Name: Flaky, Buttery Salmon That Melts in Your Mouth
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 Salmon Filets (6oz-8oz); 1/4-1/2 Teaspoon Salt; 1/4-1/2 Teaspoon Pepper; 1/2 Teaspoon Avocado Oil or Olive Oil

Want perfectly flaky, melt-in-your-mouth salmon with minimal effort? This oven-baked salmon recipe delivers-just season fillets with olive or avocado oil, salt, and pepper, then bake at 415°F until tender and juicy. No grill, just a foil-covered rest to lock in the flavor. Ready in under 25 minutes for an easy winner weeknight dinner.

roasted salmon with a cucumber salad on a white speckeld plate with a fork and a glass of wine in the background on a grey surface

If there is one thing I bake all the dang time besides chocolate chip cookies it's this salmon. We make it all the time, at least once a week, if not twice.

I grew up pan frying salmon but I felt like it would stink the house up a bit, not to mention you have to kind of babysit things when they are pan frying. That alone is why I love using the oven, roasting and baking means I can do other things while I am waiting for the food to cook.

close up of roasted salmon cut up next to cucumber salad on a white speckled plate

Baking salmon provides a buttery, soft, and moist fish, if you're looking for a crispy skin on the salmon this is not for you.

We usually have this salmon on top of a salad or with roasted vegetables. Makes for a quick weeknight dinner.

What You'll Need: Salmon, Oil & Simple Seasoning

Salmon. I like Trader Joe's bbq cut salmon because they are usually thicker fillets, make sure to try and get ones that are similar in size. I also love the salmon from Whole Foods and Sprouts. I've heard great things about the frozen salmon filets at Costco too. Coho Salmon is my all-time favorite, and King Salmon too but they aren't always in season. Sockeye salmon is my least favorite salmon, it's rich in color and has a much stronger flavor, but you do you boo.
Seasoning. Salt and Pepper are a go-to. But I also love the Chili Lime seasoning form Trader Joe's on salmon, so good!
Oil. I like to use an oil spray because I find I use much less, I like avocado oil or olive oil. Make sure you use a high heat oil!

Sometimes I top the salmon with lemon slices before baking but I tend to prefer just fresh squeezed lemon on top of my baked salmon.

pack of salmon, avocado oil spray, salt and pepper containers on a grey surface

Let's Bake That Salmon to Perfection

two filets of salmon with salt and pepper on a small sheet pan on a grey surface — Place the salmon filets skin-side down on a very lightly oiled baking tray. Spray a tiny bit of the oil on top of the salmon and sprinkle salt and pepper all over the filet.

digital thermometer checking the internal temperature of salmon and wrapping it in foil to let it rest — Bake the salmon. Take the tray out of the oven and cover with a piece of foil for 5-10 minutes to rest.

What to serve with roasted salmon

An obvious choice would be roasted veggies since the oven is already on. My roasted carrot recipe is delicious. They may just need to bake a bit longer, while the salmon is resting.
In the photos above I paired the salmon with my corn, cucumber, and tomato salad.
I love these salt and vinegar smashed potatoes or roasted fingerling potatoes.

filet of roasted salmon with cucumber salad on a white speckled plate with a fork next to a glass of wine and a black and white linen on a grey surface

★★★★★ Please let me know if you make this recipe by leaving a star rating and comment below!

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