Easy Salmon with Pesto Butter
This easy salmon with pesto butter requires just 6 simple ingredients. Plus this crowd-pleasing weeknight meal is ready in just 25 minutes!
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
Did you make this recipe?Leave a comment below - I love hearing from you!