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Our Lemon Pepper Salmon recipe features fresh salmon fillets seasoned with a blend of lemon pepper seasnoing mixture and then baked to perfection in the oven until tender and flaky, resulting in a dish that’s bursting with flavor and moisture. Serve it alongside your favorite sides for a wholesome and satisfying meal.
Speaking of top marks, if this dish got a report card, it would get ‘E’ all around, but not just for ‘excellent.’ Enticing, elevated, and easy would be on this fish’s report card! It’s beautiful to look at, provides an elevated flavor, and comes together in no time. The buttery sauce has so much flavor and the salmon is perfectly tender and flakey. That makes lemon pepper salmon a perfect choice for both weeknight dinners and special occasions.
Why I Love This Recipe
- Healthy and Nutritious: Packed with protein, omega-3s, and essential nutrients, salmon is a nutritious choice that’s as good for your body as it is for your taste buds.
- Versatile: This Lemon Pepper Salmon can be enjoyed on its own, served with a side salad, or paired with your favorite vegetables or grains for a complete meal.
- It’s easy. With an easy prep and a short cooking time, this recipe couldn’t be more simple.
Lemon Pepper Salmon Ingredients
- Salmon: Full of omega-3 fatty acid and rich flavor, salmon is an excellent choice of protein. Look for wild-caught salmon whenever possible. If your salmon is frozen, defrost it fully before making the recipe.
- Sauce base: Butter and lemon juice create the base for our lemon butter sauce.
- Spices: To season the sauce, we have lemon pepper seasoning, parsley, garlic and onion powder, salt and paprika. Feel free to modify the seasonings to your taste.
How To Make Lemon Pepper Salmon
Step 1: Prepare the equipment. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking tray with aluminum foil and set it aside.
Step 2: Dry the fish. Pat dry the salmon fillets with a kitchen towel and place them on the prepared baking tray.
Step 3: Mix the butter sauce. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter. Add lemon juice, lemon pepper seasoning, parsley, paprika, salt, onion powder, and garlic powder to the melted butter. Mix well to create the butter sauce.
Step 4: Coat the salmon. Pour the butter sauce over the salmon on the baking tray, ensuring even coating.
Step 5: Bake the fish. Bake the salmon in the preheated oven for 14-15 minutes or until the salmon is cooked and appears opaque.
Step 6: Garnish and serve. Once cooked, transfer the salmon to a serving plate. Top it with fresh parsley and serve with lemon slices on the side.
Expert Tips
- Marinate Salmon: Marinate the salmon filets in lemon juice, olive oil, and minced garlic for about 30 minutes before seasoning and cooking for extra flavor. This helps tenderize the fish and infuses it with more lemon flavor.
- Pat the Salmon Dry: Drying the salmon filets before seasoning them helps the seasoning stick better and ensures a crispier exterior when cooking.
- Don’t Overcook: Salmon is best enjoyed when cooked until just opaque and flaky; avoid overcooking to prevent dryness.
- Adjust Seasoning to Taste: Feel free to adjust the amount of lemon zest and black pepper to suit your personal preference.
- Serve Immediately: For the best taste and texture, serve the Lemon Pepper Salmon immediately after cooking.
What to Serve with Lemon Pepper Salmon
Lemon Pepper Salmon pairs well with a variety of side dishes such as Grilled Vegetables, Parmesan Roasted Carrots, Air Fryer Parmesan Asparagus, Rice, or a House Salad. Enjoy your flavorful and nutritious meal with any of your favorite Sides!
Storing and Reheating
Storing: Refrigerate any leftover cooked salmon and eat it within two days for the best quality.
To Reheat: Gently warm the salmon in the microwave, oven, or on the stovetop until heated through. Be careful not to overcook, as this can cause the salmon to dry out. Leftover salmon can also be enjoyed cold. Try adding it to a salad for a flavorful lunch option.
Freezing: While cooked salmon can be frozen, its texture may change slightly upon thawing. If you plan to freeze it, wrap the individual filets tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, then place them in a freezer bag or airtight container. Label with the date and use within 2 months for best quality.
Alternative Cooking Methods
Grilling: Grilling adds a smoky flavor to the salmon. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Grill the filets skin-side down on for about 4-5 minutes then flip, or cook until the salmon is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
Stove Top: Pan-searing keeps the inside moist and full of flavor and the outside crispy. Use a skillet over medium-high heat and add a little olive oil. Place salmon in the skillet, skin-side down, and cook for about 4-5 minutes, then flip.
Frequently Asked Questions
While you can cook frozen salmon, we recommend that you thaw the salmon completely before continuing with the recipe. This will help the salmon to take on the flavor of the lemon pepper and prevent it from drying out.
Yes, you can substitute lemon with another citrus fruit to add a different flavor profile to your salmon. Try lime, orange, or grapefruit to discover a new favorite flavor combination!
Of course! Any mildly flavored, firm fish, like cod or mahi mahi, would take well to this recipe. The cooking time may differ, so be careful not to overcook.
Bake the salmon in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for approximately 12-15 minutes, or until it is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork.
More Salmon Recipes
- Baked Thai Salmon
- Teriyaki Salmon Bites
- Brown Sugar Baked Salmon
- Grilled Teriyaki Salmon
- Air Fryer Salmon Patties
Our Lemon Pepper Salmon recipe offers a delightful blend of zesty citrus and bold pepper flavors that’s sure to elevate your next seafood dinner. With its simplicity, versatility, and irresistible taste, this dish is perfect for both busy weeknights and special occasions alike.
If you try this recipe or any of my other recipes, please leave a star rating in the comment section below because I love hearing from my readers. Also follow me at Cookin’ With Mima on FACEBOOK |INSTAGRAM |PINTEREST for all of my latest social posts and recipes.
Lemon Pepper Salmon
Ingredients
- 1 lb Salmon filets or center cut salmon
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice, fresh
- 1 tablespoon lemon pepper seasonings
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Lemon slices, to serve
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking tray with aluminum foil and set it aside.
- Pat dry the salmon fillets with a kitchen towel and place them on the prepared baking tray.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter. Add lemon juice, lemon pepper seasoning, parsley, paprika, salt, onion powder, and garlic powder to the melted butter. Mix well to create the butter sauce.
- Pour the butter sauce over the salmon on the baking tray, ensuring even coating.
- Bake the salmon in the preheated oven for 14-15 minutes or until the salmon is cooked and appears opaque.
- Once cooked, transfer the salmon to a serving plate. Top it with fresh parsley and serve with lemon slices on the side.
Notes
- Marinate Salmon: Marinate the salmon filets in lemon juice, olive oil, and minced garlic for about 30 minutes before seasoning and cooking for extra flavor. This helps tenderize the fish and infuses it with more lemon flavor.
- Pat the Salmon Dry: Drying the salmon filets before seasoning them helps the seasoning stick better and ensures a crispier exterior when cooking.
- Don’t Overcook: Salmon is best enjoyed when cooked until just opaque and flaky; avoid overcooking to prevent dryness.
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