Best Baked Panko Salmon
f you’re looking for a simple, yet family-favorite salmon recipe, this panko salmon is a must! With a golden, crispy topping and tender, flaky interior, it’s a delicious meal that can work for an easy weeknight dinner or even entertaining guests.
This is our favorite salmon recipe!
I started making this when my kids were toddlers (!!!) and it’s still a favorite, all these years later. It remains a family favorite and is a great way to introduce salmon to young kids.
The secret to this crispy baked salmon is the addition of a little olive oil in the crispy panko breadcrumb topping – the oil helps it get perfectly golden brown. The breadcrumbs top a dijon and mayo mixture which locks in the moisture to keep the salmon nice and tender. It’s…
🐟 Crispy outside, juicy inside: This method leaves the fish flaky and tender and the topping nice and crunchy!
🍽️ Weeknight winner: This dish is ready in under 30 minutes, with quick and easy prep.
💪 High in protein: Almost 40 grams of protein per serving!
👨👩👧👦 Kid-approved: Mild flavors, flaky fish, and crunchy toppings.
🍋 Customizable: Swap seasonings to mix things up or add some hot sauce to the mayonnaise mixture to add a little heat.
🥗 Pairs with anything: Serve the salmon with easy sides like veggies, salad, or pasta.
You’ll also want to try furikake salmon (similar topping but with furikake seasoning), salmon Caesar salad, and salmon with mango salsa.
Just made this for dinner tonight and it was a HIT! My 2 1/2 year old couldn’t get enough of it:) I plan on adding this to my regular dinner rotation!! –Annie
Ingredient Notes
You’ll need some fresh ingredients and pantry staples to make this baked salmon: salmon fillets, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, panko bread crumbs, and olive oil.
Shopping for Salmon
There are so many opinions about the different types of salmon. What type of salmon is most nutritious and what salmon is most sustainable is often talked about, but I have a few other considerations to think about as well, especially if your family isn’t salmon-obsessed quite yet.
If you can afford wild-caught salmon, this is considered the best in terms of nutrition and sustainability. But if you can’t? I still want you to eat salmon and there are still so many benefits of it.
The flavor is another piece to take into consideration. Farmed salmon has a more mild flavor and wild-caught has a stronger salmon and fish flavor. Some absolutely love the wild-caught salmon flavor – but those who are still learning to like salmon might prefer farm-raised salmon.
Emily’s Tips & Tricks
- Pro tip: For a golden brown crust, carefully broil salmon under medium-high heat (watching the entire time!) for a crunchy texture and deeper color.
- Cooking methods: You could also air fry this salmon. Cook at 380 degrees F for about 8-12 minutes, until fish flakes easily and is cooked through.
- Feeding kids without pressure: This is pretty kid-friendly, but if salmon is new to your kids, start with a tiny flake of salmon and serve the meals with a few sides you know your kids will eat, like bread, butter, and milk.
Oven-Baked Panko Salmon Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Description
This oven-baked panko salmon is crispy and golden brown on the outside, tender and flaky on the inside, and packed with flavor.
Ingredients
- 4 6–oz. salmon fillets
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 Tbsp. dijon mustard
- 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil
- sea salt and black pepper
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Arrange salmon fillets skin-side down on baking dish or sheet pan (lined with foil for easy clean up) and season the fish with a little salt and pepper.
- In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise and dijon in a small bowl and spread over salmon fillets.
- In another small bowl, mix together panko and olive oil with a fork and spoon the bread crumbs over the mustard mixture, spreading panko over the entire fish.
- Bake fish for about 15-18 minutes, until cooked through and flaky. If breadcrumbs aren’t golden brown, then broil for 1-2 minutes, just until golden brown.
Notes
- Cooking tip: For a golden brown crust, carefully broil salmon under medium-high heat (watching the entire time!) for a crunchy texture and deeper color.
- Storage: Store leftover salmon in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. Reheat the fish in the oven, air fryer, or a toaster oven if possible for maximum crunch. Microwaving is not recommended as the breading mixture will be soggy.
- Ingredient notes: Panko bread crumbs (flaky Japanese bread crumbs) are also a must as they result in a crunchy topping that you don’t get with traditional bread crumbs. You can find them at most grocery stores.
- Prep ahead: You can mix up the mayonnaise and mustard mixture up to a day in advance.
- Serve with: An easy veggie or two like haricot verts, kale salad, or pasta and frozen peas drizzled with olive oil and topped with Parmesan cheese.
Serving Suggestions
All this quick and easy dinner needs is a simple side or two! If I’m serving this to kids, I’ll often be sure to include a carb I know they like – sometimes bread and butter, sometimes garlic bread and then a veggie. Here are some vegetable side ideas:
More Salmon Recipes
It’s no secret that my kids love salmon, so it’s a meal we have quite frequently. I’ve come up with endless ways to infuse it with different flavors and different meals, but these are a few of our favorites:
About the Author
Emily Dingmann is a recipe developer, nutrition expert, and founder of My Everyday Table. She specializes in creating easy, healthy recipes that help busy parents feed their families well every single day, without the stress. With a degree in Nutrition and over 20 years of experience, Emily shares family-friendly meals that are practical, nourishing, and full of flavor. Learn more about Emily’s approach to everyday cooking and nutrition here.
Food styling and photography by Loren Runion.
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Salmon is always a go-to meal that we eat in some form at least once a week at our house and this version looks easy and delicious! Any mayo advice? I mean what’s the deal with the avocado oil mayo, is it really healthier? I buy Hellman’s Light because I love the flavor, but I would love to hear the nutritionist’s recommendations!
Haha! I have so many responses! 1) I need your go-to salmon dinner for my go-to dinner series! 2) Yes, there are mayos that are made with great ingredients and I would say, side-by-side comparing them, yes, they are healthier. BUT they are also more expensive AND I’m not really counting on mayo to provide me with a ton of nutrition. Does that make sense? So I would say go with what you like best, because I doubt you are eating that much of it!
Thank you! This was so yummy. I’m trying to get on board the salmon train and this definitely helped! I only had honey dijon, but it was still so good. Will try it next time (and there will be a next time lol) with the regular!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Marissa! Love the honey mustard twist, I’m sure it was delicious.
Just made this for dinner tonight and it was a HIT! My 2 1/2 year old couldn’t get enough of it:) I plan on adding this to my regular dinner rotation!!
YAY!!!! So glad to hear. Kids love it! 🙂
This is my favorite salmon recipe! I just add a few more spices to jazz it up a little – garlic and onion powder, paprika and Italian seasoning. My husband absolutely loves this dish!
Yay! Thanks so much Mary, happy to hear that you love it! If you can add a star rating to your comment (not sure if you can) that would be awesome and helps others find the recipes, too.
Just made the baked salmon and pasta peas for dinner. Never thought about panko-breading only the top side of a slab of salmon… Your fish recipe sure saved my bacon tonight!
Glad you enjoyed it, Madeline! Thanks!
I loved this and my “I do not like fish” friend did as well. He now requests it ,
Thanks, Della! That’s a great endorsement. 🙂