Garlic Butter Salmon Asparagus (Printable)

Tender salmon and crisp asparagus roasted with fragrant garlic butter sauce for a flavorful meal.

# Ingredient List:

→ Seafood

01 - 4 salmon fillets, 6 oz each, skin-on or skinless

→ Vegetables

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

→ Garlic Butter Sauce

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

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
02 - Place salmon fillets in the center of the baking sheet. Arrange trimmed asparagus around the 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 until well combined.
04 - Drizzle the garlic butter sauce evenly over the salmon and asparagus.
05 - Roast in the oven for 15-18 minutes, or until the salmon flakes easily with a fork and the asparagus is just tender.
06 - Garnish with chopped parsley before serving. Serve immediately with extra lemon wedges if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes like you spent way more time on it than you actually did.
  • The garlic butter gets crispy at the edges while keeping the salmon impossibly tender.
  • You can have this on the table in under 40 minutes, even if you're learning as you go.
02 -
  • Pat your salmon completely dry with paper towels before it goes on the sheet—moisture is the enemy of getting nice, crispy edges on the fillets.
  • Don't overcrowd the sheet or the asparagus will steam instead of roast, which sounds nice but tastes sad and soggy.
03 -
  • Buy salmon that smells clean and briny, and don't be afraid to ask your fishmonger when it came in—they respect people who care.
  • If you're cooking for picky eaters, the garlic butter is forgiving; you can always drizzle less sauce and let people add their own at the table.
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