1-First Step: Preheat and Prep Your Workspace Start by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil to prevent sticking. This setup ensures easy cleanup and even heat distribution for your simple oven baked salmon. Gather all ingredients mise en place style, which saves time for busy parents or students.

2-Second Step: Prepare the Salmon Fillets Pat the 4 salmon fillets dry with paper towels. Removing excess moisture helps seasonings stick and promotes crisp skin if using skin-on fillets. For dietary tweaks, skinless works fine for paleo diets. Lay them skin-side down on the prepared sheet.

3-Third Step: Season the Fish Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil over the fillets. Rub in 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, minced garlic, and lemon juice evenly. Top each with lemon slices and chopped dill. This creates the signature lemon garlic baked salmon flavor. For low-sodium options, cut salt to ½ teaspoon.

4-Fourth Step: Bake the Salmon Slide the baking sheet into the preheated oven. Bake for 12-15 minutes, depending on thickness. Check at 12 minutes; the salmon should flake easily and reach 145°F internally. Thinner pieces may finish in 10 minutes, thicker in 18-20. This timing yields moist, tender results every time.

5-Fifth Step: Rest and Serve Remove from oven and rest for 3-5 minutes. Juices redistribute for maximum flavor. Serve with quinoa, steamed broccoli, or asparagus. This healthy baked salmon dinner pairs well with rice for students on a budget. Total time: 25 minutes for 4 servings.