This baked salmon recipe features a salmon fillet baked in foil which allows for a flavorful meal with little cleanup. Baking salmon in foil traps the moisture inside to prevent the salmon from drying out. The salmon fillet is topped with butter, spices and lemon and bakes in minutes. An easy single serving salmon recipe.

I love a really great salmon recipe and this simple salmon baked in foil does not disappoint.
During the summer, I love to grill salmon on a cedar plank. Any opportunity I have to be outside and enjoying a nice summer evening, I take. However, lately I've been saving my grill for burgers and chicken and bringing my salmon back in the kitchen.
I've discovered that baking salmon in foil is a wonderful way to cook salmon and I happen to think it turns out better than cooking it on the grill.
Salmon Baked In Foil
Baking salmon in foil or parchment paper traps in the juices and gently steams the fish.
The flavors are spectacular in this easy recipe and because the salmon is cooked in a foil packet, there's hardly any mess to clean up.
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Ingredients
See recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- salmon fillet
- butter
- garlic powder
- dried tarragon (or other favorite spice)
- red pepper flakes (optional)
- salt
- lemon
How To Cook Salmon
- Place the salmon in the center of a piece of aluminum foil or parchment paper.
- Soften a tablespoon or two of butter and mix in garlic powder, dried tarragon, a pinch of red pepper flakes, and salt.
- Add a slice of lemon to the top of the salmon.
- Cover with another sheet of aluminum foil and pinch the edges together to seal tightly. Place on a baking sheet and bake in a 400 degree F (200 degree C) oven for 20-25 minutes.
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4
Baking salmon wrapped in aluminum foil provides you with a delicious meal with little cleanup. This cooking technique keeps the moisture inside the foil which helps to keep the salmon tender, flaky, and perfectly cooked.
This is such a versatile recipe, you can infuse your salmon with other ingredients such as orange slices or other favorite spices.
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Salmon Recipes
If you're looking for other ways to cook salmon, here are a few of our favorite salmon recipes...
- Roasted Salmon With Maple and Mustard For One
- Smoked Salmon With Eggs and Pesto For One
- Broiled Salmon With Roasted Zucchini For One
- Roasted Salmon and Asparagus For One
What To Serve With Baked Salmon
You might like to consider adding any of these single serving side dishes to your salmon meal.
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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Ingredients
- 1 6 ounce salmon fillet
- 1 tablespoon salted butter , softened
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon dried tarragon
- pinch red pepper flakes
- pinch salt
- lemon slice
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- Place the salmon in the center of a large piece of aluminum foil or parchment paper.
- Place the softened butter in a small bowl and add the garlic powder, tarragon, red pepper flakes and salt. Stir to blend.
- Spoon the butter/spices over the salmon and spread to cover the top of the fish.
- Top with the lemon slice.
- Cover with another sheet of aluminum foil and pinch the edges together to seal tightly. Place the salmon foil packet on a baking sheet.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until salmon is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork.
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.
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!