Pesto Butter Salmon (Printable)

Succulent oven-baked salmon with rich pesto butter, ready in 30 minutes. Perfect for effortless dinners.

# What You Need:

→ Fish

01 - 4 salmon fillets (about 6 oz each), skinless or skin-on

→ Pesto Butter

02 - 4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
03 - 3 tbsp basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
04 - 1 clove garlic, finely minced
05 - 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
06 - ½ tsp salt
07 - ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper

→ Garnish

08 - Lemon wedges
09 - Fresh basil leaves (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper or foil.
02 - In a small bowl, mix softened butter, pesto, minced garlic, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper until smooth and creamy.
03 - Place salmon fillets skin-side down on prepared baking tray. Pat dry with paper towels.
04 - Generously spread pesto butter evenly over each fillet.
05 - Bake for 15–20 minutes, or until salmon is opaque and flakes easily with a fork. Cooking time depends on thickness—start checking at 15 minutes.
06 - Serve hot, garnished with lemon wedges and fresh basil leaves if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The pesto butter keeps the salmon incredibly moist while creating this gorgeous golden crust
  • It comes together in literally ten minutes of active work
  • Looks fancy enough for dinner parties but easy enough for Tuesday nights
02 -
  • Patting the salmon dry before adding the butter helps it actually stick instead of sliding right off
  • Start checking at 15 minutes because overcooked salmon is sad and nobody wants that
  • The butter will pool around the fish and that is basically liquid gold, do not waste it
03 -
  • Let the salmon rest for a couple of minutes before serving so the juices redistribute
  • If your pesto is thick, thin it with a teaspoon of olive oil before mixing into the butter

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