Pesto Salmon

This 3 ingredient pesto salmon recipe is so simple! It’s a perfect weeknight meal made with fresh salmon and flavourful pesto. You can have this easy salmon recipe on the table in under 30 minutes!

Try some of my other favourite salmon recipes like this maple dijon salmon, salmon spinach quiche, and grilled teriyaki salmon bites!

Ok – where are my pesto lovers at!? I am happy to say that even my kids like pesto, so I guess I’ve done a good job in that they’re not afraid of eating something green? I mean, these are also the kids that grew up eating only green monster muffins haha.

Anyway, they never complain when I serve them some pesto pasta, or this easy pesto chicken! We were in a bit of a rut with our salmon, using the same seasoning every time I cooked it. The kids love salmon too, so I thought we should try something different with a simple pesto sauce. It was a winner!

What You’ll Need For Pesto Salmon

Luckily this is another of my 3 ingredient recipes! You need only a few simple things.

• fresh salmon
• pesto sauce
• parmesan cheese

Salmon: You can use skin on or off, but I almost always buy the salmon from Costco, farmed without the use of antibiotics. If it’s in season, then I buy the wild caught salmon! The recipe is the same even with the skin on.

Pesto: Use your favourite homemade or store-bought pesto sauce. I love to make my walnut basil pesto!

Parmesan: Freshly grated parmesan adds the best flavour to this!

How To Make This Recipe

You can find the full detailed recipe and instructions in the recipe card below, but here is an overview of the directions!

1. Preheat the oven to 425 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. This makes for the easiest cleanup! You could also use aluminum foil.

2. Place the salmon (skin side down, if you’re using salmon with skin) in the middle of the baking sheet. Smother the salmon with the pesto sauce, covering the entire top surface. Sprinkle the parmesan cheese all over, on top.

3. Bake the salmon for 9-10 minutes or until the thickest part of the salmon flakes with a fork. Remove the salmon from the oven, and cut it into portions. Squeeze a bit of lemon over the top for extra flavour!

What To Serve With Pesto Salmon?

This salmon is so good with so many different sides! I love to serve it with these easy oven roasted baked potatoes (also air fryer friendly), or some of these other sides:

• roasted harissa potatoes
• sautéed shredded brussel sprouts
• garlic butter carrots
• cheesy cornmeal drop biscuits

Leftovers and Storage Instructions

I find salmon to be them most delicious when its freshly cooked, but if you have leftover salmon you could add it to a salad for lunch the next day, or make a salmon sandwich, wrap or even break it up and enjoy it was pasta!

The cooked pesto salmon can be stored in an airtight container, in the fridge, for 3-4 days.

You could even try using this recipe in your meal prep for the week!

Other Dinner Recipes You’ll Enjoy

Not only do I love salmon and easy dinner recipes, I also love 3 INGREDIENT recipes like this one. I have a few other suggestions that you might want to check out:

• maple dijon salmon
• cheesy tortellini casserole
• chicken pot pie pasta
• easy cashew chicken

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