Baked Salmon with Lemon Pepper (Printable)
Moist, flaky salmon fillets with a zesty lemon pepper crust. Simple, healthy, and bursting with bright flavor in just 28 minutes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Seafood
01 - 4 salmon fillets, 6 ounces each, skin-on or skinless
→ Seasonings
02 - 1½ teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
03 - 1 teaspoon sea salt
04 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - ½ teaspoon onion powder
→ Citrus
06 - 1 large lemon, zested and juiced, with slices reserved for garnish
→ Fats & Oils
07 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
→ Herbs
08 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
# How-to Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly oil the surface.
02 - Pat salmon fillets dry with paper towels. Arrange skin-side down on the prepared baking sheet.
03 - Drizzle olive oil evenly over all salmon fillets.
04 - Combine lemon zest, black pepper, sea salt, garlic powder, and onion powder in a small bowl.
05 - Sprinkle the seasoning mixture evenly across the salmon fillets. Drizzle lemon juice over each fillet.
06 - Bake for 15 to 18 minutes until salmon flakes easily with a fork and the center is just opaque.
07 - Garnish with fresh parsley and lemon slices before serving.
# Expert Pointers:
01 -
- This dish somehow manages to feel both weeknight casual and dinner party worthy, without requiring any complicated techniques.
- The lemon pepper crust creates this perfect textural contrast with the moist interior that makes every bite interesting.
02 -
- Overcooking is the enemy of salmon - I once left it in just three minutes too long and the difference was astonishing.
- Letting the salmon sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before baking ensures it cooks more evenly and stays juicier throughout.
03 -
- The thickness of your salmon fillets matters more than their weight - a 1-inch thick piece will need the full 18 minutes, while thinner cuts might only need 12-15 minutes.
- Leaving the skin on during baking then sliding your spatula between the skin and flesh when serving gives you the best of both worlds - moisture during cooking and clean presentation on the plate.