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Garlic Butter Salmon is a simple recipe with bold flavour. Generously seasoned fillets are topped with fresh lemon juice, crushed garlic and butter then wrapped in foil and baked until tender. This easy salmon recipe is ready in less than 30 minutes.
Looking for more easy salmon recipes? Try this Creamy Lemon Butter Salmon and Cajun Honey Butter Salmon next.
Table of Contents
- Garlic Butter Salmon in Foil
- Here’s Why You’ll Love this Garlic Butter Salmon Recipe
- Ingredients for Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon
- How to Make Garlic Butter Salmon
- How Long to Bake Salmon
- Recipe Substitutions
- Serving Suggestions
- Tips
- Storage & Reheating Instructions
- Interested in more Salmon Recipes? Check These Out!
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Garlic Butter Salmon in Foil Recipe
Garlic Butter Salmon in Foil
Garlic butter salmon is a delicious convenience. Salmon is seasoned with all the classic flavors you’d expect; bright lemon, savory garlic, and luscious butter.
Then it’s tightly wrapped in aluminum foil to lock in moisture, for a succulent final dish. So there’s no risk of dry, overcooked salmon with this recipe. The fact that there’s very little mess to clean up after dinner is a bonus!
Here’s Why You’ll Love this Garlic Butter Salmon Recipe
- Quick Protein: This simple, yet delicious salmon recipe will have you in and out of your kitchen within 30 minutes!
- Minimal Mess: Placing garlic butter salmon in foil makes for an easy clean-up.
- So Easy: You don’t even have to spend time making garlic butter sauce. Just add everything directly to the salmon and let the foil and oven do all the work!
- Flavourful: Garlic lovers unite! This recipe combines rich buttery and tangy lemon with plenty of zesty garlic.
Ingredients for Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon
- Fresh Salmon: For the best results, choose a high-quality, preferably wild-caught salmon fillet.
- Garlic cloves: Crush or mince fresh garlic to infuse the salmon with more flavour.
- Butter or Ghee: Opt for unsalted butter or ghee for a rich and creamy base that enhances the overall richness of the dish.
- Green Seasoning: This a delicious blend of fresh vegetables and herbs that packs a vibrant punch of flavour. If you don’t have green seasoning on hand, substitute with 1 teaspoon of fresh parsley for brightness and ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper for a subtle kick.
- Other Seasoning: Use Old Bay Seasoning (you can also use Fish Seasoning), salt and black pepper.
- Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice: Add a slight squeeze of lemon juice to brighten up the flavors of the salmon, balancing the richness of the butter and garlic.
How to Make Garlic Butter Salmon
- Preheat oven to 375ºF. Line an oven safe dish or baking sheet with foil – ensure the piece of foil is large enough to fold over and seal the salmon, creating a packet.
- Pat dry your salmon. Add a slight squeeze of lemon to your salmon, and season with green seasoning ( alternatively parsley and cayenne pepper), Old Bay, salt, and black pepper.
- Using a garlic press, crush garlic and add half to the bottom of the prepared dish/sheet. Add butter/ghee.
- Place salmon on top of garlic butter, and fold the sides of the foil over the salmon. Ensure the packet is well sealed so the sauce does not leak.
- Place the dish/sheet into the oven, and bake until cooked, 12-16 minutes. The exact cooking time depends on the thickness of the fillet – check notes section.
- Open foil packet, and broil salmon for 2-3 minutes. Stay close, be careful not to burn your fish!
How Long to Bake Salmon
When baked at 375ºF, salmon takes 12-16 minutes to cook. Exact cooking times are determined by the size and thickness of the salmon fillet.
If your fillet is very thick, 16 – 18 minutes in the oven at 375ºF might do. If it’s a thinner piece, 12-13 minutes will usually do. Ultimately, I recommend cooking until the salmon flakes easily with a fork.
Recipe Substitutions
- Garlic: If you’re not a garlic fan, I suggest you reduce the amount of garlic. However, if you’re a garlic lover, like myself – pile it on! Just ensure you use enough butter to allow the garlic to caramelize/soften to perfection!
- Honey Garlic Butter Salmon: Add honey to the salmon for a pop of sticky sweetness.
- Frozen Salmon: If fresh salmon is not available, you can use frozen salmon fillets. Just be sure to thaw them completely before cooking and pat them dry to remove excess moisture. To thaw, place it in the refrigerator overnight or for at least 8 hours. Alternatively, submerge the sealed salmon package in cold water, changing the water every 30 minutes until thawed.
Serving Suggestions
Like so many salmon recipes, garlic butter salmon is so versatile. For an easy, low-carb meal, place garlic butter salmon and asparagus in foil and bake. If you prefer something more indulgent, add mashed potatoes or roasted potatoes.
Tips
- Ensure the aluminum foil has no holes. If you don’t have the strong/thick kind, I suggest double wrapping. This will ensure the easiest clean-up ever!
- For optimal flavor, crush or mince the garlic cloves rather than using pre-packaged minced garlic. This releases more of the garlic’s aromatic oils, enhancing the overall taste of the dish.
- Watch the salt. Use unsalted butter or ghee to control the saltiness of the dish. If using salted butter, adjust the amount of additional salt accordingly to prevent the dish from becoming too salty.
- Don’t skip the broil. It gives the salmon a golden brown crust, for more flavour and texture.
- Keep an eye on the oven while the salmon broils. It only takes a couple minutes so watch it closely to avoid burning the salmon. Keep a close eye on the fish and remove it from the oven as soon as it develops
Storage & Reheating Instructions
Store leftover garlic butter salmon in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat leftovers in the microwave. You can add a splash of water to prevent it from drying out.
Interested in more Salmon Recipes? Check These Out!
- Escovitch Salmon
- Brown Stew Salmon
- Lemon Chive Salmon Cakes
- Parmesan Crusted Salmon
- Jamaican Coconut Curry Salmon
- Baked Salmon with Honey Mustard Sauce
- Creamy Lemon Butter Salmon
- Cajun Honey Butter Salmon
- Baked Honey Sriracha Salmon
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Cooking salmon at 400°F yields a quicker cook time and a crispy exterior while maintaining moistness. However, this garlic butter salmon recipe cooks at 375°F, preserving moisture before a brief broil for a crispy finish akin to 400°F cooking.
Flipping salmon in foil is not necessary. When cooking salmon in foil, it’s typically sealed into a packet, allowing it to cook evenly on all sides without flipping.
If you want tender, juicy fish, cook the salmon in foil. You can always broil the fish towards the end to get make it crispy. Using foil also makes it easier to clean after dinner.
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Garlic Butter Salmon in Foil
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
- Aluminium foil
Ingredients
- 1 pound 453g Fresh Salmon
- 2-3 Cloves Garlic
- 3 tbsp Butter or Ghee
- ½ Green Seasoning, click here for recipe
- ½ tsp Old Bay Seasoning you can also use Fish Seasoning
- ½ tsp Salt or to taste
- ¼ tsp Black Pepper
- Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice a slight squeeze will do
- If you don’t have green seasoning – add these additional ingredients:
- 1 tsp Parsley
- ¼ tsp Cayenne Pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375ºF. Line an oven safe dish or baking sheet with foil – ensure the piece of foil is large enough to fold over and seal the salmon, creating a packet.
- Pat dry your salmon. Add a slight squeeze of lemon to your salmon, and season with green seasoning ( alternatively parsley and cayenne pepper), Old Bay, salt, and black pepper.
- Using a garlic press, crush garlic and add half to the bottom of the prepared dish/sheet. Add butter/ghee.
- Place salmon on top of garlic butter, and fold the sides of the foil over the salmon. Ensure the packet is well sealed so the sauce does not leak.
- Place the dish/sheet into the oven, and bake until cooked, 12-16min. Cooking time depends on the thickness of the fillet – check notes section.
- Open foil packet, and broil salmon for 2-3 minutes. Stay close, be careful not to burn your fish!
