This quick toaster-oven salmon delivers tender, flaky fish with almost no cleanup, making it perfect for busy weeknights! A simple lemon herb butter melts over the warm salmon, adding a bright, rich flavor.
I resisted getting a toaster oven for years because cluttered counters drive me crazy. But my husband finally talked me into it, and now I’m hooked!
I make half of our meals in this nifty little appliance and my toaster oven salmon is an all time fave! I line the pan with foil first so there’s no cleanup, just toss the foil when you’re done.
The salmon comes out moist and flaky with SO much flavor from the grainy mustard and herb butter. It's delicious and it tastes just as good on day two.
(If you love salmon, try my lemon pepper salmon or salmon sheet pan dinner next time!)
Key Ingredients
- Salmon - The size and thickness of your salmon will determine how long it needs to cook. I cut mine from a large fillet from Costco. It's hard to beat the cost and quality of Costco fillets.
- Grainy mustard - I love this condiment! It adds a bright zing to everything it touches, plus the seeds add a little bit of texture.
- Spices - Just trust me on this combo! Kosher salt, garlic powder, paprika, and a smidge of sugar add such great flavor combined with the mustard.
- Butter - I always buy unsalted then add my own salt. If you only have salted, just omit the salt. Don't skip the butter! It adds so much flavor to this recipe.
- Lemon - I always keep fresh lemons on hand. The juice and zest add so much flavor to savory dishes. If a recipe tastes good, but lacks something you can't put your finger on, it might just need a squeeze of lemon juice!
- Herbs - I used parsley and dill, but basil or cilantro would taste great too!
How to Make Toaster Oven Salmon
Making salmon in the toaster oven is super simple! Before you start, you need to preheat your toaster oven.
- Make the mustard mixture: Mix the mustard, oil, and spices together with a mini whisk or spoon.
- Line the toaster oven pan: This makes cleanup a breeze! If the entire pan is covered in foil, the pan won't get dirty - one less thing to wash!
- Brush and bake salmon: Place the salmon, skin side down, on the prepared pan and brush the mustard mixture evenly on top. Bake for 10 minutes.
- Make the herb butter: While the salmon bakes, mix the herbs, lemon, and butter. If the butter is softened, it should mix together very easily.
- Broil: Change the toaster oven setting to broil. Every toaster oven is a little bit different so keep an eye on it so it doesn't burn. You want to caramelize the top of the salmon.
- Serve: Serve it warm with herb butter on top.
Tips and tricks
- You can make this salmon in a regular oven, but the broil setting is typically much hotter and caramelizes food faster than a toaster oven. Just keep an eye on it so it doesn't burn! You may need to reduce the broil time.
- I prefer to buy my salmon in bulk at Costco. Simply use high-quality kitchen shears to cut it into 1.5 pound portions. Or you can ask for a 1.5 pound fillet at the seafood counter.
How long should I bake salmon in a toaster oven?
It depends. The exact time varies based on how thick your salmon is and whether you're broiling it. Salmon is done when it flakes easily with a fork and reaches about 125 to 145°F internally, depending on how you like it cooked. Medium is about 125–135°F and well-done is 145°F, though it will rise a few degrees once it’s out of the oven.
How to serve it
This toaster oven salmon recipe is super versatile! It tastes great with virtually any side dish. Here's a few of my faves:
- Rice - I either make my own perfectly cooked rice or I buy microwave-able jasmine rice from Trader Joe's. It's in the freezer section! They also have brown rice or quinoa.
- Roasted veggies - You can roast whatever veggies you have on hand or try my roasted green beans and sweet potatoes!
- Steamed broccoli - Looking for a super quick side? Try my steamed broccoli in the microwave. Don't worry, it tastes amazing! Also great with microwaveable rice for a very lazy dinner (no judgement here!).
- Baked sweet potatoes - Or try my toaster oven baked sweet potatoes for your next meal.
Storage
- Store leftover cooked salmon in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Reheat in the microwave until hot throughout.
Toaster Oven Salmon
Equipment
- toaster oven
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds salmon fillet see note
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon grainy mustard
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon sugar
For the herb butter
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
- ½ teaspoon minced dill
- ½ teaspoon minced parsley
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat toaster oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit on the bake setting. In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, grainy mustard, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, garlic powder, paprika, and sugar.
- Line the toaster oven pan with aluminum foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray (I used Chosen Foods avocado oil spray).
- Lay the salmon fillet on the prepared pan. Brush the mustard mixture evenly all over the salmon fillet. Place the pan in the preheated toaster oven and bake for 10 minutes.
- While the salmon cooks, make the lemon herb butter. Combine the softened butter, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, minced dill, minced parsley, and ¼ teaspoon kosher salt. Beat well with a spoon until mixed together.
- Once the 10 minutes is up, change the toaster oven setting to broil and cook the salmon for 6 to 8 more minutes, until the top caramelizes slightly.
- Remove the salmon from the oven and serve warm with lemon herb butter.
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