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Pesto Crusted Salmon

Panko crusted salmon recipe with pesto, on a round plate, garnished with fresh basil.

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5 from 1 review

Pesto Crusted Salmon is seasoned and topped with a mayo-pesto spread and parmesan panko bread crumbs. This mouth watering main dish is cooked in under 30 minutes, including prep time! 

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds fresh salmon filets
  • 3 tablespoons basil pesto spread
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise 
  • 1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
  • 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F.  Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper.  Place your fresh salmon filets onto the parchment lined baking sheet, skin side down, and pat dry with a paper towel.
  2. Combine the kosher salt, pepper and garlic powder in a small bowl.  Season the salmon filets with the seasoning mixture.  
  3. Combine the basil pesto spread and the mayonnaise in a small bowl.  Spread the pesto mayo onto the salmon filets.  
  4. Combine the panko bread crumbs and the grated parmesan cheese in a small bowl.  Top the salmon with the parmesan and panko combination.  
  5. Transfer the Pesto Crusted Salmon to your preheated oven.  Bake for 20 minutes, until the salmon is light pink in the center and flakes apart easily with a fork.   If the thickest part of the salmon is not cooked through after 20 minutes, continue cooking until done.
  6. Serve and enjoy!  

Notes

  • See the "Expert Tips" section of the recipe post for guidance on how to check for doneness with cooked salmon. 
  • The salmon filets I use for this recipe are usually about 1 inch thick. If your salmon is thicker, adjust your baking time accordingly.
  • Make sure you use a thick, basil pesto spread, not basil pesto sauce.
  • The nutrition information shown below is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator.  It should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice. 

Nutrition