A super simple, super tasty baked lemon salmon recipe with brown butter, red onions, and lots of lemon and fresh dill. This is good stuff!
There are many great salmon recipes out there, but this baked lemon salmon recipe with brown butter and dill is truly extraordinary.
Most salmon recipes are simple to make and this recipe is no exception.
With salmon fillets from Costco in my freezer, I guarantee, this lemon salmon recipe will become a regular on our table.
Salmon is something I try to make once a week, but lately I haven't been running out to the grocery as often.
Hence, my keeping frozen salmon in the freezer.
On my last trip I bought a bag of wild-caught Alaskan sockeye salmon, that is cut into individual portions.
Perfect for just the two of us and this way I don't need to make the fishmonger guess when I ask him to slice me enough fresh salmon for two.
I can't tell you how many times they guess wrong and I feel so guilty when he has to set a piece aside.
I kid you not when I tell you that Manservant told me three times, with his mouth full, that this was a really good recipe.
Though I wish I could take credit for it, this is an Alison Roman lemon salmon recipe.
Honestly her recipes are some of my new favorites and I really do recommend you check out her cookbook, Nothing Fancy.
Her newest one, Dining In, is also on my shelf, but so far, I still find myself reaching for her first one more.
FAQ's
What kind of salmon is in this recipe?
I chose to use 2 of the thawed out, cut Sockeye salmon fillets and merely cut the recipe in half.
What are the different types of salmon?
Sockeye is a wild salmon and is caught when the salmon are swimming upstream, whereas all Atlantic salmon are farmed.
Red Salmon holds its shape well and has less fat and more protein than Atlantic salmon per serving.
Pink salmon is a smaller salmon variety than sockeye, and therefore is mostly found canned.
Chinook salmon or King salmon are also from the Pacific, and are considered to be the best tasting salmon of the bunch.
Coho salmon actually changes color when it spawns and can only be eaten when it is silver. It tends to be mild, less fatty and is often eaten poached.
But enough facts!
Ingredients Needed For This Buttered Lemon Salmon Recipe:
Lemons- Sometimes the smallest ones have the most juice. I roll them on the counter to make the juice squeeze out easier. Some microwave them for 10 to 20 seconds.
Skin-on or skinless salmon fillets
Salt and fresh black pepper
Unsalted butter
Olive oil, plus more for drizzling (I recommend this for drizzling)
Red Bermuda onion, very thinly sliced into rings/divided
Drained, brined capers
Fresh Dill really adds a ton of flavor
Toasted sesame seeds (optional) but the flavor and texture are a nice add
How To Make this Baked Lemon Salmon Recipe
Using one large or two small lemons, slice half of one lemon into thin lemon slices and leave the other half so you can squeeze it.
Using your zester, I'd up the lemon factor, and use it to create some lemon zest!
Place salmon on a rimmed baking sheet and blot dry with paper towels, if needed.
Season with fresh ground black pepper and salt.
Preheat the oven to 325.
How To Make The Lemon Brown Butter Sauce
Make your browned butter sauce by heating the unsalted butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat.
Cook until the butter has started to brown, 2 to 3 minutes.
It will sizzle so you may want to lightly cover the skillet with aluminum foil.
After the butter has started to brown add the olive oil, the sliced lemon, and half the sliced red onion.
Season with salt and pepper and cook until the lemons and onions have started to brown and crisp up, 2 - 3 minutes. Add the capers.
Pour the butter mixture over the salmon.
Place in oven and bake this lemon salmon recipe until just cooked through.
Medium rare usually takes 12-15 minutes for a large salmon fillet, but my smaller fillet was cooked more than medium rare and that's how I like it.
It really depends on the thickness of the salmon so remember bake times can vary.
While the salmon is baking toss together the fresh dill and sesame seeds, if using.
Sesame gives a bit of nuttiness to this easy baked salmon recipe, but is totally optional.
Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.
Scatter on top of the baked lemon salmon and if you take my advice you will drizzle with my favorite lemon oil.
This lemon oil is my go-to favorite luxury condiment in my kitchen.
It makes the best Caesar salad ever, but use it sparingly because it adds so much flavor and it is a splurge.
What to Serve with this Baked Lemon Salmon Recipe:
Lemon oil is great over green beans or asparagus, both of which would make great side dishes to this outstanding lemon dill salmon.
Or make my blistered green beans which are also good.
I'd also love this hearts of palm salad or my favorite sweet pea/mango salad.
To make this a complete sheet pan dinner, feel free to roast some skinny asparagus alongside the salmon.
Just make sure to only put them in for about 5 minutes.
I served this with a sour cream cucumber/radish salad and some Right Rice.
Ever tried Right Rice? Not really rice-it's made from veggies.
I'm slow to try a lot of these new products but we are loving every variety of this brand and getting more fiber while we do it!
And no, I'm not paid to say that! We just really like the stuff!
Truly this is the best salmon I've made in a long time.
I love how the salmon flakes soak up the lemon butter sauce.
And yes, I break apart the salmon before serving so the brown butter can seep into all the crevices.
This is a perfect Spring dish that would be glorious for special occasions like Easter or for a simple Passover dairy meal.
Is it a healthy dinner? Some might argue that this buttered salmon recipe is not.
I will tell you that I think anytime you can add salmon to your table it's a perfect recipe for success.
The best part about this meal is the salmon.
Loaded with flavor from brown butter, fresh dill, lemons and red onions, this easy salmon recipe really brings Spring to life.
And FYI, eat the cooked lemons. Manservant said they were so good-and for once he was actually right!
The other best part besides making a feel good, truly luscious meal is that from start to finish you can have a truly wondrous dinner on the table in less than thirty minutes.
Winner, winner salmon dinner.
More Salmon Recipes
I'd love to hear if you make this recipe!
Please share a review or rate the recipe,
and be sure to tag me on social!
Recipe
Lemon Salmon with Brown Butter
- Prep Time: 10 Minutes
- Cook Time: 15 Minutes
- Total Time: 25 Minutes
- Yield: 4 - 6 Servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Description
This super simple, super tasty, lemon salmon with brown butter, fresh dill and lots of lemon is like a flavor bomb in your mouth! So, so good!
Ingredients
2 lemons
2 pounds skin-on or skinless salmon fillets
Salt and pepper
6 T unsalted butter
¼ olive oil, plus more for drizzling (I recommend this for drizzling)
1 small red onion, very thinly sliced into rings/divided
3 T brined capers/drained
1 c fresh dill sprigs
2 T toasted sesame seeds (optional)
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 325. Thinly slice 1 lemon and remove any seeds. Save the other for zest and juice.
Place the salmon on a rimmed baking sheet or in a large baking dish and season with salt and pepper.
Heat the butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, swirling occasionally until the butter has started to brown, 2-3 minutes. (The butter may sizzle so I lightly cover skillet with a small sheet of foil to keep my stove cleaner.)
Add the olive oil, sliced lemon and half the sliced onion. Season with salt and pepper and cook, tossing occasionally until the lemons and onions have started to brown and turn slightly crispy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the capers.
Pour the butter-lemon mixture over the salmon. Place it in the preheated oven and roast until just cooked through unless you like it more well done, about 12 - 15 minutes. If you want this medium-rare on the inside it should take about this long but it will really depend on the thickness of your fillet. Remove from oven.
Meanwhile in a small bowl, toss the dill and sesame seeds together. Give a squeeze from the halved lemon and season with salt and pepper. Scatter on top of the cooked salmon, along with the rest of the remaining slice onion rings. Drizzle with my favorite lemon oil for good measure!
sherry says
i love salmon! and sesame seeds and capers ... THis looks great Abbe.
angiesrecipes says
Absolutely love sockeye! Brown butter and salmon...definitely a winning combination in my book.
Chef Mimi says
This is so pretty! I love that top photo. This is actually how I cook salmon. Lots of browned butter, and then I toss steamed Brussels sprouts in the leftover butter! Salt. Eat. YUM.
John / Kitchen Riffs says
I like wild salmon, and almost always buy it frozen. It's frozen soon after it's caught, whereas fresh salmon can two or more days old before it reaches our markets. Anyway, this is such a terrific recipe -- will be making. 🙂 Thanks!
Abbe says
You are right and most people don't realize that that is true of most seafood! And I know you will enjoy this recipe!Thanks, John!
Linger says
I am soooooo hungry for his Salmon dish right now, I can't even tell you. The photos have made my mouth water. I think I have some frozen salmon in my freezer. The only thing I need to get is fresh dill. I'm definitely trying this in the next few days. Thanks a million for the post.
Abbe says
Enjoy Kristy. The fresh dill and the onion really put this over the top!