Lemon Pepper Salmon - Baked 20 Minute Recipe - Enza's Quail Hollow Kitchen

Name: Lemon Pepper Salmon - Baked 20 Minute Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 Salmon fillets; 2 tsp Olive Oil; 1 tsp Lemon Pepper Seasonng; 1 tsp Dill (fresh, chopped); ¼ tsp Kosher Salt; 1 Lemon (sliced )

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Lemon Pepper Salmon is a healthy, flavorful dish ready from start to finish in just 20 minutes! Seasoned with fresh lemon, cracked pepper, and dill, it’s elegant enough for a dinner party but easy enough for a quick weeknight meal.

A salmon fillet on a white plate with aspragus and lemons.

Table of Contents

This easy lemon pepper salmon recipe only requires a few minutes of prep time and delivers a flavorful, tender piece of fish that is easy to pair with almost any side dish. The seasonings for this delicious baked salmon are simple but high in flavor. You can use your own lemon pepper seasoning or follow my lead and make it really easy on yourself and use your favorite store bought blend.

I think of salmon as the ultimate superfood. It is a light and incredibly versatile fish that is delicious oven-baked, pan-seared, or grilled (try my Salmon Burgers). It makes an awesome appetizer, like my Hot Honey Salmon Bites, or a delicious meal.

Baking is my favorite way to prepare fish because I can set the timer and step away to do something else while the oven does all of the work for me. Whole Oven Roasted Branzino is another delicious baked fish recipe that you might want to try. I love to pair lemon pepper salmon with Grilled Eggplant or asparagus for a quick, light summery dinner.

I know a lot of people don’t like to cook fish at home or may be intimidated to try making it themselves. If that is the case with you, then this lemon pepper salmon recipe is the perfect way to ease into it. Follow my cooking tips below and you will have delicious, flaky, perfectly cooked salmon every time!

What I love About this Recipe:

Salmon has so many health benefits. It is high in protein, a good source of healthy omega-3 fatty acids, and it is rich in vitamin B-12. This article in Healthline breaks down all of the health reasons for including salmon in your diet.

This baked lemon pepper salmon with dill is super easy to make – nothing complicated about this recipe!

It requires simple ingredients but delivers a big flavor! Lemon, pepper, and dill pair beautifully with the subtle flavors of salmon.

The fish is tender and moist

It is on the dinner table in 20 minutes, and if that is not enough…

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

Salmon on a white plate, two lemons, a bunch of dill, a little bowl of salt and a container of lemon pepper seasoning.

Salmon fillets or one large piece of skin-on salmon. Buy the freshest salmon available from your fishmonger or the local grocery store. You can use wild salmon or any kind of salmon you like for this recipe. Don’t be afraid to buy frozen salmon fillets. Most fish is flash frozen as soon as it is caught and cleaned, which maintains the highest quality of taste and texture. Look for the terms Frozen at Sea or Individually Quick Frozen to ensure you are getting high-quality fish. This article by Real Simple explains how to buy the best fish at the grocery store.
Lemon pepper seasoning blend – You can use a store-bought or your own blend.
Dill – fresh, chopped. If you are substituting dried dill, you will need to cut the quantity you use in half because dried herbs have a more concentrated flavor.

Two seasoned salmon fillets on a foil lined baking sheet.

How to Make Lemon Pepper Dill Salmon

Place your salmon skin side down on a lightly oiled baking sheet. Brush the top of the salmon fillet with olive oil and evenly distribute the lemon pepper, dill, and salt over it.
Place 4 lemon slices on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray or brushed with olive oil. Then lay each piece of salmon on top of two of them.
Bake until the salmon is tender and flaky, about 20 minutes, or until an instant read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the salmon registers 130-135°F for medium. Cook time will vary depending on the size of the salmon and the doneness that you desire. Smaller pieces will cook in less time.
Give the cooked salmon a squeeze of fresh lemon juice before serving it.

A fork is taking a piece of salmon off a fillet on a plate with asparagus and lemons.

Cooking Tips for Oven Baked Salmon

This baked lemon pepper salmon cooks very quickly, so it can be easy to overcook it, resulting in a dry, chalky disappointment. Here are some tips to make sure your salmon is moist, tender, and perfectly flaky.

Pat the fish down with a paper towel to absorb any excess liquid. This will allow the oil you brush on the fish to adhere to the flesh and create a crispy top

Don’t salt the salmon before you are ready to cook it. Salt draws moisture out of the fish and can dry it out.

Don’t cook salmon beyond medium. This is the point when salmon is its juiciest and most flavorful.

How to Tell If Salmon is Done

These are the easiest ways to tell if it is cooked to the right temperature:

Insert an instant-read thermometer or a meat thermometer in the thickest part of the salmon. If the internal temperature measures between 130-135°F it is medium. 135-140°F is medium well. You do not want to go over 140°F, or it will be overcooked.
Salmon will change color from bright, rosy, orange, or pink to an opaque peachy orange color when it is cooked. You can insert the tip of a knife into the center of the fish and if the outer part of the fish is opaque, but the center is slightly translucent, the fish is done. If the center is still very translucent, then it needs more time.
Use a fork or a knife tip to gently press on the surface of the salmon; when it separates or flakes easily, it is done.

Two salmon fillets on a white plate with dill and lemons.

Storing Leftover Salmon

Salmon is one of my favorite types of fish because it tastes just as good cold as it does warm. I love leftover lemon pepper salmon as part of a crisp fresh salad, rewarmed over a rice bowl, or added to pasta. Leftover salmon should be stored in an airtight container or wrapped tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and stored in the refrigerator. Properly stored your salmon will be good for up to 3 days.

What to Serve with this Baked Lemon Pepper Salmon Recipe

This easy lemon pepper salmon recipe has become one of my favorite weeknight dinners because my whole family loves it and it pairs easily with so many side dishes. Rosemary Sweet Potatoes, Parmesan Potatoes, or a Green Bean and Potato salad are all easy-to-make and delicious side dish options. You can also enjoy this flaky salmon recipe with rice, pasta, or a simple vegetable.

Two slamon fillets on a long white plate with fresh dill and sliced lemons.

Lemon Pepper Salmon FAQs

How do you thaw frozen salmon?

There are two ways to safely thaw frozen salmon or any fish. 1) Remove the salmon from the vacuum-sealed plastic wrapping and place it in a single layer on a plate lined with paper towels. Place it in the refrigerator to thaw. This may take up to 12 hours. 2) Transfer the fish from the vacuum-sealed wrapper to a plastic bag that can be sealed tightly. Then submerge it in a bowl of cool (not warm) water. This method may thaw the fish in less than an hour.

Should you eat salmon skin?

The skin on your lemon pepper salmon is perfectly safe to eat if the salmon is fresh and also safe to eat. The question of whether you should eat it really comes down to personal preference, but there may be nutritional benefits from adding it to your meal. This article from Medical News Today does a good job of explaining the pros and cons so you can decide for yourself.

What is the white stuff in salmon that forms when cooking it?

That white substance is called albumin. It is a perfectly safe liquid protein that is found in the fish. When salmon is cooked at a high temperature the albumin congeals and you may see large amounts of it form on the fish.

Should you wash Salmon before cooking it?

You don’t have to wash the fish before making this lemon pepper salmon dish. ,The USDA warns against rinsing any fish, poultry or meat before cooking it as it can easily result in the spread of harmful bacteria and germs. Cooking the fish to a safe temperature is the best way to kill any germs or bacteria that may be present.

How can you tell if salmon has gone bad?

Here are a few ways to tell if your salmon has gone bad:

1. Fresh salmon should be a bright pink or rosy, orange color. If the flesh looks dull, gray, or discolored it is probably not safe to eat.
2. Raw salmon should not have a strong fishy smell. If it does, this is a sure sign that it is no longer fresh and should be discarded. Fresh salmon should have a mild scent.
3. You can also tell that salmon is fresh if there are clearly defined white lines running through it. If the lines are gray or subtle that is a sign that the fish may be spoiled.
4. Fresh salmon will have firm flesh that bounces back when you press on it. If you touch it and the flesh remains dimpled or the flesh breaks apart, then it has gone bad.

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