one of these sauces is sure to make your mouth water.
  • Lemon Herb Butter Sauce: For When You Want Something Classic. ...
  • Honey Sriracha Sauce: For When You Want a Kick of Heat. ...
  • Creamy Horseradish Sauce: For When You're in the Mood for Dipping.
Oct 9, 2021

What should I put on top of my salmon? ›

A creamy but slightly tangy sauce works really well with salmon, and it's why sour cream-dill sauce over salmon is such a classic. Try mixing in curry powder, Sriracha, or scallions into yogurt or crème fraîche for an easy, elegant salmon topper.

Do you bake salmon fillets skin up or down? ›

Season salmon with salt and pepper. Place salmon, skin side down, on a non-stick baking sheet or in a non-stick pan with an oven-proof handle. Bake until salmon is cooked through, about 12 to 15 minutes.

What brings out the flavor of salmon? ›

Spices: Dried spices, such as onion powder, garlic powder, and cumin, can add depth of flavor to salmon. Smoked paprika or sweet paprika can add smokiness to the salmon. To add heat, try chili powder, cayenne pepper, jerk seasoning, Cajun seasoning, or Chinese five-spice powder.

Do you bake salmon covered or uncovered? ›

Baked salmon is best when cooked at 425°F in the oven.

Even thicker fillets don't take long. We recommend baking the salmon uncovered. Simply rub the fillets with a little oil, sprinkle them with salt and pepper, then place them in the roasting pan skin-side down before popping them in the oven.

What not to do when cooking salmon? ›

But before you turn on the heat, don't let these blunders get in the way of your perfect salmon dinner.
  1. Not removing the pin bones. ...
  2. Seasoning the fish too soon before cooking. ...
  3. Removing the salmon skin before cooking (with one exception).

Is salmon better in the oven or pan? ›

For smaller, crispy, skin-on Salmon; a crispy pan sear is recommended. For bigger fillets, and succulent, skin-off King Salmon; the best method would be cooking in an oven.

Is it better to bake salmon at 350 or 400? ›

What's the Best Temperature for Baking Salmon? If baking individual salmon fillet portions, a higher temperature of 400 to 425 degrees F is best.

Should I flip salmon in the oven? ›

When the crust is fully formed, in about 6 minutes, it'll be an easy flip. After flipping, let the skin get nice and crispy and cook for about 4 more minutes.

What is the secret to the best salmon? ›

A dry brine gives you firmer, juicier fish fillets with kettle-chip-crisp skin. Credit... Gentl and Hyers for The New York Times.

Is it better to bake salmon on foil or parchment? ›

Cooking salmon in parchment paper is the best way to steam with great taste.

How do you know when salmon is baked enough? ›

Internal temperature: Use an instant-read meat thermometer; the salmon should register 145°F (63°C) at its thickest part. Flakiness: When gently pressed with a fork, the fish should easily flake apart. Avoid overcooking, as it can dry out the salmon.

What is best served with salmon? ›

Sides for salmon
  • Puy lentil salad with soy beans, sugar snap peas & broccoli. A star rating of 4.9 out of 5. ...
  • Easy quinoa salad. A star rating of 4.6 out of 5. ...
  • Perfect mashed potatoes. ...
  • Broccoli salad. ...
  • Smacked cucumber pickles. ...
  • Pasta primavera. ...
  • Quinoa, squash & broccoli salad. ...
  • Roasted asparagus & pea salad.

What does salmon taste best with? ›

Vegetable Side Dishes for Salmon
  • 1 / 20. Garlic Green Beans. ...
  • 2 / 20. Easy 10-Minute Garlic Broccolini. ...
  • 3 / 20. Oven-Caramelized Cabbage Wedges. ...
  • 4 / 20. Spanakopita Kale Salad. ...
  • 5 / 20. Roasted Parmesan Asparagus. ...
  • 6 / 20. Grilled Zucchini. ...
  • 7 / 20. Air Fryer Green Beans. ...
  • 8 / 20. Cacio e Pepe Broccoli.
Jan 8, 2024

What is the most common sauce for fish? ›

Best sauces for fish
  • How to pair sauces and fish?
  • Pepper sauce.
  • Apricot sauce.
  • Mustard sauce.
  • Lemon and citrus fruit sauce.
  • Orange sauce.
  • Fruit Mostarda.

What condiment goes best with fish? ›

What Condiments and Seasonings Pair Well with Seafood?
  • Salty: soy sauce, capers, miso, olives.
  • Sweet: honey, brown sugar, syrup, orange juice.
  • Sour: lemon, lime, vinegar.
  • Strong: onion, garlic, ginger, sesame, horseradish.
  • Creamy: butter, yogurt, cream cheese, crème fraiche, mayonnaise.
Jun 19, 2020

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