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This herb crusted salmon is a favorite meal of ours when we’re looking for a delicious dinner for busy weeknights. It has a delicious parmesan herb crust on the outside and flavorful, flaky salmon on the inside. Serve it with crispy dill potatoes and carrots for a balanced meal.
Table of Contents
- Why this Herb Crusted Salmon Recipe Works
- Grab These Ingredients
- How to Make Herb Crusted Salmon
- VIDEO: Watch How to Make Herb Crusted Salmon
- What herbs taste good with salmon?
- Recipe FAQs
- What to Serve with This Easy Salmon Recipe
- Freezing and Storing Tips
- More Favorite Salmon Recipes
- Herb Crusted Salmon Recipe
We love cooking salmon and always make sure to pick up fresh salmon from the grocery store. Some of our favorite ways to have it are on a salmon pesto pasta and in our air fryer salmon bites.
If you love salmon too, next time try our salmon arugula salad. It has a delicious tahini and Dijon mustard dressing that adds extra flavor to any simple salmon filet.
Why this Herb Crusted Salmon Recipe Works
- Easy meal – Keep this recipe on deck for easy weeknight meals or special occasions.
- Healthy dinner – This filling entree can be incorporated as part of a healthy diet. Especially in the warmer summer months, it’s nice to have a lighter-tasting dish on rotation. It reminds us of our one pan everything bagel salmon and roasted broccoli.
- Delicious herb seasoning – Fresh herbs give these salmon fillets the best flavor. It’s similar to our Olive Garden copycat herb grilled salmon in that way. The fresh garlic herb butter adds so much rich flavor to the tender, flay salmon.
Grab These Ingredients
Here are the simple ingredients for this herb-crusted salmon. Most are pantry staples and easy (and affordable) to find in grocery stores. Jump down to the recipe card for exact measurements.
Potatoes and carrots
- Baby Yukon gold potatoes: If you choose grocery delivery for these, your shopper may get you the largest “mini potatoes” they have. We much prefer being able to pick out our produce when the size and shape matters for the recipe. Plus, it saves on extra dicing!
- Carrots: The cook time will vary based on the size carrots you use. Keep that in mind if you choose baby carrots instead. Make sure they are somewhat uniform in shape and size so they cook evenly.
- Olive oil: You can substitute it with avocado oil.
- Seasoning: Kosher salt, fresh cracked black pepper, garlic powder, garlic, and dried dill.
Herb Crusted Salmon
- Bread Crumbs: This is where all of the crispy crunch comes from! Use gluten-free if needed.
- Salmon: Salmon fillets are rich in omega-3s, protein, vitamins, and minerals. Not to mention, it’s our favorite fish. We prefer wild-caught salmon (Sitka Salmon Shares is a great online option), but Atlantic salmon works too.
- Parmesan cheese: Adds a little extra flavor to the crust mixture. Substitute with nutritional yeast.
- Seasonings: Garlic, parsley, and dill.
- Lemon: A little lemon juice goes a long way and adds a nice touch of citrus.
- Unsalted butter: Use vegan butter if needed.
Creamy Dill Sauce
- Mayonnaise: Gives the dill sauce that creamy base.
- Sour cream: Use dairy-free if needed.
- Lemon juice: From fresh lemon wedges.
- Seasonings: Dill, kosher salt, and black pepper.
How to Make Herb Crusted Salmon
The full printable recipe is below, but let’s walk through the steps with some photos and a video so you have a clear idea of what to expect. This easy baked salmon recipe is really easy and these step-by-step instructions will make sure it turns out every time.
VIDEO: Watch How to Make Herb Crusted Salmon
Roast the potatoes and carrots: Add the halved potatoes and carrots to a rimmed, large baking sheet. Drizzle with a little olive oil and seasonings and toss to coat. Roast the potatoes and carrots at 425°F for 15 minutes.
Mix the herb topping: While they’re baking, prepare the herb topping. Combine the breadcrumbs, melted butter, minced garlic, fresh parsley, fresh dill, lemon zest, and parmesan cheese in a medium to small bowl.
Bake the salmon: Remove the potatoes and carrots from the oven and toss them quickly, pushing them to the outer edges of the sheet pan to make room for the salmon fillet.
Add the salmon fillet to the center of the pan and brush the salmon with melted butter. Top it with the prepared herb mixture, pressing down gently to help it stick to the salmon.
Bake again for 12-17 minutes or until the center of the salmon reaches 135-140°F. (The best way to test the internal temperature is with a meat thermometer.) You want it to reach a target temperature of 145°F while it rests. The carrots and potatoes should be golden brown.
Make the dill sauce: While the salmon is baking, mix together the dill sauce ingredients in a small bowl. Spoon over the potatoes, carrots, and salmon before serving.
What herbs taste good with salmon?
Salmon is a versatile fish that pairs well with a variety of herbs, enhancing its flavor and adding freshness to the dish. We love to serve salmon with fresh herbs like dill, parsley, tarragon, thyme, rosemary, basil, or sage.
- Dill has a fresh and slightly tangy taste pairs well with both grilled and baked salmon.
- Parsley is a versatile herb that adds a bright and herbaceous flavor to salmon.
- Tarragon has a distinct anise-like flavor that adds a unique twist to salmon dishes.
- Thyme has a fragrant and earthy flavor that pairs well with salmon.
- Rosemary has a robust and aromatic flavor that can enhance the taste of salmon.
- Basil brings a fresh and slightly sweet flavor to salmon.
Recipe FAQs
In some recipes, covering the salmon with foil or a lid during baking is recommended. This method helps trap steam and moisture, resulting in a more tender and moist salmon. The covering helps prevent the top of the salmon from drying out or becoming too browned. If you choose this method, ensure that the aluminum foil or lid is not tightly sealed to allow some airflow.
Both thyme and parsley are delicious herbs paired with salmon depending on the flavor profile and recipe. We love to garnish salmon with fresh parsley like in this blackened salmon recipe. However, a Greek-flavored salmon would be delicious with Thyme. We also love salmon with dill (like in this recipe), rosemary, sage, and tarragon
What to Serve with This Easy Salmon Recipe
While the crispy garlic grilled potatoes and carrots are the perfect side, substitute with your own favorite sides.
Serve the salmon with green beans, crispy balsamic brussels sprouts, or air fryer smashed potatoes. Fire up the air fryer and try these air fryer zucchini chips or quick and easy air fryer asparagus.
Freezing and Storing Tips
Store this dish in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Warm it up in the air fryer or place it all on the same baking tray in the oven until heated through.
If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to give it a star rating ★ below. You can also tag me on Instagram so I can see it!
More Favorite Salmon Recipes
If you’re looking for more healthy salmon entrees, we have plenty of favorites to suggest:
- Tahini ginger salmon with sesame asparagus (sheet pan)
- Salmon pesto pasta
- Teriyaki glazed salmon
- Honey garlic salmon rice bowl
Herb Crusted Salmon
Save this Recipe!
Ingredients
Potatoes and Carrots
- 1 pound baby Yukon gold potatoes halved
- 1 pound carrots peeled, halved and cut into thin 3-inch strips (Note 1)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Fresh cracked black pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon dried dill
Herb Crusted Salmon
- 1/3 cup plain bread crumbs Panko works too, gluten-free if needed (Note 2)
- 4 cloves minced garlic
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley finely chopped
- 3 Tablespoons fresh dill finely chopped, plus more to garnish
- Zest from 1/2 lemon (about 2 teaspoons)
- 1/3 cup parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast dairy-free option
- 4 (5-6 ounce) salmon filets (Note 3)
- 3 Tablespoons melted unsalted butter or vegan butter divided
Creamy Dill Sauce
- 2 Tablespoons mayonnaise we like Primal Kitchen
- 1/3 cup sour cream dairy-free if needed (Kite Hill dairy-free sour cream is my favorite)
- Squeeze fresh lemon juice
- 2 Tablespoons fresh chopped dill
- Pinch of kosher salt and black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Add the halved potatoes and carrots to a large rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, minced garlic, and dried dill and toss to coat. Bake the potatoes and carrots in the preheated oven for 15 minutes.1 pound baby Yukon gold potatoes, 1 pound carrots, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, Fresh cracked black pepper to taste, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 2 cloves minced garlic, 1/2 teaspoon dried dill
- While they’re baking, prepare the herb topping. Combine the bread crumbs, melted butter, minced garlic, fresh parsley, fresh dill, lemon zest, and parmesan cheese in a medium bowl.1/3 cup plain bread crumbs, 4 cloves minced garlic, 1/4 cup fresh parsley, 3 Tablespoons fresh dill, Zest from 1/2 lemon, 1/3 cup parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast
- Remove the potatoes and carrots from the oven and toss them quickly, pushing them to the outer edges of the pan to make room for the salmon filets in the center.4 (5-6 ounce) salmon filets, 3 Tablespoons melted unsalted butter or vegan butter
- Add the salmon fillet to the center of the pan. Brush them with melted butter. Top them with the prepared bread crumb and herb mixture, pressing down gently to help it stick to the salmon. Do your best to cover the entire filet evenly.
- Bake again for 12-17 minutes or until the center of the salmon reaches 135-140°F, with a target temperature of 145°F while it rests and the carrots and potatoes are golden brown. The cooking window is large because the length of time will depend on the size of the salmon filets. It took about 16 minutes for the filets in these images to reach 140°F in the thickest part of the salmon.
- While the salmon is cooking, mix the dill sauce ingredients together. Spoon the sauce over the potatoes and carrots before serving.2 Tablespoons mayonnaise, 1/3 cup sour cream, Squeeze fresh lemon juice, 2 Tablespoons fresh chopped dill, Pinch of kosher salt and black pepper
Notes
Video
Equipment
- Large rimmed sheet pan
This is beyond delicious!!!
Thank you, Sally!
Delicious!! My husband who dislikes salmon loved it. Best salmon he has ever had. I forgot to make the creamy dill sauce and it was still so good. I added the melted butter to the breadcrumb mixture rather than brushed on the salmon and think that worked out well. Loved this recipe!
Can I use Trout instead? Not a fan of salmon