Pesto Butter Salmon

Name: Pesto Butter Salmon
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1.5 pounds salmon fillets; 1 tablespoon lemon juice ((about the juice of half a lemon) ); 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes ((optional) ); 8 tablespoons unsalted butter; 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest; 1/2 cup pesto ((use store bought or our recipe)); Garnish with: fresh basil, lemon slices ((optional) )

Savor the rich flavors of this Pesto Butter Salmon recipe, as tender salmon fillets are baked to perfection, and smothered in a luscious fresh pesto-infused butter. In less than 30 minutes, this baked salmon dish is an excellent choice for weeknight dinners!

Pesto butter salmon topped with basil and served with lemon wedges, roasted potatoes, and lemon wedges.

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Note: This recipe was originally published in July 2021, but has been improved and re-photographed. We hope you enjoy the new look!

This pesto salmon recipe is sure to become a new family favorite! Who doesn't love an easy dinner with a ton of flavor?

Looking for more delicious pesto recipes? Be sure to try our chicken pesto pasta salad, this pesto vinaigrette made with our homemade walnut basil pesto, this pesto cauliflower, or this creamy pesto pasta.

If really what you're craving is salmon, be sure to try out salmon bruschetta recipe, or this creamy salmon pasta!

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❤️Why we love this recipe
🐟Ingredients
✨Substitutions & variations
🔪Prep work
📋Instructions
✨Tips & tricks
💭Frequently Asked Questions
Side Dish Ideas
More Recipes To Consider
📖 Recipe
💬 Community

❤️Why we love this recipe

Lots of flavor. The combination of nutty flavor from the pesto butter and the fresh salmon makes for a rich and delightful dish!
Quick and easy. This dish comes together quite fast with a cooking time of about 8-10 minutes! It's perfect for busy weeknights.
Simple ingredients. All of the ingredients are easy to find at your local grocery store, if you don't already have them on hand.
Versatile. This dish goes great with a ton of sides, so it gives you a lot of different choices to make the perfect complete dinner!

🐟Ingredients

Here are the ingredients we used for this recipe. You can find more information for substitutions below.

Salmon fillets - We used fresh Atlantic salmon, but you can use frozen if thawed beforehand. You can use individual fillets or whole salmon fillets.
Lemons - For fresh lemon juice and zest.
Red pepper flakes
Softened unsalted butter - Softened butter will allow the pesto to become more of a spreadable paste versus a thin sauce.
Pesto - Use a store-bought or homemade recipe. We like using our super easy walnut pesto, a 10-minute recipe that comes together in the food processor.
Kosher salt and black pepper

Visit the recipe card for the full quantities and nutritional information.

✨Substitutions & variations

Here are a few suggestions on additional flavors to try, or simple variations to this recipe.

Salmon - Swap for another type of salmon, like king salmon or sockeye salmon. If you have an allergy to salmon, swap for another fish like cod, halibut, or sea-bass. (Cooking time will need to be adjusted based on size and type of fish.)
Pesto sauce - Swap the walnut pesto for any pesto variety. Whether it is a homemade basil pesto sauce or a store-bought sun-dried tomato pesto, any flavor you like will work.
Less spice - For a more mild taste, omit the red pepper flakes. For a spicier taste, increase the red pepper flakes and add a touch of cayenne pepper.
Fresh herbs - For a more herbaceous flavor, add fresh dill, parsley, chives, or cilantro to the pesto mixture.

🔪Prep work

Preheat oven to 425°F.
Measure out all ingredients.
Prepare a parchment-lined baked sheet.
Pat the salmon dry with paper towels.

📋Instructions

First, start with the pesto butter. In a small mixing bowl, combine pesto, softened butter, half of the lemon zest, red pepper flakes, black pepper, and kosher salt. Set aside. (Image 1)

Place salmon fillets on the baking sheet skin side down with space in between. Drizzle lemon juice, and half of the lemon zest on top of the fillets. (Image 2)

Lemon Zest and juice, pesto, red pepper flakes, kosher salt, black pepper, pesto, and softened butter being mixed in a ceramic bowl.

Salmon topped with lemon zest and juice.

Season half of the black pepper, kosher salt, and red pepper flakes on both sides of the fish. (Image 3)

Mix together the pesto butter sauce. (Image 4) 

Salmon seasoned with lemon, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes.

Pesto mixture put together in a ceramic bowl.

Evenly spoon the pesto butter on top of the salmon. (Image 5)

Insert a meat thermometer into the largest piece of salmon. Bake until the fish reaches an internal temperature of 120°F, about 10-12 minutes. The temperature will increase after the fish is removed from the oven and this will prevent overcooked dry salmon. (Image 6)

Pesto butter mixture placed on top of lemon zested salmon.

✨Pro Tip: Use an oven safe meat thermometer (affiliate link) to monitor the salmon temperature and remove it at 120°F. Farm-raised salmon should be 125°F to be safe to eat, but the temperature will continue to increase after the fish is removed from the oven. Removing it early will prevent it from being overcooked!

Garnish the flaky salmon with fresh basil, and lemon slices and serve with your choice of sides. Drizzle with the remaining butter that melted off the salmon. Enjoy!

Flaky pesto butter salmon butter opened up with basil, roasted potatoes, green beans, and lemon wedges on a plate.

✨Tips & tricks

Choose high-quality salmon - To ensure perfect flavor with this dish, buy fresh, sustainably sourced salmon with bright color and a firm texture.
Use an instant-read thermometer - Salmon is best when juicy and not overcooked, but not all times are one size fits all, as there can be different thickness and sizes to the fish you are using. Use an oven safe thermometer to make sure the fish is at the perfect temperature.
Let the salmon rest - This will allow the salmon to reabsorb its flavor and give you the best results for this recipe!

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💭Frequently Asked Questions

How to store the leftovers?

This recipe is best enjoyed right away, but if you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

To reheat, you can warm it in the oven at 275°F degrees for 10-15 minutes until reheated. You can also microwave it, but we recommend using half power to avoid overcooking the fish.

How can I tell when the fish is fully cooked?

Food safety is very important and you don't want to eat undercooked fish. When the salmon reaches at least 125°F and is opaque and easy to flake with a fork. If you see translucent or raw parts in the fish, add it to the oven for another 3-5 minutes, carefully watching the temperature so the fish doesn't become dry.

Side Dish Ideas

Not sure what to serve with this salmon? Here are a few suggestions!

More Recipes To Consider

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