A simple yet delicious recipe for Baked Salmon with Mayonnaise. This 6-ingredient, 20-minute recipe is fresh, savory and perfect for weeknights.

Salmon filet topped with creamy herb sauce set on a plate with broccoli, lemon wedge and a fork.

Cooking with Salmon

In the nearly 15 years I’ve been a culinary professional, salmon has steadily risen to the top of my favorites when it comes to the building blocks of easy and healthy dinner recipes.

I go to it again and again because it is quick cooking, flavorful, and versatile. My usual weeknight go-to is this incredibly simple (just salt, pepper and salmon) and always perfect Pan-Seared Salmon. It’s a slam dunk every time. 

Aside from pan-searing, salmon is also great grilled, roasted, simmered in a curry sauce, or formed into patties and fried—all of which can be found in this list of 15 healthy salmon recipes.

A few things to keep in mind when buying and cooking with salmon: 

  • Choose filets that are glossy and firm to the touch.
  • Salmon filets should smell fresh and clean, and slightly briny or like the ocean. Fresh fish should never smell “fishy.”
  • Salmon filets should have a bright contrast between the muscle and the fat.
  • Check the recipe for notes on how thick the salmon filets should be—thickness dictates how long the cook time will be.

WATCH: How to bake Salmon with mayo

salmon filets, lemon, dill, mayo, breadcrumbs and shallot set out on a counter

Mayo Salmon Ingredients

  • Whole wheat panko, an optional topping to add a bit of crunch.
  • Skin-on salmon filets are ideal here. The skin keeps the salmon moist while cooking! Look for filets that are 1 to 1-½ inches thick.
  • Mayonnaise, I prefer to use avocado oil or olive oil mayonnaise.
  • Lemon, use the zest in the mayonnaise topping then cut the zested lemon into wedges and serve with the finished meal. 
  • Shallot, for a dose of onion/garlic flavor.
  • Fresh dill also pairs really well with salmon and adds a lovely herby flavor. 
two images showing mayo, herbs, shallot and lemon zest added to a bowl and them mixed together

How to Make Mayonnaise Salmon

  1. Toast the breadcrumbs in the oven for a few minutes until their golden brown.
  2. While the breadcrumbs toast, mix together the mayonnaise topping. 
  3. Transfer the toasted breadcrumbs to a bowl and coat the baking sheet with nonstick spray.
  4. Pat the salmon dry, then arrange skin side-down on the baking sheet. Season the salmon with kosher salt and black pepper.
  5. Divide the mayo mixture between salmon filets and spread over top.
  6. Bake until the salmon flakes easily with a fork and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center registers 125ºF (52ºC). 
two images showing salmon filets arranged on a baking sheet then salmon filets topped with a mayonnaise sauce

How Long to Cook Salmon at 350ºF

When salmon is baked at 350ºF (176ºC), it will take about 5 minutes per ½-inch thickness to cook. So, if at its thickest, the filet is 1 ½ inches, the bake time will be about 15 minutes.

The best way to check for doneness is to use an instant-read thermometer. 

According to the FDA, salmon should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145ºF (63ºC).

However, many chefs and home cooks prefer their salmon to be more medium.

Salmon DonenessTemperature Range LowTemperature Range Top
Done145ºF (63ºC)
Medium125ºF (52ºC) 130ºF (54ºC)
Medium-Rare120ºF (49ºC)125ºF (52ºC)

Keep in mind, the internal temperature will increase as it rests.

If you don’t have a thermometer, you can check doneness of oven baked salmon by testing whether or not it flakes with a fork. It’s done when it just starts to flake.

baked salmon topped with a creamy herb sauce on a baking sheet

What to Serve with Mayo Baked Salmon

Since the salmon is so flavorful, I prefer to keep the side dish simple. Steamed broccoli, sauteéd green beans or a simple green salad is perfect.

Baked Salmon with Mayo Recipe FAQs

Does fish go with mayonnaise?

Fish and mayonnaise is a classic combination. Think tuna salad and you’ll know just what we mean. Mayonnaise is one of the “mother sauces” in classic French cuisine, and it (along with sauces made from it like tartar) are commonly paired with fish. The creamy texture, high fat content and acidity match well with the tastes and flavors of all types of fish and fresh seafood.

Can you eat mayonnaise with salmon? Yes. Mayonnaise is excellent as an ingredient in sauces, as a binding agent and to flavor salmon and other fresh fish recipes. It is important to follow safety guidelines to keep fresh foods cold and cook them to safe internal temperatures before consuming.

Can you eat salmon skin?

Salmon skin is edible, however the scales are not. Make sure your filet has no scales remaining by back-rubbing the dull side of a chefs knife over the skin side. Any scales should pop up and come off. Rinse and pat dry with a paper towel. If you do not care for the taste or texture of salmon skin, it is very easy to remove. Follow our step by step guide to remove salmon skin.

What is the best Baked Salmon temp?

We love the texture of this salmon recipe because the toasted breadcrumbs are nice and crispy but the fish is soft and buttery. It bakes at a relatively low temperature, 350 degrees F. It is done when it easily flakes with a fork and a thermometer inserted in the center registers 125ºF, 15–20 minutes. If you want to bake it at a higher temperature the fish will be more firm. Try 425 degrees for 9 to 15 minutes. Thinner pieces of salmon will cook more quickly.

More Salmon Recipes

Thanks for reading. If you make this recipe for Baked Salmon with Mayonnaise, please let me know by coming back to leave a star rating and review!

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Salmon filet topped with creamy herb sauce set on a plate with broccoli, lemon wedge and a fork.

Baked Salmon Recipe with Mayonnaise


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 11 reviews

Description

An easy and delicious salmon recipe that can be made any night of the week.


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 tablespoons whole-wheat Panko
  • 4 (6-ounce) skin-on salmon filets
  • 1/4 cup avocado oil or olive oil mayonnaise
  • 1 lemon, zested
  • 2 tablespoons minced shallot
  • 2 tablespoons fresh dill
  • Kosher salt and black pepper

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 350ºF (176ºC) with rack set in middle position.
  2. Arrange breadcrumbs on baking sheet in an even layer; bake until toasted and golden, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.
  3. Meanwhile, zest lemon then cut lemon into wedges. In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, dill, shallot, ½ teaspoon lemon zest, ½ teaspoon pepper, and ¼ teaspoon kosher salt.
  4. Coat baking sheet with nonstick spray. Arrange salmon, skin-side down, on sheet; pat dry with paper towels. Season salmon with ½ teaspoon each kosher salt and pepper.
  5. Spread mayonnaise mixture evenly over salmon.
  6. Roast salmon until it easily flakes with a fork and a thermometer inserted in the center registers 125ºF, 15–20 minutes.
  7. Sprinkle salmon with toasted breadcrumbs, serve with lemon wedges.

Notes

Thickness matters when it comes to bake time. Look for filets that have a thickness of at least 1 inch. If you have thinner filets, keep an eye on them as they cook. Every ½-inch of thickness equals 5 minutes baking time.

  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Baking

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 filet
  • Calories: 342
  • Sugar: 0g
  • Sodium: 757mg
  • Fat: 22g
  • Saturated Fat: 3g
  • Carbohydrates: 3g
  • Fiber: 0g
  • Protein: 34g
  • Cholesterol: 80mg