This easy lemon dill salmon recipe comes together in 20 minutes and is perfect for a light and fresh dinner on weeknights! Serve with a salad, grain, or roasted veggie for a well-rounded, nourishing meal.
Roasted salmon is good for any time of year, but the lemon and fresh dill combination is one of my favorites for spring and summer months! This lemon dill salmon is an incredibly easy weeknight recipe that comes together in 20 minutes with just a handful of ingredients.
I love serving it with roasted radishes, air fryer green beans or a whole grain salad (think simple detox quinoa salad), or atop my favorite strawberry salmon summer salad. This recipe can be totally flexible with what you have on hand and what you have time for, so it's the perfect protein to add to your dinner menu this week. I think you're going to love it!
Ingredients
- Salmon - We typically opt for wild-caught due to less environmental impact, but farmed can be more accessible at times. If you're interested, you can read more about the difference between farmed and wild salmon or check out this sustainable salmon guide.
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Fresh dill
- Fresh lemon
- Salt + pepper
Please see recipe card for specific quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
While this lemon dill salmon recipe is pretty simple, you can still make some substitutions and variations.
- Fresh or frozen - You can use fresh or frozen salmon for this! For frozen salmon, remove the amount you want to use from its packaging and place it in an airtight container in the fridge. Allow it to thaw overnight, and it should be ready for you the next day!
- Herbs - Fresh dill can easily be swapped out for parsley, basil, or other fresh herbs that you want to try.
- Butter - Try adding a few small chunks of butter on top of the salmon before you put it into the oven. It will melt into a glorious, delicious flavor!
- Lemon vinaigrette - For serving, place atop your favorite greens and drizzle with this light and lovely lemon vinaigrette for bright and fresh dish.
Instructions
To prep, preheat your oven to 425 degrees, and either oil or line a baking dish parchment paper.
Place the salmon into your prepared baking dish, and cover with olive oil. Sprinkle salt, dill, and pepper evenly over the salmon, and then rest lemon slices on the top.
Bake the salmon at 425 degrees for 16 minutes, and finish with a broil for 2 more minutes. You may need to adjust your cook time for the thickness of your salmon. For example, a thinner piece of salmon will need less time.
The salmon is done when it easily flakes with a fork, and if you push on the top gently with your finger, it will feel bouncy. Allow it to cool, and then cut into pieces to serve.
Hint: Make sure to adjust the cook time slightly for the thickness of your piece of salmon. I tested with salmon that got up to almost 1 inch thick at its thickest point, and 16 minutes at 425 with a 2-minute broil was perfect.
Serving Ideas
Of course if you make lemon dill salmon, you're going to need some sides to serve it with! Here are some ideas:
- Pesto potato salad
- Favorite healthy coleslaw
- Marinated white beans
- A simple quinoa salad
- Your favorite salad, grains, beans, or roasted veggies!
Storage
Store leftover salmon in the fridge in an airtight container, and eat within one week.
To freeze this lemon dill salmon, allow it to cool completely before placing it in an airtight container in the freezer for up to three months. If you plan to take single pieces out of the freezer at once, it helps to separate the pieces with parchment paper or use separate, small containers for each piece.
Top tip
Thinner pieces of salmon will cook much more quickly, so it helps to know how to identify salmon when it's done. To check if your salmon is done, take it out of the oven and use a fork to see if it flakes easily, and/or poke the center of it with your finger to see if it feels bouncy (rather than squishy, like raw fish).
Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a star rating 🌟 and comment below, and tag me on Instagram and Pinterest so I can see what you made!
Print📖 Recipe
Weeknight Lemon Dill Salmon
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 pieces 1x
Description
This simple lemon dill salmon is perfect for when you need an easy and delicious weeknight meal! Fresh herbs and lemon provide a bright a fresh flavor.
Ingredients
- 1.5-2 pounds salmon
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Preheat & prep. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees, and cover the surface of your baking dish or sheet pan in a light coating of olive oil, or line with parchment paper.
- Flavor the salmon. Rub olive oil all over the salmon and lightly squeeze half of the fresh lemon onto the salmon. Sprinkle even with salt, pepper, and fresh dill. Slice both lemon halves and layer on top of the salmon. Place the salmon onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Roast. Roast the salmon at 425 degrees for about 16 minutes, then broil for another 1-2 minutes for extra crispy edges. When done, the fish should flake easily with a fork and should feel a bit bouncy (instead of squishy) when you poke the top with your finger. See note below on thickness of salmon and cook time! Roughly cut the salmon into pieces and serve with your favorite side dishes or salad.
Notes
- Salmon thickness. The thickness of your salmon matters for cooking time! For thin pieces of salmon, you'll want to cook it for less time -- maybe 12-14 minutes, watching closely to not overdo it.
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Roast
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
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