Baked Pesto Butter Salmon

by Kayla Berman on March 8, 2023 2 comments

Pesto Butter Salmon is an easy, healthy, and delicious dinner recipe! Made with fresh salmon fillets, jarred basil pesto, salted butter, parmesan cheese, and garlic powder … this 5 ingredient savory dish is flavorful, flakey, and cheesy. Plus this recipe is low carb and comes together in 20 minutes!

Looking for more pesto recipes? Check out my Orzo Pesto Pasta Salad or Pesto Pizza Flatbread.

Easy, Healthy, & Flavorful Weeknight Dinner

I am in my protein era! By that I mean I am trying to prioritize protein. But I also mean that I am focusing on main protein dishes and recipes!

Ones that you can prepare and then serve with sides to create a well rounded, satisfying, and balanced meal. Like Pan Seared Chicken Thighs, Parmesan Crusted Cod, or Crusted Chicken Romano.

I think they are just the easiest option for weeknight dinners! Not to mention they are usually healthy choices. And delicious! Especially if I’m making them. LOL.

Salmon withe Pesto Butter is my latest edition of this recipe variety! And it truly might be the greatest.

This 5 ingredient dish is made with fresh salmon, jarred basil pesto, salted butter, parmesan cheese, and garlic powder. It is cheesy, flakey, tender, savory, herby …. and honestly? Restaurant quality!

Plus this flavorful recipe is low carb and takes 20 minutes to make. It is sure to be a new family favorite!

Ingredients

This baked salmon only requires 5 simple ingredients! No long list of fancy ingredients are needed here.

Which makes this a great recipe for busy weeknights when you want something low effort, but still delicious!

Ingredient Notes

Salmon: The key ingredient in this salmon dish is of course salmon! You will need 1 lb of the fatty fish. I prefer Atlantic salmon!
Pesto: The other star of this show is pesto. Use 1/4 cup of your favorite pre-made store bought pesto. Or use your favorite homemade basil pesto recipe!
Butter: This pesto butter sauce is made with 2 tablespoons of butter. Salted butter! It gives this dish an incredibly rich and delicious flavor.
Parmesan Cheese: Parmesan cheese is always a good idea. It truly makes everything taste better! That’s exactly what 2 tbsp does to this easy dinner recipe.
Seasonings: The seasonings are very simple here. All you need to add is 1 tsp of garlic powder and salt and black pepper.

Substitutions & Additions

Although this dish does not require too many ingredients to begin with, there are still a few substitutions or additions you could make.

Butter: If you don’t want to use butter in this recipe you could replace it with a drizzle of olive oil.

Parmesan Cheese: I think parmesan cheese adds the perfect flavor here! But feel free to use a different cheese – perhaps Pecorino Romano or even shredded mozzarella cheese. Then you’d have more of a melty, cheese-pull vibe.

Garlic: I used garlic powder here for ease and simplicity! If you want even more garlic flavor you could add or use fresh minced garlic cloves.

Seasonings: Add some more! I think Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, dried oregano, and dried parsley would be fantastic options.

Fresh Herbs: I think fresh herbs elevate any dish, including this one. I love to add some fresh basil on top here! Fresh dill or fresh parsley would also be great.

Veggies: Add some vegetables to the baking dish with the salmon. Tomatoes, zucchini, or bell peppers would bake perfectly and make for a delicious side.

Kitchen Tools

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How To Make This Recipe

This salmon recipe is incredibly easy to make! All you do is prepare a simple butter pesto sauce, add it to fresh salmon fillets, and bake.

The result is a restaurant quality dish that only takes about 20 minutes to make!

Step By Step Instructions

Step 1: Set the oven to 400 degrees.

Step 2: Then add the basil pesto, softened butter, parmesan cheese, and garlic powder to a small bowl. Combine.

Step 3: Place the salmon fillets in a large baking dish. Season with salt and black pepper.

Step 4: Divide the basil pesto butter among the fillets evenly. Spread it on top of the salmon.

Step 5: Bake for 10-15 minutes, depending on how you like your salmon cooked. I like mine pretty well done so I do 15 minutes.

Step 6: Broil on high for 2-3 minutes.

Step 7: Serve with fresh basil and lemon slices. Enjoy!

Expert Tips

Pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels before doing anything! This will help get a crispier skin and outside.

Make sure to use your favorite pesto! The pesto is the main flavor element in this dish, so make sure you like the taste of it. Otherwise you will not be happy with how this recipe turns out.

Use a meat thermometer to know when the salmon is done cooking. The internal temperature should reach 125-130 degrees Fahrenheit.

What To Serve This Recipe With

Frequently Asked Questions

Is salmon good for you?

Yes, salmon is very good for you. It is an extremely healthy fish!

Salmon is full of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and is high in B vitamins.

What type of salmon should I use?

I use fresh Atlantic salmon in this recipe, but I think any type of salmon should work. Like king salmon.

You could even use a different fish entirely – like cod or halibut. The cooking time would just have to be adjusted accordingly!

Can I use a whole salmon fillet in this recipe?

Yes, I don’t see why not! You would just follow the exact same instructions that are listed.

I just personally prefer to use individual fillets to have the servings already divided. It makes my life easier!

Tip: If all you can find in the grocery store or market is a full salmon fillet and you would like to use individual fillets, you can always just use a sharp knife to make your own.

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

This salmon recipe is definitely most delicious when freshly baked, but I do think you could make it ahead of time if you’d like.

You could make the full recipe ahead of time and store as meal prep.

Or you could simply prepare the pesto butter ahead of time and then make it easier to assemble the dish for a weeknight dinner.

How to best store this recipe?

You can store this recipe in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep best for about 3-4 days!

How to best reheat this recipe?

I think the best way to reheat this salmon is in the oven.

I place the salmon in the oven at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes, or until warmed throughout.

Love this recipe? Check out more delicious recipes below…

Seafood Recipes

Healthy Dinner Recipes

Connect With Me!

If you make this pesto salmon recipe or any of my other recipes, I would absolutely love to know! Tag me @wellnessbykay on Instagram so I can see and share your recreations.

Love this recipe? Leave a comment and a rating! I love to see and it helps me continue to develop delicious recipes for this blog.