Baked Salmon – A Beautiful Mess

This baked salmon recipe is one I make for dinner every single week. Learning to make great baked salmon is a lot like baked chicken or learning how to cook a steak. It’s a staple in my book. There are SO many different ways to slightly alter this basic recipe so the meal never feels boring. Plus, baked salmon is healthy and delicious!

I like to make baked salmon with some kind of Asian fusion type glaze, served over rice often with cucumber salad. It’s basically a salmon rice bowl type situation. Another option is to use Italian flavors or simply lemon and serve with pasta. Or Tex Mex flavors and serve with tortillas for a tacos. Or Greek flavors and serve over a salad with olives and pita. And the list goes on! Baked salmon is super versatile.

Related: Next up learn how to make Air Fryer Salmon.

Ingredients

• Salmon – often called a ‘salmon portion’ at the meat counter (4-6 oz.)
• Oil
• Miso
• Soy sauce

This is all the basic ingredients I used for the salmon pictured. As you’ll see in the notes below there are many more options!

How to Bake Salmon

If you are using frozen salmon thaw it first. I usually buy fresh (unfrozen) salmon portions but frozen works well too!

Add aluminum foil to the baking sheet. Optional, but this make clean up easier. Lightly oil the foil before placing the salmon. Top with whatever spices, seasonings, or sauces you like.

Bake at 400°F for 10 minutes. Then turn the oven to broil and place the baking sheet on the top rack. Broil for 1-2 minutes.

Serve over rice, pasta, risotto, tortillas, pita, salad or whatever else you want to make this baked salmon a meal.

Tips & Notes

• Thaw frozen salmon by leaving it in the refrigerator the night before you plan to use it.
• I love to mix soy sauce with: miso, gochujang paste or black bean paste most often for my sauce. Sometimes I will mix BBQ sauce and soy sauce for a simple Korean BBQ type sauce.
• I also sometimes brush the salmon with a hot sauce before baking like: Frank’s, Sriracha or Cholula.
• Another option is to go heavy with a dry seasoning mix or rub like: Za’atar, taco seasoning, chili seasoning, or Italian seasoning. I especially like this option if I am planning to add the baked salmon to a salad.
• I also think keeping it super simple and topping the salmon with a little melted butter, lemon juice and salt and pepper is great too!

Salads & Sides to serve with Salmon