Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Pesto salmon in a cast iron skillet.

Pesto Salmon

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 2 reviews
  • Author: Erin Jensen
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x
  • Category: Dinner/Entree
  • Method: Stove Top + Oven
  • Cuisine: American

Description

Pesto Salmon – a light and delicious pesto salmon recipe that is packed with flavor! Perfect for a busy weeknight dinner!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 46 4oz pieces of salmon, skin-on and about 1 inch thick
  • kosher salt and ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 1/2 cup of your favorite pesto (we love this homemade recipe)*

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. 
  2. Place salmon on a plate and pat dry with clean paper towel. 
  3. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil and rub all over.
  4. Sprinkle with kosher salt and ground black pepper. 
  5. Bring a large cast iron skillet to medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil; swirl to coat. 
  6. Add salmon skin-side up and let cook 2-4 minutes. 
  7. Flip and use a spoon or brush to add pesto on top of each piece of salmon (you can really use as much or as little as you like). 
  8. Place in the oven, middle rack and uncovered, for 10-14 minutes or until the internal temperature is 145 degrees F – for thinner piece of salmon it may take a little less than 10 minutes).
  9. Remove and let rest 5 minutes. 
  10. Serve immediately and feel free to put extra pesto on top after cooking if so desired.

Notes

  • Salmon: I recommend using fresh fish, purchased the day you plan on cooking it for best results. Frozen fish works too, but just make sure it is fully thawed and there isn’t any excess moisture and the resulting dish will be watery. 
  • *Pesto: we love this homemade dairy-free pesto, but feel free to use something else if you prefer!
  • Serving: we love serving it with some Greek Orzo Salad and Steamed Asparagus