This easy lemon dill salmon recipe is perfect for weeknights! With simple, fresh flavors of lemon and dill, we'll roast this salmon at a high heat in the oven for a short period of time to get those crispy edges.
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! Fresh dill and other herbs are some of the best ways to pack a flavor punch in any recipe.
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Ingredients
This simple weeknight salmon only requires six ingredients, and two of those are salt & pepper... pantry staples!
- Salmon - Fresh or frozen both work! For frozen, be sure to thaw the salmon completely in the fridge overnight. We typically opt for wild-caught due to a lower likelihood that they carry toxins, but both farmed and wild salmon have their health benefits. Read more about the difference between farmed and wild salmon here.
- Extra virgin olive oil - Adds rich and delicious flavor to the salmon.
- Fresh dill - SO good with lemon... one of the simplest combos!
- Fresh lemon - You'll roast the salmon with lemon slices right on top, which brightens the flavors a ton!
- Salt + pepper - Salt as an overall flavor enhancer, and a little bit of pepper for additional flavor.
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.
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! Be sure to use high quality salmon, which always tastes fresher. I recommending thawing frozen salmon overnight in the fridge.
- Herbs - Fresh dill can easily be swapped out for parsley or basil.
- 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!
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
- Instant Pot mashed potatoes
- Favorite healthy coleslaw
- Marinated white beans
- Simple detox 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).
PrintWeeknight Lemon Dill Salmon
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.
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 pieces 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Roast
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
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.
Keywords: lemon dill salmon, roasted salmon
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