Oven Baked Cajun Salmon (Printable Version)
Bold Cajun-spiced salmon baked to flaky perfection. A quick, healthy weeknight dinner ready in 25 minutes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Fish
01 - 4 salmon fillets (about 5–6 oz each), skin on or off as preferred
→ Cajun Spice Blend
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning (store-bought or homemade)
04 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
05 - ½ tsp salt
06 - ¼ tsp black pepper
07 - ¼ tsp garlic powder
08 - ¼ tsp onion powder
09 - ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional, to taste)
→ Garnish
10 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley or cilantro
11 - 1 lemon, cut into wedges
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
02 - In a small bowl, combine olive oil with Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper. Stir until a smooth paste forms.
03 - Pat salmon fillets dry with paper towels and arrange them skin-side down on the prepared baking sheet.
04 - Brush the Cajun spice mixture evenly over each salmon fillet, coating the top and sides thoroughly.
05 - Bake for 12–15 minutes, or until the salmon flakes easily with a fork and reaches an internal temperature of 145°F.
06 - Remove from oven, garnish with chopped parsley or cilantro, and serve immediately with lemon wedges.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- The spice rub comes together in about two minutes and transforms plain salmon into something that tastes like you spent all day cooking.
- It is naturally gluten free, low carb, and dairy free, so you can serve it to almost anyone without a second thought.
02 -
- Drying the salmon thoroughly before seasoning is the single step that separates a soggy result from one with a beautifully concentrated crust.
- Every Cajun seasoning blend has a different salt level, so taste yours first and reduce the added salt if the blend is already salty.
03 -
- Let the seasoned salmon sit for five minutes at room temperature before baking so the spice paste has time to meld with the oil and penetrate the fish slightly.
- Placing a few thin lemon slices directly on top of the fillets while they bake adds moisture and a subtle brightness that everyone will notice but nobody will be able to pinpoint.