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Best Oven-Baked Panko Salmon Recipe

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This is the best baked panko salmon recipe! Tender and flaky salmon is topped with a mustard mixture to impart flavor and keep it from drying out, and then is topped with panko breadcrumbs that add a golden brown layer of crunch. It’s a family favorite. Not only is this oven-baked salmon recipe easy, but it’s also made with simple ingredients (just like crispy baked cod), ready in 20 minutes, and super delicious! Serve the panko salmon with an easy side of air fryer broccoli, kale salad, pasta and peas, haricot verts, or napa cabbage slaw and dinner is ready in 30 minutes. (Tips for serving salmon to picky eaters here.)

If you love salmon as much as we do, be sure to try my furikake salmon, Caesar salmon salad, salmon stir fry, or the best salmon cakes next time.

Baked salmon on a plate with a salad
Photo Credit: Loren Runion for My Everyday Table.
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Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

What You’ll Love About Panko Salmon

  • Crunchy topping and tender flaky salmon
  • Layers of flavor
  • Family-friendly
  • Made with simple ingredients
  • Just 5 minutes prep timme
  • Just 20 minutes total time

Ingredients

  • Salmon – You can use any type of salmon fillets depending on your preference. See more info on what the best type of salmon is below.
  • Mayonnaise – I recommend a full-fat mayonnaise for best flavor but low-fat or plant-based will also work.
  • Dijon mustard – Dijon is a must, it gives the salmon elevated flavor. It’s not over-powering, but you can add more or less depending on your preference.
  • Panko – 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.
  • Olive oil – Use high-quality olive oil for the best flavor. You could also use melted butter for a richer flavor if you prefer.
  • Sea salt & black pepper
  • Optional – Lemons and parsley for garnish.
Ingredients to make panko crusted salmon.

How to Make Baked Salmon Recipe

This is an overview of how to make oven-baked salmon; the detailed instructions can be found below in the recipe card.

Prep baked salmon dijon panko. Lay out salmon skin side down on an aluminum foil (or parchment paper) lined baking sheet pan or baking dish. Season lightly with sea salt and black pepper.
Mix mustard mixture. In a small bowl, mix together dijon mustard and mayonnaise. Spread onto the top of the fillets.
Panko salmon with mayo and dijon spread on fillets.
Mix panko topping. In a separate small bowl, mix panko breadcrumbs and olive oil with a fork and spoon the panko mixture over on top of the mustard and mayo mixture on salmon.
Salmon fillets topped with mayo and panko crust.
Bake salmon. Bake salmon until salmon flakes and bread crumb mixture is golden brown.
Baked panko salmon in a baking dish.
Serve. Serve salmon with lemon wedges, chopped parsley, freshly cracked pepper, and flaky sea salt.

TIP: For a golden brown crust, carefully broil salmon under medium-high heat (watching the entire time!) for a crunchy texture and deeper color.

FAQs

What is the best type of salmon to buy?

This is taken from my how to serve salmon to picky eaters article, but I think it’s helpful here too! There are soooo 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 the ultimate. But if you can’t? I still want you to eat salmon!

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.

You’ll find some pre-portioned salmon filets or even a whole side of salmon– choose whatever you prefer or will be easiest. For recipes that call for a fillet, I prefer to buy them that way so that there’s less prep but it’s up to you.

And if you like smoked salmon, put salmon bagels (lox), smoked salmon sandwich, or smoked salmon dip on your menu soon!

How long does salmon bake in the oven?

The baked panko crusted salmon filets will take about 15-20 minutes to bake through. You can use an instant read thermometer and cook it until it reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees F or until it flakes easily.

What temperature should you cook salmon to?

Cook the salmon until the thickest part reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees F, or until it flakes easily.

Storage Instructions

Store leftover salmon in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1-2 days.

How to reheat

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.

Can you freeze baked salmon?

You can freeze this salmon, but it is best fresh. Freeze in an airtight container (stasher bags or glass storage containers work well) for 2-3 months. Let thaw before baking in the oven.

Plate with panko crusted salmon.

What to Serve with Oven-Baked Salmon Recipe

Because I originally created this recipe for the weeknight dinner club, this baked salmon was paired with easy and tasty pasta and peas.

If you would prefer to make another side, I’d recommend a carb like rice, pasta, or potatoes along with some veggie side dishes:

How to Feed the Best Baked Salmon Recipe to the Whole Family

I get it, feeding kids can be tough! But following the Division of Responsibility and knowing your job and your child’s job makes it SO much more enjoyable. You’ll be able to feed your kids any meal, which will help ensure that they are eating a variety of nutritious foods – with plenty of play food sprinkled in.

I would recommend serving a small portion of the salmon in a pinch bowl (taster bowl) if it’s a new or learning-to-like it food. Serve the meal with a few items you know your kids will eat, like fruit, milk, and/or bread and butter so that even if they don’t eat any of the salmon, their nutrition bases are covered.

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Salmon with panko topping in baking dish.

More Easy Salmon Recipes

If you like this panko salmon, you might also like some of these other easy salmon recipes:

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Baked salmon on a plate with a salad

Oven-Baked Panko Salmon Recipe

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Description

This is the best oven-baked panko salmon recipe! With layers of flavor and tender fish with a crunchy topping, it’s a family favorite.


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 4 6oz. 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

  1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. 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.
  3. In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise and dijon in a small bowl and spread over salmon fillets.
  4. 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.
  5. 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

  • For a golden brown crust, carefully broil salmon under medium-high heat (watching the entire time!) for a crunchy texture and deeper color.

Keywords: baked salmon recipe, panko salmon, best baked salmon, oven-baked salmon

Food styling and photography by Loren Runion.

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Comments

  1. Mercedes

    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!

    • Emily

      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!

  2. Marissa

    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!






  3. Annie

    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!!






  4. Mary Daubert

    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!

    • Emily

      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.

  5. Madeline

    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!






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