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Home » Recipes » Seafood

Easy Salmon with Pesto Butter

Published: Apr 16, 2023 · Updated: Aug 8, 2024 by Carissa Erzen · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

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5 from 3 votes

This easy salmon with pesto butter requires just 6 simple ingredients. The pesto butter adds a creamy texture and a delicious buttery, herb flavor. Plus this easy weeknight meal is ready in just 25 minutes!

four filets of Salmon with Pesto Butter on a white dish

This is one of my favorite go-to weeknight seafood recipes. The same gets incredibly juicy and flaky when its baked under the pesto butter. The butter melts in the oven and keeps the fish moist and flavorful.

And after a long work day, a recipe that requires just 6 simple ingredients and 25 minutes is a winner in my book!

This pesto butter salmon recipe was inspired by my miso butter salmon recipe, and it tastes great with roasted root vegetables, creamy mashed potatoes, or cilantro lime cauliflower rice.

Plus pesto butter is super easy to make at home from scratch in just a few minutes. All you need is a bowl and a spoon to mix it together! I love making it with homemade pesto with carrot greens or parsley pesto, but store bought pesto works just as well.

a metal fork flaking a baked salmon filet

Ingredients and Notes

  • Salmon - I use four 6 ounce frozen salmon filets that I thaw overnight in the fridge. You can also use fresh salmon filets, or one large salmon filet. Check out Seafood Watch for tips to buying sustainable seafood.
  • Unsalted butter - Allow the butter to soften to room temperature. You can substitute vegan butter.
  • Pesto - Adds a slightly tangy, salty, herb-forward flavor
  • Salt and black pepper - Provides simple yet essential seasoning for the salmon
  • Lemon juice - Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best flavor
two gray plates with rice, broccoli and Salmon with Pesto Butter

How to Make Pesto Butter Salmon

1. Preheat: Preheat the oven to 400F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.

2. Make the pesto butter: In a small mixing bowl, combine the softened butter and pesto to make pesto butter. Set aside.

a white bowl with butter and pesto
a white bowl with butter and pesto

3. Season the salmon: Lay the salmon filets skin side down on the baking sheet. Sprinkle the salt and pepper over the top of each salmon filet. Then squeeze fresh lemon juice on top of each filet. 

4. Add the pesto butter: Dollop about 1 Tablespoon of the pesto butter on the top of each filet then gently spread it around with the back of a spoon. 

aluminum foil topped with four fish filets
a hand spreading sauce onto fish filets

5. Bake: Bake the salmon for 10-15 minutes until the salmon flakes easily and is 145F internal temperature. 

6. Serve: Top with additional pesto or pesto butter, lemon wedges and chopped parsley.

a white dish with four filets of salmon with pesto butter and lemon slices

Recipe Tips

  • Softened Butter: Leave the butter on the counter so it can soften. If you forget, microwave it on 15 second intervals to soften it. This makes mixing and spreading the pesto butter much easier.
  • Lemon Juice: Use freshly squeezed lemon juice, if possible. I find that bottled lemon juice from the store can have a weird chemical taste.
  • Frozen Salmon: If you're using frozen salmon, thaw it in the fridge overnight.
  • Don't Overcook: Don't overcook the salmon. I use an instant read thermometer to make sure it reaches 145 F internal temperature. The salmon should flake easily with a fork once it's done cooking.

Storing

  • Salmon: Store leftover baked salmon with pesto butter for 3 to 4 days in an airtight container in the fridge.
  • Pesto Butter: Store any extra pesto butter for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container in the fridge. You can spread it on toast and or add it to potatoes, chicken, and pasta.
a white dish with four filets of salmon with pesto butter and chopped parsley

Recipe FAQ's

How long does it take to bake salmon?

Six ounce salmon filets only need to bake for 10 to 15 minutes in the oven at 400F. If you're baking a large whole salmon fillet, bake it at 375F for about 15 to 20 minutes.

How do you know when salmon is done?

Salmon is done cooking once the internal temperature is 145F. If you stick a fork into it, it should be soft and flake into small pieces easily.

a fork sticking into a bite of fish and white rice

Easy Salmon with Pesto Butter

Carissa Erzen
This easy salmon with pesto butter requires just 6 simple ingredients. Plus this crowd-pleasing weeknight meal is ready in just 25 minutes!
5 from 3 votes
Print Pin Recipe Rate Recipe Save Saved Recipe!
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 20 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4 people
Calories 266 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 4 6 ounce salmon filets
  • ½ cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature
  • ¼ cup pesto
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice (from about a quarter of one large lemon)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 400F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
  • In a small bowl, use a spoon to mix the softened unsalted butter and pesto to make pesto butter. Set aside.
  • Lay the salmon filets skin-side-down on the lined baking sheet.
    Sprinkle the salt and pepper over the top of each salmon filet. Then squeeze the lemon juice on top of each filet.
  • Dollop about 1 tablespoon of the pesto butter on the top of each filet then gently spread it around with a butter knife or spatula.
  • Bake the salmon for 10-15 min until the salmon flakes easily and is 145°F internal temperature.
    To serve, top with additional pesto butter, lemon wedges and chopped parsley.

Notes

  • Leave the butter on the counter overnight or throughout the day so it can soften. If you forget, microwave it on 15 second intervals to soften it. This makes mixing the pesto butter and spreading it onto the salmon much easier.
  • If you're using frozen salmon, thaw it in the fridge overnight.
  • Use freshly squeezed lemon juice. Bottled lemon juice from the store can have a weird chemical taste.
  • Don't overcook the salmon. I use an instant read thermometer to make sure it reaches 145 F internal temperature. The salmon should flake easily with a fork once it's done cooking.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 266kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 1gFat: 29gSaturated Fat: 16gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 63mgSodium: 439mgPotassium: 17mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 1023IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 33mgIron: 0.1mg
Keyword baked salmon, pesto butter, salmon with pesto butter
Did you make this recipe?Leave a comment below - I love hearing from you!

More Easy Seafood Recipes

  • Easy Salmon Sushi Bake
  • Miso Butter Salmon (Crispy & Juicy!)
  • Easy Japanese Shrimp Curry
  • 30 Minute Garlic Shrimp Spaghetti

About Carissa Erzen

Growing up in Germany, I fell head-over-heels in love with ALL the German baked goods, from Lebkuchen to pretzels. Now I'm the founder, recipe developer, and food photographer behind Humbly Homemade, where I test and share German sweets lovingly created from scratch. So pull up a chair, and stay a while!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Penelope

    August 12, 2024 at 2:49 pm

    5 stars
    Love love love this pesto butter salmon! I usually buy pesto from Costco, and I've made pesto salmon, but never pesto butter salmon before. Definitely making this again and again!

    Reply
  2. Twyla

    August 12, 2024 at 2:44 pm

    5 stars
    Fantastic! We make baked salmon quite often, and I really enjoyed this version with pesto butter. It kept the salmon super moist and flavorful.

    Reply
5 from 3 votes (1 rating without comment)

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