Baked Salmon with Panko-Dill Crust

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Whip up this restaurant-quality baked salmon with a crunchy dill-specked crust in just 25 minutes, turning any weeknight dinner into a special occasion!

baked salmon on platter served with asparagus and rice

Here’s a new gem for your recipe collection: my baked salmon, perfect for busy weeknights or elegant brunches. It’s topped with a delicious mix of crunchy panko, lemon zest, and fresh dill. What really sets it apart, though, is the garlicky, lemony mayo spread that not only complements the salmon’s richness but also ensures the panko-dill crust adheres perfectly.

This recipe proves that restaurant-quality meals don’t require hours in the kitchen—just a few well-chosen ingredients and 25 minutes of your time. Pair the dish with roasted asparagus and a wild rice blend (go ahead and use one of the microwaveable rice packets to make life easy!) or roasted potatoes.

“This was easy to prepare and so delicious. The dill, lemon, and Dijon added wonderful flavor.”

Mary

What You’ll Need To Make Baked Salmon With Panko-Dill Crust

baked salmon with panko dill crust ingredients
  • Panko Breadcrumbs: Provide a crunchy texture and golden brown crust to the salmon.
  • Lemon Zest and Juice: Infuses both the panko topping and the mayonnaise mixture with a bright citrus flavor that complements the richness of the salmon.
  • Fresh Dill: Adds a fragrant herb flavor that pairs perfectly with salmon.
  • Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: Helps bind the topping ingredients together and promotes even browning.
  • Mayonnaise, Dijon Mustard & Garlic Powder: Creates a creamy, tangy coating on the salmon, adding flavor and helping the topping adhere.
  • Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements

Step-By-Step-Instructions

In a medium bowl, add the panko, lemon zest, salt, pepper, dill, and olive oil.

panko, lemon zest, salt, pepper, dill, and olive oil in a medium bowl

Stir until the mixture is evenly blended.

panko, lemon zest, salt, pepper, dill, and olive oil combined in medium bowl

In another medium bowl, add the mayonnaise, mustard, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

mayonnaise, mustard, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and garlic powder in medium bowl

Stir until blended and smooth.

mayonnaise, mustard, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and garlic powder combined in medium bowl

Place the fish fillets on the prepared baking sheet and spread the mayonnaise mixture evenly over each piece. Sprinkle the panko-dill topping over the fish.

salmon fillets on foil-lined baking sheet topped with mayo mixture and panko dill topping

Bake for about 10 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through and the topping is slightly golden.  

fully cooked baked salmon on foil-lined baking sheet

If your fish fillets have skin, they may stick to the foil. To serve, slide a thin spatula between the skin and flesh, leaving the skin behind on the foil. Serve with lemon wedges.

baked salmon on dinner plate with rice, asparagus, and lemon wedges

Video Tutorial

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Baked Salmon with Panko-Dill Crust

Whip up this restaurant-quality baked salmon with a crunchy dill-specked crust in just 25 minutes, turning any weeknight dinner into a special occasion!

Servings: 4
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 10 Minutes
Total Time: 25 Minutes

Ingredients

For the Panko-Dill Crust

  • ⅓ cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest, from 1 lemon
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons fresh chopped dill
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

For the Salmon

  • ⅓ cup mayonnaise
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice, from 1 lemon
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • Four 6-oz salmon fillets
  • Lemon wedges, for serving

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 450°F and set an oven rack in the middle position. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy cleanup and spray it with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. For the topping: In a medium bowl, add the panko, lemon zest, salt, pepper, dill, and olive oil and stir until the mixture is evenly blended.
  3. For the fish: In another medium bowl, add the mayonnaise, mustard, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and garlic powder and stir until blended and smooth. Place the fish fillets on the prepared baking sheet and spread the mayonnaise mixture evenly over each piece. Next, evenly sprinkle the panko-dill topping over the fish. Bake for about 10 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through and the topping is slightly golden. (If you find that the topping is browning more than you’d like before the fish is cooked through, loosely cover the salmon with foil.) Note: If your fish fillets have skin, they may stick to the foil. To serve, slide a thin spatula between the skin and flesh, leaving the skin behind on the foil. Serve with lemon wedges.

Pair with

Nutrition Information

Powered by Edamam

  • Per serving (4 servings)
  • Calories: 539
  • Fat: 41 g
  • Saturated fat: 8 g
  • Carbohydrates: 4 g
  • Sugar: 0 g
  • Fiber: 0 g
  • Protein: 35 g
  • Sodium: 478 mg
  • Cholesterol: 101 mg

This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.

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Comments

  • Would this recipe go well with lemon pasta and a side of asparagus? My friend loves lemon pasta and I want to serve salmon. Thoughts?
    Thanks!

    • — Deborah on November 29, 2024
    • Reply
    • Sure, I think that would be a nice pairing. 😊

  • This was outstanding!

    • — Jill on October 30, 2024
    • Reply
  • We loved this! The salmon was moist, great flavor, and a nice crust on the top. I had extra mayo / Dijon sauce, which we served on the side if anyone wanted it.
    It’s a keeper for sure.

    • — Melinda on October 29, 2024
    • Reply
  • I have made a very similar recipe to this on repeat! It’s a quick dinner which is also impressive enough for company. I have these ingredients on hand, so it’s a great last minute dish only requiring fresh salmon! I’ve used this topping on other white fish and even chicken. I usually choose tenders or skinless boneless thighs for that! Thank you for another delicious recipe. When I say, it’s from once upon a chef, that’s all I need to say!

    • — Karen T on October 29, 2024
    • Reply
  • This one is sadly not a keeper in our house. We’ve made it twice and both times it was passed over for Jenn’s other salmon recipe because of a saltiness or bitterness that we can’t place our finger on. In many many years, this our first no-go from this site. Would love to know what it is so we can adjust it.

    • — Kona on October 27, 2024
    • Reply
    • Hi, sorry this has been a bit of a miss for you! You mentioned it tasting salty and/or bitter. You may want to try cutting the lemon juice and salt in the mayonnaise mixture in half. Please LMK if that helps. 😊

  • Divine! I make salmon using this recipe or the pan seared seared salmon. Both are so quick and so delicious. Thanks!

    • — Susan on October 27, 2024
    • Reply

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