Baked Salmon Cajun Spice (Print Page)

Tender salmon fillets seasoned with a bold Cajun blend and baked to a juicy finish.

# What You Need:

→ Fish

01 - 4 salmon fillets (about 5 ounces each), skin-on or skinless

→ Cajun Seasoning Blend

02 - 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
03 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
04 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
05 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
06 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
07 - ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
08 - ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
09 - ½ teaspoon salt

→ For Baking

10 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
11 - 1 lemon, sliced
12 - Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease with cooking spray.
02 - In a small bowl, combine smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, dried oregano, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and salt. Mix until thoroughly blended.
03 - Pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Brush each fillet with olive oil on both sides.
04 - Generously coat the top of each salmon fillet with the Cajun seasoning mixture, pressing gently to ensure the spices adhere to the fish.
05 - Place the seasoned salmon fillets on the prepared baking sheet. Arrange lemon slices on top of or around the fillets for added flavor.
06 - Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the salmon is opaque throughout and flakes easily when tested with a fork. The internal temperature should reach 145°F.
07 - Remove from the oven and garnish with freshly chopped parsley. Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The spice blend creates this gorgeous dark crust that seals in all the moisture
  • Ready in under 30 minutes but tastes like you spent way more effort on it
  • Perfect for meal prep because the salmon reheats beautifully without drying out
02 -
  • Dont skip patting the fish dry, wet salmon will steam instead of getting that gorgeous crust
  • The salmon continues cooking after it leaves the oven, so pull it when it still has a tiny bit of translucency in the center
03 -
  • Room temperature salmon cooks more evenly, so let it sit out for 15 minutes before baking
  • Buy salmon fillets of similar thickness so they finish cooking at the same time

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