Baked Salmon Garlic Butter Dill (Printable Version)

Flaky salmon with rich garlic butter and zesty dill sauce. A perfect 28-minute meal for any night.

# What You Need:

→ Fish

01 - 4 skinless salmon fillets, 6 oz each
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - ½ teaspoon salt
04 - ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Garlic Butter

05 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
06 - 3 garlic cloves, finely minced
07 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
08 - Zest of ½ lemon

→ Dill Sauce

09 - ½ cup sour cream
10 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
11 - 2 tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped
12 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
13 - ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
14 - Salt and pepper, to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Set oven to 400°F and prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or greasing lightly.
02 - Dry salmon fillets, place on baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, then season both sides with salt and pepper.
03 - In a small bowl, combine melted butter, minced garlic, lemon juice, and lemon zest; spoon evenly over salmon.
04 - Bake for 14 to 18 minutes until salmon is flaky and reaches internal temperature of 145°F.
05 - Mix sour cream, mayonnaise, fresh dill, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a bowl; adjust seasoning as needed.
06 - Plate baked salmon hot and spoon generous amounts of dill sauce on top.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It's ready in under 30 minutes, which means you can actually enjoy your evening instead of being stuck in the kitchen.
  • Salmon cooked this way stays impossibly moist and the garlic butter soaks into every flake.
  • The dill sauce turns something simple into something elegant enough that guests think you're a better cook than you are.
02 -
  • Don't bake longer than 18 minutes or the salmon will dry out, and the moisture is what makes this dish special.
  • The internal temperature matters more than time, so invest in a cheap instant-read thermometer and actually use it.
  • Make your dill sauce ahead if you want, but wait to chop the dill until right before serving so it stays bright green and flavorful.
03 -
  • Pat your salmon dry before cooking, because any moisture on the surface steams the fish instead of letting it cook evenly.
  • If you want to add paprika or chili flakes, sprinkle them on after the garlic butter is in place so they stay bright instead of losing their punch in the oven.

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