Whip up a quick & easy weeknight crusted salmon dinner in under 40 minutes
Salmon fillets make the perfect weeknight meal, especially when topped with fresh herbs, asiago cheese, and lots of lemon juice. This recipe comes together quickly, and looks enticing and delicious to eat! The fresh parsley and basil give this dish a light and bright taste - perfect for the summer.
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It's always a good idea to have an easy recipe you can whip up on a busy weeknight. Something the whole family will love and tastes delicious!
Garlic herb roasted salmon only requires a few simple steps and then it's into the oven to bake!
This meal is a great option if you're looking for a healthy weeknight option or need to get dinner on the table quickly. I highly recommend making this recipe in the summer when flavorful herbs are easy to find at the grocery store or in your garden.
What You'll Learn In This Recipe
With every Homebody Eats recipe you make, you'll learn a new skill or trick in the kitchen. Today, I'll teach you:
- How to ensure the fish is properly cooked so it still tastes juicy and flavorful.
- How long any leftover fish will last in your refrigerator.
- Delicious side dish ideas to serve alongside the flaky salmon.
I've got even more kitchen tips you can learn by signing up for my free 5-day email series all about becoming a better home chef.
Ingredients You'll Need
To make herb crusted salmon, you'll need a few pantry staples, along with some fresh, simple ingredients:
- Asiago cheese: Asiago has a sharp and nutty taste. You can also use parmesan cheese or a mix of asiago and parmesan.
- Fresh basil: I love using sweet basil in this recipe. It's even better if it comes straight from my herb garden.
- Fresh parsley: Flat-leaf parsley works best for this recipe.
- Mayonnaise: This ingredient adds a creamy, richness to the herb mixture. It really enhances the flavor of the whole dish.
- Unsalted butter: If you use salted butter, be sure to adjust the amount of added kosher salt.
- Lemon: Freshly squeezed lemon juice is always best! If you'd like even more flavor, feel free to add in the lemon zest.
- Roasted garlic: In the notes section of the recipe card, I'll teach you how to roast garlic. If you don't have time for this on a weeknight, substitute with jarred roasted garlic.
- Onion powder: For some additional flavor!
- Morton kosher salt and black pepper: All fish needs a healthy amount of salt and pepper! Salt helps to enhance the other flavors in this dish - it's really important.
- Salmon fillet: This recipe uses a 2 pound salmon fillet (I prefer fresh, never frozen). However, if you adjust the cooking time, you could also use smaller fillets. Just be sure to use a digital thermometer so you don't overcook the salmon.
Kitchen Tools & Equipment
This dish doesn't require many kitchen tools. You just need:
- High powered blender or food processor: The herb mix will be blended up using this tool.
- Sheet Pan: A half sheet pan perfectly holds a whole salmon fillet.
- Parchment Paper: This makes for super easy clean-up.
- Digital Thermometer: I always use a digital thermometer to check the doneness of my salmon. Every salmon fillet you buy will be a slightly different thickness which will adjust the cooking time. It's easiest to check doneness through temperature rather than guessing with a timer.
Tips For Cooking Fish At Home
If this is your first time cooking fish at home, or you're looking to hone your skills, here are a few helpful tips:
When purchasing a fresh piece of salmon, it should have a slight sea smell or no odor at all. You're looking for firm flesh and skin that springs back when you lightly press it. Also, check that the fish looks moist without dark spots or bruises.
Pat the fish dry to encourage a crisp outer skin as the fish cooks.
The thickness of the fish will determine how long it takes to cook. The thicker the salmon fillet, the longer the required cooking time.
It's suggested to cook fish to an internal temperature of 145°F. If you prefer a more medium salmon, pull it out a bit earlier. If you don't have a digital thermometer, run a fork along the top of the salmon. Cooked salmon will easily flake.
Recipe Frequently Asked Questions
According to the FDA, uncooked fish can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two days after purchase. If you need to wait longer than two days, store the fish in the freezer.
Fish will turn from its raw, translucent color to a cooked, opaque color. You'll also want to test that the thickest part of your fish flakes by running a fork along the top of the fish.
Yes, absolutely! Even if you don't prefer to eat the salmon skin, I'd still suggest you cook the salmon with the skin on. By placing the salmon skin side down, it helps to protect the delicate fish from the hot pan, thus preventing burned or dry fish.
I like to remove the fish from the oven just a tad bit before it reaches the suggested internal temperature of 145°F. This allows the fish to remain juicy. Remove the fish around 135°F and allow it to rest until it reaches 145°F. If you don't already own a digital thermometer, I'd highly recommend one! A thermometer is the best way to get perfectly cooked, juicy fish every single time.
If you're not a fan of salmon, you could try substituting the salmon for a milder fish such as tilapia or halibut. Mild fish tend to have a less intense, distinctive flavor. However, the cooking time will vary.
Side Dishes To Serve With Crusted Salmon
Looking for some delicious side dishes to pair with this weeknight salmon recipe? I've got some amazing recipes for you:
- Tomato & Peach Salad is the perfect light and healthy summer side dish.
- For a Mediterranean vibe, pair with this Hummus Platter, pita, and crudités.
- Maple Pan Roasted Carrots are a healthy and delicious option the whole family will love.
- Dinner rolls are always a good side option, especially if they're Knotted Challah Rolls.
- Crispy Twice Baked Potatoes are healthy and packed with lots of roasted garlic and dill.
- Need a quick side dish? These Balsamic Glaze Brussel Sprouts only require 4 ingredients and 30 minutes of time. Talk about an easy weeknight dinner side!
Weeknight Herb Crusted Salmon Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup asiago cheese shredded
- ½ cup loosely packed fresh basil de-stemmed
- ½ cup loosely packed fresh parsley de-stemmed
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
- juice of 1 lemon (about 3 tablespoons)
- 1 bulb roasted garlic (about 2 tablespoons)
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon Morton kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 pound salmon fillet
- additional lemon slices for garnish
Instructions
- Heat oven to 425°F.
- To a high-powered blender or food processor add asiago cheese, basil, parsley, mayonnaise, butter, lemon juice, roasted garlic, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Blend until mixture is combined, scraping the sides down as necessary.
- Add parchment paper to the bottom of a 12 x 18 inch metal sheet pan. Lay the salmon fillet (skin side down) on the parchment paper. Pat fish dry.
- Spread a thin layer of the blended herb mixture to the top of the salmon.
- Cook salmon for 20 - 25 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 135°F. Be sure the thickest part of the salmon is completely cooked. Allow salmon to rest for 10 minutes (the temperature should rise to 145°F).
- Garnish fish with additional lemon slices and serve immediately.
Pat Mode
I am making this this week. Just bought the salmon. I will post back
Jessica Mode
Yay! Can't wait to hear how it turns out!
Pat
This is on the menu this week. Can't wait
Katie
This was absolutely fantastic! We just ate it tonight- all of the flavors blended together wonderfully! We will definitely be adding this dish to our recipe rotation. Thank you so much!! Looking forward to trying more dishes!
Jessica Mode
I'm so glad you liked it! It is one of our favorites as well!