Go Back
pesto butter salmon on a white plate served with roasted potatoes and green beans

Easy Oven Baked Salmon

Quick and delicious oven-baked pesto salmon – perfect for busy nights!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time:5 minutes
Cook Time:10 minutes
Brine:20 minutes
Total Time:34 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Easy, Pesto, Quick, Salmon, Weeknight
Servings: 2 people

Equipment

  • 1 oven safe dish
  • 1 small bowl
  • 1 silicon spatula or wooden spoon

Ingredients

For the Brine (optional)

  • 1/4 cup of salt
  • 4 cups of water use warm water if your salmon is frozen to speed up defrosting, or cold water for fresh salmon

For the Pesto Butter

  • 2 tbsp of butter room temperature
  • 1 tbsp pesto sauce
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning

For the Salmon

  • 2 salmon fillets: I usually buy frozen salmon but if you prefer you can get fresh salmon from the grocery store. It does not really make a difference.
  • 2 tablespoons of pesto butter
  • 2 tablespoons of white wine optional

Instructions

Brine:

  • If you have a bit of extra time (about 15-20 minutes), give the brine a go. In a small bowl, mix your salmon fillets with the water and salt. Let them sit for 15-20 minutes. Be careful not to leave them in longer, as your salmon can become overly salty if you do. No need to rinse afterward; simply pat dry with a paper towel.
  • If you are using frozen salmon I recommend using warm water to speed the defrosting process. That way, when your 20 min are up your salmon will have thawed.

Pesto Butter:

  • Creating the pesto butter is a breeze – simply mix all the ingredients together. If you have any extra freeze the leftovers for later. I usually make extra just so I can freeze it. I have a more detailed recipe post about this if you are interested.

Salmon:

  • Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F (200°C).
  • Place salmon fillets in an oven-proof baking dish. Make sure it's just the right size to fit the two fillets without overlapping too much; we want to keep that flavorful sauce.
  • Drop a tablespoon of pesto butter on each fillet.
  • Add two tablespoons of wine to the bottom of the pan.
  • Bake your salmon for about 10 minutes or until it reaches an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C) according to USDA guidelines. You might want to check a bit earlier just to be safe. Overcooked salmon is a no-go; it turns dry, tough, and flavorless, and we definitely don't want that.
  • And that's it! Dinner is served, and you can pat yourself on the back for whipping up an amazing meal without breaking a sweat. Enjoy your salmon, and let's celebrate simplicity in the kitchen! 🍽️