This slow-roasted salmon recipe is moist, flavorful, and easy to make. It's a quick and healthy meal that's perfect for weeknights but also celebratory enough for special occasions. It uses mostly pantry ingredients and it's ready in just 35 minutes!

Serve this slow-roasted salmon with a side of roasted mini potatoes and sautƩed asparagus with garlic and parmesan for a deliciously easy meal.

salmon baked low and slow on a baking sheet

This recipe was originally published in 2016. We've updated the post with some new photos and more information, but we've left the delicious recipe exactly the same.

Whether for weeknights or special occasions, we all need quick-win recipes like this one. This juicy, slow-roasted salmon comes together easily with a few ingredients; a bit of olive oil, the perfect mix of seasonings, some salt, and fresh dill.

We like to bake salmon low and slow like this because it retains more of its moisture and oils, resulting in that melt-in-your-mouth texture. It takes a little bit more time, but it's well worth it. Serve it up family-style for a casually elegant dish that pairs well with any vegetable, salad, or pasta dish. And don't forget about a glass of wine like a chardonnay or sauvignon blanc for a well-rounded dinner!

How to make slow-roasted salmon

This slow-roasted salmon is easy to make in a few simple steps:

  1. Start by heating your oven and getting a baking sheet ready. If you prefer to remove the skin, do it now.
  2. With the salmon laying face up on your prepared baking sheet, top it with the seasonings and drizzle it with olive oil. As you press everything into the fish it will make a bit of a paste.
  3. Now you'll pop it in the oven and bake it low and slow, for a little longer than usual. You'll know it's done when the flesh feels a bit firm. That's it!

Full recipe instructions are in the recipe card below.

slow roasted salmon hot out of the oven

Slow-Roasted Salmon Ingredients

The list of ingredients might be small, but this slow-roasted salmon dishes up big flavor. It's made with mostly pantry ingredients, which keeps things simple, too. Here's everything you'll need:

  • Salmon – fresh, wild-caught salmon is best. Or you could also use steelhead trout.
  • Seasonings – chili powder and smoked paprika for mild smoky spice, and Italian seasoning for a rounded blend of herbs.
  • Sea salt – enhances all the other flavors.
  • Olive oil – for coating the fish, helping the spices to stick, and keeping things moist.
  • Dill – fresh minced dill for its slightly citrus taste.

Should I remove the salmon skin?

Removing the salmon's skin is optional but we like to do it when slow roasting. With all the moisture, the skin never gets a chance to crisp up so it ends up being gummy in texture and unappetizing.

We prefer to remove the skin before because we find it's easier, but you could do it after as well and just discard it. To remove the skin, use a sharp knife with a blade that is longer than the width of the salmon filet, and cut at a downward angle as close to the skin as possible.

See our lemon salmon burgers post for detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to remove salmon skin.

a close up of a spatula picking up a pice of slow roasted salmon

Slow-Roasted Salmon: FAQS

I don't have smoked paprika, can I use a different kind?

Sure! Hot paprika will make this spicy and sweet paprika will give this recipe a mild flavor.

How long does slow-roasted keep?

This salmon is best served right away but leftovers can be kept in the fridge in an air-tight container for up to 3 days.

How should I reheat the leftovers?

We prefer to eat leftover salmon cold. We put it over a salad for a healthy and delicious lunch. But you can gently reheat it over low heat in a pan if you prefer.

How to serve slow-roasted salmon

This is a versatile salmon recipe that we make often. It's perfect for weeknights, but we also love serving it at dinner parties and special occasions, too. Here are some ways we love to enjoy this simple salmon baked low and slow:

a close up of a piece of slow roasted salmon
slow roasted salmon cut into pieces on a baking sheet

Slow Roasted Salmon

This slow-roasted salmon recipe is moist, flavorful, and easy to make. It's a quick and healthy meal that's perfect for weeknights but also celebratory enough for special occasions. It uses mostly pantry ingredients and it's ready in just 35 minutes!

If you love this recipe as much as we do, let us know with a 5-star rating!

4.93 stars (52 ratings)
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Ingredients

  • 1 fillet salmon or steelhead trout, about 2 ½ lbs
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • Chopped fresh dill, to top

Instructions 

  • Preheat your oven to 300 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. If you'd like, remove the skin from the salmon. See notes.
    image for recipe instruction
  • Lay the salmon on the baking sheet and sprinkle the top with chili powder, smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, and sea salt. Drizzle with the oil then pat the oil and spices so that they form a paste on top of the salmon.
    1 fillet salmon or steelhead trout, 2 teaspoons chili powder, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon sea salt, 1 teaspoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
    image for recipe instruction
  • Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes. When the salmon is done cooking, it will feel firm but still give a little when you press a finger into the top. If you have a meat thermometer, it should read 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Serve with the chopped fresh dill on top.
    Chopped fresh dill
    image for recipe instruction

Notes

To remove the skin from the salmon, lay the fish skin side down on a flat surface with the tail end (the small end) towards your dominant hand. Cut straight down through the flesh (but not the skin!) very close to the end then turn your knife on a 45-degree angle and slide it along the fish. It helps to use one hand to pull the skin taut while you slide the knife. It's a little tricky at first, but after you do it a few times it becomes pretty easy.
Also, make sure the knife you use is super sharp! For step-by-step photos, check out our lemon salmon burgers post.Ā 
Serving: 1 serving = ¼ of the recipe, Calories: 416kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 56g, Fat: 19g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 156mg, Sodium: 432mg, Potassium: 1422mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 672IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 39mg, Iron: 3mg
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