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Pesto Butter Salmon

This baked pesto butter salmon is ready in 20 minutes, it is quick and easy, delicious, and packed with flavor! With only 4 ingredients it is an easy weeknight tender and flaky fish dinner the whole family would love. You know basil pesto does make everything better right? let’s get right into it as you are about to have another new favorite easy salmon recipe!

Serve this delicious pesto butter salmon with creamy mashed potato or this fluffy and delicious mushroom rice.

Pesto butter salmon recipe

If you have ever wondered if pesto and salmon go together, well wonder no more! This pesto salmon is amazing and will quickly become a new family favorite. I am all about simple recipes that are packed with flavor and this one does not disappoint! You only need fresh salmon, and pesto butter (with salt and pepper), and voila, you have yourself an amazing dinner even your pickiest eater will enjoy!

The key to making this recipe perfect is to use fresh ingredients. I always make my own basil pesto sauce, but you could certainly use store-bought, no judgment here. Make sure you use a quality brand you can vouch for.

One of the reasons I love this recipe is the versatility of the cooking method. You can choose to grill or pan sear the salmon if you prefer, you will get the same amazing result but only the cooking time will be different. The cooking time will also change depending on the thickness of your salmon fillet, so keep that in mind when you are making this recipe.

Related recipes: Tortellini pesto salad, pesto potato salad and baked basil pesto chicken.

This salmon with pesto butter recipe is

  • Healthy, low carb, and keto-friendly
  • So simple that a child could make it
  • Packed with so much flavor, and delicious fish dinner for busy weeknights

Tools needed

Baking sheet

Mixing bowl

Ingredients

Salmon fillets: fresh salmon all the way here, salmon is a healthy fish with healthy fat, rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

Butter: I love to use slightly salted butter for this recipe, you can use salted or unsalted butter if you prefer. Make sure the butter is softened and at room temperature.

Basil pesto: I recommend homemade basil pesto, it only takes 5 minutes to make but you can use storebought if that is all you have

Salt and pepper to taste, if you are using salted butter for this recipe be sure to adjust the salt to avoid oversalting the dish.

the ingredients needed to make pesto salmon set against a marble surface.

How to make the best baked pesto butter salmon

Preheat the oven to 200C/400F or Gas mark 6 if using a gas oven.

Make the pesto butter: To a mixing bowl, add pesto and softened butter and mix together with a fork until fully combined.

Season the fish: Pat each salmon fillet dry and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Place the salmon on a non-stick rimmed baking sheet.

Spoon the pesto butter on top of the salmon fillets and distribute it evenly to cover the fish.

Bake: Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake the pesto salmon for 12-15 minutes depending on the thickness of the fish or until it is tender and flakes away easily with a fork. Serve immediately with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice for more flavor. Enjoy!

the process shot of making baked pesto butter.

Air fryer pesto butter salmon instructions

Preheat the air fryer at 200C/400F for 5 minutes

Season the salmon fillets with salt and pepper then top the fleshy part with salmon butter making sure it is evenly covered.

Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray and then arrange the salmon in the air fryer basket skin side down.

Air fry for 7-8 minutes or until the internal temperature registers 120F/45-50C

Remove the fish from the air fryer basket and serve immediately. Enjoy!

three freshly baked salmon covered with pesto resting in a baking sheet.

What to serve with pesto salmon

This recipe is so versatile, you can really serve it with any sides you like. But some of my favorites include:

Mashed potatoes: Boursin mashed potatoes or creamy garlic mashed potato.

Pasta: garlic butter pasta, cream cheese pasta, or roasted red pepper pasta.

Gnocchi: pan-fried gnocchi or this air fryer gnocchi.

Rice: garlic butter rice, vegetable fried rice, jollof rice, or spinach rice.

Steamed vegetables: Broccoli, carrots, or asparagus.

Roasted or sauteed vegetables: sauteed green peas, air fryer vegetables, air fryer peppers, or baked cauliflower and broccoli.

Salad: cucumber salad, creamy pasta salad, or creamy coleslaw.

FAQs

How do you know when salmon is done?

It is important not to overcook salmon, it should be cooked until just tender and flaky using a fork. The best way to test that the salmon is fully booked is using the meat thermometer and cook until it registers an internal temperature of 125F/50C. Apart from the fork method, the salmon will change color when cooked from a translucent pink to an opaque pinkish-white color. Some white residue on cooked salmon is normal and it is called albumin. In fact, this can also be an indication that the fish is cooked (or overcooked) depending on the method of cooking and the temperature cooked.

Can I use a different fish

Of course! This recipe would also work well with trout, tilapia, cod, or halibut. Cooking times will differ depending on the thickness and type of fish used, so do keep this in mind

Can I make this recipe ahead of time

Yes, if you are meal prepping, you can make the pesto butter salmon ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Is this recipe dairy free

No, as my homemade pesto contain parmesan cheese, for a dairy-free version, omit parmesan cheese when making this recipe

Will this recipe work with whole salmon fillet

Yes, you can use a whole salmon fillet for this recipe, just increase the cooking time accordingly.

Can I use any other pesto sauce apart from the basil pesto

Yes, you can use any other pesto sauce for this recipe

More salmon recipes you will love

Salmon coconut curry

Creamy Tuscan salmon

Broiled salmon

Parmesan crusted salmon

Honey garlic salmon

Baked salmon in foil

Air fryer salmon with skin

freshly baked pesto salmon fillets in a baking sheet with a fork flaking the salmon fillet in the middle.

Pesto Butter Salmon

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This baked pesto butter salmon is ready in 20 minutes, it is quick and easy, delicious, and packed with flavor! With only 4 ingredients it is an easy weeknight tender and flaky fish dinner the whole family would love.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 17 minutes
Course Dinner, Fish
Cuisine American, British
Servings 3
Calories 395 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 500 g Salmon fillets about 500g
  • 50 g butter
  • 2 Tablespoons basil pesto
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Lemon wedges to serve

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 200C/400F or Gas mark 6 if using a gas oven.
  • To a small mixing bowl, add pesto sauce, and softened butter, and mix together with a fork until fully combined.
  • Pat each salmon fillet dry with a kitchen paper towel, and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Place the salmon on a non-stick rimmed baking sheet skin-side down.
  • Spoon the pesto butter on top of the salmon fillets and distribute it evenly to cover the fish.
  • Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake the pesto salmon for 12-15 minutes depending on the thickness of the fish or until it is tender and flakes away easily with a fork. The fish is fully cooked when the internal temperature of the thickest part reaches 125F/50C Serve immediately with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice for more flavor. Enjoy!

Air fryer pesto butter salmon instructions

  • Preheat the air fryer at 200C/400F for 5 minutes
  • Season the salmon fillets with salt and pepper then top the fleshy part with salmon butter making sure it is evenly covered.
  • Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray and then arrange the salmon in the air fryer basket skin-side down.
  • Air fry for 7-8 minutes or until the internal temperature registers 125F/50C
  • Remove the fish from the air fryer basket and serve immediately. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 395kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 34gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 128mgSodium: 274mgPotassium: 821mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 685IUCalcium: 40mgIron: 1mg

Nutritional data: Please note that the nutrition label provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. It will vary based on the specific ingredients and brands you use. Under no circumstances will thedinnerbite.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.

Keyword pesto butter salmon, pesto salmon, salmon with pesto butter
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