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Easy Garlic Butter Baked Salmon | Best Guest-Favorite Recipe

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This Guest-Favorite Garlic Butter Baked Salmon is the dish I now bring to every dinner party, every potluck, every gathering where I want to quietly impress without breaking a sweat. It’s simple enough for a Tuesday night but fancy enough that people think you spent hours on it.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 salmon fillets (6 oz each, skin-on or skinless)
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon dried parsley (or 1 tablespoon fresh, chopped)
  • 1 lemon, thinly sliced into rounds
  • Fresh parsley or dill for garnish
  • Lemon wedges for serving

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Remove the salmon from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes.
  3. Pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels.
  4. In a small bowl, combine the softened butter, minced garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, pepper, paprika, and dried parsley. Mash together with a fork until well combined.
  5. Arrange the lemon slices in a single layer in the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
  6. Place the salmon fillets on top of the lemon slices, skin-side down (if using skin-on fillets), leaving space between each fillet.
  7. Spread the garlic butter mixture evenly over the top of each fillet.
  8. Bake for 12-15 minutes, depending on thickness, until the salmon flakes easily with a fork and internal temperature reaches 145°F (63°C).
  9. Optional: Broil for 1-2 minutes for a caramelized top.
  10. Remove from the oven and let the salmon rest in the dish for 2-3 minutes.
  11. Transfer to a serving platter, garnish with fresh parsley or dill and lemon wedges, and serve immediately.

Notes

Don’t overmix the garlic butter; little pockets create flavor bursts. Room temperature butter spreads best. Check for doneness early as ovens vary. Scale up by using two baking dishes to avoid overcrowding. The lemon bed creates a steam barrier and infuses flavor.

Nutrition

Keywords: garlic butter salmon, baked salmon, easy salmon recipe, guest favorite, salmon dinner, weeknight dinner, healthy salmon

Find it online: https://sunnysavory.com/easy-garlic-butter-baked-salmon-best-guest-favorite-recipe/