Baked Salmon with Honey Mustard and Pecan-Panko Crust

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This baked salmon with a crunchy topping takes just 20 minutes to make, yet it’s elegant enough for company.

Baked salmon with honey mustard and pecan-panko crust on a plate with a fork.

This easy salmon dish takes a total of 20 minutes—10 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook—yet tastes like something you’d order at a fancy restaurant. It’s perfect for when you have company coming at the end of a long day (and you’re asking yourself, “What was I thinking?!”) or on a busy weeknight when you have to hit the kitchen running. Feel free to substitute another type of fish like cod, trout or striped bass.

To parents of picky eaters: if your kids are lukewarm on fish, I find that a crunchy coating is the best way to entice them, and you can omit the nuts if need be (or try my panko-topped baked salmon recipe with no nuts). Pair the salmon with a green vegetable and a starch (baked potatoes, twice-baked potatoes, couscous, or drop biscuits are all good options).

What You’ll Need To Make Baked Salmon with Honey Mustard & Pecan-Panko Crust

Salmon ingredients including sea salt, honey, and lemon.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Begin by combining the mustard, butter, honey, salt, and pepper to make the glaze.

Spatula in a bowl of honey mustard.

Next, make the topping by mixing together the panko, pecans, and parsley.

Glass bowl of pecan-parsley-panko mixture.

Spoon the glaze over the salmon fillets.

Salmon topped with honey mustard.

Then press the pecan-panko mixture over top.

Uncooked, crusted salmon filets.

Bake for 7-10 minutes per inch of thickness, or until the salmon flakes when tested with a fork.

Cooked, crusted salmon filets.

Enjoy!

Video Tutorial

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Baked salmon with Honey Mustard and Pecan-Panko Crust on a plate.

Baked Salmon with Honey Mustard and Pecan Panko Crust

This baked salmon with a crunchy topping takes just 20 minutes to make, yet it’s elegant enough for company.

Servings: 4
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 10 Minutes
Total Time: 20 Minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • ¾ teaspoon salt, divided
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ¼ cup panko
  • ¼ cup finely chopped pecans
  • 2 teaspoons finely chopped parsley (optional, for color)
  • 4 (6-oz) salmon fillets
  • 1 lemon, for serving (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 450°F and set an oven rack in the middle position. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy cleanup, and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the mustard, melted butter, honey, ½ teaspoon salt, and pepper. Set aside.
  3. In another small bowl, mix together the panko, pecans, parsley (if using), and remaining ¼ teaspoon salt.
  4. Spoon the honey-mustard mixture evenly over the salmon fillets. (Don't worry if it drips down the sides a little.) Sprinkle the panko-pecan mixture over the glaze, pressing it lightly so it adheres.
  5. Bake for 7-10 minutes per inch of thickness, depending on how well done you like your salmon. (If you find that the topping is browning more than you’d like before the fish is cooked through, loosely cover the salmon with foil.) Serve hot or at room temperature. (Note that if your salmon has skin, it may stick to the foil; to remove the fish from the pan, slide a thin spatula between the skin and the flesh, leaving the skin behind.)
  6. Make Ahead: The salmon can be glazed, coated with the panko-pecan mixture, and refrigerated up to 3 hours ahead of time.

Pair with

Nutrition Information

Powered by Edamam

  • Per serving (4 servings)
  • Calories: 482
  • Fat: 33 g
  • Saturated fat: 9 g
  • Carbohydrates: 8 g
  • Sugar: 5 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 36 g
  • Sodium: 467 mg
  • Cholesterol: 109 mg

This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.

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Comments

  • Another 5 star recipe from Jenn! I made this last night for a Valentines Day dinner and both my husband and I LOVED it! I followed the recipe exactly as written and it was delicious. We both said we would enjoy this again .. and again. The other nice part was that it was an easy recipe to follow and make. Thanks Jenn!

    • — Catherine on February 15, 2023
    • Reply
  • Delicious and soooo easy! My husband said it was the best fish he’s ever eaten. Will definitely make again…and again…and again!

    • — Mary Ann on February 13, 2023
    • Reply
  • I made this for dinner last night and it was absolutely delicious. I make salmon once a week and I am always looking for new recipes. I was given a large amount of pecans from someone who owns a farm and been making everything with pecans this week. The glaze with the pecan panko crust was amazing. I will be making this again next week!!! Thanks Jenn for another great recipe.

    • — Josephine on January 27, 2023
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  • Not only did I make, we loved it!

    • — You iris on January 11, 2023
    • Reply
  • This is delicious, and so easy. I did not have parsley, but thought the pecan pieces were a very good addition. Will make it again. I presume this might work well in an air fryer too, with appropriate adjustments to time and temperature.

    • — Susan on December 29, 2022
    • Reply
    • How would you do this in an air fryer? I just bought one

      • — You iris on January 11, 2023
      • Reply
  • This was perfect! I’ve made so many different variations of salmon and I have to say this is my favorite. I made this as a dress rehearsal for NYE and it passed with flying colors. So easy, so delicious and so elegant. I served it with a green salad to start and I made Jenn’s drop biscuits (perfect!) and roasted asparagus.

    I am a novice-intermediate chef and I love Jenn’s recipes. They are all tested, fool-proof and scrumptious.

    Make this salmon now.

    • — Carolyn G. on December 12, 2022
    • Reply
  • These were so delicious, and so easy! My guests loved them as well.

    • — Marcia on December 10, 2022
    • Reply
  • Yum! This is delicious, a great recipe for company. It always gets rave reviews!

    • — Gail on November 26, 2022
    • Reply
  • THIS!! recipe was amazing!!! Made as instructed. YUMMMMMY!

    • — Patti Taylor on November 16, 2022
    • Reply
  • Just made this last night for company and it was a major hit! So easy and you can do everything ahead of time!

    • — Doreen on November 12, 2022
    • Reply

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