Best Baked Panko Salmon
If 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.
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.
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.
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
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
What You’ll Love About Panko Salmon
- Quick and easy salmon dinner
- Crunchy topping and tender flaky salmon
- Layers of flavor
- Family-friendly (kids love this one!)
- Made with simple ingredients
- Ready in less than 30 minutes
Ingredients
- Salmon – You can use any type of salmon fillet depending on your preference. See more info on what the best type of salmon is below.
- Mayonnaise – I recommend a full-fat mayonnaise for the best flavor but low-fat or plant-based will also work.
- Dijon mustard – Dijon is a must, it gives the salmon an 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.
Shopping for Salmon
This is taken from my how to serve salmon to picky eaters article, but I think it’s helpful here too! 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!
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.
How to Make Panko-Crusted Salmon
This is an overview, the detailed instructions can be found below in the recipe card.
- Prep. 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.
- 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.
- Bake. Bake salmon until it flakes easily and the breadcrumb mixture is golden brown. Serve with lemon wedges if desired.
Storage
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.
What to Serve with Baked Salmon
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:
Want More?
Read more about my nutrition philosophy here and follow Emily on Instagram or TikTok for family dinner recipe videos and tips for feeding kids.
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
- For a golden brown crust, carefully broil salmon under medium-high heat (watching the entire time!) for a crunchy texture and deeper color.
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!