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 ready in under 30 minutes.

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

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If you love salmon and you're looking for easy recipes with very minimal hands-on time, this one is definitely for you! 🙂 Truth be told, I make this exact recipe more than any other salmon recipe throughout the year. My whole family loves it, and it's so easy that it's become my go-to fish recipe on a busy night.

You can pair it with a simple side or two of rice, roasted asparagus, fingerling potatoes or steamed broccoli, or a simple salad dressed with apple cider vinegar dressing or Niçoise dressing. (In the summer months, I also love pairing it with this chopped Caprese salad, this red skin potato salad or this delicious mango salsa.) And if you're not a salmon fan, this pan seared chicken recipe or these tasty turkey burgers are a couple other quick & easy options for dinner.

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❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
🌿 Ingredients
📝 Instructions
📋 Substitutions
🔪 Equipment
🍱 Storage
🎉 Top tip
💭 FAQ
🍳 Recipe
🌡️ Food safety

❤️ Why you'll love this recipe

Just 5 minutes of prep time, and 20 minutes in the oven
Quick, easy and foolproof
Magical, savory taste with no marinating required
Dairy free (no butter needed!)
Kid tested and approved

🌿 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.

📋 Substitutions

As written, this baked salmon recipe is gluten free and dairy free. Feel free to make any of the following substitutions as needed:

Olive oil - use avocado oil or coconut oil instead, or line your baking dish with parchment paper for oil free
Tamari - substitute soy sauce if gluten is not a concern, and feel free to use low-sodium tamari or soy sauce for a lower salt option
Coconut sugar - substitute brown sugar (dark or light), maple sugar, or maple syrup

🔪 Equipment

I used the following equipment to make this recipe:

8-inch baking dish
glass bowl
whisk
metal spatula

🍱 Storage

Baked salmon will stay freshest for up to 2 days in an airtight container in the fridge, or for up to 2 months in the freezer.

🎉 Top tip

For skin-on salmon, here's a nice little trick that makes removing the skin super easy. After your salmon is out of the oven, simply slide a metal spatula in between the salmon flesh and the skin to easily remove the skin before you serve it.

Enjoy!

💭 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 flake easily with a 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, Atlantic and other varieties. Look for the freshest salmon that you can afford, and choose fresh-caught over 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, cauliflower 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