Simple Salmon en Papillote + Fresh Thyme is a foolproof way to cook amazing salmon any night of the week!
Best Ever Salmon en Papillote
This is my go-to salmon recipe – any night of the week. It is simple, incredibly delicious and even my kids ask for it!
I seriously love this recipe. It was a complete accident too. I never felt like I knew how to cook a good piece of salmon and then, way back when, I was doing a post on How to Cook En Papillote … and I used a piece of salmon. I needed to photograph all of the steps, including cooking the salmon, and I just accidentally discovered this ridiculously easy and incredibly delicious meal. I vividly remember my husband and I devouring that piece of salmon after I was done shooting and just looking at each other like, this is the best piece of salmon I have ever eaten. And we have been making this recipe ever since.
Salmon Dill Sauce
If you are looking for a great dill sauce for salmon this Salmon Dill Sauce is SO GOOD! We generally use it on this Blackened Salmon, but it works with any salmon!
Why This Recipe Works
- Easy Prep: literally takes about 10 minutes (if that) to prep your salmon. Simple ingredients. So easy!
- Short Cook Time: only 15-20 minutes in the oven (unless you have a really thick piece of salmon) and you are done!
- No Dryness: because we are wrapping our salmon in parchment all of the moisture is trapped, keeping the salmon from drying out!
What You Will Need
- fresh salmon: I recommend using fresh salmon if at all possible. I have made this with frozen salmon and it does tend to get a little more watery.
- olive oil or avocado oil: either will work!
- kosher salt: feel free to be generous!
- butter or ghee: you can be generous with this too – it gets infused with the thyme and pouring this over your cooked salmon when it has melted is just the best!
- fresh thyme: thyme is probably my favorite herb and it is absolute perfection in this recipe.
How to Make Salmon en Papillote
Prep your salmon by rubbing it down with oil, sprinkling with kosher salt, putting down a couple chunks of ghee and then top with lots of fresh thyme.
Wrap in parchment and tie up with cooking twine if you need to.
Place on a baking sheet and put in the oven for about 15-20 minutes.
Serve immediately (don’t forget to pour the melted ghee on top of the salmon after serving!).
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Weeknight Salmon en Papillote
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 1–2 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
Weeknight Salmon en Papillote – A foolproof way to cook amazing salmon any night of the week!
Ingredients
- 1 large fillet of fresh salmon (approx. 6-8oz)*
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
- 1–2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons butter or ghee
- 3–5 sprigs of fresh thyme
- parchment paper (or foil)
- kitchen twine (if using parchment)
Instructions
- Take your piece of salmon and place in the middle of your parchment or foil, skin side down (ensuring your piece of foil/parchment is big enough to wrap up salmon).
- Pour olive oil over entire piece of salmon and, using your hands, rub in.
- Sprinkle generously with salt so there is a nice layer covering the salmon.
- Place chunks of ghee (or butter) along the salmon (us about 2-3 per piece).
- Place thyme on top.
- (Sometimes I sprinkle a little bit more olive oil on top at this point to just make sure it has a ton of moisture)
- Wrap up the salmon in the parchment paper, trying to trap in all the air (or in a piece of foil).
- Tie kitchen twine around it if using parchment,
- Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 425 degrees F. (middle rack) for 15 minutes or until cooked thoroughly. The cooking time will vary depending upon how big/thick your piece of salmon is; you may need to cook upwards of 20 minutes, you just need to keep checking; when done the salmon will flake apart easily with a fork.
- Remove and serve immediately.
- Recommendation: once you plate the salmon, pour the excess melted ghee (or butter) on top of the salmon before eating (HIGHLY recommend).
Notes
- Salmon Size: if you prefer you can also individually wrap smaller/single serving sized filets (about 3-4 oz per person). Cook time is about the same – totally up to you.
- Fresh vs. Frozen Salmon: you can use frozen, but it won’t turn out quite as good and there will be a little bit of excess water mixed in with the melted ghee after cooking. I recommend using fresh salmon if at all possible for best results.
- Serving: we usually serve this with roasted broccolini – you can cook both at the same time – and some mashed potatoes or herbed potatoes.
- Storage: cooked salmon should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator; use within 3 days.
- Salmon Dill Sauce: if you want some yummy salmon dill sauce this recipe is our favorite!
*Originally published Oct. 13, 2016; Update January 2021*
Kevie says
This recipe is one of my favorite ways to make salmon. It’s quick and easy. The olive oil and ghee/butter keep the salmon moist. The flavor is simple. I try to eat fish once a week, so this comes into the rotation often.
Erin says
So happy to hear that, Kevie! Thanks for taking the time leave a review!!
Julie Stafford says
I really love your recipes! About a year and a half ago, my roommate and I went on a fairly low calorie keto diet for weight loss. I lost 47 pound and she lost 70! We are now just working to maintain and your site has great recipes for this. I love salmon, but my roommate—not as much. She loved THIS salmon! Your recipes are really perfect for adding pizzazz to healthy.
Erin says
Oh wow – thank you so much, Julie! I am so happy you have been loving the recipes and thank you so much for taking the time to write such lovely feedback – makes my day to hear that! Thanks for being here!
Tom says
Great recipe, so healthy for you! I make this several times a month. Sometimes hard to find fresh wild caught salmon.
Erin says
So glad you are enjoying it!!
Suzanne says
Takes away any fishy-ness from the salmon. Our go-to recipe now. 5*****
Erin says
So glad to hear that, Suzanne! I know this is a family-favorite in our house too 🙂 thank you so much for taking the time to leave your feedback – I so appreciate it!
Kathleen says
This salmon was absolutely perfect! The layer of salt was key and it was cooked perfectly. So flavorful and moist. Definitely adding to our regular rotation.
Erin says
Thank you so much, Kathleen!! It really is a family-favorite at our house too! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave your feedback – I really appreciate it!
Jessica Nelson says
My kids weren’t fans of salmon until this recipe!!!! I make this literally every other week and it’s a hit every single time! So simple, fast and tasty! Perfect for this busy mom trying to feed her family as healthy as she can. THANK YOU!!!
Erin says
Thank you so much, Jessica! So glad you guys are enjoying it as much as we do! And thank you for taking the time to leave feedback – I really appreciate it!!
Erica says
Very easy to make. My fillet was 1.5 pounds but perhaps a bit thinner than yours because 15 minutes was maybe 2 minutes too long. Still delicious! Popped the broccolini in at the same time. Wonderful meal for any night (I made mine on Sunday 😃)
Erin says
So glad you enjoyed it!!! It is a family favorite in our house!! :). Thanks you so much for taking the time to leave feedback!
Renee says
I always wondered how my favorite restaurants prepared their salmon, now I know! Thank you for the amazing recipe, and really it was so easy! Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Erin says
Thank you so much, Renee! I am so glad you enjoyed it – this is a family favorite in our house as well!! :). Merry Christmas!
Sandy says
Hi I am trying salmon for the first time and was going to use your recipe.
I cannot have ghee for now. Can I use coconut oil instead?
Thanks
Erin says
Hi, Sandy! Sorry I didn’t see this until today! Man, if you can’t have ghee and you can’t do butter then I would probably just use olive oil or avocado oil. It definitely won’t taste as good because I think the combo of the salmon and the ghee and the thyme are so amazing, but using olive oil or avocado oil will work!
Brenda says
This looks so delicious and so simple!
Quick question – where does the oil come in? Would you use it instead of the ghee/butter or in addition to it?
Thanks!
Erin says
Oh shoot, somehow that line of instruction got omitted when I was revising it!! I will go back in and add it it – thank you!! But that is what you rub on the salmon first, and then sprinkle the salt, etc. ?
Brenda says
Perfect! Thanks.
Mary Ames says
I’m drooling just from looking at the gorgeous pictures. Fresh salmon and thyme just went on the grocery list!
Erin says
Yay!!! So excited for you to make it!!! It really is the best! ?