This Pesto Salmon is one of those easy dinners that looks impressive but takes very little effort to make. Tender salmon fillets are baked with juicy cherry tomatoes and topped with rich basil pesto for a fresh, flavorful meal that's ready in about 20 minutes.
Pesto Salmon Recipe Essentials
- 🍽️ Course: Main Course, Dinner, Seafood
- ⏱️ Cooking Time: 10 minutes prep, 12-15 minutes cooking
- 🍴 Servings: 4 servings
- 🧄 Flavor Profile: Savory, herbaceous, fresh, garlicky, and bright
- 🍚 Best Served With: Rice, pasta, roasted vegetables, salad, or potatoes
- 🧊 Make Ahead?: Yes! Prep ingredients ahead and bake when ready.
Summarize and Save This Content On
Pesto and salmon are a natural pairing. The rich, flaky salmon perfectly complements the bold basil, garlic, and Parmesan flavors in the pesto, while the roasted cherry tomatoes add sweetness and freshness to every bite. This salmon recipe with pesto is an easy weeknight dinner that's elegant enough for entertaining.
This salmon with pesto sauce was inspired by my salmon wellington this site and pairs perfectly with my pesto pasta summer salad.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Quick, easy, and family-friendly: This one-pan salmon with pesto dinner comes together in about 20 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights while still appealing to both kids and adults.
- Fresh, flavorful, and satisfying: Rich salmon, vibrant pesto, and juicy tomatoes create a restaurant-quality meal packed with protein, healthy fats, and fresh ingredients.
- Beautiful and versatile: The colorful presentation is elegant enough for entertaining, and the recipe is easy to customize with homemade or store-bought pesto and your favorite vegetables.
- Simple and practical: Naturally gluten-free with minimal cleanup, this is an easy meal you'll want to make again and again.
Ingredients
You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make this flavorful pesto salmon recipe. Most can be found at any grocery store, and using prepared pesto makes this dinner incredibly quick and convenient.
- Salmon Fillet: The star of the recipe, providing rich flavor and flaky texture.
- Cherry Tomatoes: Add sweetness, color, and freshness.
- Garlic: Enhances the savory flavor of the dish.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Helps roast the tomatoes and keeps the salmon moist.
- Salt and Pepper: Simple seasonings that enhance all the flavors.
- Basil Pesto: Adds bold basil, garlic, Parmesan, and olive oil flavor.
- Fresh Lemon: Brightens the finished dish and balances the richness of the salmon.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Change the pesto: Try sun-dried tomato pesto, spinach pesto, arugula pesto, kale pesto, or roasted red pepper pesto for a different flavor profile.
- Add more vegetables: Roast asparagus, zucchini, bell peppers, broccoli, green beans, or red onions alongside the salmon for a complete meal.
- Make it cheesy: Sprinkle the salmon with freshly grated Parmesan, mozzarella, feta, or goat cheese before serving.
- Boost the citrus flavor: Add lemon zest, lime zest, or extra fresh lemon juice for a brighter finish.
- Try different proteins: This same recipe works beautifully with trout, cod, halibut, shrimp, chicken breasts, or chicken thighs.
How to Make Pesto Salmon
Don't let the elegant presentation fool you-this pesto salmon is incredibly easy to make. In just four simple steps, you'll have a flavorful seafood dinner that's perfect for weeknights, special occasions, and everything in between. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees fahrenheit.
Step 1: Prepare tomatoes. In a small bowl, add the cherry tomatoes and toss with the minced garlic. Lightly season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
Step 2: Prepare salmon fillet. On a baking sheet, line with a sheet of parchment paper. Place the salmon fillet, skin side down on the parchment paper.
Brush 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil over the top of the salmon. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
Step 3: Prepare to bake. Gently arrange the prepped tomatoes around the salmon on the sheet pan.
Bake in a preheated oven for 10 minutes or until the salmon starts to flake when checked with a fork.
Step 4: Bake and add pesto. Add the pesto sauce over the salmon. Bake this salmon recipe with pesto for an additional 2-3 to heat the pesto.
Serve warm with a few lemon wedges. Pair with your favorite roasted broccoli and carrots or Mediterranean roasted vegetables.
Recipe Tips
- Choose quality salmon: Fresh salmon with bright color and firm flesh will provide the best flavor and texture.
- Don't overcook the salmon: Bake just until the salmon flakes easily with a fork. An internal temperature of 125-135°F creates moist, tender salmon.
- Add pesto near the end: Baking the pesto for only a few minutes helps preserve its fresh basil flavor and vibrant color.
- Use fresh lemon: A squeeze of fresh lemon juice just before serving brightens the pesto salmon recipe and balances the richness of the salmon.
- Make it a complete meal: Add extra vegetables directly to the sheet pan for an easy all-in-one dinner with minimal cleanup.
If you love recipes like this salmon with pesto sauce, you may also enjoy salmon florentine.
Storage Directions
Refrigerator: Store leftover pesto salmon in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Freezer: Freeze cooked salmon in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Reheat: Warm gently in a 300°F oven for 8-10 minutes or microwave in short intervals until heated through.
Make Ahead: Prepare the tomatoes and season the salmon up to 24 hours in advance. Add the pesto and bake when ready to serve.
Serving Suggestions
- Rice and grains: Pair with jasmine rice, crockpot rice, wild rice, quinoa, couscous, Greek lentil salad, or lemon herb rice.
- Pasta favorites: Serve with pesto pasta, angel hair pasta, fettuccine, or Parmesan pasta.
- Fresh vegetables: Serve with roasted asparagus, green beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts casserole, or zucchini.
- Fresh salads: Pair with Caesar salad, garden salad, broccoli crunch salad, Greek salad, easy cold asparagus salad, cucumber salad, or arugula salad.
- Potato sides: Serve with roasted potatoes, garlic mashed potatoes, air fryer baby potatoes, or air fryer parmesan potatoes.
Pesto Salmon Recipe FAQs
Yes. Salmon is rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids, while pesto adds healthy fats and fresh herbs.
Yes. Individual fillets work well and may cook a few minutes faster than a large fillet.
Yes. The skin helps protect the fish during cooking and can be removed easily after baking if desired.
The salmon should flake easily with a fork and reach an internal temperature of 125-135°F for moist, tender results.
Preheat your well oiled grill to medium heat (375-400°F). Grill the salmon skin-side down for 10-15 minutes, depending on thickness, until it flakes easily with a fork. During the last 2-3 minutes of cooking, spread the pesto over the salmon and continue grilling until warmed through. Serve with grilled lemon wedges and tomatoes if desired.
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More Salmon Recipes
Whether you're looking for quick weeknight dinners, grilled favorites, or impressive seafood dishes, these salmon recipes are sure to become family favorites.
If you try this recipe and love it please leave a star rating in the recipe card below or even better, drop a review in the comment section. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to follow along with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube for more easy recipes!
Pesto Salmon
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 12-16 oz Salmon Fillet (¾-1 pound)
- 1 pound cherry tomatoes
- 3 gloves garlic minced
- 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- salt
- pepper
- ¾-1 cup basil pesto store bought or homemade
- fresh lemon for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees fahrenheit.
- In a small bowl, add the cherry tomatoes and toss with the minced garlic. Lightly season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
- On a baking sheet, line with a sheet of parchment paper. Place the salmon fillet, skin side down on the parchment paper.
- Brush 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil over the top of the salmon. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Gently arrange the prepped tomatoes around the salmon on the sheet pan.
- Bake in a preheated oven for 10 minutes or until the salmon starts to flake when checked with a fork.
- Add the pesto sauce over the salmon. Bake for an additional 2-3 to heat the pesto. Serve warm with a few lemon wedges.
Video
Notes
- Choose quality salmon: Fresh salmon with bright color and firm flesh will provide the best flavor and texture.
- Don't overcook the salmon: Bake just until the salmon flakes easily with a fork. An internal temperature of 125-135°F creates moist, tender salmon.
- Add pesto near the end: Baking the pesto for only a few minutes helps preserve its fresh basil flavor and vibrant color.
- Use fresh lemon: A squeeze of fresh lemon juice just before serving brightens the entire dish and balances the richness of the salmon.
- Make it a complete meal: Add extra vegetables directly to the sheet pan for an easy all-in-one dinner with minimal cleanup.
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