Pecan Crusted Salmon

By
Stephanie Gallagher
Stephanie Gallagher
Stephanie Gallagher is a journalist and food writer who has authored multiple cookbooks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 01/19/23
Pecan Crusted Salmon

Crusted Salmon / Brett Stevens / Getty Images

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 12 mins
Total: 22 mins
Servings: 4 servings

This is the kind of dish you order at a restaurant and think, "Could I possibly make this at home?" It's actually quite easy. 

This pecan crusted salmon can be thrown together in practically no time. Pecans are rich and buttery nuts, most famously featured in pecan pie, and pralines as well. If you want to make this baked salmon even more special, toast the pecans in advance. Just place the pecans in a dry skillet and heat over very low heat, tossing occasionally, until they start to brown and turn fragrant. Then mix the pecans with the breadcrumbs and prepare the salmon according to the recipe directions.

Ingredients

  • 2/3 cup pecans, chopped

  • 1/2 cup panko, or freshly made breadcrumbs

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, divided

  • 1/4 cup honey mustard

  • 2 pounds salmon fillets, pin bones removed and cut into 4 pieces

  • Salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Preheat the oven to 400 F.

  3. Toss the pecans and panko together and set aside. In another bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons of the butter and the honey mustard.

  4. Place salmon fillets in a large baking dish, such as a 9 x 13-inch pan or gratin dish. Season salmon with salt and pepper. Brush honey mustard mixture over salmon. Sprinkle pecan mixture on top of honey mustard mixture, patting with your fingers to help it adhere to the salmon.

  5. Drizzle remaining melted butter over the pecan-crusted salmon. Bake 10 to 12 minutes, until the salmon flakes easily with a fork.

  6. Enjoy.

 

Did You Know?

The Environmental Defense Fund says the following:

There are five species of wild salmon from Alaska: chinook, chum, coho, pink, and sockeye. All come from well-managed fisheries and are low in contaminants. Arctic char is closely related to salmon and trout.

And salmon's sushi name is Sake, and the salmon roe is Ikura—now you can sound like a pro when you go to a Japanese restaurant.

Click here to see which types are salmon are the most sustainable. Or to check out the sustainability of all kinds of seafood. Seafoodwatch.org tells you which seafood to buy or avoid, helping you select items that are fished or farmed in ways that have less impact on the environment. Get their recommendations and reports and learn the real facts behind your seafood.

And since the right kind of salmon is both environmentally friendly and delicious, here are a few more salmon recipes for your consideration:

Horseradish Ginger Salmon

Pasta and Salmon Salad With Ramp Dressing

Simplest Asian Salmon

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
787 Calories
56g Fat
16g Carbs
54g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 787
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 56g 72%
Saturated Fat 13g 64%
Cholesterol 170mg 57%
Sodium 528mg 23%
Total Carbohydrate 16g 6%
Dietary Fiber 2g 9%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 54g
Vitamin C 9mg 43%
Calcium 76mg 6%
Iron 2mg 11%
Potassium 977mg 21%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)