The Best Crusted Salmon Recipe

An overhead shot of the whole crusted salmon fillet on a white platter with greens and lemon as a garnish

The 30-minute crispy, smoky, and slightly spicy crust matches the soft, flaky salmon flesh perfectly. It's hands-down the best recipe for a crusted salmon.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings servings

Calories 616kcal

Author Jas

Equipment

baking sheet
Small mixing bowl
Paper towels

Ingredients

2 pounds Atlantic salmon fillet whole or 4 individual pieces
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ cup mayonnaise
⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper or more
1 teaspoon old bay seasoning
1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
½ teaspoon smoked paprika plus more for dusting
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup Italian style croutons
fresh parsley for garnish optional

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Rinse salmon with cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Place skin side down in a baking pan greased with olive oil.
In a small bowl combine the mayo, parmesan, Italian seasoning, cayenne pepper, old bay seasoning, lemon pepper, smoked paprika, and salt. Spread evenly over the salmon.
Crush croutons leaving some bigger pieces for the texture. This is done easily by placing croutons in a Ziploc bag and hitting it a few times with a meat mallet or use a rolling pin. Sprinkle the croutons evenly over the mayo mixture. Dust with more smoked paprika.
Bake for 15-20 minutes or until bread crumbs get toasty and salmon easily flakes with a fork. Garnish with parsley if desired.

Notes

Don't substitute smoked paprika with the regular one, it will lack flavor.
Serve with a side of rice and broccoli or another favorite vegetable.
This is a perfect dish to entertain your guest, to serve on holidays, or your weeknight dinner.
Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on products used.

Nutrition