Marry Me Salmon Garlic Lemon (Printable Version)

Flavorful baked salmon with garlic, lemon, and fresh dill—ready in 30 minutes for special occasions.

# Ingredient List:

→ For the Salmon

01 - 2 salmon fillets (wild-caught preferred)
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil (or avocado oil)
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
05 - 1 teaspoon sea salt or kosher salt
06 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper

→ For the Topping

07 - 1/4 cup fresh dill, chopped (or substitute with dried dill or parsley)

→ Optional Additions

08 - Vegetable sides such as asparagus or bell peppers, cut into pieces
09 - Lemon slices or tomato slices for added flavor

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together olive oil, minced garlic, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper. Let the marinade rest for 5 minutes to meld flavors.
03 - Place salmon fillets skin-side down on the prepared baking sheet. Arrange vegetable sides and lemon or tomato slices around or atop the salmon, if desired.
04 - Brush each fillet generously with the marinade. Sprinkle chopped fresh dill evenly over the top.
05 - Bake for 15–20 minutes, or until the salmon is opaque and flakes easily with a fork. Thicker fillets may require the full 20 minutes.
06 - Remove from oven, let rest for 2–3 minutes, then serve hot with your choice of side vegetables and an extra squeeze of lemon juice.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The marinade comes together in minutes but tastes like you spent forever planning it
  • It is impossible to mess up, even if you are nervous about cooking fish
  • The clean-up is minimal so you can focus on your company instead of dishes
02 -
  • Overcooked salmon cannot be saved, so pull it from the oven when it still looks slightly underdone in the center
  • The marinade really does benefit from those five minutes of resting time
  • Wild-caught salmon cooks faster than farmed, so start checking at the 15-minute mark
03 -
  • Pat your salmon dry with paper towels before marinating for better adherence
  • If the marinade seems too thick, add just a teaspoon more lemon juice
  • Room-temperature fish cooks more evenly, so let it sit out for 15 minutes before baking
Go Back