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Best Way to Cook Salmon Recipe

Emily Parker
Roasted salmon fillet with lemon, minced garlic, and dried dill on a white plate.
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Skinless salmon fillets roasted with olive oil, lemon, garlic, and dill. Similar thickness and a thermometer help you judge when each portion is ready.
Estimated Recipe CostEstimated US$17.00 for the whole recipe; approximately US$4.25 per serving. Ingredient prices vary.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Resting 2 minutes
Total Time 32 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Instructions Video Notes

Ingredients
  

Lemon-garlic salmon
  • 4 skinless salmon fillets 6 oz each; 24 oz / about 680 g total, preferably about 1 inch thick
  • 1 tbsp olive oil 15 ml, divided
  • 1 medium lemon 1 tsp finely grated zest, 1 tbsp juice, and remaining lemon cut into wedges
  • 2 cloves garlic finely minced, about 6 g
  • 1 tsp dried dill about 1 g
  • 0.5 tsp fine table salt about 3 g
  • 0.25 tsp ground black pepper about 0.5 g

Equipment

  • Conventional oven
  • Shallow 9 × 13-inch baking dish
  • Small bowl and spoon
  • knife and cutting board
  • Fine zester
  • Measuring spoons
  • Instant-read food thermometer
  • Fish spatula

Instructions
 

Roast and check
  1. Heat the oven to 400°F (205°C) and place a rack in the middle.
  2. Spread 1 teaspoon of the olive oil over the bottom of a shallow 9 × 13-inch baking dish.
  3. Pat the salmon dry with paper towels and arrange the fillets in the dish with space between them. Keep thinner and thicker portions identifiable so they can be checked separately.
  4. In a small bowl, stir together the remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, minced garlic, dried dill, salt, and black pepper. Divide the mixture over the tops of the four fillets and spread it evenly.
  5. Roast uncovered for approximately 14–20 minutes. Begin checking after 12 minutes by inserting an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of each fillet, avoiding the hot dish. Remove each portion when its center reaches 145°F (63°C); thinner portions may finish first. Continue cooking any portion that has not reached that temperature.
  6. Rest for 2 minutes, then serve with the lemon wedges and juices from the baking dish.

Video

Notes

Cooking time depends on actual thickness, starting temperature, and oven performance; the thermometer determines doneness.
Thaw frozen fish in the refrigerator and follow its package directions, including any instructions concerning vacuum packaging.
For skin-on fillets, place the skin underneath; this method does not aim for crisp skin.
Red pepper flakes are an optional variation and are excluded from the base ingredient list and cost.
Contains fish.
Estimated ingredient cost: US$17.00 for four servings, about US$4.25 each. This prorates sampled US online ingredient prices read on October 22, 2026; local prices vary. Excludes sides, optional variations, energy, tax, and delivery.
Video credit: Downshiftology's Lisa Bryan demonstrates oven-baked salmon with lemon, garlic, butter, and fresh herbs. This recipe uses olive oil and dried dill; follow this card's quantities and cook the centers to 145°F (63°C), rather than the creator's lower temperature endpoint.

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