Did you know that oven-baked salmon with tartar sauce is one of the healthiest foods you can eat? Salmon is full of omega-3 fatty acids that your brain needs to function properly. A 100-gram serving has only 232 calories but 25 grams of protein! This is a great option for those on the Keto or low-carb diet! Even better, it can be on your table in just 30 minutes.
This oven-baked salmon with tartar sauce is one of my family’s favorites! I make it at least once or twice a month because of its ease of preparation and incredible health benefits. Eating fish regularly has been shown to keep your heart and joints healthy, maintain low blood pressure, and reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and cancer. I especially appreciate these benefits since my husband has already battled cancer once in his life, and the genes for it run on both sides of our family.
How to Make Oven-Baked Salmon with Tartar Sauce
Oven-baked salmon with tartar sauce is incredibly easy to prepare and requires very little effort! The key is to start with a quality piece of salmon that doesn’t have a “fishy” smell. Fresh, clean fish should not have an odor; if it does, it’s likely not fresh.
Step 1: Prepare Your Baking Sheet
First, line a cookie sheet with foil for easy clean-up. Then, place your piece of salmon in the middle. (I made two pieces because I love the leftovers!)
Step 2: Season the Salmon
Second, sprinkle on Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Step 3: Add Butter
Third, cut small portions of butter and place them around the fish. I use Imperial butter. Make sure the butter is cold or at room temperature so that it can melt over the fish as it cooks.
Step 4: Add Lemon
Lastly, slice a lemon and put a few slices on top. Squeeze just a little bit of lemon juice over the salmon.
Step 5: Bake the Salmon
Simply bake the salmon at 350 degrees for about 20 to 30 minutes. Salmon cooks quickly, and it is easy to dry out, so be sure to check it at the 20-minute mark. Thicker pieces of salmon will obviously need longer to cook. The pieces in my pictures were about an inch thick in some parts, so they took almost 30 minutes.
You will know the salmon is done when it flakes easily away from the skin. See how it kind of separates itself into segments? Most of the bones will probably already have been removed, but there might be a few fragments in the thicker part of the meat.
While cooking the salmon, I usually make a batch of rice pilaf and steam some vegetables. It makes for a complete, healthy dinner. And I LOVE the leftovers the next day! If this recipe appeals to you, you may also want to try my recipe for dijon salmon and sautéed snap peas.
How to Make Tartar Sauce
This easy oven-baked salmon with tartar sauce is perfectly flaky and delicious without tartar sauce, but this smooth condiment adds just the right amount of creaminess to the fish. I like to make my tartar sauce first so that it has time to chill in the fridge. Warm tartar sauce is just WRONG. Don’t even go there! Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make it:
- 1 cup of mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup chopped dill pickles (Use Claussen chilled dill pickles! They are the absolute best! In fact, I use them and ONLY them in my Grandma Ruth’s Chunky potato salad recipe!)
- 1 teaspoon of the pickle juice the pickles were in
- 1 Tablespoon freshly minced parsley
- 2 teaspoons of lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon minced dill
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Simply mix all of these ingredients together and chill them in the fridge for at least 1 hour and up to 2 days!
Add This Healthy Recipe to Your Meal Rotation
Isn’t this oven-baked salmon with tartar sauce amazing? Now you have another delicious but healthy dinner you can add to your rotation of meals! If you would like easier family dinner ideas, check out my recipe index where you’ll find Crockpot meals, 30-minute meals, and tasty entrees the whole family will love. Happy cooking, y’all!
