This quick and easy sheet pan lemon pepper salmon is perfect for the busiest days when you only have 10 minutes! Just 4 simple ingredients give you a family favorite FAST.
There are busy days, and then there are BUSY days.
Busy days are still full, but you have a bit of breathing room. They’re perfect for dinners that take 30 minutes or less, like 30 Minute Cashew Chicken or Instant Pot Chicken Tinga or even Instant Pot BBQ Chicken.
BUSY days are so full you know you can’t possibly throw anything together at the last minute, so you rely on staple recipes like Slow Cooker Balsamic Beef Pot Roast or Carnitas or Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs – things you can get ready earlier in the day in just a few minutes.
Super quick prep is why I love my sheet pan lemon pepper salmon recipe. It’s a spin-off of my original 10-Minute Blackened Salmon, except it has a delicious lemon pepper flavor that’s just so fresh and vibrant!
It’s perfect for those BUSY busy days!
SHEET PAN LEMON PEPPER SALMON
Aside from being DELICIOUS, this sheet pan lemon pepper salmon recipe is also:
- Easy peasy lemon squeezy. Even new cooks can pull this off!
- FAST! Only 10 minutes in the oven and dinner is ready.
- Kid-friendly. My kids actually REQUEST this salmon for dinner!
- One pan. Less dishes and super fast clean-up.
- Real ingredients. We’re not using store-bought lemon pepper seasoning, which often has monosodium glutamate (and many people who are sensitive to gluten react to MSG). Just 4 simple ingredients here!
- Moist, tender, flaky, and full of flavor!
INGREDIENTS FOR LEMON SALMON
The ingredients for lemon salmon are pretty basic.
- Salmon Filets. Preferably wild-caught salmon that is thawed, not frozen.
- Fresh Lemon Juice. Squeeze juice from fresh lemons or use bottled lemon juice – both work here! There are a few ways to make this extra lemony, too – see the tips section below.
- Salt and Black Pepper. Simple seasonings are all you need, but don’t skimp on them!
You can certainly substitute lemon pepper seasoning from the store if you have it, but I like that I can make this recipe with what I already have at home.
Note: If your local stores don’t carry high-quality salmon, I recommend Butcher Box! You can read my honest review of their products here and my post on how to make Butcher Box worth the cost!
HOW TO MAKE RECIPE FOR LEMON PEPPER SALMON
Are you ready to make the easiest recipe for lemon pepper salmon? Follow these quick instructions.
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400F. Line a small baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper. You could also rub a small amount of extra virgin olive oil on the pan if you don’t have foil. (I like to use baking sheets that have rims for this recipe to catch any extra juices.)
Step 2: Place the salmon fillet pieces on the prepared baking sheet, salmon skin-side down. Pour about 1 teaspoon of lemon juice onto each filet, rubbing the juice gently into the meat of the fish. Season with salt and pepper as desired. You can also top each fillet with a slice of lemon if you have it, but it’s not necessary.
Step 3: Bake the lemon salmon for 9 minutes. Salmon is done when the thickest part can flake easily with a fork. Remove the salmon from the oven and pour another ½ to 1 teaspoon of lemon juice on top of each filet. Serve warm and enjoy!
SALMON AND LEMON PEPPER TIPS
Make it Extra Lemony – Amp up the lemon flavor by using lemon essential oil, lemon extract, or lemon zest. Add just a drop or two of the oil or extract to each filet. Remember, you can always add more after cooking for more lemon flavor!
Try Orange or Lime Pepper Salmon – The same salmon and lemon pepper method will work with oranges (with orange juice) and limes (with lime juice). I haven’t personally tried orange, but lime was delicious, and I have no doubt orange would be really good too!
Use Different Seasonings – Try different herbs along with the lemon and pepper flavors. Dill and lemon salmon might be yummy, as would garlic and lemon salmon. If you have your favorite fresh herbs, add them to the simple salmon recipe!
Make Extras for Leftovers – Generally speaking, leftover fish isn’t that great. HOWEVER, I like to make a couple of extra lemon pepper salmon filets specifically for salmon fish tacos. I serve them with Cilantro Lime Coleslaw, a bit of Lime Crema, maybe some Coconut Lime Rice, and all the citrusy flavors just taste so good together! Store any leftover salmon in an airtight container in the fridge.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH SHEET PAN LEMON PEPPER SALMON
Sheet pan lemon pepper salmon is GREAT with any vegetables that have the same cooking time as the salmon. Follow this method for roasting veggies and pop them in the oven at the same time.
If you want to keep your salmon separate, try one of these quick sides:
Leftover lemon pepper salmon is delicious added to a Greek Quinoa Salad!
USING LEMON PEPPER SALMON FOR MEAL PREP
As part of my meal prep, I like to make 1 or 2 proteins and 1 or 2 sides so that I can mix and match and have quick meals available to me to grab all week long.
And while fish doesn’t necessarily hold up well to eat on its own, it’s perfectly fine as a meal-prepped protein that you’re going to eat with other things.
So, for me, I might make a sheet pan of lemon pepper salmon as part of my meal prep, along with some roasted veggies and a batch of Coconut Rice or Lemon Rice.
Then during the week, I would use it for lunches:
- A small bowl with rice, salmon, veggies, and some sort of sauce (a drizzle of hot sauce, a bit of soy sauce/coconut aminos, or a splash of Balsamic Vinaigrette)
- Salmon wrapped up in a tortilla with some Cilantro Lime Coleslaw and Lime Crema, with veggies on the side (a great option for the day after taco night when I have leftover slaw and crema!)
- Salmon on top of a Strawberry Salad with whatever veggies I have on hand, with a side of rice if I have carbs available for that meal
- And then I’d probably repeat those options
By getting the salmon and rice ready ahead of time (which would take me 5 minutes of hands-on prep work), I have a few foundational items ready to go for quick and easy meals.
Psst! You can meal prep like this, too! Check out my Meal Prep Cheat Sheets for more ideas on quick staples to meal prep so you can eat well all week long!
LEMON PEPPER ON SALMON FAQS
What flavors go well with salmon?
Any citrus goes really well with salmon, as does a strong spicy flavor, like Blackened Seasoning. I’ve found that herb spices like Italian seasoning are a little too plain for me.
Can I use bottled lemon juice on salmon?
Absolutely! That’s what I use to make my recipe, simply because I don’t always have lemons on hand.
How can I make my salmon taste better?
Wild-caught salmon will always taste better than farmed salmon (in my opinion), so that’s a good place to start. Don’t forget to season with salt and pepper and then be liberal with your other seasonings!
How long should you bake salmon at 350?
I like to bake lemon pepper on salmon at 400F, and it’s perfect at exactly 9 minutes, but if you wanted to bake at 350F, you’d want to bake it for a few minutes longer.
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Sheet Pan Lemon Pepper Salmon
This quick and easy sheet pan lemon pepper salmon is perfect for the busiest days when you only have 10 minutes! Just 4 simple ingredients give you a family favorite FAST.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 9 minutes
- Total Time: 19 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Meals
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F. Line a small baking sheet with aluminum foil. (I like to use baking sheets that have rims for this recipe to catch any extra juices.)
- Place the salmon filets on the prepared baking sheet, skin side down. Pour about 1 teaspoon of lemon juice onto each filet, rubbing the juice gently into the meat of the fish. Season with salt and pepper as desired.
- Bake the salmon for 9 minutes. Remove the salmon from the oven and pour another ½ to 1 teaspoon of lemon juice on top of each filet. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- Make it Extra Lemony – Amp up the lemon flavor by using lemon essential oil, lemon extract, or lemon zest. Add just a drop or two of the oil or extract to each filet. Remember, you can always add more after cooking for more lemon flavor!
- Try Making it Orange or Lime – The same method will work with oranges (with orange juice) and limes (with lime juice). I haven’t personally tried orange, but lime was delicious, and I have no doubt orange would be really good too!
- Use Different Seasonings – Try different herbs along with the lemon and pepper flavors. Dill and lemon salmon might be yummy, as would garlic and lemon salmon. If you have your favorite fresh herbs, add them to the simple salmon recipe!
