I love trying different ways of preparing salmon because we LOVE it and we eat it often. Almost a year ago I was in the mood for a sweet and savory kind of herby salmon for dinner. Thus, this Caramelized Baked Salmon was born. This one was a fun recipe to develop and get to taste test the different variations.
Baked salmon is great because it is a healthier way of cooking it, and you can cook a lot at once, which is something we are always interested in with our big family.
My husband grew up in the Pacific Northwest and in the PNW salmon is a big thing. We lived there for quite a while as a family and fresh caught salmon was easy to get. I am not a big seafood eater, but I do love me salmon! Savory mixed with sweet is a flavor composition I enjoy, if it is done right.
Begin with a 2-3 pound salmon filet, or the cut-up portion sizes that you can buy frozen. Wash and pat dry. Melt the butter with garlic. Brush the garlic butter over the salmon.
In a small mixing bowl, combine all the seasonings with brown sugar. We love the freeze dried herbs you can purchase in these little containers. They are second best to fresh. Third best is dried.
Sprinkle the sugary herb mixture all over the top of the salmon. Do not do the bottom side.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes, or until the center is flaky and cooked through. The internal cooked temperature of salmon should be 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
This can be cooked in an air fryer, if you prefer. Just do 2-3 pieces at a time. SE the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Set a small silpat or parchment sheet down to catch the drippy mess. Air fry for 7-8 minutes. A thicker piece may take 9-10 minutes.
We LOVE to server this Caramelized Salmon with grandma’s Buttery Baked Rice! They go together SO perfectly. Highly recommend! Other side dishes that would be yummy are –
- Maple & Balsamic Vinegar Brussel Sprouts
- Goat Cheese and Rosemary Mashed Potatoes
- Potato Smashers
- Grilled Veggie Salad With Goat Cheese
If you LOVE this recipe, then try these others –
- Shrimp Stuffed Salmon
- Salmon in Phyllo with Dill Sauce
- Teriyaki Pineapple Jerk Salmon with Mango Salsa
- Fish Tacos
Caramelized Baked Salmon
Equipment
- large baking sheet
- Silpat or parchment paper
Ingredients
- 3 lb salmon filet 1 large piece, or in segments
- ¼ cup butter, melted
- 2 cloves garlic or 2 tsp. minced garlic
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 2 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 Tbsp Italian herbs, fresh or freeze dried or 2 tsp. dried Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉
- Pat dry the salmon filet or salmon pieces. Place the filet or salmon pieces on a large baking sheet. We recommend using a Silpat or parchment paper.
- Melt butter and stir in the minced garlic cloves. Use a basting brush or spoon to spread the garlic butter over the top of all the salmon.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar, garlic powder, paprika, kosher salt, black pepper and Italian seasoning/herbs.
- Evenly cover the salmon with the seasoning blend. Bake in the 350℉ oven for 20 minutes or until the center of the fish flakes when you pull a fork over it.
- Serve over Buttery Garlic Baked Rice with veggies and a salad.