Lemon Parmesan Crusted Salmon is easy and gourmet enough to serve for fine dining evening at home. This salmon dish has a delicious crispy lemon parmesan topping made from panko breadcrumbs along with fresh dill, both pair beautifully with salmon.

4 Lemon parmesan crusted salmon filets cooking in a large skillet

Salmon is a dish I like to serve when I’m entertaining and want to cook something a little special. When I made this salmon, I like to serve it with a side of Lemon Pepper Spaghetti. Picture below.

How to Make Lemon Parmesan Crusted Salmon

First prepare the Lemon Parmesan Panko Topping by mixing the panko, lemon zest, Parmesan, dill salt and pepper. The salmon is coated with Dijon mustard (to make a delicious glue for the topping), pan fried then topped with the breadcrumb mix and finished in the oven to crisp the top.

Showing the steps to making lemon parmesan crusted salmon

This dish is prepared using combination cooking. It is started in a pan on the stove, then finished in the oven to make the top crispy.

I love the combination of the lemon with the Parmesan and along with the dill, they all work really well with the salmon.

What are panko breadcrumbs?

Panko are larger, crispier and lighter breadcrumbs. Typically used for Japanese cooking. They produce a more delicate, crispy crust.

Can I use regular breadcrumbs for Lemon Parmesan Crusted Salmon?

Yes, any of your favorite plain breadcrumbs will work but the topping will not be a crispy. You can even make your own breadcrumbs. 

4 lemon parmesan crusted salmon filets in a pan

Optional additions to panko crust

Garlic powder would be a tasty flavor boost to the breadcrumbs. You can omit the Parmesan to make this dairy-free. You can also used gluten-free breadcrumbs.

Different Fish Types

This recipe would work with different kinds of firm flesh fish. Halibut, mahi mahi, cod, even swordfish.

More Side Dishes for Salmon:

If you’ve made this Lemon Parmesan Crusted Salmon or any other recipe leave a comment below. I love to hear from my readers!

Yield: 4

Lemon Parmesan Crusted Salmon

A closeup showing the panko breading on the salmon

Lemon Parmesan crusted salmon is a beautiful dish and gourmet enough to serve for fine dining evening at home or special event like an intimate dinner for someone special.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 11 minutes
Total Time 21 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups (192 grams) panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon zest
  • 1 cup (128 grams) Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 2 tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped
  • ½ + ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ + ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 each, 6 ounce (170 grams) salmon filets
  • 4 teaspoons dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F/220°C.
  2. To a mixing bowl add the panko, ½ of the lemon zest, Parmesan, dill, ½ teaspoon salt & ¼ teaspoon pepper. Stir in the melted butter and olive oil.
  3. Line the salmon filets up on a cutting board. Brush the tops with a thick layer of dijon mustard and sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon salt, ⅛ teaspoon pepper and other ½ of the lemon zest.
  4. Add the breading in a thick layer to the top of each of the filets, pressing into the mustard.
  5. Add the vegetable oil to an ovenproof heavy griddle pan or skillet over medium heat. When the oil is slightly rippling add the salmon filets, skin-side down and cook for 3 minutes.
  6. Transfer the pan to the oven and bake for 8 minutes until the breading is golden brown.

Nutrition Information

Yield

4

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 551Total Fat 40gSaturated Fat 16gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 20gCholesterol 154mgSodium 461mgCarbohydrates 8gFiber 1gSugar 1gProtein 37g

This nutrition calculation is provided by Nutronix that is only a guideline and not intended for any particular diet.