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This Baked Salmon with Lemon Butter Cream Sauce is a total winner! It’s super easy, with tender, flaky salmon and a rich, garlicky lemon butter sauce that feels fancy but takes minimal effort. Serve it up with rice, veggies, or pasta, and you’re good to go!
For more salmon inspiration, check out these tasty recipes: Parmesan Crusted Salmon Caesar Salad, Garlic Butter Baked Salmon, or Baked Parmesan Crusted Salmon with Mayo—they’re all packed with flavor and easy to make!
😍Why You’ll Love It
Let’s face it—some nights, we all want a dinner that looks impressive but doesn’t require hours in the kitchen. That’s where this baked salmon recipe shines. It’s flavorful, comforting, and ready in no time!
- 🥘 Easy to make – Simple ingredients, no complicated techniques.
- 🍋 Bright and zesty flavors – The lemon sauce balances perfectly with the buttery richness.
- 🧄 Garlicky goodness – Because garlic makes everything better!
- 🐟 Perfectly baked salmon – Tender and juicy, with a hint of crispiness around the edges.
👨🍳Helpful Tips
- For an extra pop of flavor, you can add a sprinkle of grated Parmesan to the sauce.
- Keep an eye on the salmon as it bakes. Overcooking can dry it out, so aim for that perfect flaky texture.
- Feel free to customize the sauce with other herbs like dill or chives.
🔥How Long to Bake Salmon at 425?
If you’re baking salmon at 425°F, you’re in for a quick and delicious meal! At this temperature, salmon cooks fast while staying juicy and flaky. For a fillet that’s about 1 inch thick, bake it for 10-12 minutes. Thicker cuts, around 1.5 to 2 inches, will need 12-16 minutes. Want a crispier edge? You can broil it for the last minute or two, but keep an eye on it so it doesn’t overcook. Perfectly baked salmon should flake easily with a fork and still have a little moisture in the center.
✨Substitutions and variations
- Extra garlic lover? Feel free to add more garlic for that bold punch.
- Butter-free – Try using olive oil instead for a lighter sauce.
- Herb swap – Add basil or thyme for a different flavor profile.
- Add wine – A splash of white wine in the sauce can add depth and richness.
🍽️What to Serve With it
Pair this baked salmon with:
- Crusty Garlic Bread to soak up all that lemon butter sauce!
- A crisp Caesar salad with our easy Caesar salad dressing.
- Garlic Mashed Potatoes or roasted veggies for a hearty side.
🗄️Leftovers and Storage
- Best enjoyed fresh, but you can refrigerate leftovers for up to 2 days.
- Reheat gently in the oven or microwave to prevent drying out.
- We don’t recommend freezing because the cream sauce may separate.
For more in-depth information on salmon care, including storage, defrosting and reheating, visit our Everything You Need to Know About Salmon page.
Baked Salmon with Lemon Butter Cream Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
For The Salmon
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 minced garlic clove
- 2 tablespoons old-style Dijon mustard
- 5 skinless salmon fillets, about 5 oz./150 grams each
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- salt, to taste
Lemon Butter Garlic Sauce
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- 1 ½ tablespoons minced garlic cloves
- ½ cup heavy cream, or half and half
- 1-2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, optional
- 1 tablespoon parsley, finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- lemon slices for serving
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425°F /220°C with the rack in the center.
- In a medium bowl combine 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 minced garlic clove and 2 tablespoons old-style Dijon mustard. Mix well.
- Place 5 skinless salmon fillets into the skillet, pour the mixture over salmon fillets and rub. Season with ½ teaspoon ground black pepper and salt. Bake for 10-15 minutes in the preheated oven.
- In the meantime, melt ¼ cup unsalted butter in a medium saucepan over low-medium heat. Add 1 ½ tablespoons minced garlic cloves and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Pour in ½ cup heavy cream and bring to a boil. The sauce should thicken a little bit.
- Take off the heat and stir in 1-2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice if using. Garnish with 1 tablespoon parsley and season with ½ teaspoon ground black pepper and salt to your liking.
- Pour the sauce over the baked salmon and allow to rest for 5-10 minutes.
- Serve with lemon slices for serving. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Best enjoyed fresh, but leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 2 days.
- Reheat gently in the oven or microwave to keep the salmon moist.
- Freezing is not recommended as the cream sauce may separate and affect the texture.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Your recipe sounds wonderful. I would like to make it to bring to someone after a surgery…will it reheat alright? Any suggestions for transporting?
Thanks, Michelle! Yes, it should reheat well—just keep it covered to retain moisture when reheating. For transporting, place the salmon in a shallow container with a secure lid, and pack the sauce separately in a small container. Reheat the salmon in the oven and the sauce on the stovetop or microwave before serving.
This was so easy and definitely YUMMY! Will make again. I think the protein listed in the nutritional info has to be a typo?
Thanks, Katie! I’m so glad you enjoyed it and found it easy to make! As for the protein in the nutritional info, I’ll double-check that—it could be a typo. Thanks for pointing it out, and I hope you enjoy making it again soon!
This was delicious! Paired well with cilantro lime rice and garlic bread. I also added some spinach to the butter sauce. Chef’s kiss!
So glad you loved it, Jessica! Chef’s kiss, indeed! Thanks for sharing your delicious tweaks! 😊
So so so delicious! And easy! Husband is quite the salmon connoisseur and absolutely loved it. Made it for company the first time and they called it amazing! Yum yum yum!!!
Thank you, Suzanne! So happy to hear it was a hit with everyone, including your salmon connoisseur husband!
This is my go to recipe! This is what got my 6 y.o. to love salmon. Today I didn’t have salmon but I had mahi mahi and that was even wonderful to sub!
That’s fantastic, Shavonne! So glad your kiddo enjoys it too—love hearing when recipes are family-approved. Great thinking with the fish swap; I’ll bet it tasted amazing! Thanks for letting me know!
Family love your salmon recipes
That’s awesome, Grant! Nothing makes us happier than hearing the whole family enjoyed it! Thanks for cooking with us! 😊
Easy and quick recipe! Turned out delicious! Paired it with yellow rice. Thank you!
Hi Tammy! 😊That sounds like a fantastic combo — love the idea of serving it with something warm and flavorful on the side! So glad it worked out well for you. Really appreciate you giving it a try and sharing your experience 💛
Looked online for a salmon dish that would be easy to make and that I’d have all the ingredients. This popped up.. tried it tonight and my family loved it. Even my picky brother gave it a thumbs up and took home some leftovers! Also, it makes a lot of sauce with so much less cream, butter and parmesan than Alfredo from scratch. Awesome recipe! Thanks for sharing!
Hi Joy! Thank you so much for your kind comment! I’m really happy to hear that you and your family enjoyed the salmon—and getting a thumbs up from a picky eater is the best compliment 😊 Thanks again for trying the recipe and taking the time to share your experience. It truly means a lot!
Delicious and easy to make!
Thanks Ana!