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Get ready to master an incredibly simple yet delicious Baked Salmon Fillet in Foil recipe! This cooking method, perfect for a small, single serving size, salmon fillet, uses the foil or parchment paper to lock in moisture, ensuring your salmon is flaky, moist, and tender every time. This recipe infuses the salmon with butter, spices, and lemon, all while baking efficiently in less than 20 minutes. The best part? Minimal cleanup and maximum flavor, making it a go-to for a quick, healthy meal.
Consider pairing your baked salmon with refreshing Cucumber Salsa, sweet Roasted Carrots, flavorful Rice Pilaf, or crispy Pan Fried Okra. Each side dish adds a unique taste and texture to complement the salmon perfectly.
Why You’ll Love This Baked Salmon Recipe
- Foolproof: The foil packet method makes it almost impossible to overcook the salmon.
- Quick and Easy: Prep in minutes and cook in less than 20 minutes.
- Flavorful: Infuses the salmon with whatever seasonings you choose.
- Healthy: Salmon is a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids.
- Minimal Cleanup: The foil packet contains all the mess for easy disposal.
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Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this salmon recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Salmon Fillet: The main ingredient, salmon is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and provides a tender, flavorful base for the dish.
- Butter: Adds a rich, smooth flavor to the salmon, enhancing its natural taste.
- Garlic Powder: Offers a subtle, aromatic garlic flavor without the intensity of fresh garlic.
- Dried Tarragon (or another favorite spice): Tarragon imparts a slightly sweet, herbaceous note. Feel free to substitute with your preferred spice for a personalized flavor.
- Salt: Essential for seasoning and bringing out the natural flavors of the salmon.
- Lemon: Provides a fresh, citrusy contrast to the rich flavors, brightening the overall taste of the dish.
Note: Customize your salmon with seasonings you love. For a simpler flavor, just use salt and black pepper. Alternatively, store-bought spice rubs or blends like McCormick Lemon Pepper with Garlic Salt or Lawry’s Seasoned Salt are great for adding quick, consistent flavor.
Recipe Variations
Exploring different flavors can turn this simple Baked Salmon recipe into an exciting new recipe:
- Asian-Inspired Salmon: Add a splash of soy sauce, 1/8 teaspoon of freshly grated ginger, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds before baking for an Asian twist.
- Mediterranean Flair: Top your salmon with sliced olives, capers, and a sprinkle of oregano to bring Mediterranean flavors into your kitchen.
- Sweet and Tangy: Brush the salmon with a mixture of honey and Dijon mustard for a sweet and tangy taste.
- Herb Garden Delight: Cover your salmon with a variety of fresh herbs like dill, parsley, and chives for a fresh, garden-inspired flavor.
- Citrus Burst: Add thin slices of orange and a dash of orange juice for a citrusy variation.
How To Bake Salmon
- Prepare the Foil: Lightly coat the center of a sheet of foil with cooking spray or a small drizzle of olive oil. Position the salmon fillet in the middle of the foil.
- Season the Salmon: Soften a tablespoon of butter and blend in garlic powder, dried tarragon, and a little salt for seasoning.
- Add Lemon: Place a slice of lemon on top of the salmon for a zesty touch.
- Seal and Bake: Cover the salmon with another foil sheet, crimping the edges together to form a tight seal. Place the foil packet on a baking sheet and bake at 375°F for 15-20 minutes, until the salmon is perfectly cooked.
Oven baking salmon in foil results in a tasty meal and minimal cleanup. This method traps moisture within the foil, ensuring the salmon stays tender, flaky, and cooked just right.
Expert Tips
- Skin On or Off: Choose to bake your salmon with either the skin on or off based on your preference.
- Use a Sheet Pan: Place the foil packet containing the salmon on a sheet pan for baking.
- Forming the Foil Packet: When sealing the foil, fold the sides together and pinch to seal, leaving some space around the salmon for steam to circulate.
- Adjust Cooking Time as Needed: Salmon thickness affects cooking time. Check doneness at 18 minutes by opening the foil. If not fully cooked, reseal and continue baking.
- Resting the Salmon: If the salmon is nearly done, remove it from the oven, cover with foil, and let it rest at room temperature to finish cooking.
- Storing Leftovers: Keep cooked salmon in the fridge for 1 to 2 days for freshness.
RELATED: 20 Single Serving Meatless Recipes
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically, 15-20 minutes at 375°F (190°C), depending on thickness.
Yes, use parchment paper as a substitute.
The salmon should be opaque and flake easily with a fork.
Absolutely! Thinly sliced veggies like zucchini or bell peppers work well.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
For more information on the cooking and baking dishes I use in our “recipes for one”, please visit our FAQ page.
For examples of the dishes used at One Dish Kitchen, please visit our Store page.
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If you’ve tried baked salmon in foil or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
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Oven Baked Salmon In Foil
Equipment
- aluminum foil
Ingredients
- cooking spray
- 1 (6 ounce) salmon fillet
- 1 tablespoon salted butter , softened
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon dried tarragon
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1-2 lemon slices
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 375 degrees F .
- Lightly coat the center of a sheet of foil with cooking spray or a small drizzle of olive oil. Position the salmon fillet in the middle of the foil.
- Soften a tablespoon of butter and blend in garlic powder, dried tarragon, and salt for seasoning.
- Spoon the butter mixture over the salmon and spread to cover the top of the fish.
- Top with the lemon slices.
- Cover the salmon with another foil sheet, crimping the edges together to form a tight seal. Place the foil packet on a baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes or until salmon is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork.
Notes
- Skin On or Off: Choose to bake your salmon with either the skin on or off based on your preference.
- Use a Sheet Pan: Place the foil packet containing the salmon on a sheet pan for baking.
- Forming the Foil Packet: When sealing the foil, fold the sides together and pinch to seal, leaving some space around the salmon for steam to circulate.
- Adjust Cooking Time as Needed: Salmon thickness affects cooking time. Check doneness at 18 minutes by opening the foil. If not fully cooked, reseal and continue baking.
- Resting the Salmon: If the salmon is nearly done, remove it from the oven, cover with foil, and let it rest at room temperature to finish cooking.
- Storing Leftovers: Keep cooked salmon in the fridge for 1 to 2 days for freshness.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
This is a superb dish. Quick and easy to cook and the flavour is wonderful.
28/02/2023 made this for tea and it was delicious i added extra chilli flakes as me n my son like them I served it with a salsa salad made up of mango , red pepper, red onion, avocado & a cilantro, orange juice olive oil , lime juice dressing seasoned with cracked black pepper & salt plus 1/2 teaspoon of cumin
Absolutely gorgeous and a nice light meal. Thank you for sharing your salmon recipe
I love salmon! How would I alter this recipe to cook from frozen, or should I simply thaw it first?
Hi Alisa, you can bake frozen salmon but I do it a bit differently. First, bake the salmon covered at 425°F for 8 to 10 minutes. At this point, a knife should be able to glide through the fish, though you may notice a very small amount of ice. These first 8 minutes of covered cooking time steams the salmon as moisture releases from the frozen piece of fish and is trapped by the foil. This helps tenderize the salmon. After 8 minutes, carefully remove the foil from the salmon and return it to the hot oven and bake for an additional 8 to 10 minutes.
This has become my “go to” method for salmon. Just so simple to do and it always works.
Very easy and delicious!
will I be able to use a white fish instead of slmon
Yes, just be sure to cook the fish until its flesh is opaque and it flakes easily.
Salmon is one of my favorite quick and easy meals for a weeknight dinner. Love the herb-y butter on this salmon and the foil cooking technique! The perfect dinner for one!
Aside from tarragon, what other herbs can i use? Thanks so much.
You might like to use Italian seasoning or dried basil. You could even omit the tarragon and not use anything other than the garlic powder, salt, butter, and lemon. The fish will still be wonderful.
I am home alone at the moment as my hubby is out of town.
So this was perfect for me!!! (It will be perfect when he gets back too as he isn’t a big fish fan!)
I made it last night and it was just delicious and so simple!