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Why You’ll Love My Oven Baked Salmon Recipe
Ingredients & Substitutions
How To Bake Salmon In The Oven
My Recipe Tips
How Long To Bake Salmon?
Storage Instructions
Serving Suggestions
More Baked Salmon Recipes
My Tools For This Recipe
Baked Salmon Recipe (Easy & Flaky!) Recipe card
Recipe Reviews

Oh, baked salmon. It’s the healthy dinner that can — and does — do it all. It’s my busier-than- ever -weeknight dinner. It’s my I-have-guests-over dinner. It’s my I-want-something-light dinner. It’s my I-don’t-feel-like-cooking dinner. Sometimes it’s even my holiday dinner. This oven baked salmon recipe is the every possible occasion staple that I make over and over. Make it with me!

Why You’ll Love My Oven Baked Salmon Recipe

Tender, flaky salmon texture – I won’t deny that pan searing salmon is the best way to get crispy skin, but baked salmon more than makes up for it with its juicy, tender flakes. There are a few ways my recipe makes this happen, but the key is my tips (below) for the perfect cook time.
Bright and fresh flavors – Lemon, olive oil, and fresh herbs bring out the natural taste of the fish. I have a sweet variation below if that’s your thing, but this is the combination I come back to again and again.
Just 6 simple ingredients – With minimal ingredients you can find at any grocery store, my baked salmon recipe proves that flavorful meals can be simple. And simple is how I love it most.
Quick and easy – Busy weeknights are no match for salmon in the oven. It takes only 15-20 minutes — which is mostly hands-off — and even beginners can nail it. (Then you can branch out to other types of fish, like my baked cod , baked halibut , rainbow trout , and even sea bass .)

Oven baked salmon on a plate with green beans. - 3

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for my easy baked salmon recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .

Salmon Tips:

Try to get skin-on salmon if you can — it gives the fish the best flavor, even if you don’t eat the skin. But skinless is just fine if that’s what you’ve got.
You can make baked salmon recipes with pretty much any species of salmon . Sockeye or farm-raised Atlantic salmon is the most affordable. I love using wild-caught pink salmon, Coho salmon, or for a treat, king salmon is the very best. You can even use steelhead trout .
Though you can bake a whole salmon fillet, individual 6-ounce fillets are my favorite way to cook salmon in the oven, because they cook more evenly — and a little faster, too.
If you have the kind with bones, I recommend my salmon steak recipe instead.

Other Ingredients:

Olive Oil – Oil ensures that the fish stays moist and flavorful. You can also use avocado oil, or even unsalted melted butter.
Lemon Juice – Use fresh lemon juice for the best flavor, or bottled for convenience. I try to use fresh lemons for this, as I place extra slices on top of the fish for a flavor boost and presentation.
Garlic – You can mince or crush fresh garlic cloves, or use the jarred kind (I always have some in my fridge). If you don’t have either, you can substitute 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder , though I think it’s a downgrade.
Fresh Herbs – I used fresh dill and fresh parsley in my baked salmon recipe, but thyme would also go nicely. I don’t recommend dried herbs, but if that’s all you have, use 1/3 the amount of fresh.
Sea Salt & Black Pepper

Fish fillets on a plate next to fresh herbs, lemon, olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper. - 4

Sweet Variations:

Honey – Whisk 1-2 tablespoons of honey (or my natural sugar-free honey ) along with the olive oil and lemon juice.
Maple – You can add the maple syrup like the honey above, or if you have time, use my sweet salmon marinade instead.
Gochujang – My most recent favorite glaze mixture! I first used it on my sockeye salmon recipe (I have instructions listed there), but it’s delicious on any kind of salmon.

How To Bake Salmon In The Oven

I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .

Mix the oil, lemon, garlic, and fresh herbs. Just stir or whisk them together in a small bowl.
Brush it on the salmon. Place the salmon in a baking dish ( I use this one ) or on a baking sheet, with space between the fillets. Pat the fish dry with a paper towel, then brush with olive oil mixture on both sides. I season with salt and pepper at this point (rather than mixing them into the oil mixture), because these are so important to be evenly distributed. If you like, place thin lemon slices on top of each fillet.

Olive oil herb mixture in a bowl with a small whisk. - 6

Brushing the olive oil mixture on the salmon fillets in a baking dish. - 7

Bake salmon. Place the salmon in the oven and bake until it flakes easily with a fork. (For best results, see my tips and temp chart below!) I like to sprinkle more fresh herbs on top for serving, and drizzle with the sauce from the bottom of the baking dish. It makes the fish even more moist!

Oven baked salmon in a baking dish, garnished with lemon slices and fresh parsley. - 8

My Recipe Tips

Choose fillets similar in size and thickness. This will help them cook at the same rate. If one of my pieces is very thin, I just fold it over.
Dry well before seasoning. I do this with all proteins to keep that moisture locked in. People often forget this step, but I find it makes a noticeable difference.
Cook within 10 minutes after seasoning. Since the mixture contains acidic lemon juice, your fish will start to turn into ceviche if you don’t make the baked salmon recipe right away.
Be careful not to overcook. Timing is key. I aim for that sweet spot of 135 to 140 degrees F inside to get that juicy, flaky goodness. (See below for more on why I choose this temperature and how I perfect the timing.)
You can bake frozen salmon if you have to. Although I recommend thawing first, you can bake salmon from frozen. Simply cover it with foil and bake for 5-10 minutes, until thawed. Brush on the seasoning mixture, then continue baking (now uncovered) for 10-20 more minutes, until it reaches your target temperature below. The total cook time is 20-25 minutes.

How Long To Bake Salmon?

Salmon bake time will depend on thickness, but a good estimate for individual fillets is 10-15 minutes . I always start checking at 10 minutes just in case. 400 degrees F is my optimal salmon oven temp, because it’s high enough to cook the fish quickly without drying it out, but low enough to prevent burning.

You can check to see if the fish is done by flaking it with a fork, but to make my baked salmon recipe perfectly , check the internal temperature using an instant read thermometer ( I use this one ) inserted into the thickest part of the salmon.

Below is my temperature guide to know when it’s done to your liking. I highly recommend 135-140 degrees F for moist, flaky fish, as higher than that turns out dry. Feel free to go lower if you like yours less done.

Lifting baked salmon out of a dish with a fish spatula. - 10

Storage Instructions

Store: Keep any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. They aren’t as good as fresh, but I still enjoy them for lunch!
Meal prep: Mix the olive oil mixture ahead and brush it on right before baking, or fully bake salmon in the oven and then portion into individual containers to simply reheat later.
Reheat: Reheating salmon in the air fryer is my favorite method to avoid drying it out (about 3 minutes at 325 degrees F), but you can also cover it in foil and pop in the oven (at the same temp). It’s also delicious chilled or at room temperature. I don’t like microwaving fish because it gets dry easily, but you can if you need to.
Freeze: Wrap the fish in plastic wrap, then place in a zip lock bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before you reheat.

Leftover ideas:

Make my salmon bowl for a quick lunch option, or add a baked salmon fillet as a protein over any of my salad recipes . If the fish already seems dry after storage, I use it to make my creamy salmon salad to avoid reheating it.

2 fillets of baked salmon plated with green beans, fresh herbs, lemon, and a fork. - 12

Serving Suggestions

My easy baked salmon recipe goes with almost anything — it’s one of the reasons it’s my every-occasion dinner! Since it’s so simple, though, equally simple sides work best:

Vegetables – Let me be real, half the time I just roast asparagus or zucchini on the same sheet pan I use for oven baked salmon and call it a day. (You can also saute zucchini or air fry asparagus while you’ve got the salmon in the oven instead.) But this time I was feeling fancy, so I made my green bean almondine recipe , pictured above. If you want something different, my roasted brussels sprouts or roasted broccoli also make solid options, but you’d have to get them started earlier since they take longer.
Salads – This fish has such bright, fresh flavors, so I love it with a fresh salad! One of my oldest faves is tomato cucumber avocado salad , but my Caprese salad or quinoa salad also works well.
Starches – For a more filling meal, add my roasted potatoes , baked sweet potatoes , or your favorite rice or noodles. You can even make Instant Pot baked potatoes (which are also very hands-off) while your salmon bakes. I like my lighter options, so I go for cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles more often.

More Baked Salmon Recipes

If you like my easy baked salmon recipe but want to take it up a notch, you’ll love some of my more unique ways to bake it:

You can also try my other cooking methods: grilled salmon , broiled salmon , or air fryer salmon . I make this fish all the ways!

My Tools For This Recipe

Baking Dish – Functional, durable, and beautiful… I use this for so many meals as a baking dish, but also as a serving dish.
Meat Thermometer – I make my best baked salmon when I use it! And it reads in seconds.

Recipe Video

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

4 6-oz Salmon fillets ▢
1/4 cup Olive oil ▢
1 tbsp Lemon juice ▢
2 cloves Garlic (minced or crushed) ▢
1 tbsp Fresh dill (chopped) ▢
1 tbsp Fresh parsley (chopped) ▢
1 tsp Sea salt ▢
1/4 tsp Black pepper ▢
Lemon slices (optional) ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C).
In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, dill, and parsley.
Arrange the salmon fillets in a baking dish or on a baking sheet, with space between them. Use paper towels to pat them dry.
Brush the salmon fillets on both sides with the olive oil mixture. Season both sides with sea salt and black pepper. If desired, place a thin lemon slice over each piece of fish.
Bake salmon for 10-15 minutes , until the internal temperature reaches your desired doneness: 120-125 degrees F (48-52 degrees C) for medium rare, 130 degrees F (54 degrees C) for medium, 135 degrees F (57 degrees C) for medium well, or 140-145 degrees F (60-63 degrees C) for well done. (I recommend 135-140 degrees F for perfectly moist, flaky salmon!)

LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 salmon fillet

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

Add Your NotesYour Notes

Oven Baked Salmon Recipe

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
The Basic Keto Meal Formula
Understanding Macros
Keto Food Swaps
Keto Food List
Electrolyte Basics
Keto Diet Types
Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
Recipe Reviews

Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.

You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Keto Cheat Sheet System - printable pdf's and ebooks - 14

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System + EBooks (Only $37)

The Basic Keto Meal Formula

Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.

Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.

Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.

Pick A Protein	Pick A Veggie	Add Fat
Beef Chicken Pork Eggs Lamb Turkey Fish Shellfish Protein powder Venison	Cauliflower Broccoli Zucchini Leafy Greens Cucumbers Brussels Sprouts Cabbage Asparagus Radishes Bell Peppers Jicama Celery	Butter Avocado Oil Cheese Bacon Avocado Lard Ghee Mayo Nuts MCT Oil

Understanding Macros

Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.

Carbs Are A Limit.

Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.

A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.

“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.

A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.

Protein Is A Goal.

Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].

“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.

Fat Is A Lever.

Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.

A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).

Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.

Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.

“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.

Keto Food Swaps

One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.

So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .

Keto Swaps For Breakfast

Instead Of This…	Eat This
Pancakes	Almond flour pancakes or coconut flour pancakes
Oatmeal	Keto oatmeal with hemp seeds
Cinnamon rolls	Fathead cinnamon rolls
Cereal	Keto nut granola
Muffins	Almond flour muffins or coconut flour muffins
Donuts	Almond flour donuts
Scones	Almond flour scones
High-sugar smoothies	Smoothie with berries or avocado
Hash browns	Cauliflower hash browns
Breakfast casserole	Breakfast casserole with no potatoes
Egg whites	Whole eggs
Turkey bacon	Bacon
Waffles	Chaffles

Keto Swaps For Bread

Instead Of This…	Eat This
Bagels	Fathead bagels
English muffin	Almond flour English muffin
White bread	Keto white bread
Multigrain bread	Coconut flour bread with seeds
Tortillas for wraps	Coconut flour tortillas
Corn taco shells	Cheddar cheese taco shells
Burger buns	Oopsie rolls , portobello mushroom caps
Breadsticks	Cauliflower breadsticks
Biscuits	Almond flour biscuits
Cornbread	Almond flour cornbread
Croutons	Parmesan crisps
Rice	Cauliflower rice , konjac rice

Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes

Instead Of This…	Eat This
Breaded wings	Crispy air fryer wings (unbreaded)
Low-fat meat & poultry	High-fat cuts, or cook low-fat cuts with fat
Mashed potatoes	Mashed cauliflower
Roasted potatoes	Roasted or fried radishes
Tacos	Taco salad
Pizza	Fathead crust , chicken crust , or cauliflower crust pizza
Lasagna	Eggplant lasagna
Potato salad	Cauliflower “potato” salad
French fries	Jicama , rutabaga , or zucchini fries
Tater tots	Cauliflower tots
Wraps	Lettuce wraps , almond flour tortillas
Sushi	Naruto-style or homemade rice-free sushi
Breaded chicken or fish	Breaded cuts with almond flour or pork rinds
Spaghetti	Zoodles , spaghetti squash , shirataki noodles, kelp noodles

Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces

Instead Of This…	Eat This
Nachos	Cheese crisps
High-sugar fruit	Berries & other keto fruits
Crackers	Almond flour crackers
Hummus	Cauliflower hummus
Soft pretzels	Fathead pretzels
Popcorn	Puffed cheese
Granola bars	Grain-free granola bars
Jam	Sugar-free berry chia jam
Sweet fruity yogurt	Full-fat plain Greek yogurt with berries
Sweet salad dressing	Ranch , blue cheese , or plain vinaigrette
Ketchup	Mustard and/or sugar-free ketchup
BBQ sauce	Sugar-free BBQ sauce
Sweetened peanut butter	Natural, sugar-free nut butters
Light mayo	Avocado oil mayo
Maple syrup	Sugar-free, maple flavored syrup
Potato chips	Zucchini chips , pepperoni chips , pork rinds

Keto food swaps - snacks and sauces - 18

Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking

Instead Of This…	Eat This
Sugar	Monk fruit or allulose
Powdered sugar	Powdered monk fruit or allulose
White flour	Almond or Coconut flour (use in tested recipes)
Making baked goods soft/chewy	Xanthan gum, flax seed meal, psyllium husk powder
Breadcrumbs	Pork rinds or almond flour
Margarine	Butter, coconut oil, or ghee
Vegetable oil	Olive or avocado oil
Bananas	Banana extract
Chocolate chips	Sugar-free chocolate chips
Cornstarch or flour roux	Xanthan gum or gelatin powder (used at the end)
Simple syrup	Dissolve monk fruit allulose blend in water over heat

Keto food swaps - baking and cooking - 19

Keto Swaps For Drinks

Instead Of This…	Eat This
Lemonade	Water with lemon
Soda	Flavored sparkling water
Milk	Almond milk, coconut milk, heavy cream
Latte	Butter coffee
Coffee creamer	Heavy cream
Sweet wine	Dry wine
Beer	Ultra light beer
Mixed drinks	Hard liquor with soda + lemon

If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .

Keto Food List

When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.

The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!

Keto foods to eat and avoid summary - 21

Foods To Eat On Keto

Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
Avocados
Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
Almond flour and coconut flour
Eggs
Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.

Foods To Avoid On Keto

White flour & sugar
Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
Cereal
Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.

That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:

Keto Cheat Sheet System - printable pdf's and ebooks - 22

Get The Keto Cheat Sheet System PDF (Only $37)

Electrolyte Basics

Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.

For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .

The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.

Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:

Sodium	Magnesium	Potassium
Bone broth Boullion cubes Bacon Salted nuts Pickles	Seaweed Seeds Nuts Avocado Leafy greens	Potassium chloride Avocado Bone broth Spinach Broccoli Mushrooms Beef Pork

Keto Diet Types

People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.

Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.

Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!

Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.

For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!