This is the Easiest Oven Roasted Salmon Recipe! It’s so moist and delicious, we had it on repeat for Lenten Fridays this year.

As far as Salmon Toppings and marinades go, this recipe uses just 2 ingredients that are probably in your refrigerator. Plus, this takes less than 30 minutes to make!

Overhead view of Roasted Salmon topped with a lemon slice on a white plate with broccoli.

Why You Must Make

  • It’s a super easy way to prepare moist, flavorful salmon fillets.
  • There are only 3 ingredients needed and all you’ll need to pick up is the fresh salmon.
  • It only takes 10 minutes to bake and even less time to prep for the oven!

Ingredient Notes:

  • Salmon Fillets – I prefer wild salmon with the skin still on as it gives some stability when moving the salmon on and off the baking sheet. Farmed salmon will be delicious, too. 6-8 ounce portions work well, but you could do a whole side of salmon for a crowd. Just double or triple the topping.
  • Mustard – I use Dijon mustard for its depth of flavor. Grey Poupon is what’s in my refrigerator and my preference.
  • Mayonnaise – Hellmann’s is what I grew up with, so that is what I recommend. It’s called Best Foods in part of the country.
  • Kosher Salt – for seasoning
  • Freshly Ground Black Pepper – Always grind your own peppercorns for the best, freshest pepper flavoring.

How to Make

There are only a few simple steps to cook salmon in the oven. The timing may vary slightly depending on the thickness of your salmon pieces.

Roasted Salmon process shots 1, 2.
  1. Season the salmon with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
  2. Smear with the mustard and mayonnaise topping.
Roasted salmon process shots 3,4.
  1. Sprinkle with paprika for a bit of color.
  2. Roast as directed.

Expert Tips

  • First, purchase good quality salmon. It can be frozen or fresh, but defrost your frozen salmon in the refrigerator before starting this recipe.
  • I buy 6-8 ounce salmon fillets.
  • Preheat your oven to 400 or 425 degrees and roast the salmon for about 10 minutes. The rule of thumb is about 10 minutes per inch of thickness, but you may want it more or less well done, so adjust as needed.
  • Roast until the internal temperature is about 135 degrees to allow for 10 degrees of carryover cooking time. This will bring the salmon’s temperature up to 145 which is what the FDA recommends.
  • Pro-Tip: If your topping is not browned, you can broil the salmon. Watch very carefully as the topping can go from brown to burnt in a matter of seconds. This step is completely optional.
Roast salmon with Dijon Mayonnasie sauce on a white plate with broccoli.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Temperature is Best for Roasting Salmon?

400 to 425 degrees is the perfect temperature range for oven-roasted salmon. The high temperature helps cook the salmon quickly so it doesn’t dry out.

How Do You Keep Salmon Moist?

Adding a rich topping helps seal in the juices as it cooks. Also, it’s key not to overcook your salmon. Use an instant-read thermometer, insert it into the thickest area of the salmon, and pull the salmon out of the oven when it reaches 135 degrees. Cover loosely with foil and let rest for 5-10 minutes to allow for some carryover cooking time that will bring the internal temperature up to 145 degrees.

Marinating salmon for 30 minutes up to 6 hours before cooking will add flavor along with keeping it moist.

How Do You Season Salmon?

If you’re using a flavorful marinade or topping, minimal seasoning is needed. This recipe uses just salt and pepper, but if you’re needing more flavors than that, there are many salmon seasoning mixtures that work well. Add garlic powder, paprika, and herbs, or buy a premade salmon or seafood seasoning. Note that you don’t want to add any salt until right before you cook the salmon as it will draw out some moisture.

Is there a Difference Between Farmed Salmon and Wild Salmon?

Yes, though both can be used interchangeably in recipes. Farmed salmon is much higher in fat, Omega 3, and Omega 6 Fatty Acids, and its color is lighter and pinker. Wild salmon is higher in minerals, has less fat and its color can be reddish-orange due to their diet.

Roasted salmon on a plate with a bite on a fork.

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Oven roasted salmon topped with a lemon slice on a white plate with broccoli

Dijon Mayonnaise Roasted Salmon

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Yield 6

A simple, delicious way to roast salmon that always gets rave reviews

Ingredients

  • 6 6-8-ounce skin-on salmon fillets
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground pepper
  • ½ cup full-fat mayonnaise (I use Hellmann's)
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard (I use Grey Poupon)
  • Paprika, optional

Instructions

  1. Very lightly sprinkle salmon fillets with kosher salt and a touch of freshly ground black pepper. Place on a baking sheet.
  2. Preheat oven to 425°.
  3. Whisk together the mayonnaise and mustard. Smear the top of each fillet with this mixture.
  4. Roast for approximately 10 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 135°.
  5. Remove from the oven, cover loosely with foil and let rest for 10 minutes to let the temperature rise to 145°.
  6. Sprinkle with paprika for color before serving, if desired.

Notes

Roasting time may vary depending on the thickness of your salmon and the way your oven cooks. A starting point is 10 minutes per inch of thickness.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 610Total Fat: 44gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 33gCholesterol: 152mgSodium: 434mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 50g

Thatskinnychickcanbake.com occasionally offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site. This information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although thatskinnychickcanbake.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased can change the nutritional information in any given recipe. Also, many recipes on thatskinnychickcanbake.com recommend toppings, which may or may not be listed as optional and nutritional information for these added toppings is not listed. Other factors may change the nutritional information such as when the salt amount is listed “to taste,” it is not calculated into the recipe as the amount will vary. Also, different online calculators can provide different results. To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in any given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information obtained is accurate.

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