Baked Honey Lemon Salmon With Thyme

This Recipe Is Only 8 Ingredients!

All you need to make this easy baked salmon recipe are 8 simple ingredients, many of which I’m sure you already have in your pantry:

• Salmon fillets (fresh or previously frozen)
• Lemon
• Honey
• Garlic
• Thyme (I used fresh but you could use dried)
• Olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper

Full measurements and instructions are in the recipe card at the end of this post!

How To Bake Salmon Perfectly

Baking salmon in the oven is truly one of the quickest and easiest ways to prepare it!

After years of making salmon this way, I feel like I’ve nailed down a foolproof method to cook it perfectly every time. I like my salmon to be buttery soft – there’s nothing worse than dry, overcooked salmon in my eyes.

What temperature should you cook salmon at? 400 degrees Fahrenheit (or 200 degrees Celsius)

How long should you cook salmon?

• For individual pieces of salmon: 10-12 minutes, depending on the thickness of your fish
• For a whole fillet of fish: 12-15 minutes, depending on thickness
• Tip: aim for the shorter end of the time window and then check your salmon to see if it’s done by slicing into it. If it’s still very raw, you can throw it in for another minute or two.

Here’s exactly how I cook salmon in the oven:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Wash salmon fillets and pat them dry.
3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place salmon fillets on top, making sure to leave adequate space between them.
4. Drizzle fillets with olive oil (approx. 1/2 to 1 tsp each fillet). Then, crack sea salt and pepper overtop. Here’s where you would add other seasonings too, depending on the recipe.
5. Once oven is heated, place salmon in for 10-12 MINUTES ONLY.
6. Remove from oven. Salmon should be cooked but still tender and moist.

Other Possible Cooking Methods?

If you’d prefer, this salmon could also be cooked on the grill! It would work great wrapped in foil and grilled on medium-high heat for about 10-15 mins (depending on thickness). Cooking the salmon in foil helps to keep it nice and moist.

For a crispy, pan-seared salmon, I would recommend searing in olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic. When done, you can add the honey, lemon, and thyme before serving.

How Long Can You Store Baked Salmon?

Cooked salmon will keep for up to 3 days in an airtight container in the fridge.

You can reheat salmon in the oven, stovetop, or microwave, although it will compromise the texture a little. Because of this, I often like eating any leftover salmon cold. Throw it into a salad or add it to a sandwich or wrap!

Salmon Nutrition Facts

Along with being delicious and versatile, there are so many incredible health benefits of eating salmon:

• it’s very high in protein – just 3 ounces provides 17 grams; a 6 ounce piece will give you 34 grams!
• it’s rich in heart-healthy unsaturated fatty acids, including omega-3s.
  • omega-3s are known to support heart health, brain health, and to reduce inflammation overall
• it’s an excellent source of B vitamins like B12, B6, thiamin, riboflavin, and niacin.
  • B vitamins act as coenzymes in many important metabolic processes throughout your body, such as turning the food we eat into energy!

What to Serve With Baked Salmon

To balance out this meal, I recommend serving this honey lemon oven-baked salmon (a source of protein) with a side of complex carbohydrates and/or veggies. Some of the dishes below involve roasting veggies too – you can add them to the oven along with the salmon for a really easy meal!

Healthy Starch Dishes:

• Farro
• Quinoa: 3 Ways
• Crispy Roasted Potatoes With Chili & Paprika
• Roasted Potatoes With Za’atar & Lemon
• Easy Hasselback Potatoes With Parmesan, Rosemary & Lemon

Healthy Veggie Sides:

• Grilled Zucchini With Goat Cheese, Basil & Honey
• Garlic Sautéed Green Beans With Dijon Vinaigrette
• Balsamic Roasted Broccoli
• Roasted Asparagus With Vegan Pecan Parm
• Juicy Oven-Roasted Radishes
• Roasted Broccolini & Kale With Honey