Garlic Butter Salmon Asparagus (Printable Version)

Tender salmon paired with crisp asparagus and a flavorful garlic butter sauce, perfect for a fresh dinner.

# What You'll Need:

→ Seafood

01 - 4 salmon fillets (6 ounces each), skin-on or skinless

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 pound fresh asparagus, woody ends trimmed
03 - 1 lemon, sliced into rounds
04 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, optional for garnish

→ Garlic Butter Sauce

05 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
06 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
08 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
11 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional

# Method:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
02 - Arrange salmon fillets in the center of the baking sheet. Place trimmed asparagus around salmon in a single layer. Tuck lemon slices between salmon and asparagus.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together melted butter, minced garlic, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes.
04 - Drizzle garlic butter sauce evenly over salmon and asparagus.
05 - Roast in the oven for 15 to 18 minutes, or until salmon flakes easily with a fork and asparagus is just tender.
06 - Garnish with chopped parsley before serving. Serve immediately with extra lemon wedges if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It's practically impossible to mess up because the oven handles most of the cooking while you pour a glass of wine and actually relax.
  • That garlic butter sauce tastes fancy enough to impress but comes together in the time it takes to trim asparagus.
  • One pan means one thing to clean, which might be the best part of any weeknight dinner.
02 -
  • Salmon cooks faster than you think—pull it out when the thickest part still looks barely opaque inside because it keeps cooking on the plate and you'd rather have it slightly underdone than rubbery.
  • If your asparagus is thick, slice it in half lengthwise so it roasts in the same time as the salmon instead of staying tough.
03 -
  • Pat the salmon dry with a paper towel before roasting so it browns slightly instead of steaming, which adds an extra layer of flavor most people don't expect.
  • Add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes even if you don't think you like heat—it wakes up the whole dish without making it spicy.
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