Crunchy and delicious panko crusted salmon is an easy recipe that’s ready in 30 minutes. Baked salmon filets are breaded with seasoned panko crumbs and served with an easy-to-make Tuscan-inspired tomato sauce. 

Love easy salmon recipes? Try my similar stovetop recipe for salmon in sundried tomato sauce. 

 

Panko Crusted Salmon with Tomato Sauce

Take your easy weeknight dinner and add a touch of elegance! Introducing a tasty salmon recipe that’s sure to impress. Coated with crunchy Panko crumbs and adorned with a flavorful Tuscan-style tomato topping, this dish is a feast! Though I’ve traditionally baked salmon in foil, like this recent lemon pepper salmon, this time I’ve opted for a quick bake, and the results are equally delicious.

Obviously we love fish, especially salmon, but a lot of crusted salmon recipes call for ingredients like mayo, so I wanted something different and lighter, and here’s the outcome: oven-baked salmon with a golden, crunchy breadcrumb coating that’s nothing short of perfect. And the Tuscan style tomato salad on top is finger-licking good!

Why You’ll Love This Salmon Recipe

• Flavorful. Everything from the juicy salmon filets to the seasoned lemon panko coating and tangy Tuscan tomato sauce is jam-packed with flavor. The combination of lemon and tomatoes is perfect for summer, too.
• Easy. This crusted salmon recipe looks totally 5-star, but it’s actually crazy simple to make with easy ingredients. Prepare the sauce while the salmon bakes in the oven, and then serve it all together.
• Quick. This amazing baked salmon is ready in just over 30 minutes. Nothing beats a speedy dinner that tastes this good!

How to Make Panko Crusted Salmon

You can make this easy salmon dinner with just a few basic ingredients that, when brought together, work some serious flavor magic. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for a full ingredient list and detailed instructions.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Salmon Filets: This recipe makes enough breading and sauce for 4 to 6 salmon filets. Whenever possible, look for wild-caught salmon as it’s lower in saturated fats and calories than farmed salmon.
• Panko Breadcrumbs: Panko always has the best flavor and crunch, IMO. However, feel free to use another type of breadcrumb if you prefer. We’ll mix our crumbs with freshly minced parsley and lemon zest.

For the Tuscan Tomato Sauce

• Wine: I like a dry white wine, like chardonnay or pinot grigio, but just about any wine works here. Red wine will give the sauce a deeper, bolder flavor.
• Tomatoes and Onions: This sauce is all about chopped ripe tomatoes and crisp onions. You can use Roma, garden tomatoes, or even grape tomatoes. I also bring freshly minced garlic into the mix. 
• Cream: It wouldn’t be a Tuscan sauce without cream, would it? You’ll stir in some heavy cream at the very end, along with a splash of milk, for extra richness.

Directions

A short hot bake in the oven takes salmon from “meh” to knock-your-socks-off! This recipe starts with juicy salmon coated in a zesty crust of panko crumbs and lemon zest. Here’s how to make and bake perfect panko crusted salmon it in 3 easy steps:

1. Prepare and bake the salmon. Preheat the oven to 400ºF, and combine the panko crumbs with parsley and lemon zest, along with salt and pepper (freshly cracked!). Brush your salmon with olive oil, then dip the filets into the breadcrumbs to get a nice, thick coating. Arrange the filets in a greased baking dish and then bake for 13-15 minutes, until the fish flakes easily with a fork.
2. Make the sauce. Meanwhile, let’s take this party to the stovetop. Get your onions and tomatoes fried in a hot skillet with olive oil and a splash of wine. Once the liquid reduces, stir in garlic and heavy cream. Then, bring the sauce to a boil and simmer until it thickens. Voila! Creamy Tuscan tomato sauce.
3. Finish and serve. Take your salmon out of the oven and let it rest for a minute. Dish up your crusted filets topped with spoonfuls of creamy tomato sauce and a sprinkle of fresh parsley, and dig in!

Can I Make This Salmon In the Air Fryer?

Yes, you can make panko crusted salmon in the air fryer. Prepare your salmon filets as directed and then cook them at 350ºF for 7-10 minutes. Make sure to check the salmon for doneness before serving, see my tips below.

How To Make Ahead

You can make the panko mixture and tomato sauce up to 1 to 2 days in advance. Store the panko crumbs airtight and keep them in the fridge (so the lemon zest and parsley stay fresh), and keep the tomato sauce refrigerated separately in an airtight container. When you’re ready, coat and bake the salmon as directed, and warm up the sauce on the stovetop.

Tips and Variations

Cooking salmon and fish doesn’t have to be a challenge! Even if you don’t bake salmon often, you’re going to be surprised by how easy it really is.

• Leave enough space between the filets. Air circulation is key to a perfectly crispy panko crust. If the salmon is crowded in the pan, it will steam instead of baking, resulting in a soggy breadcrumb coating.
• Check the temperature. The easiest way to check if salmon is done is to use an instant-read thermometer to take the temperature at the thickest part of the fish. According to the USFDA, salmon is cooked when the internal temperature reaches 145ºF.
• No thermometer? Another way to see if your salmon is cooked is to poke it gently with a fork or knife. Salmon that’s done will flake easily.
• Use a whole filet. Feeding a crowd? Make this recipe with a whole slab of salmon instead of individual filets. You’ll need to increase the baking time, so be sure to check the salmon for doneness as you go.
• In place of olive oil, use homemade honey mustard (also check out my recipe for baked honey mustard salmon). You could also use another dressing, like maple mustard or lemon butter.
• Top with a different sauce. I love the freshness of tomatoes and onions with my crunchy salmon filets, but you can easily top your fish with another sauce. Borrow the lemon garlic cream sauce from my pan seared salmon.

Common Questions

What to Serve with Panko Crusted Salmon

This salmon is a versatile recipe with so much potential at dinnertime! The flavors pair well with lots of easy dishes. Here are some of my favorite ideas:

• Salad. Serve panko crusted salmon with a side of fresh green goddess salad or this easy tomato and cucumber salad.
• Vegetables. Salmon pairs perfectly with earthy grilled asparagus or crispy air fryer roasted broccoli for a healthy weeknight meal. You can also roast vegetables as a side while the oven is hot.
• Rice. Round out your salmon dinner with a side of fluffy Jasmine rice (quick and easy in the Instant Pot!), or this low-carb garlicky cauliflower rice with spinach.
• Pasta. Make Tuscan salmon pasta and serve this crunchy salmon along with extra sauce over your favorite cooked noodles, like linguine or penne. It’s a tasty all-in-one meal!

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

• Fridge: Store leftover panko-crusted salmon airtight and refrigerate it for up to 4 days. I recommend reheating your salmon in the oven to help the crust crisp up again. 
• Freezer: I don’t usually recommend freezing cooked salmon as it tends to impact the texture, and in this recipe, the panko doesn’t stay very crunchy. If you must freeze it, store the salmon airtight and keep it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge and then reheat.

More Salmon Recipes to Try

• Oven Baked Pesto Salmon
• Air Fryer Salmon with Mustard Sauce
• Crab Stuffed Salmon
• Baked Sockeye Salmon
• Garlic Butter Baked Salmon
• Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon

ENJOY!