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    Home » Main Dishes » Fish/Shellfish

    Baked Pesto Salmon Recipe

    Published: Apr 27, 2021 by Mamma C · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe
    pinnable image for baked pesto salmon recipe

    You can make this Baked Pesto Salmon Recipe in 25 minutes! It's so easy and fabulous enough for company. Plus, it's low carb and keto friendly!

    plate of pesto salmon with a slice of lemon, redskin potatoes on side

    Leave it to Costco to inspire me to make pesto salmon.

    After purchasing salmon Milano there several times, I began thinking how good fish would taste with Mom's Pesto with Pecorino Romano.

    Because nobody's basil pesto tastes better than Mom's. If you haven't tried her recipe yet, you'd best get moving on that!

    Now, let's get to the details of this Baked Pesto Salmon Recipe.

    Recipe ingredients

    bowl of pesto with spoon, green napkin

    You just need four ingredients to make pesto-encrusted salmon:

    • Salmon
    • Pesto - A delicious, basil pesto works best, but you could even make this with Easy Spinach-Walnut Pesto.
    • Cooking spray (Is that even an ingredient? Ha!)
    • Black pepper

    You can add a slice of lemon for garnish, but it's not needed for flavor. You don't want to overpower the pesto.

    How to make pesto salmon

    See the recipe card at the bottom for full instructions, but here's an overview.

    raw salmon with pesto on foil-lined sheet pan
    1. Line a sheet pan with foil and grease it with cooking spray. Place the salmon in the pan, with the skin side down.
    2. Spray the salmon with a little oil, then sprinkle on some black pepper.
    3. Dollop two tablespoons of pesto onto each piece of salmon. I use my tablespoon scoop (affiliate link) to make it easier.
    4. Bake the salmon at 400 degrees F.
    5. Spread the pesto onto the baked salmon.
    baked salmon with pesto on top, knife spreading pesto on salmon

    Recipe tips

    • If the ends of the salmon pieces are very thin compared to the rest, you can fold them underneath before baking. Or, trim off the thin sections and bake them five minutes less than the thicker pieces.
    • Don't spread the pesto on the salmon until after it's baked. This will give your salmon a vibrantly green pesto crust.

    Frequently asked questions

    How long should you bake salmon at 400 degrees?

    Bake the salmon for 20 minutes, or until it flakes easily with a fork. Bake any thinner pieces for five minutes less than the thicker ones.

    Do you bake salmon with the skin on or off?

    You can bake salmon with the skin on or off. If it has skin, bake it skin-side down. After it's cooked, slide a metal spatula between the skin and the flesh of the fish, and the skin will come right off.

    Can you reheat cooked salmon in the microwave?

    Absolutely! Loosely cover the salmon with wax paper and reheat just until it's warm enough.

    Can you freeze it?

    Yes! Place pieces of cooked pesto salmon in a single layer in a freezer bag. Lay the bag flat in your freezer. Reheat in the microwave.

    What to serve with pesto salmon

    I love to serve this salmon with boiled redskin potatoes...with a little pesto, butter, salt and pepper stirred in. Yum!

    Add The Best Italian Green Salad with Homemade Dressing, and you've got a fabulous meal.

    Basic Risotto or this Baked Vegetable Risotto also would make lovely side dishes. So would Steamed Asparagus with Tarragon Butter.

    Or...wait for it...you can serve this pesto salmon over pasta! Farfalle (butterfly-shaped pasta) would work well.

    Photo of plate with pesto salmon and potatoes

    Friends, this Baked Pesto Salmon is impressive, company worthy -- and most importantly -- approved by Mom! She absolutely loved it, despite the unwritten Italian rule of "no cheese with fish."

    See? Food can be untraditional and delicious!

    I hope you love this as much as my family does.

    More salmon recipes

    • Creamy Smoked Salmon Pasta
    • Salmon Caprese
    • Salsa Salmon with Lime and Balsamic Vinegar
    • Buffalo Salmon
    • 10-Minute Maple-Glazed Salmon

    They're all great recipes for Lent.

    Enjoy!

    If you try this Baked Pesto Salmon Recipe, be sure to leave a comment and rating!

    pesto salmon with potatoes

    Baked Pesto Salmon Recipe

    You're going to love this Baked Pesto Salmon! Try it with my Mom's pesto!
    4.66 from 20 votes
    Print Pin Rate Save Go to Collections
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Italian-American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Servings: 4 -5
    Calories: 442kcal
    Author: Mamma C

    Ingredients

    • 2 pounds salmon
    • ½ cup Mom's pesto (see notes)
    • cooking spray
    • black pepper
    • lemon slices for garnish optional
    US Customary - Metric
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    Instructions

    • Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Line a half-sheet pan with foil or parchment paper for easy cleanup.
    • Rinse the salmon and feel for any bones to remove. Pat the fish dry with paper towels. If there are any parts of the salmon that are very thin compared to the rest, use kitchen scissors or a knife to trim them off so you can bake the thin pieces for less time than the rest.
    • Place the salmon on your lined pan. Spray the salmon with cooking spray and sprinkle on black pepper.
    • Scoop a tablespoon of pesto onto a large piece of salmon, a couple inches from one end. Scoop another tablespoon of pesto onto the salmon, near the opposite end. (For best results, do not spread the pesto until after the fish is baked. See notes.) Continue placing two tablespoons of pesto onto each large piece of salmon. For any small thin, pieces, you'll probably just need one tablespoon of pesto.
    • Bake your thick pieces of salmon for 20 minutes, or until it can be flaked with a fork. If you have any thin pieces, bake them for five minutes less.
    • After the salmon is baked, use a knife or the back of a spoon to spread the pesto across each piece. If your salmon has skin on the bottom, use a metal spatula to gently lift the cooked salmon off the skin before serving your fish. Garnish each piece of salmon with a slice of lemon, if desired.
    • Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to three days or freeze in a single layer in a freezer bag. Reheat leftovers in the microwave.

    Video

    Notes

    The prep time doesn't include making the pesto. If you're making Mom's Pesto with Pecorino Romano, you'll need another 25 minutes. You also could make this with Spinach-Walnut Pesto.
    Bake your salmon topped with dollops of pesto and then spread the pesto across the fish afterward, to ensure your pesto has a more vibrant color.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 442kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 46g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 127mg | Sodium: 389mg | Potassium: 1111mg | Vitamin A: 715IU | Calcium: 77mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Mention @cookingwithmammac or tag #CookingWithMammaC!

    (Recipe Source: Cooking with Mamma C. Originally published on July 19, 2018 and updated now with additional information.)

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jenny

      October 23, 2021 at 10:13 pm

      What a simple, but incredibly delicious way to make salmon!! One of my kids is allergic to dairy so I used a store bought vegan pesto (Sprouts brand) for everyone so I didn’t have to use another small pan for hers. My kids, husband, and I devoured it! I know it must be even better with a regular fresh pesto!

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        October 24, 2021 at 11:40 am

        Hi Jenny - I'm glad this pesto salmon worked so well for you and your family! Thanks for letting me know.

        Reply
    2. Kerri

      April 02, 2020 at 7:05 pm

      I was making this and accidentally spread the pesto before baking. Is that a problem?

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        April 03, 2020 at 4:22 pm

        Hi Kerri - The salmon should still taste good. Sorry I didn't see this earlier.

        Reply
    3. Marco's Kitchen

      February 25, 2020 at 8:38 am

      I've never thought about this pairing, why I didn't?
      thank you for sharing!
      let's wait for basil season here in Italy and I'll try it!

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        February 26, 2020 at 8:55 am

        Hi Marco - It's a great combination! Enjoy.

        Reply
    4. Adrienne Breznau

      August 04, 2019 at 7:03 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious and very easy! Thank you for sharing this recipe!

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        August 05, 2019 at 11:44 am

        Hi Adrienne - I'm so glad you enjoyed this pesto salmon! We love it too.

        Reply
    5. WILLIAM GIORDANO

      July 31, 2018 at 11:23 pm

      Nice Dish. Too many chefs just Blacken, Lemon Pepper, or drizzle some Balsamic reduction over Salmon nowadays. The Pesto is a great idea to add freshness and flavor

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        August 01, 2018 at 8:50 am

        Hi William - I'm so glad you like this dish! It's one of my absolute favorite ways to prepare salmon.

        Reply
    6. Jessica Levinson

      July 19, 2018 at 9:11 pm

      Love the pesto on top of this salmon! Such an easy and delicious dinner!

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        July 20, 2018 at 8:54 am

        It's a great combo! Thanks, Jessica.

        Reply
    7. Pam Greer

      July 19, 2018 at 7:36 pm

      5 stars
      What a great tip to not spread the pesto until the salmon is done, keeping it more vibrant!! This is such an easy dish, I can see it going into our weekly rotation.

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        July 19, 2018 at 7:46 pm

        It's really a cinch to make, once you've got some pesto. Huge flavor for little work! Thanks, Pam.

        Reply
    8. georgie

      July 19, 2018 at 6:04 pm

      5 stars
      pesto and salmon would have to be one of my favourite flavour combinations! i love the way the pesto kind of melts when the salmon is cooked!

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        July 19, 2018 at 6:11 pm

        Yes, and you get lots of basil-garlic-oil flavor! Thanks, Georgie.

        Reply
    9. Cynthia | What A Girl Eats

      July 19, 2018 at 5:41 pm

      5 stars
      Pesto is my favorite pasta sauce! I've never thought to put it on fish! Brilliant!

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        July 19, 2018 at 6:01 pm

        You have to try it, Cynthia! Thank you!

        Reply
    10. [email protected]

      July 19, 2018 at 3:25 pm

      5 stars
      I just so happen to have some pesto in the fridge! I can't wait to try this!

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        July 19, 2018 at 4:05 pm

        I think you'll love it, Annie! xo

        Reply

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    I'm Andrea, also known as Mamma C. I share family-tested recipes from my Italian-American kitchen. I hope you'll visit often! Read More…

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