Seafood

Oven Baked Salmon in Foil (Healthy Meal Prep)

This Oven Baked Salmon in Foil recipe is an easy dinner with only 5 minutes of prep. It's a foolproof recipe I would make for my seafood loving personal chef clients. It's perfect on a busy night or to prep in the morning and bake at…

  • Prep5 minutes
  • Cook15 minutes
  • Total20 minutes
  • Serves2
  • Calories295 kcal
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Oven Baked Salmon in Foil (Healthy Meal Prep)

This Oven Baked Salmon in Foil recipe is an easy dinner with only 5 minutes of prep. It's a foolproof recipe I would make for my seafood loving personal chef clients. It's perfect on a busy night or to prep in the morning and bake at dinnertime.

Baked salmon in foil with lemon, capers and wine.

Baked Salmon Recipe at a Glance

  • Recipe Name: Oven Baked Salmon in Foil
  • Ready In: 5 minutes prep, 15 minutes cook time
  • Serves: 2
  • Calories: 295 per serving
  • Main Ingredients: Salmon fillets, butter, white wine, lemon, capers
  • Difficulty: Easy

I always love making seafood recipes as they're some of the easiest and quickest to make. The best ones have just a few ingredients so the flavor of the fish or shellfish can shine through.

I've got another delicious baked salmon recipe for you. This one comes together in just minutes. I would prep this for many of my personal chef clients. They would just bake the salmon packets at dinner time.

Baking the salmon with lemon, wine, butter, capers and spices in foil packets helps it stay moist and tender. It's super flavorful and clean up is a breeze.

Along with my Roasted Caesar Salmon and Pecan Crusted Salmon, this recipe is a family favorite. My daughter who is a busy mom with 2 little kids preps these early in the day and bakes the salmon just before serving.

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Why You'll Love This Baked Salmon Recipe

  • Quick 5 minute prep ~ Who doesn't love a quick and easy dinner recipe? This baked fish recipe takes hardly any time to prepare.
  • Simple ingredients ~ This fish dish is one that includes a few common pantry ingredients. No extra trips to the grocery store are needed.
  • Fantastic flavor ~ Baking the salmon in foil packets help it soak up all the bold flavors of the lemon, capers, wine and spices.
  • Simple meal prep ~ I'm all for meals you can prep in advance and cook at dinner time. This baked salmon in foil is the perfect recipe to assemble and store in the refrigerator for up to 8 hours. Then just bake and serve.

Baked Salmon in Foil Ingredients

You'll need the following ingredients to make oven baked salmon in foil packets. Scroll to the recipe card for full quantities of the ingredients.

Salmon, butter, capers, wine, lemon slices, and spices.
  • Salmon fillets
  • Paprika, garlic powder, kosher salt, pepper, dried dill
  • Lemon slices
  • Capers
  • Salted butter
  • White wine
  • Chopped fresh parsley

Substitutions

  • Salmon filets: Use your favorite type of salmon. Atlantic, Sockeye, Coho or Chinook are all delicious in this recipe.
  • Capers: I use the small, non-pareil capers, but you can use the larger ones too.
  • White wine: Use a dry white wine that you love to drink. Try Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio.

Hint

Use about 6 ounce salmon fillets with or without the skin. Use a fish spatula to easily slide the skin off the baked salmon.

How to Make Baked Salmon in Foil (Step by Step)

You'll love how easy it is to make this recipe. This is a brief overview. Scroll to the recipe card for complete instructions.

Salmon topped with spices, lemon and butter.

Step 1: Place each salmon fillet on a large sheet of foil. Sprinkle with paprika, dried dill, garlic powder, kosher salt, and pepper.

An unbaked salmon fillet in foil with butter and lemons.

Step 2: Fold up the edges of the foil packets about an inch. Top the salmon with lemon slices, capers, and butter pats. Add the wine.

Foil packets with salmon.

Step 3: Bring the edges of the foil together and seal the packet. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet.

A piece of salmon with lemon and capers.

Step 4: Bake the salmon. Carefully open the foil packets, sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley and serve.

How Long Can Cooked Salmon be Stored in the Refrigerator?

Store cooked salmon for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. Use an airtight container to store the fish. These meal prep containers are the ones I use with personal chef clients.

How to Reheat Salmon Without Drying It Out

I use the microwave to reheat leftover salmon. You just want to heat the fish and not cook it so don't use full power. Place the salmon on plate and cover with plastic wrap. Heat leftover cooked salmon at 60 percent power for 1 minute. Continue heating at 30 second intervals until warm.

Salmon in foil in oven with lemons.

Expert Tips for Foil Baked Salmon

  • When adding the wine to the foil packet, turn up the edges of the foil to avoid it spilling out.
  • Perfectly cooked salmon has an internal temperature of 145 degrees F. I take the foil packets out of the oven when the temperature is about 140 degrees F. The salmon continues to cook while it rests.
  • For the most flavorful baked salmon, ladle the lemon, butter and wine sauce that's in the foil packet over the it before serving.

Salmon Packets FAQs

How long should I cook salmon in foil in the oven?

Cook salmon in foil for between 15 to 18 minutes. The specific time will depend on the thickness of the salmon fillet. A 1- inch thick piece of salmon, bakes for about 13 to 15 minutes.

How do you know when salmon is done baking?

An instant read digital thermometer is the best way to know when salmon is done baking. Fish should have an internal temperature of 145 degrees F when perfectly cooked. I take it out of the oven at about 140 degrees F as the fish will continue to cook as it rests.

Is it better to cook salmon in foil or not?

When salmon is sealed in a foil, it steams while to cooks. This easy cooking method makes the most tender and moist salmon.

Can you grill salmon in foil?

You can most definitely grill the foil fish packets. Grill for about 15 minutes, and there's no need to flip the packets.

What to Serve with Baked Salmon

Some of my personal chef favorite recipes to serve with baked salmon include the following.

Oven Baked Salmon in Foil (Healthy Meal Prep)

This Salmon Baked in Foil recipe is an easy dinner with only 5 minutes of prep. It's a foolproof baked salmon recipe with a buttery lemon, caper and wine sauce.

Equipment

  • baking sheet

Ingredients

  • 2 salmon fillets (about 6 ounces each)
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon dried dill
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 lemon slices (cut in half)
  • 1 tablespoon capers
  • 2 tablespoons salted butter
  • 2 tablespoons dry white wine like Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio

Instructions

  1. 1

    Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Tear off 2 sheets of foil that are about 12 inches wide.

  2. 2

    Place each salmon fillet on a separate sheet of foil.

  3. 3

    Sprinkle the salmon with paprika, garlic powder, dried dill, kosher salt, and black pepper.

  4. 4

    Fold up the edges of the foil.

  5. 5

    Top the salmon with the lemon slices, capers, and butter. Pour the wine over the salmon.

  6. 6

    Bring the edges of the foil together and seal the packet. Transfer the salmon packets to a rimmed baking sheet.

  7. 7

    Bake for 15 to 18 minutes. Remove the salmon from the oven.

  8. 8

    Carefully open the packets. Spoon the sauce over the salmon, sprinkle with the parsley and serve.

Notes

Before pouring the wine over the fish, turn up the edges of the foil. Perfectly cooked salmon has an internal temperature of 145 degrees F. I take the foil packets out of the oven when the temperature is about 140 degrees F. The salmon continues to cook while it rests. Before serving, ladle the lemon, butter wine sauce that's in the foil packet over the salmon.

Nutrition

  • Serving1 piece
  • Calories295 kcal
  • Carbohydrates5 g
  • Protein23.7 g
  • Fat19.1 g
  • Saturated Fat8.4 g
  • Cholesterol91 mg
  • Sodium315 mg
  • Fiber2.2 g
  • Sugar1 g