Crispy Parmesan Salmon Bake (Printable version)
Tender salmon topped with a golden, crispy Parmesan-herb crust for an effortless elegant dinner.
# What you need:
→ Salmon
01 - 4 (6 oz) skinless salmon fillets
02 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Parmesan Crust
03 - 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
04 - 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
05 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
06 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
07 - 1 tbsp chopped fresh dill (optional)
08 - 1 tsp garlic powder
09 - Zest of 1 lemon
→ For Serving
10 - Lemon wedges
11 - Extra chopped parsley
# How to make it:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
02 - Pat salmon fillets dry with paper towels. Arrange them on the prepared baking sheet. Season both sides lightly with salt and pepper.
03 - In a medium bowl, combine Parmesan, panko, melted butter, parsley, dill (if using), garlic powder, and lemon zest. Mix until evenly moistened and crumbly.
04 - Spoon the Parmesan mixture evenly over the top of each salmon fillet, pressing gently to adhere.
05 - Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the salmon is just cooked through and the crust is golden and crispy. Internal temperature should reach 145°F.
06 - Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley and lemon wedges.
# Expert tips:
01 -
- The crispy Parmesan crust transforms ordinary salmon into something that feels fancy enough for dinner guests but comes together in under 40 minutes on a weeknight
- You get that irresistible crunch of restaurant-style salmon without any frying or complicated techniques
02 -
- Dry salmon fillets are absolutely crucial here, any moisture on the fish will steam instead of crisp and you will end up with a soggy crust situation
- Letting the fish rest for just 2 minutes after baking gives the crust time to firm up slightly so it does not slide right off when you cut into it
03 -
- Grate your own Parmesan from a wedge instead of buying pre-grated, the texture difference is night and day
- A microplane makes the lemon zest job effortless and gets you just the fragrant oils without any bitter white pith