This simple salmon sheet pan dinner is the perfect addition to a regular meal rotation. And it only takes 35 minutes to bake.
Sheet pan dinners are such an easy way to prepare a healthy meal for your family. But what is a sheet pan dinner? They are just a meal that cooks all on one pan in the oven. Cooking everything on one pan keeps the meal simple, quick, and easy to clean up. This kind of meal is the best for busy families that enjoy eating at home. Lemon dill salmon with asparagus is our go-to sheet pan meal.
This simple Salmon Sheet Pan Dinner is a perfect weeknight dinner. Salmon is such a flavorful fish, it really doesn’t need an elaborate sauce or blends of spices. We eat this dish once a week and it never gets old. It is actually my kid’s favorite dinner! They always asks for seconds, sometimes thirds! That definitely makes this a winning recipe in our house!
Sheet pan meals are so easy and convenient. I love just popping some meat and veggies on a pan and then going about my evening. I use the large Stoneware Bar Pan from Pampered Chef for all of my sheet pan dinners. I’ve had my pan for 8 years and it is still in excellent condition! I line the pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper to keep clean up simple. The fewer dishes I have to wash, the better!
Salmon Sheet Pan Dinner Recipe
For this meal, you need salmon (fresh or frozen), asparagus, lemon, garlic, dill, salt, and pepper. That’s it! Sometimes I also make rice as a side, but that depends on how much time I have.
Preparing the Salmon
Coat the pan with a little olive oil, then place the salmon filets and asparagus on top of the oil. We buy our salmon frozen, in bulk, from Costco. It comes in a large bag of individually sealed salmon filets. I prefer buying it this way because then I always have salmon on hand for a quick, healthy dinner. You could also buy fresh fish at the meat counter of your local grocery store. I like to add a few small pats of butter to both the fish and the asparagus, and then sprinkle everything with salt and pepper. The butter could easily be replaced with more olive oil or ghee if you don’t eat butter. Top the salmon with a bit of dry dill and lemon slices.
Add Garlic to the Asparagus for Extra Flavor
The asparagus also gets a clove of fresh garlic on top. You could use garlic powder, but fresh is WAY better. I actually started buying jarred garlic a few months ago and it is a game-changer! I just pop open the jar and scoop out what I need. No garlic press or smelly fingers! You can find jarred garlic in the produce section of the grocery store.
Once the salon and asparagus are seasoned, place them in the oven. The oven should be preheated to 375. Bake for about 35 minutes. It will take less time if you’re using fresh salmon. The salmon is done once it reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
Use a Meat Thermometer
I like to use a meat thermometer, to check the temperature of my fish. Meat thermometers are such a handy kitchen tool because it takes all of the guesswork out of cooking meat. It definitely gives me more confidence when cooking!
Once the salmon is done you’re ready to serve. That’s it! It couldn’t be more simple! Don’t be intimidated by cooking fish, especially when there are so many complicated recipes out there. Salmon is delicious and so easy to cook! This salmon sheet pan dinner could easily become part of your regular meal rotation without adding any extra work, or dishes!
Looking for more quick and delicious dinners for busy weeknights? Try my Mediterranean Inspired Sheet Pan meal! Or my recipe for a fast French Ragout, packed with broccoli and white beans.
Lemon Dill Salmon Sheet Pan Dinner
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 8 ounce salmon filet Salmon filet size varies
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1/2 lemon sliced
- 1 tsp dill
- 1 lb fresh asparagus
- 1 clove garlic minced
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375
- Line a large roasting pan with aluminum foil and coat with 1 tbsp olive oil
- Place salmon filets in the center of the pan and apply salt, pepper and dill.
- Divide 1 tbsp butter into smaller pats and distribute over the salmon
- Top salmon with lemon slices
- Add the asparagus to the pan around the salmon filets
- Top with garlic, salt and pepper
- Bake for 30-35 minutes until salmon is done
- Serve and enjoy!
