• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Facebook
Instagram
Pinterest
YouTube
TikTok

Jo Cooks

Simple - Easy - Comfort

  • All Recipes
    • Course
      • Breakfast
      • Appetizers
      • Lunch
      • Dinner
      • Desserts
      • Side Dishes
      • Soups
      • Salads
      • Sandwiches
      • Drinks/Cocktails
      • Sauces & Dressings
    • Method
      • Crockpot
      • Instant Pot
      • One Pot
      • Air Fryer
      • Casseroles
    • Season
      • Spring
      • Summer
      • Fall
      • Winter
    • Cuisine
      • Asian
      • Italian
      • Mexican
      • European
      • Indian
      • Romanian
      • Mediterranean
      • Middle Eastern
      • American
    • Ingredient
      • Chicken
      • Pork
      • Beef
      • Seafood
      • Lamb
      • Vegetarian
      • Pasta
      • Spices
    • Holiday
      • Christmas
      • Easter
      • Thanksgiving
      • Game Day
      • Valentine's Day
      • St. Patrick's Day
      • Cinco de Mayo
      • Mother's Day
      • Memorial Day
      • Father's Day
      • 4th Of July
      • Labor Day
      • Halloween
    • Recipe Index
  • Cookbooks
    • The Big Book of Jo’s Quick and Easy Meals
    • 30-Minute One-Pot Meals
  • Shop
  • About Jo
FREE recipe eBook!
Search...
All Recipes
Instant Pot
30 Minute
One Pot Meals
Soups
Dips & Dressings
Baking
Pasta
Sandwiches
Sides
Salmon Lunch Dinner 30 Minutes or Less Seafood
4.9 from 13 votes

Easy Baked Salmon

Jump to RecipePrintRate
By: Joanna Cismaru •10/3/22 4 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

pin for baked salmon.

In under 20 minutes, this incredible one-pan Easy Baked Salmon can be on your table and ready to eat in no time at all. The simplicity of this delicious fish, infused with the flavor of tarragon is absolutely irresistible.

baked salmon with lemon slices on a white platter.
Table of Contents Open
  • Easy Baked Salmon
  • Easy Baked Salmon Highlights
  • Ingredients You’ll Need
  • How To Bake Salmon
  • How Do You Know When Salmon Is Cooked?
  • What Temperature To Cook Salmon?
  • Is It OK To Eat Undercooked Salmon?
  • Is The White Stuff On Salmon Normal?
  • Should I Season Salmon Before Cooking?
  • How To Serve Salmon
    • Italian Pasta Salad
    • Grilled Chicken Kebabs
    • Easy Beef Lasagna
    • Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Soup
    • American Goulash (Chop Suey)
    • Stout Meatballs
    • Italian Shrimp Bake
    • BLT Pasta Salad
    • Black Bean Corn Avocado Salad
    • Chocolate Chip Muffins
    • Chicken Scampi
    • Lemon Blueberry Ricotta Pancakes
  • Expert Tips
  • Leftovers
    • Freezing
  • More Great Salmon Recipes To Try
    • Italian Pasta Salad
    • Grilled Chicken Kebabs
    • Easy Beef Lasagna
    • Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Soup
    • American Goulash (Chop Suey)
    • Stout Meatballs
    • Italian Shrimp Bake
    • BLT Pasta Salad
    • Black Bean Corn Avocado Salad
    • Chocolate Chip Muffins
    • Chicken Scampi
    • Lemon Blueberry Ricotta Pancakes
  • Easy Baked Salmon
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Notes
    • Nutrition Information
  • Did You Make This?

Easy Baked Salmon

Here’s another fantastic for baked salmon that I make the most often at my house because it’s quick and super simple. Make this and you will wow everyone with this perfectly cooked fish with tarragon and lemon flavors that are just as good as any restaurant quality meal. I love serving this with a great salad, potatoes or rice, and some veggies.

This is one healthy and extremely delicious dinner. It’s very low in saturated fat and a good source of protein. It’s also one of the best sources of vitamin B12, and it’s bursting in potassium and other nutrients like iron and vitamin D.

Easy Baked Salmon Highlights

  • QUICK AND EASY. One of the easiest and quickest recipes out there.
  • RESTAURANT QUALITY. You’re probably wondering how something this quick and delicious could be restaurant quality, but believe me, it is, and at a fraction of the cost. Just make sure the fish is fresh or flash frozen and then thawed. This is one of the best baked salmon recipes!
  • HEALTHY. You’ll get many health benefits from eating fish. Salmon is great for getting protein, omega-3’s, and lots of other nutrients.

Ingredients You’ll Need

overhead shot of ingredients needed to make baked salmon.
  • Salmon – I used fresh salmon fillets that are about 6 ounces each. If you can’t find fresh fillets, unthawed frozen ones will work great. I used sockeye salmon but use whichever type of salmon you prefer. Try Atlantic salmon or pink salmon if you prefer. While I used fillets, you can make this recipe with a large piece of salmon too, either will work.
  • Spices – Just a little salt and pepper.
  • Oil – Some good quality olive oil is best to brush over the salmon. This also helps to keep the fish moist.
  • Lemon juice – I highly recommend freshly squeezed lemon juice. Fresh is always best.
  • Tarragon – I used dried tarragon to add a subtle liquorice flavor and a fresh, spring taste with a bit of elegance. If you don’t have tarragon, you can use other herbs you like such as parsley or dill.

How To Bake Salmon

detailed process shots showing how to make baked salmon.
  1. Prep the oven and baking sheet. Preheat the oven to 400°F and grease a baking sheet with cooking spray.
  2. Season salmon. Place salmon fillets on the baking sheet and season with salt and pepper.
  3. Brush salmon with tarragon sauce. In a small bowl combine the olive oil, lemon juice and dried tarragon. Brush the olive oil lemon mixture generously over the salmon fillets, top and bottom.
  4. Bake. Transfer the baking sheet to the oven and bake for 12-15 minutes or until the salmon is opaque and flaky. If you prefer a bit of golden color over the top, you can broil for 1 to 2 minutes, but be careful as they can burn quickly.
  5. Garnish and serve. Garnish with lemon slices if desired and serve.

How Do You Know When Salmon Is Cooked?

The easiest way to tell when salmon is cooked right, is when you gently press it with your finger it should gently flake. If the salmon is overcooked, it will be dry and tough when you eat it. Using a meat thermometer will also ensure your fillets are cooked properly. The temperature of cooked salmon should be above 110°F but below 145°F.

baked salmon fillets with a lemon slice on each fillet in a baking dish.

What Temperature To Cook Salmon?

DonenessTemperature
Rare110°F to 125°F
Medium Rare125°F to 140°F
Medium to Well Done145°F+

Is It OK To Eat Undercooked Salmon?

We never recommend the consumption of raw or undercooked fish including salmon because it may increase your risk of food-borne illness. However, you can eat raw salmon as long as you can confirm your salmon was frozen according to FDA’s freezing guidelines.

Is The White Stuff On Salmon Normal?

That white slimy stuff is called albumin, and it’s actually just a harmless protein that solidifies as salmon cooks. It tastes completely fine, it’s good for you, it’s just another protein that comes out from the side of the salmon.

Should I Season Salmon Before Cooking?

Seasoning the fish with salt and pepper before cooking is a must for great flavor, but just as important is when you season. When seasoned too soon before cooking, the salt will start to break down the proteins in the salmon and draw moisture out of the fish, so you want to make sure you salt it just before cooking.

baked salmon with lemon slices on a white platter.

How To Serve Salmon

freshly made and tossed italian pasta salad in a bowl.
1 hour hr 25 minutes mins

Italian Pasta Salad

a stack of fresh off the grill grilled chicken kebabs on a cutting board.
59 minutes mins

Grilled Chicken Kebabs

a beef lasagna in a white casserole dish.
1 hour hr 50 minutes mins

Easy Beef Lasagna

freshly made cheesy chicken enchilada soup in a dutch oven.
30 minutes mins

Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Soup

american goulash in a beige dutch oven with a ladle inside.
1 hour hr

American Goulash (Chop Suey)

Savory stout meatballs, beautifully browned and simmering in a rich, smoky stout-infused BBQ sauce, served in a beige braiser, garnished with fresh parsley.
1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Stout Meatballs

italian shrimp bake fresh out of the oven in a white casserole dish.
20 minutes mins

Italian Shrimp Bake

freshly made blt pasta salad in a white pasta bowl.
27 minutes mins

BLT Pasta Salad

black bean corn avocado salad in a white bowl garnished with cilantro.
15 minutes mins

Black Bean Corn Avocado Salad

freshly baked chocolate chip muffins in a muffin pan.
45 minutes mins

Chocolate Chip Muffins

chicken scampi with linguini garnished with parmesan cheese on a white platter.
20 minutes mins

Chicken Scampi

drizzling of maple syrup over a stack of lemon blueberry ricotta pancakes.
30 minutes mins

Lemon Blueberry Ricotta Pancakes

Expert Tips

  1. If your salmon filet has skin on one side, leave the skin on! This will not only reduce sticking but you won’t overcook your salmon.
  2. Use an instant read thermometer. The FDA recommends cooking fish to an internal temperature of 145°F.
  3. There is nothing better than perfectly cooked fish, but there is nothing worse than overcooking it. Make sure you watch it closely when it’s almost done to avoid this.
  4. Pin bones are sneaky and often hard to spot, but it’s worth it to take a few extra minutes to run your hand over the fillet to locate and very gently remove them before cooking. Tweezers are a handy tool to get this job done.
  5. Make salmon salad salad sandwiches with any leftovers for lunch the next day.
  6. Practice makes perfect – don’t get discouraged if your salmon doesn’t turn out perfect the first time. However, you can’t go wrong if you use a thermometer, this is the most accurate way to ensure the perfect doneness for your fish. You want your salmon to be moist and flaky.

Leftovers

Refrigerate cooked salmon in a shallow airtight container or wrap it tightly in aluminum foil or plastic wrap for 2-3 days.

Freezing

If you won’t be eating leftover salmon is the next couple of days, you can freeze it in an airtight container for about 1 month.

a baked salmon fillet on a white plate with peas and rice.

More Great Salmon Recipes To Try

freshly made and tossed italian pasta salad in a bowl.
1 hour hr 25 minutes mins

Italian Pasta Salad

a stack of fresh off the grill grilled chicken kebabs on a cutting board.
59 minutes mins

Grilled Chicken Kebabs

a beef lasagna in a white casserole dish.
1 hour hr 50 minutes mins

Easy Beef Lasagna

freshly made cheesy chicken enchilada soup in a dutch oven.
30 minutes mins

Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Soup

american goulash in a beige dutch oven with a ladle inside.
1 hour hr

American Goulash (Chop Suey)

Savory stout meatballs, beautifully browned and simmering in a rich, smoky stout-infused BBQ sauce, served in a beige braiser, garnished with fresh parsley.
1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Stout Meatballs

italian shrimp bake fresh out of the oven in a white casserole dish.
20 minutes mins

Italian Shrimp Bake

freshly made blt pasta salad in a white pasta bowl.
27 minutes mins

BLT Pasta Salad

black bean corn avocado salad in a white bowl garnished with cilantro.
15 minutes mins

Black Bean Corn Avocado Salad

freshly baked chocolate chip muffins in a muffin pan.
45 minutes mins

Chocolate Chip Muffins

chicken scampi with linguini garnished with parmesan cheese on a white platter.
20 minutes mins

Chicken Scampi

drizzling of maple syrup over a stack of lemon blueberry ricotta pancakes.
30 minutes mins

Lemon Blueberry Ricotta Pancakes

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

baked salmon with lemon slices on a white platter.
Print
4.85 from 13 votes

Easy Baked Salmon

Prep 5 minutes minutes
Cook 15 minutes minutes
Total 20 minutes minutes
Rate Recipe
In under 20 minutes, this incredible one-pan Easy Baked Salmon can be on your table and ready to eat in no time at all. The simplicity of this delicious fish, infused with the flavor of tarragon is absolutely irresistible.
4

Ingredients

  • 4 salmon fillets (about 6 ounces each)
  • ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • ½ teaspoon pepper (or to taste)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
  • 1 teaspoon dried tarragon

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions 

  • Prep the oven and baking sheet. Preheat the oven to 400°F and grease a baking sheet with cooking spray.
  • Season salmon. Place salmon fillets on the baking sheet and season with salt and pepper.
  • Brush salmon with tarragon sauce. In a small bowl combine the olive oil, lemon juice and dried tarragon. Brush the olive oil lemon mixture generously over the salmon fillets, top and bottom.
  • Bake. Transfer the baking sheet to the oven and bake for 12-15 minutes or until the salmon is opaque and flaky. If you prefer a bit of golden color over the top, you can broil for 1 to 2 minutes, but be careful as they can burn quickly.
  • Garnish and serve. Garnish with lemon slices if desired and serve.

Notes

  1. If your salmon filet has skin on one side, leave the skin on! This will not only reduce sticking but you won’t overcook your salmon.
  2. Use an instant read thermometer. The FDA recommends cooking fish to an internal temperature of 145°F.
  3. There is nothing better than perfectly cooked fish, but there is nothing worse than overcooking it. Make sure you watch it closely when it’s almost done to avoid this.
  4. Pin bones are sneaky and often hard to spot, but it’s worth it to take a few extra minutes to run your hand over the fillet to locate and very gently remove them before cooking. Tweezers are a handy tool to get this job done.
  5. Make salmon salad salad sandwiches with any leftovers for lunch the next day.
  6. Practice makes perfect – don’t get discouraged if your salmon doesn’t turn out perfect the first time. However, you can’t go wrong if you use a thermometer, this is the most accurate way to ensure the perfect doneness for your fish. You want your salmon to be moist and flaky.
  7. Refrigerate cooked salmon in a shallow airtight container or wrap it tightly in aluminum foil or plastic wrap for 2-3 days.
  8. If you won’t be eating leftover salmon is the next couple of days, you can freeze it in an airtight container for about 1 month.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1filletCalories: 307kcal (15%)Carbohydrates: 1gProtein: 34g (68%)Fat: 18g (28%)Saturated Fat: 3g (19%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 94mg (31%)Sodium: 366mg (16%)Potassium: 859mg (25%)Fiber: 1g (4%)Sugar: 1g (1%)Vitamin A: 91IU (2%)Vitamin C: 3mg (4%)Calcium: 28mg (3%)Iron: 2mg (11%)

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.

baked salmon with lemon slices on a white platter.

Did You Make This?

We love seeing what you made! Tag us on Instagram at @jocooks or hashtag #jocooks so we can see your creations!

Rate Recipe
Add Your Photo!
  • 238
Home Recipes
Joanna Cismaru

Joanna Cismaru

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Through Jo Cooks, I invite you to join me in my kitchen as we explore delicious recipes from around the globe, celebrate the joy of cooking, and make every meal a memorable one. Happy cooking!

Read More
iPad showing title of ebook 30 recipes from around the world
Subscribe

Get our FREE recipe eBook + weekly newsletter!

Loading

guest
Did you make this recipe? Rate it:




The comment form collects your name, email and content to allow us keep track of the comments placed on the website. Please read and accept our website Terms and Privacy Policy to post a comment.

guest
Did you make this recipe? Rate it:




The comment form collects your name, email and content to allow us keep track of the comments placed on the website. Please read and accept our website Terms and Privacy Policy to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

4 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Crystal
Crystal
Posted: 2 months ago

5 stars
I prefer to use fresh dill and the salmon turns out perfect everytime! Thank you for this fab recipe

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Crystal
Posted: 2 months ago

My pleasure!

0
Reply
Deborah
Deborah
Posted: 1 year ago

I never would have thought of using tarragon for salmon but this looks delicious and cannot wait to make! Thank you for sharing.

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Deborah
Posted: 1 year ago

You’ll love it!

0
Reply

sidebar

Headshot of Joanna Cismaru

Hey there!

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is the place where I share my passion for easy and delicious recipes. From comforting classics to global flavors, I believe that cooking should be fun, approachable, and most importantly, rewarding. Join me on this culinary journey and let’s get cooking!

Read More
Collage of recipe ebooks
Subscribe

Get our FREE recipe eBook + weekly newsletter!

Loading

Pasta Favorites

baked mac and cheese in a black cast iron skillet.
45 minutes mins

Baked Mac And Cheese

freshly made crack chicken penne with a wooden spoon in a skillet.
40 minutes mins

Crack Chicken Penne

chicken pot pie pasta in a white serving bowl with a wooden serving spoon.
50 minutes mins

Chicken Pot Pie Pasta

freshly made one pot pasta in a dutch oven.
20 minutes mins

One Pot Pasta

tomato spinach chicken pasta in a white bowl.
30 minutes mins

Tomato Spinach Chicken Pasta

homemade hamburger helper lasagna from scratch in a skillet.
30 minutes mins

One Pot Hamburger Helper Lasagna

baked feta pasta in a white bowl garnished with fresh basil.
50 minutes mins

Baked Feta Pasta (Tik Tok Pasta)

sideview shot of chicken fajita pasta in a white bowl with a fork inside
45 minutes mins

Chicken Fajita Pasta

side close up shot of swedish meatball pasta in a beige braised garnished with parsley
30 minutes mins

Swedish Meatball Pasta

overhead shot of a bowl of haluski
40 minutes mins

Haluski (Cabbage and Noodles)

A stack of cookbooks
Grab a copy!

My Cookbooks

Order Now: Amazon | Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Indie Bound | Books-A-Million

Dinner Favorites

smothered pork chops in a skillet garnished with parsley.
1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Smothered Pork Chops

a wooden spoon lifting a salisbury steak out of the skillet
30 minutes mins

Salisbury Steak

beef lo mein in a black wok.
30 minutes mins

Beef Lo Mein

side shot of beef and broccoli in a skillet
15 minutes mins

Easy Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

skillet shepherd's pie in a cast iron skillet with a portion taken out.
1 hour hr 25 minutes mins

Skillet Shepherd’s Pie

a serving spoon inside a skillet with chicken broccoli rice casserole.
30 minutes mins

One Pot Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

side view shot of two italian stuffed peppers in a bowl
2 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Italian Stuffed Peppers

side view shot of a bowl with a scoop of spaghetti bolognese in it
40 minutes mins

Spaghetti Bolognese

Facebook
Instagram
Pinterest
YouTube
TikTok
Visit our Other Site: Craving Home Cooked

Explore

Recipes
Cookbooks
About Jo
Contact

Legal

Privacy Policy
Accessibility
Disclaimers
No AI
© 2023 Jo Cooks
Site Credits
Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled
Back to Top
wpDiscuz