Need a quick and simple weeknight dinner idea? This salmon asparaus potato sheet pan dinner is the perfect option at the end of a long day. It uses just 5 simple ingredients, this baked salmon with pesto sauce is high in protein and bakes all on one pan.
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During my weight loss journey, I realized early on that I needed a way to simplify dinner. Cooking a dinner that would meet my nutrition needs and be something my family would eat seemed like a big ask. About 10 years ago, I decided that sheet pan dinners were a great way to maximize flavor, nutrients, and protein all on one pan. Once I tested and experimented with cooking a complex carb, protein and vegetable all on one pan, everything changed and the dinner stress melted away.
Over the past 10 years I’ve assembled and baked hundreds of sheet pan dinners. I’ve mastered sheet pan chicken meals and have also created dozens of one pan shrimp dinners as well. This salmon version is just as flavorful, easy to make and comes together quickly and easily.
Made with fresh asparagus, baby red potatoes and salmon filets, this easy sheet pan recipe is perfect meal idea when you want to enjoy a balanced dinner. With everything roasting on one pan, clean-up is a breeze making this the ideal weeknight dinner option.
What do I need to make baked salmon with pesto?
Here’s a quick-reference checklist of the ingredients you’ll need to make this sheet pan salmon recipe:
- Salmon Filets – look for 4-6 oz individual filets. Look for wild-caught salmon if your budget allows. Either fresh or frozen salmon will work for this recipe. You could also purchase one large salmon filet (but you may need to adjust your bake time for the size.) I’ve found the best place to purchase wild-caught Alaska salmon is at Costco. Check out my list for the 15 Things I Buy at Costco for Healthy Meals and Snacks.
- Fresh asparagus – be sure to rinse well and trim off the woody ends before roasting.
- Baby red potatoes – found in the produce section of your grocery store. If your store doesn’t carry baby potatoes, feel free to grab 3-4 larger red potatoes and cut into smaller cubes before roasting.
- Jarred Pesto Sauce – for this recipe, the pesto sauce will coat the potatoes AND go on top of the salmon. One jar is all you need. Jarred pesto sauce can be found near the pasta with the rest of the pasta sauces.
- Olive oil – you’ll need a drizzle of this for coating the asparagus before it goes on the pan.
- Salt and Pepper for the asparagus.
For exact ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the post to the recipe card. Thanks!
How do I make salmon asparagus potato sheet pan dinner?
This simple dinner idea comes together in minutes. However, each component – potatoes, salmon and asparagus need a bit of preparation before going on the pan. Here’s how each ingredient is prepped and baked.
Preparing and pre-baking the potatoes before the other ingredients
It is important to note that for this sheet pan recipe, the potatoes need a little longer to cook than the rest of the ingredients. Prepare the potatoes by rinsing, cubing and coating the potatoes with about 1/3 of the pesto sauce. Mix the sauce and the potatoes together in a medium mixing bowl, then pour out onto the sheet pan.
Bake the pesto coated potatoes at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes. This will help ensure the potatoes are cooked all the way through when the other ingredients are also done cooking.
Preparing the Salmon Filets and Asparagus for Baking
Once the potatoes have baked for 15 minutes, remove the pan from the oven and add the salmon filets and the seasoned asparagus filets.
I used skinless salmon, but you could also use salmon with the skin on. Additionally, you can also use one larger uncut salmon filet that serves 4-5 people. Spoon the remaning pesto sauce onto the tops of each filet.
Lastly, add your asparagus spears to the pan. Prepare the asparagus by rinsing well and trimming the bottom woody portion of the spear. Lightly drizzle the asparagus with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
Return the pan to the oven and bake for another 15-18 minutes. To ensure the salmon is done, use a fork to lightly pull back the salmon. By flaking the salmon, you can see if the inside is still a darker pink or red. If the inside is fully cooked through, it will be a lighter pink.
FAQ’s about making sheet pan salmon:
For salmon filets of medium thickness, bake the salmon at 400 degrees for 15-18 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees on an instant read digital thermometer.
Baby potatoes are a great option for this recipe – I chose baby red potatoes, but golden, fingerling or even purple potatoes can be used. If your store does not carry baby potatoes, cutting and cubing larger red or yellow potatoes is another good option.
There is no need to flip or turn salmon when it is baked in the oven. Salmon can be roasted without turning for the duration of cooking.
Dry salmon is typically the result of over-cooking or for roasting too long in the oven or pan. For best results, fork test the salmon after 10 minutes, if the interior is pink and no longer red, it is done. For best results, use an instant-read digital thermometer. The internal temperature needs to be 135 degrees.
Yes, using frozen salmon is a great economical choice. Costco is a great place to find frozen wild-caught salmon at very reasonable prices.
Yes, definitley. Homemade pesto sauce is a great option and a wonderful way to add extra flavor to this recipe.
Love a great sheet pan dinner recipe? Check out our Sheet Pan Garlic Parmesan Chicken, Oven Baked Sausage and Peppers and our Sheet Pan Maple Glazed Chicken Thighs.
I also have a great recipes for Air Fryer Mahi Mahi and Crispy Salmon Bites that you should check out, too!
What can I serve with baked salmon with pesto?
This meal is a great all-in-one option. Because the salmon is prepared with a complex carb (potatoes) and a vegetable (asparagus), your complete meal is done. If you would like a little extra green, a side salad would be a good option.
Here are some of our favorite side salad recipes:
If you loved this delicious Sheet Pan Salmon recipe, check out some of my other salmon and seafood recipes:
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Sheet Pan Salmon and Asparagus with Pesto and Potatoes
Equipment
- Sheet Pan These USA Stainless Steel Sheet Pans are fantastic for one-pan meals!
Ingredients
- 4 (4-6 oz.) salmon filets
- 20 oz. baby red potatoes rinsed and quartered
- 1 (16-18 oz.) bunch of asparagus spears rinsed, woody ends removed
- 1 (6.7 oz.) jar pesto sauce divided
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly spray a sheet pan or with non-stick cooking spray, or line with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, add the rinsed and quartered baby potatoes. Spoon in about 3-4 tablespoons of the pesto sauce (about 1/3 of the jar), reserving the remainder of the sauce to top the salmon filets. Stir together the pesto and potatoes to coat evenly. Pour the coated potatoes onto one side of the prepared sheet pan. Bake for 15 minutes at 400 degrees.
- While the potatoes bake, prepare the asparagus. Rinse well and trim off any woody ends (often about 1 1/2 to 2 in off the bottoms. To a mixing bowl or plate, drizzle with the olive oil. Add salt and pepper to season. (A few generous grinds of each salt and pepper is plenty).
- Once the potatoes have finished pre-baking, place the salmon filets in the center of the pan, and top each filet with the remaining pesto sauce. Place the seasoned asparagus spears onto the pan as well.
- Return the pan with all three ingredients back to the oven and bake for an additional 15-18 minutes, or until the salmon is fully cooked through. To test the salmon for doneness, use a fork to flake the thickest area of the filet. If the salmon is no longer red/dark pink, and is tuned light pink it is done.
- Serve and enjoy right away when done baking.
Notes
Nutrition
I like the idea of orange instead of lemon! Sweeter – and it looks delicious! Thanks for sharing on the What’s for Dinner Link up
Sounds so simple and love the orange on top! Thank you for sharing on Merry Monday! Sharing on G+! Have a great week!
Kim
WOW! Look at all of those beautiful colors in this. At it sounds scrumptious.
Thanks for partying with us on #TastyTuesdays
Erin, thank you so much for sharing your recipe at the Over the Moon Link Party. This recipe looks so yummy that I pinned it on my personal board as well as on the OTM board. You are my choice for Featured Blogger. Please visit the OTM Link Party from Sunday evening through Thursday evening this week to grab your Featured Blogger badge and to share you latest posts. Thanks for partying with us.
Looks and sounds delicious. Can’t wait to try it. Thank you for sharing at the Snickerdoodle Create~Bake~Make link party! I am featuring you today at the party.
I love everything about this recipe! It looks gorgeous and delicious. Pinned and sharing! Thank you for joining us at Family Joy Blog Link-Up Party. I hope you will join our next party starting Sunday at noon EST.
I love how colorful it is! Thanks for sharing with us at the Funtastic Friday Blog Hop!
That looks so good!! I love salmon and asparagus. Pinned.
Looks delicious and healthy!
This looks so delicious. I love salmon and asparagus. Thanks for sharing at the Snickerdoodle Create Bake Make Party.
I think salmon and asparagus is a classic paring but I’ve never tried it with a citrus recipe that includes oranges. I have to give this a try. Thank you so much for sharing it with #OMHGWW
You are right! I would not have thought that Boise, Idaho would be a good place to eat salmon! This recipe looks tasty and easy. Thanks for sharing at Fiesta Friday!
We love Salmon and this recipe sounds delicious. I grew up in Idaho and moved all the way to Utah – haha. I feel blessed that it is pretty easy to find fresh Salmon here! Sometimes we don’t realize what we have until it isn’t so easy to find. Thank you for sharing.
Your Sheet Pan Salmon and Asparagus looks delicious! Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday.
Miz Helen
Yum, I love the all-in-one sheet pan dinner! Pinned this one. Happy Valentine’s Day, Kippi #kippiathome
I love salmon and asparagus. It looks so delicious.
I pinned this for the soon approaching days when I am drowning in asparagus! It’s always nice to have a new recipe to try when it comes into season. 🙂
Congrats on being featured at Snickerdoodle!
Blessings,
Babychaser