Garlic Caper Butter Baked Salmon
- PREP 5min
- COOK 25min
- TOTAL 30min
For the best oven baked salmon with a soft and tender texture, cover the salmon with aluminum foil or parchment paper and bake in the oven for 15 minutes. Then uncover and continue to bake until done. Depending on the type and thickness of the salmon you cook, cook time may vary. Check the notes below for our tips.
You Will Need
4 (6-ounce) salmon fillets, preferably wild-caught
Salt and fresh ground black pepper
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon minced garlic
3 tablespoons drained capers
Chopped or torn fresh herbs like parsley, chives or dill
Half of a lemon, quartered
Directions
Heat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
Season both sides of the salmon with salt and pepper (we use about 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt for 1 1/2 pounds of salmon).
Melt the butter in a wide oven-safe skillet over medium heat. When the butter is bubbling, stir in the garlic and capers. Cook, stirring, until warm, about 1 minute. Take the skillet off of the heat. Add the salmon fillets, skin-side down, to the skillet. Tilt the pan so that butter pools on one side, and then spoon garlic caper butter over each fillet.
Cover the skillet with a sheet of aluminum foil or cover with parchment paper by loosely tucking it around the salmon. Bake the salmon, covered, for 15 minutes. Uncover, and then spoon more of the butter over the salmon. Continue to roast, uncovered, until your desired doneness, 5 to 10 minutes more, depending on how thick the salmon is.
We cook salmon until an instant-read thermometer reads 125 degrees Fahrenheit when inserted into the thickest part. Alternatively, you can finish cooking the salmon under the broiler for some extra color on top. Watch closely so the fish does not overcook.
Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the baked salmon, sprinkle with lots of fresh herbs, and serve with another spoonful of the garlic caper butter on top.
Adam and Joanne's Tips
- How to make oven-baked salmon in a baking dish: Add the butter, garlic, and capers to a baking dish. Slide into the oven and cook until the butter is melted and bubbling, about 2 minutes. Take the dish out of the oven then add the salmon fillets and spoon the butter mixture on top. Bake, covered, as directed in the method above.
- How to tell when salmon is cooked: Your best bet for checking if salmon is cooked, is a thermometer — we cook salmon to 125 degrees F, which means it will be soft, tender and slightly pink in the center. For a visual cue, look for the flesh to be somewhat opaque. Also, when inserting a knife into the salmon, it should slide through easily.
- Cook time: Depending on the type and thickness of the salmon you are baking, cook time will vary. The cook times suggested above are for middle cut fillets, about 1-inch thick. For thinner fillets or end pieces, check the salmon a bit earlier. For thicker fillets, you may need an additional 5 to 10 minutes of bake time.
- Nutrition facts: The nutrition facts provided below are estimates. We have used the USDA database to calculate approximate values.
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