Garlic Butter Baked Salmon in Foil comes together in just 20 minutes! This easy salmon recipe is slathered in a honey garlic butter sauce then baked in a foil packet for the perfect flaky bite. Guaranteed to be your new favorite salmon dinner!
One of My Favorite Baked Salmon Recipes
I don’t know about you, but when I am in a bind on the dinner front my absolute go to EVERY SINGLE time is salmon. In fact, I was on the phone with my husband the other night and he made a comment about how “salmon, asparagus and sweet potato hash are the joyful healthy eats dinner of choice.”
It’s not necessarily by choice, but more out of necessity. It’s a quick easy 15 to 20 minute dinner that everyone in my family loves. My kids devour it and so do I because it’s a flavorful, no fuss meal with easy clean up. And believe me, us moms need all the no fuss meals! Can I get an amen! Let’s get started!
What You’ll Need
- Salmon: Yup, you kinda need salmon for this recipe. I usually get it from the fish monger at the grocery store and buy it with the skin on.
- Butter: I use unsalted because I like to be able to control the salt of my recipes.
- Honey: Adds a nice sweetness to the sauce
- Garlic: You can never go wrong with too much garlic.
- Dijon Mustard: Mustard will give the sauce a little bit of tang, which will cut through some of the fat of the salmon.
- Spices: I love to use smoked paprika, red pepper flakes and then top with fresh herbs after the salmon comes out of the oven
- Lemon: The acid will cut through some of the fattiness from the salmon, plus lemon is always a great “finisher” for any seafood.
How to Make Baked Salmon in Foil
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Line a baking sheet with a large enough piece of foil that you could fold over and seal to create a packet later on. Place salmon in the center of the foil.
- Season salmon with desired spice or sauces, then fold foil up around salmon to create a tent.
- Place in oven and bake for 10 to 14 minutes or until your desired doneness.
- Remove salmon from oven and turn broiler on HIGH.
- Unfold the foil so the salmon is uncovered. Place salmon back under broiler for 2 to 3 minutes till there is slight browning over caramelization on top.
- Remove from oven. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve.
Should I Cover Salmon While It’s Baking?
Honestly, I have done both. I’ve cooked my salmon uncooked and I’ve cooked it covered.
How Long Do I Bake Salmon at 400F
I like to cook my salmon at 400°F for 10-12 minutes. This gives me the most consistent doneness every time. I actually like to take my salmon out and put it under the broiler for 2-3 minutes afterwards to give it nice browned edges.
How Do I Know When Salmon is Done?
I can’t stress this enough, always check your salmon at the minimum bake time to ensure you don’t over bake your beautiful piece of fish. The best way to know if your salmon is done is to remove it from the oven, take a fork and either pull the salmon apart or twist the fork. If the salmon looks opaque and begins to flake then your salmon is done. If your salmon is still a dark pink color then you need to bake for a couple more minutes.
Hands down this Garlic Butter Salmon Recipe is going to be a repeat recipe. I usually make my Honey Mustard Baked Salmon during the week, but it now has a strong contender for a more savory side. The kids devoured it and so did I.
If you’re in the market for a quick super easy recipe that flavorful, healthy and doesn’t make a ton of dirty dishes, let me tell you, this is it! I like to serve salmon with roasted asparagus and then usually a sweet potato hash that I make, but this Grilled Sweet Potato Salad would be absolutely divine!
I can’t wait to hear what you think. Bon Appetit friends!
Other Recipes with Baked Salmon:
- Sweet Chili Baked Salmon
- Honey Mustard Baked Salmon
- Paleo Baked Salmon with Avocado Salsa
- Dijon Maple Glazed Salmon
Easy 20 Minute Garlic Butter Baked Salmon in Foil
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Seafood
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Tender Garlic Butter Baked Salmon in foil comes together in just 20 minutes! This easy salmon recipe is slathered in a honey garlic butter sauce then baked in a foil packet for the perfect flaky bite.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. salmon
- chopped parsley for garnish
Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce:
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons raw honey
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon basil
- 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Line a baking sheet with a large enough piece of foil that you could fold over and seal to create a packet later on. Place salmon in the center of the foil.
- In a small bowl, add garlic cloves, dijon mustard, butter, lemon zest, honey, smoked paprika, basil, red pepper flakes, pepper and salt. Mix everything together until combined.
- Pour lemon garlic butter mixture over the salmon and then fold foil up around it to create a tent.
- Place in oven and bake for 10 to 14 minutes or until your desired doneness.
- Remove salmon from oven and turn broiler on HIGH.
- Unfold the foil so the salmon is uncovered. Place salmon back under broiler for 2 to 3 minutes till there is slight browning over caramelization on top.
- Remove from oven. Garnish with chopped parsley and lemon wedges. Serve.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 oz.
- Calories: 246
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 137 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 64 mg
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39 comments on “Easy 20 Minute Garlic Butter Baked Salmon in Foil”
Just made this tonight. My my my..so good
Plan on making this sauce for everything. Best salmon I’ve ever had.
Came out so tender and my daughter also loves this
Awe yeah! I’m so glad to hear that and yes girl that sauce is bomb!
Wasn’t anywhere near done after 15 minutes @400 degrees! I’m putting it back in for another 10 minutes. 🤞🏼
Cooking time will ultimately depend on the thickness of the salmon. I hope you enjoyed this recipe.
Definitely a favorite in my household!
Yay!! It is a staple in our house as well. I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe.
This is delicious! I am thoroughly enjoying it.
This comment is music to my ears. I am so glad you are enjoying it!
Oh my ,,, loved every bite. Going to use this sauce for other fish, even chicken
Thank you for sharing
I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe. I agree, this sauce is soooo good!
Amazing! My whole family loved it and, with four kids in the mix, that is RARE! WOOHOO!!
#Winning! It’s the best feeling when you find a recipe you and the kids love!
Could I marinate this overnight?
I wouldn’t suggest marinated fish.
My kids and husband said this is their new favorite salmon dish, and we eat a lot of salmon.
Yippie!! I am so glad it was a hit! Easy and delicious…my favorite combo!
This looks SO yummy, trying it out tonight! I just realized I ran out of honey- is there a substitution that cane be made? Or if I don’t add it at all will it effect the taste big time? First time cooking fish for me!
Hi Liz! Maple Syrup would be a good substitute.
This salmon was amazing and I don’t even really like salmon. Beautiful blend of flavors. My adult sons raved about it.
Hi Kathy! WoW! What a compliment! The taste is amazing, but the easy cleanup maybe my favorite part!
Cooking this for 10-14 mins was not long enough. I pulled it out after 15 mins and it was still raw in the middle. But my filets were fairly thick so that could be why.
The cooking time definitely varies depending on the thickness and how you prefer your final cook temp.
Why “raw” honey. Can I use any honey that I have.
yes, absolutely you can use the regular honey that you have too.
I am trying to use what I have, can I sub lemon for line and Dijon for spicy brown?
Hey Adria, I wouldn’t use lime but you could use spicy brown just add tad bit more honey.
I’ve made other garlic butter salmon recipes, but yours is the most delicious, hands down. My husband raved about it the whole time he was eating it! I made extra sauce and poured it over mashed cauliflower. Yum
woohoo!!! So glad to hear that Lois and good call on the extra sauce. Yum!
This recipe has become the new family favorite on our house for salmon! It was so delicious and tangy! I had the leftovers on a spinach salad and devoured it! Highly recommend this recipe!
OMG! Your Butter Garlic Salmon in foil is the best recipe I have ever tasted! Thank you!
oh thank you so much!
This was delicious and sure to part of our weekly dinner rotation! However, how much lemon do you use? I didn’t see it in the step by step ingredients.
Oh gosh… hand to forehead. I forgot it. Just added it in! Sorry about that!
Deliciously yummy! The entire family loved it! Thank you.
Music to my ears! I am so happy this was a hit with the fam!
Nowhere in the recipe is Lemon mentioned. A novice cook likes the details perfectly
yup, just found out and added it in.
Wow what a yummy recipe! Substitutions made: whole grain mustard instead of Dijon, and oregano instead of basil. Still absolutely delicious – what a perfect blend of flavors!
Quick and delicious…I am not sure it gets any better! I am so glad you loved this recipe!