This Mayo Baked Salmon is an easy whole salmon fillet recipe that will feed a crowd! Just 5 minutes of prep time, 12 minutes of baking, and dinner is done. The lemon garlic mayo topping helps make sure that the salmon stays nice and juicy during baking, and gives it a tasty creamy topping. No one will believe that mayo is used in this recipe!
This creamy baked salmon is naturally gluten-free and low-carb.
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Mayo crusted salmon
This recipe is inspired by a mayo baked fish recipe that someone in my family makes. Mayo is such an unexpected topping for salmon, but I promise you it is so good!
I combine the mayo with a little shredded Parmesan (the freshly shredded stuff, not the green can!!) and a few seasonings to give it lots of flavor. The mayo+Parmesan mixture forms a nice creamy crust on top of the salmon, sealing all the juices in.
This mayo baked salmon comes out:
- Juicy, flaky, tender
- Creamy and delicious on top
- Perfectly seasoned
- Not greasy or mayo-tasting at all
- Absolutely irresistible
If you're squicked out by mayo, don't be!! Mayo is simply eggs, oil, and seasonings. Nothing yucky about it.
Ready to make some delicious salmon?
Related recipe: Blackened Salmon Rice Bowls
Ingredients
The ingredients below make a large salmon fillet with about 8 servings. You can of course cut this down to a 1 lb salmon fillet (or several smaller fillet pieces) and halve the rest of the ingredients. The cook time will remain the same.
- 2-3 lb whole salmon fillet (see notes below for smaller cuts of salmon and what to do with the skin)
- ½ cup mayonnaise (full-fat mayo is best)
- ½ cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese (or other hard sharp cheese, NOT the grated stuff in the green container)
- 2 lemons (5-7 lemon slices + ½ tablespoon lemon juice)
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon dried dill weed
- ¼ teaspoon salt, plus more for seasoning the salmon
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more for the salmon
- Optional for serving: lemon wedges and fresh herbs, such as fill, scallions, or chives
Related recipe: Salmon Nuggets
Equipment
- Large broiler-safe baking sheet
- Optional for easier cleanup: foil (Note: I do not recommend using silicone mats or parchment paper for this recipe because those are oven-safe only up to around 420-430F, and we're going hotter than that for this recipe!)
- Olive oil sprayer
- Medium bowl
- Lemon juicer
- Spoon or silicone spatula
More seafood recipes to try: Brown Butter Scallops
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat oven to 425F. Spray a large baking sheet with olive oil.
Step 2: Pat the salmon fillet dry on all sides and place it on the oiled baking sheet. If using smaller cuts of salmon, place them all on the baking sheet. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
Step 3: In a medium bowl, mix together the mayo, Parmesan, ½ tablespoon lemon juice, and ¼ teaspoon each garlic powder, paprika, fill, salt, and pepper.
Step 4: Use the back of a spoon or a spatula to spread the mayo mixture on top of the salmon.
Step 5: Arrange lemon slices on top (the mon slices are optional but pretty!) and bake at 425F for 9-11 minutes.
Step 6: Turn the broiler on, and broil for 1-2 minutes, or until the salmon is fully cooked and is flaky inside. Watch constantly to make sure the top is not burning. If the mayo crust starts getting too brown, turn the heat back down to 425F. Tip: Use tongs or a fork to pick up a lemon slice and use a fork to check for done-ness under the lemon, then cover it back up. The salmon fillet will still look beautiful!
Step 7: Slice and serve, garnishing with fresh herbs.
More seafood recipes to feed a crowd: Lemon Garlic Baked Swai
What kind of salmon fillet to use
Size of salmon fillet: This mayo crusted salmon recipe used a whole salmon fillet, which was 2.4 lb. You can use a whole salmon fillet anywhere between 2-3 lbs, or you can use smaller pieces and just brush each one with the mayo mixture individually. If you're using 1 lb of salmon or less, divide the rest of the ingredients in half (¼ cup mayo, ¼ cup Parmesan, etc.)
Salmon skin: If your fish monger can remove the salmon skin from the fillet, ask them to do that. If you're reading this and rolling your eyes because you're thinking "since when does me grocery store have a fish monger, especially one that takes special requests?", then you can keep the salmon skin on. Just place the salmon skin-side down to bake. Once it is fully baked, the salmon flesh will separate easily from the skin. Make sure to oil your baking pan well so the skin doesn't get stuck to it. But if any salmon skin gets stuck, just soak the pan in hot soapy water afterwards.
Also keep in mind this salmon skin bacon recipe!! You can take the cooked salmon skin and then fry it in a pan until it's crispy and delicious.
More baked fish recipes to try: Crispy Baked Perch
Whole salmon fillet recipe
I love that even though salmon is a "fancy" fish, it is very easy and budget-friendly to cook at home. While a salmon dinner can cost anywhere between $18-40 at a restaurant, you can buy a whole salmon fillet (about 2-3 lb of fish) for about $24-40 and make 8 servings!
And the bonus part is that a whole salmon fillet is so easy to cook—simply put it on a large baking sheet, add your seasonings/toppings, and roast for about 12 minutes.
More unique seafood recipes: Fish Loaf
Air fryer mayo salmon
This mayo-crusted salmon can be cooked in the air fryer too! Just make sure to cut up the salmon fillet into pieces that will fit into your air fryer. The cooking instructions are the same as for my air fryer trout: Air fry mayo-topped salmon in a preheated air fryer at 400F for 8-10 minutes, or until fully cooked.
More salmon recipes to try: Air Fryer Salmon and Asparagus
What to serve with mayonnaise baked salmon
This creamy salmon recipe goes really well with mashed potatoes (try these slow cooker mashed potatoes!), roasted potatoes (try these crispy roasted young potatoes!) or rice (try this garlic turmeric rice!). For the veggies, I would do simple roasted vegetables, green beans, cauliflower, or a side salad.
Recipe variations
- Try using finely minced parsley, chives, scallions, or cilantro in place of dill.
- Try it with finely grated sharp cheddar cheese. The cheesy creamy topping makes salmon absolutely amazing!
- Try adding very thinly sliced onion circles on the salmon, and brushing the mayo over the onions.
If you enjoyed this recipe, let me know with a comment and a star rating below. And don't forget to share it on Facebook and save it on Pinterest for later!
Mayo Baked Salmon
Ingredients
- 2-3 lb whole salmon fillet - (see notes below for smaller cuts of salmon and what to do with the skin)
- ½ cup mayonnaise - (full-fat mayo is best)
- ½ cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese - (or other hard sharp cheese, NOT the grated Parmesan in the green container)
- 2 lemons - (5-7 lemon slices + ½ tablespoon lemon juice)
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon dried dill weed
- ¼ teaspoon salt - plus more for seasoning the salmon
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper - plus more for the salmon
- optional for serving: lemon wedges and fresh herbs - such as fill, scallions, or chives
Special equipment
- Large broiler-safe baking sheet
- Foil optional, for easier cleanup
- Medium bowl
- Spoon or silicone spatula
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425F. Spray a large baking sheet with olive oil.
- Pat the salmon fillet dry with a paper towel on all sides and place it on the oiled baking sheet. If using smaller cuts of salmon, place them all on the baking sheet. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the mayo, Parmesan, ½ tablespoon lemon juice, and ¼ teaspoon each garlic powder, paprika, fill, salt, and pepper.
- Use the back of a spoon or a spatula to spread the mayo mixture on top of the salmon.
- Arrange lemon slices on top and bake at 425F for 9-11 minutes.
- Turn the broiler on, and broil for 1-2 minutes, or until the salmon is fully cooked and is flaky inside. Watch constantly to make sure the top is not burning. If the mayo crust starts getting too brown, turn the heat back down to 425F. Tip: Use tongs or a fork to pick up a lemon slice and use a fork to check for done-ness under the lemon, then cover it back up.
- Slice and serve, garnishing with fresh herbs.
Notes
- Use finely minced parsley, chives, scallions, or cilantro in place of dill.
- Use finely grated sharp cheddar cheese. The cheesy creamy topping makes salmon absolutely amazing!
- Add very thinly sliced onion circles on the salmon, and brushing the mayo over the onions.
Nutrition
The nutritional information displayed is an estimate and not to be used as dietary or nutritional advice. Consult a nutritionist or dietician for nutritional info based on the exact ingredients you use.
Lisa C.
Tuesday 20th of June 2023
this looks so amazing....or should I say, this "LOX" so amazing 👉😎👉 ayyyy....
Kate
Monday 26th of June 2023
HA!