Easiest Oven Baked Salmon

Name: Easiest Oven Baked Salmon
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1/2 teaspoon olive oil; 2 5-oz salmon fillets (skin off or on); 2 teaspoons tamari (or soy sauce, if gluten is not a concern); 2 teaspoons coconut sugar (or brown sugar); sea salt (to taste); freshly ground black pepper (to taste); 1/2 lemon (for garnish)

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This unbelievably easy salmon recipe is savory with a touch of sweet, and needs just five minutes of prep time and twenty minutes in the oven. Even better, there is no marinating required and it's practically foolproof to make! Pair it with some rice and roasted asparagus or steamed broccoli for a quick weeknight dinner.

Oven baked salmon fillets on a white plate with a side of asparagus and a slice of lemon.

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🌿 Ingredients
📝 Instructions
💭 FAQ
🍳 Recipe
🌡️ Food safety

🌿 Ingredients

The few ingredients you'll need should be easy to find at most large grocery stores. Feel free to replace coconut sugar with brown sugar, and tamari with soy sauce if gluten is not a concern. Also, the salmon is fine skinless or with skin on.

See recipe card below for exact quantities.

📝 Instructions

Glass baking dish greased with a thin layer of olive oil atop a white marble countertop.

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400°F, and grease a square baking dish with a thin coating of olive oil. Then, wash the salmon fillets and set aside.

Tamari and coconut sugar marinade in a glass bowl with a stainless steel whisk.

Step 2: Whisk the tamari and coconut sugar together in a small, shallow mixing bowl and add the salmon fillets. Use your hands to coat the fish well with the marinade.

Two salmon fillets marinated with tamari and coconut sugar in a glass baking dish.

Step 3: Place both fillets in the baking dish, leaving some room around each one. If the salmon still has the skin on, place them skin side down. Bake for 20 minutes or until the flesh becomes opaque and flakes a little when cut with a knife.

Step 4: Use a metal spatula to remove the salmon and season with a pinch of salt & pepper and fresh lemon slices.

Pro tip: For skin-on salmon, simply slide the metal spatula in between the salmon flesh and the skin to easily remove the skin before you serve it.

💭 FAQ

What temperature should I bake salmon at in the oven?

Baking salmon at 375-400°F (190-200°C) for 15-20 minutes is recommended to reach a minimum internal temperature of 145°F (63°C). Cooked salmon will turn slightly opaque and the thickest part should flake easily with a fork or knife.

Should I bake salmon with the skin on or off?

You can bake salmon in the oven with either the skin on or off in a lightly greased baking dish or on a baking sheet. For skin-on salmon, place the fish skin side down in the dish.

What type of salmon is best for baking?

Any variety of salmon will work for baking, including sockeye, coho, king and other varieties. Look for the freshest salmon that you can afford, and choose wild and fresh-caught over farmed and previously frozen if possible.

What should I serve baked salmon with?

Oven-baked salmon pairs well with roasted or steamed vegetables such as broccoli, asparagus, green beans or potatoes, or alongside a fresh salad of greens. Grain dishes such as rice and quinoa can also complement and complete a salmon dinner.

🍳 Recipe