This Panko Crusted Salmon is coated in a lemony garlic mayonnaise and baked with a crispy panko-parmesan crust. Every bite of this seafood dish is scrumptious!
If you love salmon recipes, be sure to try this Salmon Wellington and Cedar Plank Salmon.
Table Of Contents
Panko Crusted Salmon Recipe Details
I love this Panko Crusted Salmon because it requires very little prep time and looks so fancy! The flavors and crust make it a real crowd-pleaser.
- TASTE: The garlic lemon marinade gives this salmon so much flavor, and the Parmesan in the crust provides a cheesy, nutty taste that’s divine.
- TEXTURE: The salmon is beautifully flaky with a perfect crust. Panko breadcrumbs are the best for this.
- TIME: This recipe only takes 30 minutes! It’s perfect for weeknight dinners or busy nights.
- EASE: This Panko Crusted Salmon is so simple and easy. The marinade and crust are made with just a few basic ingredients, and baking it takes no effort at all.
What You’ll Need
Ingredient Notes
- Salmon: King or pink salmon fillet (preferbaly skin removed)
- Marinade: make sure to use fresh lemon juice and not the stuff in a bottle.
- Crust: Panko bread crumbs are a prefered. Plain breadcrumbs will work, but won’t give as much crunchy texture.
How to Make Panko Crusted Salmon
- Make the marinade. Combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, and garlic in a small bowl.
- Season the fillets. Season each salmon fillet with salt and pepper to taste. Then transfer the salmon to a rimmed baking sheet lined with foil.
- Add the marinade on top. Spread the mayonnaise and sour cream mixture on top of each fish fillet.
Pro Tip: Making and applying the marinade can be done hours ahead of time if you store the fillets in the fridge until you’re ready to bread and bake.
- Make the breading. Then, in a bowl, combine the panko bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, dried dill, and melted butter.
- Top the salmon with the breading. Evenly sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture over the mayonnaise on each salmon fillet.
- Bake the salmon. Now place the salmon in the oven and bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-20 minutes. Or until the internal temperature of the salmon is at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
Recipe Tips
- Serving a crowd– This can be made with a whole salmon fillet instead of small fillet cuts for a larger group. Note that the bake time will be slightly longer.
- Make the marinade and breading in advance– The mayonnaise mixture can be made and slathered on earlier. Prep the breading and store it until you’re ready to bread and bake.
- Bake time– If the salmon is cold out of the fridge, it may take longer to bake. You can let it sit on the counter for a few minutes to come to room temperature if you like.
- Internal temperature– The best way to check if the salmon is done cooking is by inserting an instant-read thermometer into the fish. It should read about 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Substitute regular breadcrumbs- If you don’t have Panko, you can also make this recipe with regular breadcrumbs. The crust will just not be as crunchy.
- Add dijon mustard- In addition to the mayo, or instead of it, you can add dijon mustard for a tangier marinade.
- Substitute gluten-free Panko- This is an easy way to make this recipe gluten-free. You can find it in the grocery store, or make your own gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- Make it in an air fryer- You can also make this Panko Crusted Salmon in the air fryer. Set it for 350 degrees Fahrenheit and cook it for 7-9 minutes. Check the internal temperature for doneness.
FAQs
Yes, this recipe can be made with skin-on salmon. Cook the fillets with the skin side down, with the marinade and breading on the skinless side.
If your salmon fillet is mushy, it might be because it was frozen. The liquid in the fish froze into ice crystals, which then melted to create slightly mushy salmon flesh. As long as the fish does not smell off and is not old, this is nothing to worry about and can still be used.
Serving Suggestions
This Panko Crusted Salmon has versatile flavors that can be added to almost any meal. Here are some delicious ways to serve it.
- Vegetables: This salmon will taste delicious plated with Perfect Air fryer Asparagus, Bacon Green Beans, Brussels Sprouts, and Eggplant Roll-ups.
- Salad: Serve it alongside Tri Color Pasta Salad (VIDEO), Spinach Pomegranate Salad, or Best Broccoli Cranberry Salad.
- Grains/Potatoes: This Panko Crusted Salmon goes great with Scalloped Potatoes, Wild Brown Rice, and Garlicky Israeli Couscous.
- Pastas: Serve this salmon on top or to the side of Creamy Mushroom and Spinach Gnocchi, Cheesy Baked Orzo , or Easy Pasta Primavera.
Make This Panko Crusted Salmon in Advance
Make ahead: Make the panko crust and marinade a few hours or a day in advance. Then, whenever you’re ready to bake the salmon, spread the marinade on, add the panko mixture on top, and pop the salmon in the oven.
Storing: You can store this Panko Crusted Salmon in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat it in the oven to keep the crust crunchy.
Freeze: You can freeze this salmon in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Allow it to thaw in the fridge, then reheat it in the oven until warmed through.
More Tasty Seafood Dishes!
Full Recipe Instructions
Panko Crusted Salmon
Ingredients
- 2 lb salmon fillets
- 3 tbsp mayonnaise
- 3 tbsp sour cream
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 garlic clove grated or pressed
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp dried dill
- 3 tbsp butter melted
Instructions
- Combine 3 Tbsp of mayonnaise, 3 Tbsp sour cream, 1 Tbsp lemon juice, and 1 pressed garlic clove in a small bowl and set aside.
- Season both sides of the salmon fillets with salt and pepper. Then transfer the fish to a rimmed baking sheet lined with foil.
- Spread the mayonnaise mixture on top of each fillet.
- In a separate bowl, use a fork to combine 1 cup of panko bread crumbs, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, 1 Tbsp dried dill, and 3 Tbsp melted butter.
- Evenly spread the bread crumb mixture over the mayonnaise on each salmon fillet. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-20 minutes. Cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the fillet. Always make sure that your salmon reaches an internal temperature of at leasrt 145 degrees Fahrenhiet.
Notes
- Serving a crowd– This can be made with a whole salmon fillet instead of small fillet cuts. The bake time will be longer though.
- Make-ahead– the mayonnaise mixture can be slathered on hours before topping with the crust and baking.
- Bake time– If the salmon is cold out of the fridge, it may take longer to bake.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted on Dec 13, 2017, we’ve tweaked it a bit since then.
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Jennifer says
Best Salmon i ever had…
Dina says
Thank you, Jennifer! Happy to hear you loved this panko salmon! Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback 🙂
Courtney says
Delicious! I also love this marinade/topping on shrimp! I put 2 cups of cooked jasmine rice in a shallow glass dish, top with raw jumbo shrimp and then top with your marinade and Panko topping and a little lemon zest. Bake 350 for 25-30 mins. Everyone raved!! Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Dina says
You are very welcome Courtney! Happy to hear you loved this Panko salmon and the topping! I love to see people get creative with recipes and make them work for themselves and their families! Thank you so much for the feedback! 🙂
Jann says
SO YUMMY!!!!
Dina says
Yay! Happy to hear you loved this panko crusted salmon recipe! Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback Jann! I hope you find many more recipes to enjoy from my blog 🙂
Annette says
Yum yum! I improvised with potatoes chips because I didn’t have panco, D E L I C I O U S !!!
Dina says
Yay! Happy that you loved this salmon recipe! Always ok with improvise with recipes 😉 Thank you so much for your feedback! I hope you find many more delicious recipes on my blog 🙂
char says
I haven’t made this yet but was wondering if I could put together on a foil lined tray and cook on the unlit side of my gas grill to cook, it is almost 90 degrees here and I don’t want to turn my oven on .Thanks
simplyhomecooked says
Hi 🙂 Technically yes you can grill this panko crusted salmon. However, I have never tried that with this recipe so I can’t say how it will turn out. I am not sure about the time and temperature. Just keep an eye on the salmon when grilling. You want the internal temperature of salmon at 145 degrees F. Let me know how it turns out 🙂
Casey says
This has become a family favorite recipe! Soooo good!
simplyhomecooked says
That’s so awesome! Happy to hear you loved this panko crusted salmon 🙂 Thank you for your feedback Casey 🙂
Kathleen G says
This a favorite weekly go to recipe for us, hubby’s favorite meal, served with roasted asparagus, and orzo pilaf. So yummy, and super easy to make.
simplyhomecooked says
That’s so awesome to hear Kathleen! Glad that this panko salmon is a favorite recipe in your home and happy that hubby approves! 🙂 Thank you so much for your awesome feedback and I hope you find many more delicious recipes on my blog:)
Mahealani says
Very moist and tender. Family loved it ! Will definitely make it again..5 stars
simplyhomecooked says
Thank you so much Mahealani! I am thrilled that you loved the panko-crusted salmon so much 🙂
Miri says
The crust and topping accomplishes taste of salmon excellently, gives it lemony freshness and gentle crust…
simplyhomecooked says
I am so glad you enjoyed this salmon recipe Miri! Thank you for the positive feedback.
Nikki King says
Love, love, loved this recipe! It has been added to our dinner routine! I’ve done it with the skin on and off, same result. My husband was skeptical at first and now he wouldn’t have salmon any other way.
simplyhomecooked says
Wow Nikki, I am so thrilled to hear that you and your husband enjoyed this salmon recipe! Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a kind review. I really appreciate it 🙂
Taylor Koch says
Hi! Do you leave the skin on?
simplyhomecooked says
Hi Taylor, yes you can leave the skin on. Having the salmon with or without the skin is a personal preference. I don’t have the skin on since I don’t care for the skin that much. Hope that helps and I hope you love this panko salmon recipe 🙂
Mandy says
My entire family of picky eaters inhaled this! I’m always looking for salmon recipes that don’t taste overly fishy and this by far is the best one I’ve tried! Thanks for sharing!
simplyhomecooked says
Wow, that’s awesome to hear Mandy! I also, don’t enjoy a really fishy taste when eating fish, so this panko-crusted salmon is a staple in our family!
Suzzie Neville says
I’m planning on making this on Friday for friends and I was going to use one fillet weighing approximately 650g. Are the cooking times still the same when using a bigger fillet of fish?
simplyhomecooked says
Hi Suzzie, you will want to cook it a little longer since it is a larger fillet. However, I don’t know the exact amount of time based off your size fillet. The best way to check is to use a meat thermometer, you will want the center of your fish to be 145 degrees Fahrenheit. I hope that helps and I hope you enjoy this panko-crusted salmon recipe!
Eric says
I made this for dinner for my fiancee and I and it blew her away! She does not like fish but I do. So I tried this recipe to see if she would enjoy it and to my delight she asked for seconds! I will make this again for us. Oh and it was very easy to throw together.
simplyhomecooked says
Now that’s pretty awesome Eric. So glad your fiancee loved the salmon recipe. Thank you for the positive feedback!
Lydia Brophy says
It was easy to make, flavorful and delicious. I would serve this at a dinner party! My husband said it was better than any salmon dish ordered at a restaurant, which was a huge compliment. Will be making this again and again,
simplyhomecooked says
Hi Lydia, thank you so much for the feedback! I am very happy to hear that you and your husband really enjoyed my panko crusted salmon recipe! I hope you find more recipes that you and your family can enjoy from my blog 🙂
Alena says
Very delicious. Made it last night for dinner, and it was a big hit!!! Looved it. My husband took some to work today and said it wasn’t enough, he wanted more :):):) thank you for the recipe.
simplyhomecooked says
Hi Alena, thank you so much for your kind review!! It means so much to me to hear that people enjoy my food! I’m happy this was a hit with your family. I hope this recipe along with some of my other recipes becomes a family favorite for you! 🙂