Smoky Oven-Baked Texas Roadhouse-Style Salmon

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Our Guide to Perfect Texas Roadhouse Style Salmon at Home

Do you ever find yourself thinking about that wonderfully seasoned, melt-in-your-mouth salmon from Texas Roadhouse? We certainly do. That iconic dish, with its tender texture and zesty flavour, is a real favourite. But the thought of booking a table and the eventual bill can sometimes put a damper on things. What if we told you that you could bring that same wonderful experience into your own home, with very little fuss? With our foolproof Texas Roadhouse Style Salmon recipe, you absolutely can. We’re excited to show you how to bring this American steakhouse classic to your own dinner table this evening.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Enjoy Restaurant-Standard Salmon at Home: We’ll guide you in recreating that signature buttery, zesty flavour that makes the original so beloved, right from your own kitchen.
Wonderfully Quick and Easy: This recipe requires just a few pantry staples and is ready in under 30 minutes, making it ideal for a busy weeknight.
Both Healthy and Delicious: Salmon is a fantastic source of omega-3 fatty acids, so this is a meal you can feel genuinely good about sharing with your family.
Achieve a Perfect Flake: You can say farewell to dry, overcooked fish! We share our key tips to ensure your salmon is moist and tender, flaking perfectly with a fork.
Fantastically Versatile: This salmon is a brilliant partner for almost any side dish you can think of, from roasted vegetables and fluffy rice to a crisp, fresh salad.

What Makes Texas Roadhouse Salmon So Special?

The secret behind the famous Texas Roadhouse salmon isn’t some highly complex culinary method; its brilliance is in its simplicity. The dish is built around a fantastic quality salmon fillet, cooked with care so it stays succulent and tender. The true hero, however, is the signature lemon pepper butter sauce. This isn’t merely a sprinkle of seasoning; it’s a rich, flavourful baste that drenches the fillet in a bright, zesty, and peppery taste that beautifully complements the natural richness of the fish.

Unlike many fish recipes that can feel a bit over the top, this one enhances the salmon’s natural flavour rather than hiding it. The grilling technique imparts a subtle smokiness and a lovely char, providing a wonderful textural contrast to the soft fish inside. It’s this expert balance of simple, impactful flavours and precise cooking that makes it such a memorable dish and our go-to copycat Texas Roadhouse salmon to make at home.

Gather Your Ingredients

To make this dish truly special, we find that using a handful of simple, high-quality ingredients is key. Fresh lemon, for example, offers a much brighter and more vibrant flavour than bottled juice. Here is everything you will need.

For the Salmon:

4 salmon fillets (about 170g or 6oz each), preferably with the skin on
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper

For the Lemon Pepper Butter:

115g (1/2 cup) of unsalted butter
2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon of lemon zest
1 clove of garlic, minced (or 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder)
1 tablespoon of fresh parsley, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon of coarsely ground black pepper

Step-by-Step Guide to Cooking Texas Roadhouse Style Salmon

Right, let’s get cooking. If you follow these straightforward steps, you’ll be serving a meal that truly rivals the restaurant version. This is a genuinely easy salmon recipe that anyone can perfect.

Step 1: Prepare the Salmon
First things first, let’s get the fish ready. We suggest taking the salmon fillets out of the refrigerator 15-20 minutes before cooking. Bringing them to room temperature ensures they cook through more evenly. Next, use a paper towel to pat each fillet completely dry. This is a vital step, as a dry surface is the secret to achieving a beautiful sear and stopping the fish from sticking to your grill.
Once they’re dry, lightly brush the fillets with olive oil and season them well with salt and pepper. You can set them aside while you make the butter.
Step 2: Mix the Lemon Pepper Butter
In a small saucepan, gently melt the unsalted butter over a low heat. As soon as it has melted, take the pan off the heat and whisk in the freshly squeezed lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, chopped parsley, and coarse black pepper. This wonderfully fragrant butter is what gives the dish its signature lemon pepper salmon taste.
Step 3: Grill the Salmon to Perfection
Preheat your grill—whether it’s an outdoor barbecue or an indoor grill pan—to a medium-high heat, about 200°C (400°F). Give the grates a light oiling to prevent sticking.
Place the salmon fillets on the hot grill, skin-side down. Let them cook for around 4-6 minutes. You will notice the colour changing from translucent to opaque as the heat travels up the side of the fillet. While it’s cooking, generously brush the tops of the salmon with your lemon pepper butter.
Carefully turn the fillets over and cook for another 3-5 minutes, or until cooked to your liking, which will depend on their thickness. Keep basting with the remaining butter as it cooks. This constant basting is what makes for a perfect grilled salmon recipe, building up those delicious layers of flavour.
Step 4: Garnish and Serve
Once the salmon is ready, carefully remove it from the grill. Give it a final brush with the lemon pepper butter and a little sprinkle of fresh parsley. We recommend serving it straight away with a lemon wedge on the side for an extra squeeze of freshness.

Tips for the Best Salmon Dinner

We want your salmon to turn out perfectly every single time. Here are a few of our favourite professional tips and tricks to guarantee success and help you create a truly healthy salmon dinner.

Avoid Overcooking: This is the number one mistake when it comes to cooking fish. The easiest way to check if it’s done is to gently twist a fork into the thickest part of the fillet. If it flakes away easily, it’s perfect. If there’s any resistance, give it another minute or so.
We Always Cook with the Skin On: We really do recommend buying salmon with the skin on. It acts as a natural barrier, which helps to keep the delicate flesh moist and stops it from sticking to the grill. Plus, it becomes wonderfully crisp and is delicious to eat!
Select Your Fillets with Care: Try to find fillets that are similar in thickness so they cook at the same rate. We find Atlantic salmon is an excellent choice due to its rich flavour and higher fat content, making it quite forgiving on the grill. For more information on the benefits of oily fish, you can read the NHS advice on eating fish.
Don’t Have a Grill? Don’t Worry!: This recipe is easily adapted for your oven or a frying pan. To bake, simply place the fillets on a baking tray and cook at 200°C (400°F) for 12-15 minutes, basting as you would on the grill. To pan-sear, cook them in a hot, oiled skillet for 4-6 minutes on each side. If you enjoy oven-baked fish, we think you’ll also love our Crispy Parmesan Crusted Fish, which uses a different yet equally tasty method.

What to Serve with Your Salmon

To create the full Texas Roadhouse experience at home, you could pair your salmon with classic sides like creamy mashed potatoes, steamed green beans with a bit of bacon, or a fresh house salad with a ranch dressing. That being said, this salmon is incredibly versatile. It goes beautifully with rice pilaf, roasted asparagus, or even a quinoa salad. And if you’ve already got the barbecue going, why not make it a mixed grill? These Ranch Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers would make a fantastic accompaniment.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

Should you have any leftover salmon, you can store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. It’s delicious eaten cold, perhaps flaked into a salad for a quick and healthy lunch. If you’d rather reheat it, we advise doing so gently to prevent it from drying out. Pop it in an oven preheated to 135°C (275°F) for 10-15 minutes, or just until it’s warmed through. It’s also lovely flaked into pasta or an omelette.

FAQ

Q: Is it possible to bake this salmon instead of grilling it?

A: Of course! To bake it, preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F). Place the seasoned salmon on a baking sheet lined with foil and cook for 12-15 minutes. Remember to baste it with the lemon pepper butter about halfway through.

Q: Can I use frozen salmon fillets for this recipe?

A: You certainly can. However, it’s very important to thaw the salmon completely first. The best method is to leave it in the fridge overnight. Make sure you pat it very dry with paper towels after thawing to get rid of any excess moisture.

Q: Which type of salmon is best for this recipe?

A: We find that Atlantic or King salmon are wonderful for this recipe because their higher fat content keeps them lovely and moist. Coho or Sockeye salmon are also good choices, but as they are leaner, you might need to shorten the cooking time slightly.

Q: How can I be certain my salmon is cooked through?

A: The most accurate method is to use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature; it should register 63°C (145°F) at the thickest point. If you don’t own one, the ‘fork test’ is very reliable—the flesh should look opaque and flake apart with ease.

Conclusion: Your New Favourite Salmon Recipe

Recreating a favourite restaurant meal at home can sometimes feel a bit ambitious, but this Texas Roadhouse Style Salmon shows just how simple, quick, and satisfying it can be. With its vibrant lemon pepper salmon flavour and the perfectly flaky texture you get from our grilled salmon recipe, it is a dish that will undoubtedly impress your family and friends. It’s a healthy, delicious meal that feels special enough for a celebration, yet is easy enough for any night of the week.

We truly hope you give this fantastic recipe a try and bring a little taste of the steakhouse to your own dining table. We think you might even prefer your homemade version! Please do leave a comment below to let us know how you got on, or to share your own favourite side dishes to serve with it.