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I’m positive this Old Bay Salmon will become a regular on your menu! Classic Old Bay seasoning makes this fresh salmon recipe pop with flavor! And the simple oven-roasting method couldn’t be easier.
![Old Bay Salmon is an easy roasted salmon recipe made with classic Old Bay seasoning! It's a flavorful and simple way to make the best flaky salmon dinner! overhead shot of roasted salmon fillets with brussel sprouts and yellow squash](https://easyweeknightrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Old-Bay-Salmon-4.jpg)
This delicious roasted salmon with Old Bay Seasoning is a perfect choice for anyone looking for an easy recipe. Old Bay salmon is a classic dish featuring seasoned salmon fillets with a tasty blend of Old Bay seasoning.
If you’re a fan of salmon, this awesome spice blend is hugely flavorful and works amazingly on this simple seafood dish! Crisp on the outside and tender and buttery on the inside, this salmon recipe is the easiest and most delicious way to prepare fish at home. With only a few pantry staples, you can create a healthy and family-friendly dinner perfect for weeknight meals in just 30 minutes!
What Is Old Bay Seasoning
Old Bay is a classic seasoning that’s been around for years. The secret formula is not shared publicly, but the blend includes black pepper, red pepper, paprika, and dry mustard. It packs bold flavor and kicks things up a notch, especially with seafood recipes.
There’s also a wonderful herb flavor thanks to celery salt and possibly some bay leaf, plus spicy notes that could be cardamom or nutmeg. Again, it’s a secret formula, so I’m guessing!
Recipe Ingredients
This oven baked salmon is quick and turns out perfectly golden brown every single time. To make it, you’ll need just a few simple ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. For exact amounts and thorough instructions, scroll down to the recipe card.
- Salmon: This recipe uses about 1 pound of salmon fillets.
- Olive Oil: For brushing on the fillets. About 2 tablespoons of olive oil should do it, and you can use extra virgin, virgin, and avocado oil works great, too.
- Old Bay Seasoning: You’ll need 1 teaspoon of this classic seasoning mix. If you want to change it up, try it with my seafood seasoning blend.
- Garlic and Onion Powder: These help give an intensity of flavor to the rich salmon.
- Dried Dill and Parsley: These classic herbs give a little extra contrast to the salmon’s flavor.
- Fresh Herbs: A sprinkle of your favorite fresh herbs, like parsley or cilantro, can be used as a garnish.
Can You Use Frozen Salmon?
Yes! And while some cooks encourage cooking fillets straight from frozen, I think the texture and flavor are better if you thaw salmon before cooking.
To do this quickly, place the fillets in sealed food storage bags if they’re not already sealed in plastic. Then place the bagged fillets in a large bowl or basin of cold water for one hour, replacing the water with more fresh cold water halfway through.
How to Make Old Bay Salmon
Roasting salmon really couldn’t be easier! It’s also a very fast method, essentially requiring you to just preheat the oven, season the fillets, and go! That’s one reason it definitely qualifies as an easy weeknight recipe!
- Prepare the Oven, Pan, and Fillets. Preheat the oven to 450˚F. Grease a baking sheet or pan with cooking spray. Then place the fillets, skin side down, on the baking sheet and brush them with olive oil
- Season the Salmon. In a small mixing bowl, blend the Old Bay seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, dill weed, and parsley; mix well to combine. Rub this spice mixture onto the fillets, all around the top and sides. There’s no need to season the skin side.
- Roast! Bake the salmon fillets for 8 to 10 minutes or until they flake easily with a fork. You can also use an instant read thermometer to check for doneness; salmon is cooked through when its internal temperature registers at 145˚F.
Recipe Tips
This easy recipe comes together quickly with basic staples and a couple of special tips to bring out the best in your salmon.
- Use Parchment: While it’s fine to cook this salmon directly on your baking sheet or pan, it makes cleanup a lot easier to line your pan with a large piece of parchment paper.
- Choose Wild: If possible, go for wild-caught salmon fillets (whether frozen or fresh). Most cooks agree that wild-caught salmon has a superior flavor to its farmed counterpart!
- Select for Size: It’s best to use fillets that are all about the same size and thickness, so that they cook evenly. If your fillets are too different in size, the smaller ones may overcook while the larger ones remain undercooked!
Serving Suggestions
Start your meal with my quick and easy instant pot corn chowder. The sweetness from the bacon pairs perfectly with seafood, making it an ideal appetizer for this easy dinner. Follow it up with buttery bread, like my no-knead dinner rolls, which are fast, easy, and delicious.
For a refreshing side, a simple salad is always a good idea. You can go with a classic garden or Caesar salad, or try something a little different with my cucumber salad with sour cream dressing. To round out the meal, add a squeeze of lemon juice to your Old Bay salmon and serve it with green beans and a side of crispy French fries or chili cheese fries for a complete dinner.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
- To refrigerate: store the leftover salmon fillets in food storage bags or airtight containers. Salmon fillets will keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- To reheat: place leftover fillets in an ovenproof dish and cover loosely with foil. Bake at 275˚F until heated through, about 15 minutes.
- I don’t recommend freezing the leftover salmon, as it tends to become dry and/or mushy when thawed and reheated.
More Easy Fish Recipes
Old Bay Salmon
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds salmon fillets, (use 4 fillets)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, you can also use extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried dill weed
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450˚F.
- Generously grease a baking sheet or pan with cooking spray. Place the salmon fillets, skin side down, on the baking sheet and brush them with olive oil.
- In a small mixing bowl combine old bay seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, dill weed, and parsley; mix to combine.
- Add the spice mixture to the fillets and rub it all around the top and sides.
- Bake for 10 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily with a fork. You can also use an instant-read thermometer to check for doneness; salmon is cooked through when its internal temperature registers at 145˚F.
- Remove from oven and let stand a couple of minutes before serving.
To Make with Roasted Vegetables (optional)
- Prepare halved brussel sprouts and slices of yellow squash with a drizzle of olive oil, salt, and pepper; arrange on a baking sheet and roast for 10 minutes. Add raw salmon fillets around the veggies and continue to roast for 10 more minutes, or until the salmon is cooked through.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
I made this tonight. Great recipe. Itโs one to put in the rotation.
That’s wonderful! I’m very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! ๐
Delicious! My husband typically doesnโt like salmon or Brussels sprouts but he enjoyed this (as did I!)
That’s great! I’m very glad you and your husband enjoyed it! Thank YOU! ๐
Always looking for a new flavor to try on fish. Adding this to the list.
I hope you’ll enjoy it! Thank you! ๐
3*s for now. I’m going to make this tonight. I’m trying to introduce my kids to more seafood (current Whidbey Islanders), and veggies. My boys love spice so I’m hoping they’ll enjoy it. I’m trying to figure out how to hide any seasoning and make it look like chicken a hot dog or real cheeseburger for my super duper picky daughter. Lol. I’ll let you know how it goes.
I hope everyone enjoys it! Thank YOU! ๐
Loved this recipe! Easy and delicious! Will make again!
That’s great! I’m very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! ๐
Made this last night and it was right on the money. Will be making this again soon.
That’s great! I’m very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! ๐
Recipe was good, quick, and very easy to throw together! I do feel it was missing something, but can’t put my finger on what exactly. Whole family enjoyed it and I would make it again!
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! ๐
Iโm British and bought a tin of Old Bay from the “international” section of our supermarket on a whim after seeing it mentioned online for years. I was very excited to try it but realised I had no clue what to use it on! My memory told me that seafood was a recommended use and I had a particularly lovely piece of salmon just waiting for a special recipe. Google led me here.
I made the recipe almost exactly as written but added a single twist of freshly ground sea salt, purely because we like our food a little saltier in my household.
The salmon was a roaring success. My husband described it as “Delicate, flavourful, flaky, juicy. Just one of the best things I have ever eaten. Itโs as close to perfect as you can get.” And I have to agree.
Old Bay smells quite powerful so I was a little worried that it would be overpowering but instead it gave a wonderfully subtle flavour, enhanced by the addition of the other seasonings. It was a delightful change to our usual repertoire of recipes.
Thank you very much. I have bookmarked this page but also noted down the recipe in our household cookbook as this is one that will be entering into our regular dinner rotation.
An excellent and misleadingly simple recipe that yields a beautifully complex result.
I plan on making this soon. My salmon fillets are not that thick. More on the thinner side. Should I watch them closely since they are like this? Thanks. Recipe really looks good.
Mary
Yes, with thinner fillets, it’s a good idea to keep a close eye on them during cooking. If you have an instant-read meat thermometer, use that to check for doneness – fish is done when its internal temperature registers at 145หF.
I made it just as written and was fabulous! Just had to cook it longer than stated . Thank you for sharing such a flavorful healthy recipe . Everything ( except for Salman ) was already in my pantry .
I am very glad you enjoyed the recipe and found it flavorful and healthy! It’s great that you only needed to add salmon to what you already had. Thank YOU! ๐