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Easy Garlic Butter Salmon in Foil: The Best 20-Minute Dinner

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This quick garlic herb butter salmon in foil is flaky, moist, and packed with flavor. Ready in under 20 minutes, it’s the perfect weeknight dinner that feels fancy but requires minimal effort.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 salmon fillets (6 ounces each, skin on or off)
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 lemon, sliced into thin rounds, plus extra juice for finishing
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped, plus more for garnish
  • 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried dill)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh chives, chopped (or green onion tops)
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 4 large sheets aluminum foil (heavy-duty)
  • Parchment paper (optional, for non-stick lining)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. In a small bowl, combine the softened butter, minced garlic, chopped parsley, dill, chives, and red pepper flakes if using. Mix until evenly distributed. Set aside.
  3. Tear off four large sheets of aluminum foil, each about 12 inches long. If using parchment paper, place a sheet on top of each foil piece. Lightly spray the center with cooking oil to prevent sticking.
  4. Pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt and pepper. Place each fillet in the center of a foil sheet, skin-side down if using skin-on fillets.
  5. Spread a generous tablespoon of the garlic herb butter over each salmon fillet. Lay 2 to 3 lemon slices on top of the butter. Fold the foil up around the salmon, creating a sealed packet. Leave a little room inside for steam to circulate. Crimp the edges to seal completely.
  6. Place the foil packets on a baking sheet. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, depending on the thickness of your salmon. The internal temperature should reach 145°F (63°C) for medium doneness. The salmon will be opaque and flake easily with a fork.
  7. Carefully open the foil packets—the steam is hot. Let the salmon rest for 2 minutes in the open packet. Squeeze a little fresh lemon juice over the top and garnish with extra parsley. Serve directly in the foil packet or transfer to plates and spoon the garlic herb butter sauce over the top.

Notes

For thicker salmon fillets (over 1 inch), add 2-3 minutes to cooking time. For thinner fillets, check at 10 minutes. Room temperature butter is essential for even spreading. Seal foil packets tightly to prevent steam from escaping. Let the salmon rest for 2 minutes after opening the packet for best texture. Double the garlic herb butter if you love extra sauce.

Nutrition

Keywords: garlic butter salmon, salmon in foil, quick salmon recipe, easy salmon dinner, 20-minute dinner, herb butter salmon, weeknight salmon

Find it online: https://grubella.com/easy-garlic-butter-salmon-in-foil-the-best-20-minute-dinner/