Garlic Caper Baked Salmon
- PREP 5min
- COOK 25min
- TOTAL 30min
This garlic caper baked salmon recipe is one of my favorite ways to cook salmon. It’s so flavorful, and I love the garlic caper butter sauce! For the best salmon with a soft and tender texture, we cover it with aluminum foil and bake it in the oven for 15 minutes. Then, for a bit of color, we uncover it and continue to bake until it’s done. The cooking time may vary depending on the type and thickness of the salmon you cook. Check the notes below for our tips.
You Will Need
1 ½ pounds salmon fillets, 1-inch thick, preferably wild-caught
Salt and fresh ground black pepper
4 tablespoons (56g) unsalted butter
1 tablespoon minced garlic, 3 to 4 cloves
3 tablespoons drained capers
Chopped or torn fresh herbs like parsley, chives or dill
Half of a lemon, quartered
Directions
Preheat the oven to 325°F (162°C).
Season both sides of the salmon with salt and pepper (we use 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt for 1 ½ pounds of salmon). (Optionally, cut the salmon into four 6-ounce fillets.)
Melt the butter in a wide oven-safe skillet over medium heat. When the butter is bubbling, stir in the garlic and capers. Cook, stirring, until warm, about 1 minute. Remove the skillet from the heat.
Add the salmon fillets, skin-side down, to the skillet. Tilt the pan so butter pools on one side, then spoon garlic caper butter over each fillet.
Cover the skillet with aluminum foil or parchment paper, loosely tucking it around the salmon. Bake the salmon for 15 minutes, covered.
Uncover and spoon more of the butter over the salmon. Continue to bake, uncovered, until your desired doneness, 5 to 10 minutes more. The best way to prevent overcooking is to check the temperature of the salmon using an internal thermometer. The thickest part of the salmon should read 125°F.
Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the baked salmon, sprinkle with lots of fresh herbs, and serve with another spoonful of the garlic caper butter on top.
Adam and Joanne's Tips
- No oven-safe skillet: Cook the garlic and capers in butter in a regular skillet, and then add to a baking dish with the salmon.
- How to tell when salmon is cooked: We cook salmon to 125°F, which means it will be soft, tender and slightly pink in the center. For a visual cue, look for the flesh to be somewhat opaque. You should also be able to flake the salmon with a fork.
- Cook time: Cook time will vary depending on the type and thickness of the salmon you are baking. The cook times suggested above are for middle-cut fillets about 1 inch thick.
- The nutrition facts provided below are estimates.