Easy Five-Ingredient Baked Pesto Salmon Recipe for Perfect Dinner
A quick and easy baked salmon recipe featuring just five ingredients, perfect for busy weeknights or impromptu dinners. The vibrant pesto and lemon slices create a flavorful, moist, and elegant dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 salmon fillets, about 6 ounces (170 grams) each, skin-on or skinless
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) basil pesto (homemade or store-bought)
- 1 medium lemon, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Let the oven fully heat before baking (~10 minutes).
- Rinse and pat dry 4 salmon fillets with paper towels. Place fillets skin-side down on a lined baking sheet.
- Drizzle each fillet with olive oil and sprinkle salt and pepper evenly.
- Using a spoon or brush, evenly coat the top of each salmon fillet with about 1 to 1.5 tablespoons of pesto.
- Place 2-3 thin lemon slices on top of each fillet.
- Bake on the middle rack for 12-15 minutes, until salmon flakes easily with a fork but remains moist.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 2-3 minutes to allow juices to redistribute.
- Serve warm, garnished with freshly cracked pepper or a squeeze of lemon juice if desired.
Notes
Pat salmon dry before seasoning to ensure crisp edges. If pesto is thick, soften with a teaspoon of olive oil before spreading. Watch lemon slices to avoid burning; cover loosely with foil if browning too fast. Salmon continues cooking after removal from oven, so avoid overbaking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 salmon fillet (app
- Calories: 375
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 3
- Fiber: 0.5
- Protein: 35
Keywords: baked salmon, pesto salmon, easy dinner, five-ingredient recipe, quick salmon, healthy dinner, weeknight meal, gluten-free, dairy-free