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Smartphone photo of a thick baked salmon fillet with garlic butter sauce and lemon rounds. (Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon)

Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon: The Ultimate Guide to Flaky Baked Fillets with Caramelized Edges

A restaurant-quality Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon featuring a thick, flaky fillet with golden caramelized edges, a translucent garlic butter sauce, and vibrant lemon rounds. Ready in just 20 minutes for a perfect weeknight dinner.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Seafood
Calories: 385
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Recipe Ingredients
  • 1.5-2 lbs salmon fillet large and thick cut (680-900g)
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter (56g)
  • 4-6 cloves garlic minced (20-30g)
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice (15ml)
  • 1 lemon cut into three thin rounds
  • 1 tsp kosher salt (6g)
  • 1/2 tsp coarse cracked black pepper (2g)
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley finely chopped (8g)
  • 1 tbsp olive oil (15ml)

Equipment

  • 1 Shallow White Ceramic Baking Dish Ensures even heat distribution and aesthetic presentation.
  • 1 Small saucepan Used for emulsifying the garlic butter sauce.
  • 1 Instant-read meat thermometer Critical for checking internal temperature for flakiness.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Pat the salmon fillet completely dry with paper towels. Season generously with kosher salt and coarse cracked black pepper.
  2. In a small saucepan, melt butter and sauté minced garlic for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Whisk in lemon juice until translucent.
Baking
  1. Place salmon in a greased ceramic dish. Pour sauce over top and layer 3 lemon rounds across the center. Bake at 400°F (205°C) for 12-15 minutes.
  2. Broil for the final 2 minutes until the edges are golden-brown and caramelized. Garnish with a heavy sprinkle of fresh parsley.

Notes

Let the salmon rest for 5 minutes before serving to ensure maximum juiciness.
Use a thick fillet to prevent the center from drying out during the broiling stage.