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Creamy Keto Baked Salmon

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This Creamy Keto Baked Salmon comes together in just 30 minutes with only 5 easy ingredients for a weeknight dinner that feels surprisingly fancy. Flaky salmon paired with rich dill sauce makes this a quick, low-carb meal that’s perfect for family dinners.

Cooked salmon fillet with creamy dill sauce on a bed of broccolini on a white plate, with a fork and knife beside it.Pin

A Quick Look At The Recipe

  • ⏲️Ready In: 30 Minutes
  • 👪Serves: 6
  • 🍽 Calories: 283 kcals
  • 📋Main Ingredients: Butter, salmon fillets, cream, mustard, and dill.
  • 📖 Dietary Notes: Nut-free, gluten-free, and keto.
  • Why You’ll Love It: It’s quick to make and ends up with a rich, creamy tasting fillet that melts-in-your-mouth.

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One of the best things about this easy creamy keto baked salmon is how little effort it takes to make something that tastes restaurant-quality. Baking the salmon in the sauce helps keep it tender and flaky instead of dry, while the fresh dill and lemon brighten up the richness of the cream perfectly. It pairs especially well with lighter sides like air fryer garlic butter green beans.

Another reason this baked salmon with dill cream sauce works so well is that it’s approachable even if you don’t cook seafood often. Salmon is done once it flakes easily with a fork but still looks slightly glossy in the center, which helps prevent overcooking.

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Items and Substitutions

Raw salmon fillets, fresh herbs, cream, sugar, mustard, butter, and pepper arranged on a textured surface.
  • Salmon: Fresh salmon is best for this recipe. If you plan to use frozen fillets, make sure to thaw them beforehand.
  • Heavy cream: Will make a smooth and rich texture, but any cream (half and half etc) can work. You could even use canned coconut milk to make the recipe dairy-free.
  • Lemon juice: Fresh juice will brighten the sauce a bit and pairs well with fish. I even use some on my low carb creamy Tuscan salmon, even though it’s not called for.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Tools you’ll need

Before starting the recipe, you’ll want to have all your kitchen essentials ready. I recommend having the following items:

  • Oven
  • Rimmed sheet pan or casserole dish
  • Bowl
  • Measuring spoons
  • Fork
  • Spoon or whisk

Flavors To Try

Below are a few variations we’ve tried for the low-carb baked salmon recipe and enjoyed.

  • Add Fresh Herbs: If you love fresh flavors, try adding parsley, tarragon, or chives along with the dill for a unique twist on the sauce.
  • Use Different Fish: While salmon is delicious, you can also use other fish like trout or cod for a lighter alternative.
  • Spice It Up: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to the sauce for a little heat and extra flavor.
  • Add Veggies: Toss some roasted vegetables, like asparagus or baby potatoes, onto the baking sheet to make it a complete one-pan meal.

How To Make Creamy Keto Baked Salmon

Raw salmon fillets neatly arranged in a white baking dish on a gray surface.

Step 1: Butter a rimmed sheet pan and place the salmon fillets in a line.

A glass bowl filled with creamy white sauce speckled with herbs, placed on a purple textured surface next to a black and white checkered cloth.

Step 2: In a bowl, mix together the cream, mustard, and dill.

Raw salmon fillets are arranged in a white baking dish, partially covered with a creamy sauce.

Step 3: Pour the creamy dill sauce over the fillets.

Baked salmon fillets in a white rectangular dish with a creamy sauce.

Step 4: Bake until the fish flakes in the center

Note

To ensure your salmon turns out perfectly cooked, check for doneness by gently flaking the fish with a fork in the center; it should easily separate and look opaque. Be careful not to overcook, as salmon can dry out quickly!

Helpful Hints

Pro tip: Don’t Overcrowd the Pan

Give the salmon enough space on the pan to ensure it cooks evenly and crisps up nicely.

  • Don’t Overcook the Salmon: Salmon cooks quickly, so keep an eye on it while baking. It’s done when it flakes easily with a fork and is opaque in the center.
  • Season to Taste: Feel free to adjust the salt, pepper, and lemon juice to your liking to balance the richness of the sauce with a bit of tang.
  • Make the Sauce Ahead: You can prepare the creamy dill sauce in advance and store it in the fridge for a day or two, making it easier to assemble the dish when you’re ready to cook.
  • Storing it: Place the fish in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2-3 days. If you have leftover sauce, store it separately in a small container to maintain the freshness of the fish.
  • Reheating: Gently warm the salmon in the oven at 275°F for about 10-15 minutes, or until heated through. For the sauce, reheat it in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent it from separating.

Ways To Enjoy It

Creamy keto baked salmon pairs well with both lighter sides and heartier comfort-food options, making it easy to customize for any dinner.

  • Serve it with a strawberry spinach salad with lemon dressing or simple roasted vegetables to balance the richness of the creamy dill sauce.
  • Spoon the extra sauce over cauliflower rice, mashed cauliflower, or even rice for non-keto eaters so none of the flavor goes to waste.

Creamy Keto Baked FAQs

Pin

Yes, you can use frozen salmon, but be sure to thaw it completely before cooking. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator or use the defrost setting on your microwave for quicker results. This ensures even cooking and better texture.

To make the sauce lighter, you can substitute the heavy cream with Greek yogurt or a lower-fat sour cream. This will still give you a creamy texture but with fewer calories, while maintaining the fresh dill flavor.

The best way to keep salmon moist is to avoid overcooking it. Bake the salmon just until it flakes easily with a fork and still looks slightly glossy in the center, since it will continue cooking a bit after coming out of the oven. The creamy dill sauce also helps protect the salmon while baking, keeping it tender.

Close-up of a fork cutting into a creamy baked salmon fillet, seasoned with herbs, served on a plate with steamed broccolini.

More Easy Low-Carb Dinner Recipes

Plate of baked salmon with herbs, served with broccolini on a textured white dish. A fork is holding a piece of salmon.Pin

Creamy Keto Baked Salmon

Creamy keto baked salmon is a rich, flaky seafood dinner made with just 5 ingredients in 30 minutes for an easy low carb meal.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 283 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 pounds salmon fillets
  • ¼ cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • ½ teaspoon dried dill or 1½ teaspoons fresh

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F. Butter a rimmed sheet pan or casserole dish.
  • Place the fish fillets in the buttered pan.
  • In a bowl, mix together the cream, mustard, and dill. Pour over the fish.
  • Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the fish flakes in the
  • center.

Notes

  • To ensure your salmon turns out perfectly cooked, check for doneness by gently flaking the fish with a fork in the center; it should easily separate and look opaque. Be careful not to overcook, as salmon can dry out quickly!
  • Give the salmon enough space on the pan to ensure it cooks evenly and crisps up nicely.
  • Salmon if fully cooked when it reaches 145°F for the perfect texture.
  • The sauce thickens slightly as it cools, so it’s okay if it seems a little light coming out of the oven.

Nutrition

Calories: 283kcalCarbohydrates: 0.4gProtein: 30gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 104mgSodium: 109mgPotassium: 755mgFiber: 0.05gSugar: 0.3gVitamin A: 328IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 28mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
A plate with baked salmon topped with herbs and a dollop of cream sauce, accompanied by steamed broccolini. A fork is flaking a piece of the salmon.

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5 from 1 vote

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