This Chili Lime Baked Salmon is so simple, fast and full of flavor! A quick chili lime sauce is brushed on the salmon before it is roasted for about 15 minutes. Try this easy Oven Baked Salmon for dinner tonight!
How can salmon be cooked?
Although salmon can be cooked many ways, including grilling it or pan frying it, my favorite way is to bake salmon in the oven. I often just make a simple roasted salmon with salt, pepper, olive oil and lemon. But sometimes I want to change it up, which is why I made this Chili Lime Baked Salmon!

How to bake salmon
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil for easy cleanup.
- Mix together olive oil, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder and lime zest.
- Season the salmon filet with salt. Brush with chili lime sauce, then scatter lime slices on top.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 145 or the salmon flakes easily with a fork. Squeeze fresh lime juice over just before serving.
What Temperature should salmon be cooked to?
The USDA recommends cooking salmon to an internal temperature of 145 degrees. Use an instant read thermometer such as this one (affiliate) to check the temperature.
How do you know when salmon is cooked?
Another way to check if the salmon is done is to see if it flakes easily with a fork. It will also change color from translucent to opaque.
Can you eat salmon skin?
Salmon skin is edible and many people enjoy eating it (including my husband!). I personally do not like it, so I remove the skin before eating my salmon. However, I do bake salmon with the skin on.
What to serve with salmon?
A quick and healthy meal is to serve baked salmon with rice and a vegetable side. This Chili Lime Baked Salmon would be great with my Turmeric Rice or Coconut Rice, and my Lemon Parmesan Broccoli would make this a complete meal!
Do you love salmon? Try my other delicious salmon recipes!
Chili Lime Baked Salmon
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds salmon filet
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 lime zested and sliced
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F Line a baking sheet with foil for easy cleanup.
- Mix together olive oil, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder and lime zest.
- Season the salmon filet with salt. Brush with chili lime sauce, then scatter lime slices on top.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 145°F or the salmon flakes easily with a fork. Squeeze fresh lime juice over just before serving.
Bonnie says
you say line a pan with foil. Do you close the foil around the salmon?
btw I made this a few weeks ago, my new fav recipe for salmon. that & teriyaki
thanks
Meghan says
Hi Bonnie, I’m so glad you loved it! I don’t close the foil around the salmon, I just line the pan with foil for easy cleanup.
Bonnie says
regular olive oil or extra virgin? does it matter?
Meghan says
I use extra virgin, but I don’t think it matters.
Judie says
I made this last night. Also made my own chili powder before hand as I find doing that helps make it more flavorful. It was wonderful, I will be making this again and again in the future.
Meghan says
So glad you loved it!
Curtis says
Was delicious. Added chopped cilantro and garnished the plate with chopped cilantro I put it on a cedar plank and grilled.
Meghan says
So glad you loved it!
Karen says
One question one request –
question – is there any advantage to adding the salt and pepper before baking as opposed to after?
request – could you add the temperature in Celsius to your recipes? That would be appreciated. You don’t have to convert everyting, but at least the temperature in Celsius would help for those of us outside the US.
Meghan says
Hi Karen – seasoning the fish before cooking will give it better flavor. For this recipe, the conversion from 400 degrees F is 204 degrees Celsius. In the range of 300-400 degrees F you can just divide by two and that is close enough. Or google has an easy conversion calculator.
Elizabeth f. says
Looks good. When you say “chili powder”, do you mean the kind that has other ingredients in it (like the chili powder you’d use making chili)? As opposed to straight Ancho or Chipotle powder?
Meghan says
Hi Elizabeth – yep, that’s exactly right!
Diva2ude says
Made this recipe . Was very tasty and flavorful! Best salmon recipe I’ve come across, thus far ! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Meghan says
Yay I am so happy to hear that!