How to Bake Salmon in Foil! – a photo tutorial for an the easiest foil salmon recipe requiring only a few basic ingredients and hardly any prep.
Are you new to baking salmon and/or are looking for a quick and easy method to get dinner on the table pronto?
Well, you have come to the right place, because this little tutorial on how to bake salmon in foil couldn’t be any simpler!
One of the easiest ways to cook salmon is to bake it in foil. This process is low-fuss, generates minimal cleanup, and results in goof-proof tasty salmon each and every time.
Let’s get after it!
Let’s discuss the simple ingredients for this amazing main dish!
Ingredients for Salmon Baked in Foil:
Fresh Salmon Filet: The main event! Choose fresh salmon from the seafood counter at your grocery store, or thaw salmon that was previously frozen until it is completely thawed.
Use any type of salmon. Wild-caught salmon, Alaskan King salmon, coho salmon, and sockeye salmon are all great options. Or use a different fish such as halibut or trout.
Avocado Oil: Oil helps the salmon cook evenly, avoids any sticking to the foil, and also adds flavor to the fish. Use melted butter, coconut oil, and/or olive oil if you prefer.
Spices: Bringing flavor to the meal, use your favorite spices, dried herbs, or seasoning blends for the salmon.
I always go with paprika and dill, but you can also use ground cumin, turmeric, oregano, thyme, chili powder, Cajun seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, etc.
Sea Salt and Black Pepper: Sea salt helps keep the salmon nice and tender and also brings out the flavor in both the fish and the other ingredients. Season to taste.
Garlic: A few cloves of fresh garlic add abundant flavor to this meal! Skip it if you’re sensitive to garlic.
Lemon: Adding citrusy spunk, fresh lemon slices add nice acidity to the meal. Slice it thin so that the salmon still cooks evenly during the baking process!
If you slice it too thick, the parts of the fish that sit right underneath the slice will still be raw after baking.
Looking for ways you can change up this oven baked salmon in foil recipe? Here are some options.
Recipe Customizations:
- Any of the ingredients above can be omitted. For instance, if you aren’t a fan of garlic, lemon, or one of the spices, simply leave it out! The flavor of the fish is entirely up to you.
- Add fresh herbs or dried herbs such as fresh thyme or fresh dill for some extra flavor.
- Sprinkle the fish with red pepper flakes for a little heat.
- Rather than using one large filet, use several smaller filets and make individual foil packets.
Now that we’re experts, let’s roast salmon!
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s make oven baked salmon in foil!
How to Bake Salmon in Foil:
Bring your salmon and lemon out of the refrigerator about 15 minutes before cooking and let it come to room temperature. This helps ensure the salmon cooks evenly throughout the baking process.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Place a long sheet of foil on a baking sheet and lightly coat the center with avocado oil or cooking spray to prevent salmon skin from sticking to the foil. Place salmon fillet in the center of the foil.
Drizzle salmon with avocado oil and use your fingers (or a silicon brush) to coat the flesh.
Sprinkle with paprika, dried dill, sea salt, and any other spices or herbs you like. Sprinkle with fresh minced garlic.
Lay thin slices of lemon on top of the fish.
Fold the ends of the foil over the salmon, creating a packet. Place sheet pan on the center rack of the preheated oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until salmon flakes easily and is cooked through.
Salmon is fully cooked once it reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Insert an instant read thermometer into the thickest part of the fish to check for doneness.
Use a spatula to serve salmon alongside your favorite side dishes.
The exact cooking time depends on the thickness and weight of the fish. The best way to achieve perfect salmon is to spot check its internal temperature with a meat thermometer.
I love eating salmon with steamed brown rice and sautéed or roasted vegetables. My Stir Fry Vegetables Recipe and my Crowd-Pleasing Roasted Vegetables are my favorite!
Serve with garlic butter sauce for a real treat!
Store leftover salmon in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
And that’s it! The easiest way to prepare salmon for a lovely result every single time.
If you love making salmon at home, also try these reader favorites.
More Healthy Salmon Recipes:
- Baked Garlic Butter Salmon
- Pineapple Ginger Glazed Baked Salmon
- My Go-To Crispy Salmon Recipe
- Skillet Salmon with Lemon Caper Dill Sauce
- Mediterranean Salmon in Parchment Paper
- Pesto Salmon in Parchment Paper
- Crispy Paprika Salmon Bowls with Ginger Vegetables and Rice
- Crispy Honey-Glazed Salmon
Bake it up!
How to Bake Salmon in Foil
Ingredients
- 1 lb salmon fillet
- 1 Tbsp avocado oil
- 1/2 tsp ground paprika
- 1/2 tsp dried dill
- sea salt to taste
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 lemon thinly sliced
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Place a long sheet of foil on a baking sheet and lightly coat the center with avocado oil (to prevent salmon skin from sticking to the foil. Place salmon fillet in the center of the foil. Coat the salmon flesh with avocado oil.
- Sprinkle with paprika, dried dill, sea salt, and any other spices or herbs you like. Sprinkle with garlic. Lay the thin lemon slices over the fish.
- Fold the foil over the salmon, creating a packet. Bake on the center rack of the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until salmon flakes easily and is cooked through.
- Remove from oven and open the foil. Use a spatula to serve alongside your favorite side dishes.
Nutrition
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Will this work with parchment paper, instead of foil?
Hi Cathy,
Yes, absolutely! In fact, if you want a more in-depth tutorial on cooking salmon in parchment paper, you can check out my recipe for Mediterranean Salmon in Parchment Paper 🙂 Hope you enjoy!