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Easy Garlic Butter Baked Salmon Recipe with Lemon Dill Sauce for Perfect Dinner

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A simple, buttery, garlicky baked salmon recipe brightened by a fresh lemon dill sauce, perfect for a quick and elegant dinner that keeps the salmon moist and flavorful.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 skin-on salmon fillets (6 ounces or 170 grams each)
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
  • Juice of 1 large lemon (about 3 tablespoons)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped finely
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil, for greasing the baking dish
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
  • ½ cup Greek yogurt (120 ml)
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped finely (for sauce)
  • Pinch of garlic powder (for sauce)
  • Salt and pepper to taste (for sauce)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with olive oil.
  2. In a bowl, combine melted butter, minced garlic, salt, black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes. Mix well.
  3. Place salmon fillets skin-side down in the baking dish and pat dry with paper towels.
  4. Brush the garlic butter mixture generously over each fillet, coating the top and sides.
  5. Bake uncovered for 12-15 minutes, depending on thickness, until salmon is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
  6. While salmon bakes, whisk together Greek yogurt, lemon juice, lemon zest, fresh dill, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a separate bowl to make the lemon dill sauce.
  7. Remove salmon from oven and let rest for 2 minutes to redistribute juices.
  8. Serve salmon topped with a generous spoonful of lemon dill sauce and garnish with extra fresh dill if desired.

Notes

Do not overcrowd the baking dish to ensure even cooking. Pat salmon dry before applying butter to help it stick better. Let salmon rest after baking to keep it juicy. Fresh garlic is essential for best flavor in the butter mixture. The lemon dill sauce can be made ahead and refrigerated for a couple of hours to meld flavors. Fully thaw frozen salmon before baking to avoid mushy texture. If salmon looks underdone after baking, tent loosely with foil and let rest to finish cooking with residual heat.

Nutrition

Keywords: salmon, baked salmon, garlic butter salmon, lemon dill sauce, easy salmon recipe, healthy dinner, gluten-free, quick dinner

Find it online: https://goldensimmer.com/easy-garlic-butter-baked-salmon-recipe-with-lemon-dill-sauce-for-perfect-dinner/