This Panko Crusted Salmon is super easy and can be on your table in less than 30 minutes. Topped with an easy homemade tartar sauce, this salmon can’t be beat!
If you love fish for dinner, make sure to check out all of our fish and seafood recipes!
When it comes to getting dinner on the table quickly, I love to turn to fish recipes. It cooks up super fast, and I have actually come to realize that it’s easier to cook than most other proteins.
The fish that I make the most has got to be salmon. It’s easy to find, and is somewhat inexpensive, especially compared to some other fish. And it has so much flavor!
This Panko Crusted Salmon couldn’t be easier. It takes a few minutes to prep the fish, and a few minutes to make the homemade tartar sauce. Dinner will be on the table before you know it!
Ingredients
You really don’t need a lot of ingredients to make this panko crusted salmon!
For the Fish:
- Salmon – I typically use salmon that has already been cut into filets. If you have a large piece of salmon, you ca just cut it into portions.
- Salt and Pepper – Seasoning is always important!
- Egg Whites – The egg whites act as the “glue” to hold the breadcrumbs to the fish.
- Panko – You can usually find panko breadcrumbs at most grocery stores next to the regular breadcrumbs.
- Parsley – The parsley adds flavor, color, and freshness.
- Old Bay Seasoning – Old Bay seasoning and fish are meant for each other! This is a great spice mix to add, but you can always create your own spice mix, if desired.
For the Tartar Sauce:
I love making homemade tartar sauce because you know exactly what is going into it. Plus, you can make just enough for dinner, and you don’t have to worry about the rest of a jar of tartar sauce hanging out in your refrigerator. This is all you need to make it – you might already have everything on hand!
- Mayonnaise – this is the base to the tartar sauce.
- Pickles – I use dill pickles. If you want to bring a little sweetness, you can use bread and butter pickles, but I think dill is the best for this recipe.
- Onion – I use a regular yellow onion, although a white onion or sweet onion would work. Chop it very fine, or you can even grate the onion. If you grate it, you’ll only need about half as much.
- Lemon Juice – You need a bit of acidity and lemon juice brings the perfect amount of flavor.
- Capers – I absolutely love capers and the saltiness they bring. If you don’t have them on hand, you can leave them out of this recipe, but I find that I always have a jar in the refrigerator.
Tips and Tricks
Baking the fish on a cooling rack ensures that the fish stays crispy on all sides. You can bake it without the rack, but the underside of the fish will most likely be a little soggy.
I love the crispiness you get from using Panko breadcrumbs. You could use regular breadcrumbs, but the end result wouldn’t be exactly the same.
While fish is fairly easy to bake, you don’t want to overcook it. The cook times below are just a guideline – depending on how thick your salmon filets are. I like to take it out when it’s just short of being done – it will continue to cook for another minute or so from the residual heat.
While I do like this recipe baked best, you can also pan fry the salmon. Or this Pan Fried Salmon is a great one if you want to cook on the stove top instead of baking.
I use a salmon without any skin for this recipe.
Panko Crusted Salmon with Homemade Tartar Sauce Video
If you want to see how to make this fish recipe, watch the recipe above.
More Salmon Recipes
Blackened Salmon Tostadas
Almond Crusted Salmon
Amazingly Moist Salmon
Soy Ginger Salmon
Salmon with Mango and Roasted Red Pepper
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Panko Crusted Salmon with Homemade Tartar Sauce
Ingredients
Tartar Sauce:
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped pickles
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon capers drained and finely chopped
Fish:
- 4 salmon filets (4-6 oz each)
- salt and pepper
- 2 egg whites
- 3/4 cup Panko breadcrumbs
- 1 1/2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
- 1 1/2 teaspoons old bay seasoning
Instructions
Make the tartar sauce:
- In a medium bowl, combine all of the ingredients. Cover and refrigerate until needed.
Make the fish:
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Place a cooling rack on a baking sheet and spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Rinse the fish and pat it dry. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
- Place the egg whites in a shallow dish and lightly whisk. Place the breadcrumbs, parsley and old bay seasoning in a second shallow dish and stir to combine.
- Dip the fish into the egg whites, then in the breadcrumbs, pressing the crumbs into the fish as needed. Transfer to the cooling rack.
- Place the fish in the preheated oven, then reduce the heat to 375ºF. Bake until the fish flakes easily, about 10 minutes.
- Serve the fish with the tartar sauce.
Deb says
LOL, yeah, sometimes you just gotta add a little bit of fat for that yummy taste! I am all for healthy eating, although you wouldn’t think so from my blog!! I bet that salmon would pair nicely with a crisp green salad.
Claire says
Mmmmmm I love salmon…and ITS fat is good for you!
Elle says
Wonderful way to bake fish and have it crispy, too. Salmon is one of my favorite foods, so this recipe will get some heavy use. Thanks!
Caroline says
That salmon looks good and crispy, a good match with tartar sauce.
Katerina says
I always hesitate to do anything fancy to salmon since it is so good by itself but this looks really good.
.caroline armelle. says
that looks so good. i love salmon.
and, i’m just finally getting around to browsing through your blog and it is amazing. your pictures are great too! can’t wait to try a few of the recipes!
We Are Never Full says
ohhh, i’m imagining what it would be like if it was actually fried. but it even looks crunchy not fried. MMMM.
Patsyk says
It looks so crispy! I think even my youngest would eat salmon if I made it using your recipe. Yum!
Rosie says
I just adore this dish of crispy salmon and tartar sauce! Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe Debs 🙂
Rosie x
Bellini Valli says
This would be a perfect way to have moist and flavourful salmon:D
Lisa says
Crispy salmon sounds so good. I have the same problem with lighting since it is dark by 5 pm.
sunita says
Deb, we simply adore salmon, and your recipe sounds so good 🙂
Mary says
It’ll get better. Snow REALLY helps. This morning I woke up an hour earlier than usual and thought I overslept because it was light outside. It turned out that the tiny bit of light going on was reflecting off all the snow. Very unnerving.
The salmon looks great and I hear you about fat free mayo tasting funny.
kat says
I know what you mean about lighting! I asked for an Ego light for Christmas
Happy cook says
I love salmon and this looks so yumm.
I add few tiny pieces of jerkins to my tartare.
Yeah I have been also hinting to hubby dear that wez shouls have a new camera, but ya i am sure we won’t have one soon.
Same here now that it is getting dark soon there is no more light for taking pictures.
Maria says
I love the idea of crispy salmon! Sounds so good! And I am with you…Santa better be helping me out this year…my photos are struggling!