Description
Easy Pesto Salmon is a quick and flavorful dish featuring tender salmon fillets topped with vibrant basil pesto. It’s a perfect weeknight dinner that comes together in under 30 minutes with minimal prep and maximum flavor.
Ingredients
- 4 salmon fillets (about 6 oz each, skin-on or skinless)
- 1/3 cup basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Lemon wedges (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
- Pat salmon fillets dry and place them skin-side down on the prepared baking sheet.
- Drizzle salmon with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Spread a generous spoonful of pesto over each fillet.
- Bake for 12–15 minutes, or until salmon is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
- Remove from oven and drizzle with lemon juice. Serve with lemon wedges if desired.
Notes
Grill instead of bake for a smoky flavor—add pesto after grilling.Mix pesto with cream cheese or sour cream for a creamy topping.Bake in foil packets for extra juicy, steamed salmon.Add veggies like cherry tomatoes or zucchini to the sheet pan for a full meal.Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to pesto for a spicy kick.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 salmon fillet
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 3g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
