Cozy One-Pan Garlic Butter Salmon with Asparagus – Easy Dinner
A simple, delicious one-pan meal featuring flaky salmon and tender-crisp asparagus in a rich garlic butter sauce. Ready in under 30 minutes with minimal cleanup, perfect for busy weeknights.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 salmon fillets (about 6 ounces each)
- 1 bunch asparagus (about 1 pound), woody ends snapped off
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large lemon (juice of half, other half sliced into thin rounds)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place asparagus on one side of the baking sheet. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and toss to coat. Spread in a single layer.
- Pat salmon fillets dry with paper towels. Place skin-side down on the other side of the baking sheet, leaving space between each piece.
- Drizzle remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil over salmon. Sprinkle with paprika, oregano (if using), salt, and pepper. Rub seasoning gently into the flesh.
- In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt butter in 20-second intervals. Stir in minced garlic and juice of half the lemon.
- Pour garlic butter evenly over salmon fillets. Place lemon slices on top of each fillet.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, until salmon flakes easily with a fork and asparagus is tender-crisp. For a golden top, broil for 1-2 minutes at the end, watching carefully.
- Let rest for 2 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley and extra lemon juice if desired. Serve warm.
Notes
Pat salmon dry thoroughly for best browning. Check salmon at 10 minutes if fillets are thin. Salmon continues cooking after removal from oven. For dairy-free, use vegan butter or ghee. Leftovers keep in refrigerator up to 3 days; reheat in 300°F oven for 8-10 minutes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 salmon fillet with
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 26
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 8
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 28
Keywords: one-pan salmon, garlic butter salmon, asparagus salmon, easy weeknight dinner, sheet pan salmon, healthy salmon recipe, low-carb dinner, gluten-free salmon