Pesto Salmon
The Best Pesto Salmon Recipe (Oven or Air Fryer) – Salmon with fresh pesto and crispy breadcrumbs is a flavorful dish that is ready to enjoy in only 20 minutes, baked or air fried!
Why We Love This Easy Salmon Recipe
Here is a winning summer dish! Flaky, moist, and tender salmon is baked with vibrant basil pesto and a crisp Panko topping. It’s quick to prepare in under 20 minutes, offers tons of flavor and contrasting textures, and goes fabulously with all sorts of side dishes.
Plus, you can make this Pesto Salmon recipe in the oven or in the air fryer!
6 Ingredients You Need
- Salmon fillets – wild caught, with skin on
- Basil pesto – store-bought (or homemade pesto made with fresh basil leaves, lemon juice, garlic, pine nuts, and parmesan cheese!)
- Panko breadcrumbs – regular or gluten-free
- Olive oil – or other preferred high heat neutral-flavored cooking oil, like avocado oil
- Salt and black pepper – to taste
How to Make Pesto Salmon
Place a large salmon fillet, or smaller individually cut salmon fillets, on a rimmed sheet pan. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper.
Brush the tops of the salmon fillets with pesto.
Then sprinkle the tops with Panko breadcrumbs. Lightly drizzle olive oil over the Panko.
Get the Complete (Printable) Air Fried or Baked Pesto Salmon Recipe Below. Enjoy!
How to Bake Salmon at 400
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Place the baking sheet with salmon in the oven, and bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the top is golden.
How to Air Fry Pesto Salmon
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
Once hot, carefully lower the salmon into the air fryer basket. Air fry for 5 to 7 minutes until the Panko top is crispy.
Recipe Variations
- We use basil pesto to make this recipe. But you can use any type of pesto you prefer! Red pepper or tomato pesto are a couple of delicious options.
- For a gluten-free recipe, simply swap Panko breadcrumbs with your fave GF-friendly “bread” crumbs.
- You can use frozen salmon! Prepare as directed, and bake or air fry frozen salmon at 400 for just a few minutes more… So approximately 20-25 minutes baked in the oven, or 15 minutes in the air fryer.
What to Serve with Pesto Salmon
Enjoy this flavorful salmon as the main protein with yummy summer side dishes, like stuffed zucchini boats, roasted cherry tomatoes and pasta, couscous salad, or miso roasted root vegetables!
We love to pair crispy Panko and pesto salmon with grilled veggies and/or fresh green salad.
Or bring some carb-a-liciousness to the table and serve over linguini or fettuccini, or alongside Italian Mac & Cheese.
Frequently Asked Questions
We feel this recipe is packed with flavor as-is, but feel free to add crushed red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, lemon zest or lemon juice, and/or parmesan cheese.
As far as sauces go, pesto is relatively healthy! It is made with fresh basil, nuts, and olive oil. So it’s very simple but brimming with antioxidants and healthy fats.
Air fry or bake salmon – from fresh or frozen – at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. The internal temperature of each fillet needs to be 145 degrees.
Nope! That is one of the (many) wonderful things about this recipe. Fresh or frozen salmon does not need to be flipped as it is air frying.
The flavor and texture of salmon with a crispy Panko topping are always best enjoyed freshly cooked. However, leftovers will keep well for a day or two in the fridge and stored in an airtight container.
Enjoy chilled leftover salmon as-is or on a bed of greens for a refreshing summer lunch!
You can also reheat the salmon for 5-10 minutes in a preheated 400-degree oven. However, note that the salmon will not be as moist and will likely be “overdone.”
Looking for More Easy Seafood Recipes?
- Oven Baked Salmon with Parmesan Crust
- Baked White Fish with Everything Bagel Crust
- Potato Ship Crusted Baked Sea Bass
- Roasted Fish Bruschetta
- Baked Halibut with Basil Butter
Pesto Salmon Recipe (Baked or in the Air Fryer)
Video
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds wild caught salmon fillets with skin
- ¼ cup basil pesto store-bought or homemade
- ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs could be GF
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Place a large salmon fillet, or smaller individually cut salmon fillets, on a rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper.
- Brush the tops of the salmon fillets with pesto. Then sprinkle the tops with Panko breadcrumbs. Drizzle olive oil over the panko.
- In the oven: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Once hot, placed the salmon in the oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the top is golden.
- In the air fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Once hot, carefully lower the salmon into the air fryer basket. Air fry for 5 to 7 minutes until the top is crispy.
Notes
- We use basil pesto to make this recipe. But you can use any type of pesto you prefer! Red pepper or tomato pesto are a couple of delicious options.
- For a gluten-free recipe simply swap Panko breadcrumbs with your fave GF-friendly “bread” crumbs.
- You can use frozen salmon! Prepare as directed, and bake or air fry frozen salmon at 400 for just a few minutes more… So approximately 20-25 minutes baked in the oven, or 15 minutes in the air fryer.
Absolutely delicious! Cooked in the oven perfectly! I’ll try the airfryer another time. Pairing with seasoned rice and sautéed garlic and balsamic vinegar reduction brussel sprouts!
This salmon recipe is so delicious. I love the pesto & breadcrumb topping. We don’t have an air fryer, but it baked up beautifully!
WOW. This was PHENOMENAL! Absolutely my new favorite way to eat salmon!
This salmon is delicious! I especially love the addition of panko breadcrumbs. They add the perfect texture!