Name: Honey Mustard Baked Salmon
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 27 min
Ingredients: 1/4 cup butter (, melted); 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard; 1 1/2 tablespoons honey; 1/4 cup plain dried bread crumbs; 1/4 cup finely chopped pecans; 4 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley; 4 (6 ounce) salmon fillets; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/8 teaspoon black pepper; 1 lemon (, cut into small wedges, for garnish on the side)

Beautiful fresh salmon fillets are basted with a honey-mustard mixture, coated with breadcrumbs and pecans, then baked to flaky perfection. Honey Mustard Baked Salmon is a quick and easy weeknight meal, or fancy enough to serve for a small dinner party.

Looking for more ways to enjoy salmon? Don’t miss our Air Fryer Salmon and Wild Rice Stuffed Salmon.

whole baked salmon fillet with bread crumbs and pecans on top

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Best Baked Salmon

Right here is my go-to salmon recipe. It’s quick and easy, tastes amazing, produces the most tender, flaky salmon, and is just foolproof. The ingredients are so simple, but give you complex flavor.

This baked salmon recipe also pairs well with so many different sides so you can vary the meal every time and keep it interesting.

Oven Baked Salmon Recipe

Salmon has a pretty strong flavor on its own, so it doesn’t need a whole lot to make it delicious. A simple lemon, butter, and herb sauce is really good. What’s even better is the ingredients for this recipe! Here’s what you’ll need:
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)

Salmon: We prefer wild-caught salmon, which has more nutrients and lower in contaminants than farmed, but Atlantic salmon is perfectly fine. Either fresh or frozen (and thawed) work great for this recipe. Purchase fillets that are bright pink and have a nice marbling to them.
Butter: Adds richness and helps keep the salmon moist.
Mustard: For a tangy, zippy flavor.
Honey: Some sweetness to balance out the tangy mustard. Honey and mustard love one another.
Breadcrumbs: These add a nice texture and also absorb the juices from the fish as it cooks.
Pecans: A lovely nutty component that adds flavor and crunch.
Parsley: This is a great all-purpose mild herb that compliments salmon really well.
Salt and pepper: Seasoning to bring all the other flavors together so the overall dish isn’t flat.

4 fresh raw salmon fillets on parchment paper

How to Bake Salmon

I’m convinced many people don’t like fish because anytime they’ve ever tried some, it either 1) lacked seasoning, 2) was dry, or 3) both! It’s pretty easy to over-bake fish; just 1 or 2 minutes over can take a salmon fillet from wonderful to mediocre.

We typically use 6 ounce fillets and bake at 375 degrees F for 12-15 minutes. It’s important to note that the size and thickness of the fillet does matter, thus the range in cook time. Salmon is done baking when it flakes apart easily with a fork. If you want to be precise, the internal temperature should be between 125 and 130 degrees F on an instant read thermometer.

To make this Honey Mustard Baked Salmon recipe, follow the steps below included in the printable recipe card and don’t miss the video for visual reference. Refer back to the article for all the helpful tips.

Tips for Success

Wonderfully moist and flaky salmon is done very fast, so have the rest of your meal planned to ensure everything is ready to go at the same time. Here are some tips to make sure you have perfectly baked salmon:

Bring salmon to room temperature: Let your fillets sit out on the counter for about 15 minutes before baking.
Season just before baking: Salt can draw out moisture causing the salmon to be dry, so unlike meat that is best when marinated for a while before cooking, fish is best seasoned right before placing in the oven.
Leave the skin on: Even if you don’t like salmon skin, leave it on for baking, then easily remove it once baked. The skin helps protect the fillet from the hot pan and locks in the juices.

What’s That White Liquid Oozing Out?

If you cook your salmon at a high temperature, you might notice a layer of white slimy liquid. Never fear. That’s a protein in the salmon called albumin that solidifies when hot. It won’t harm you.

Proper Storage and Reheating Leftovers

Store: Allow any leftover fillets to cool completely, then store them in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator. They will keep up to 3 days.
Freeze: Allow any leftover fillets to cool completely, then store in an airtight freezer-safe container lined with parchment paper. It will keep in the freezer for 2 months. (It will be safe to eat beyond that, but the quality will greatly diminish.)
Reheat: Low and slow is the way to go for reheating leftover salmon, so it won’t dry out. We recommend placing fish on a rimmed baking sheet and warming in the oven for about 15 minutes at 275 degrees F.

baked salmon on top of green beans with bite taken

What to Serve with Baked Salmon

Your perfectly baked salmon is done, but what are you going to serve with it? Make a complete meal by pairing with some of these sides:

I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!