5-Ingredient Roasted Garlic Salmon for Two

Looking for an easy and delicious date night dinner? Packed with rich flavor, this Roasted Garlic Salmon for Two is on heavy rotation in my household! It’s super quick, minimum ingredients, and requires just one sheet pan.

With a very healthy dose of garlic, this versatile salmon recipe makes this the perfect main to whichever side you’re serving up! My favorite plate consists of this salmon, this Yellow Saffron Rice and Lemon Garlic Asparagus.

Plus, it’s ready in less than 30 minutes and only uses 5 simple ingredients. As a mom with a packed schedule and passion for gourmet food, this recipe ticks all the right boxes: easy, efficient, and elevated.

Roasted Garlic Salmon for Two Ingredients

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Here’s everything you need:

• Salmon. A typical portion size of salmon is anywhere from 3-5 ounces. You can buy individual portions, or you can buy a larger, 6–10-ounce portion and divide it into two.
• Garlic. Fresh garlic goes a long way in this recipe. You’ll need about 4 cloves of minced garlic to completely coat your salmon.
• Lemon juice. I love using a fresh lemon for this recipe. You will only need the juice from about 1/4 of a lemon to make this Garlic Roasted Salmon for Two.
• Steak Seasoning. My favorite is Montreal Steak Seasoning.
• Olive oil.

Roasted Garlic Salmon for Two Tips and Tricks

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How to Prepare Salmon for Roasting

Before we start cooking, we have to dry our salmon to get a crispy exterior.

Place your salmon filets in between two paper towels and press down lightly to pat dry. Drying the fish will avoid a mushy texture by removing any excess moisture.

This recipe was created with fresh fish, but you can also easily use frozen salmon! Just thaw the salmon overnight in the refrigerator or add it to a plastic or reusable storage bag and submerge the bag in cold water for about 45 minutes to defrost.

Use Fresh Lemon

This recipe utilizes only 5 ingredients, so we want each one to pack a punch. Fresh lemon will go a long way in this recipe!

You only need about 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, and a large lemon contains about 4 tablespoons.

There’s a lot of chemistry behind why this duo is so dynamic, but the long and short of it is, the acid in the lemon breaks down the protein in the fish to combat that notorious “fishy” smell and taste we all want to avoid.

Squeeze it directly onto the dried salmon, careful to add juice to every part of the surface.

Season Your Salmon

Once you’ve added the lemon juice, you’re ready to season your salmon. You can use any steak seasoning of your liking.

Steak seasoning can vary depending on the brand or the homemade steak seasoning recipe, but generally it contains a combination of salt, pepper, dried onion, dried garlic, and dried herbs. It’s the perfect one-stop shop for added flavor!

That being said, some seasonings contain higher amounts of salt, and you want to be careful to not over or under salt the salmon.

My favorite steak seasoning to use for this recipe (and many more) is Montreal Steak Seasoning. The recipe is written with this blend in mind and tailored to my preferred salt level.

Coat It

The idea for this Roasted Garlic Salmon for Two is that the garlic acts almost as a crust. Use clean hands to press the minced garlic into the salmon on top of the seasoning in an even layer.

Then, drizzle the olive oil on top so the garlic has the fat it needs to roast and turn a golden brown.

Roast it!

Arguably the best part about salmon (aside from its numerous health benefits) is its juicy, flaky, fatty texture.

Which means we do not want to overcook it. Overcooked salmon tends to be dry and less flavorful. In my oven, 20 minutes gets this salmon just right.

The first indication that your salmon is ready is that any exposed fat will form a white cloudy substance.

It should retain a light pink hue throughout. It’s best to cut into it just to make sure the inside is fully cooked. Or, if you want to be certain, use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature is at least 125°F.

If you think your salmon is cooked through, but your garlic isn’t browned and crispy yet—have no fear! Simply remove it from the oven, bring your oven up to broil, and stick it back in.

Watch closely because you will probably only have about 30 seconds to one minute before the garlic starts to burn. Right when it’s brown, take it out.

Storing and Reheating Leftover Salmon with Roasted Garlic

This Roasted Garlic Salmon for Two will last up to 4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can also freeze it for up to 6 months.

To reheat your salmon dinner for two, preheat your oven to 400°F and add the salmon to a baking dish. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 15-20 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 145°F.

From frozen, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and follow the instructions above to reheat.

Serving Your Roasted Garlic Salmon

This salmon recipe is so versatile. Serve it atop a mixed berry salad with balsamic vinaigrette. Make a healthy quinoa bowl with this salmon and some Sweet and Salty Brussels Sprouts.

Or if you dare, make yourself the ULTIMATE Marley’s Menu din-din and splurge with this salmon recipe over my Creamy Boursin Mashed Potatoes smothered in my Cajun Cream Sauce.

The options are endless. But no matter how you serve it, this Roasted Garlic Salmon for Two will be the anchor of your dish (I was gonna say the star of your dish, but I couldn’t pass up a punny sea reference). Seriously though, this salmon shines!!

Why You Should Make This Roasted Garlic Salmon for Two

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• It’s simple. Just five ingredients, a sheet pan, and 30 minutes required.
• It’s flavorful. The roasted garlic is the cherry on top of an already well-seasoned salmon.
• The textures! Flaky, moist salmon with a crispy outer garlic crust.