Healthy & Easy Salmon Spinach Bake: Your Go-To Weeknight Dinner with Creamy Parmesan
Searching for a meal that perfectly balances health, flavor, and convenience? Look no further than this incredible Salmon Spinach Bake. This isn’t just any baked salmon recipe; it’s a true game-changer for busy weeknights, offering a delicious escape from culinary ruts. Imagine tender, flaky salmon nestled amidst fresh spinach, all enveloped in an irresistible, creamy Parmesan sauce. This easy salmon recipe transforms simple ingredients into an extraordinary dinner that your entire family will love, proving that healthy eating can also be incredibly indulgent.
In our quest for wholesome and flavorful meals, salmon often stands out as a superstar. Packed with omega-3 fatty acids, high-quality protein, and essential vitamins like D and B12, it’s a powerhouse of nutrition. However, sometimes we get stuck in the same cooking patterns—broiled, grilled, or pan-fried. While those methods are undeniably delicious, they can lead to a feeling of uninspired cooking. This week, I’m thrilled to share a recipe that breaks that cycle, offering a fresh, creamy, and satisfying way to enjoy this fantastic fish, making it one of the best healthy baked salmon recipes you’ll ever try.
This particular recipe comes from the recently published cookbook by my talented food blogger friend, Brenda, from Sugar-Free Mom. I’m featuring recipes from each of the cookbooks I’m giving away (you can read my reviews and enter my Healthy Cookbook Giveaway post here!). Brenda’s book is a treasure trove of genuinely family-friendly recipes that skillfully incorporate alternatives to refined white sugar. In an era where many of us are consciously striving to reduce our sugar intake, her book and blog serve as invaluable resources, making the journey to healthier eating both achievable and enjoyable. Her dedication to creating delicious, wholesome meals shines through every page, offering practical solutions for busy families.
As I meticulously leafed through her cookbook, the recipe for this Salmon Spinach Bake immediately captivated my attention. Lately, I’ve found myself in a bit of a culinary rut when it comes to preparing salmon or any type of fish. Despite its incredible health benefits and versatility, I haven’t been cooking it as often as I’d like, and when I do, it’s typically the same familiar way – usually broiled or grilled. Don’t get me wrong, we absolutely adore broiled or grilled salmon, especially vibrant dishes like this one with a sweet and spicy rub or the delightful almond-crusted version. However, it was high time for a refreshing change, and this creamy Parmesan baked salmon offered just the innovative twist I was craving.
I had never before prepared salmon in this manner, enveloped in a rich and creamy Parmesan sauce, and the results were simply spectacular. It was an instant hit! Everyone at the table (with the exception of my son, who has a dietary restriction to fish) eagerly devoured it. My littlest one, in particular, couldn’t get enough, which is always a huge win for any parent preparing a new dish. The depth of flavor from the Parmesan, combined with the succulence of the salmon and the freshness of the spinach, created a truly memorable meal that felt both gourmet and comforting.
And the best part, making this recipe a true gem for health-conscious families…
This Salmon Spinach Bake is so healthy AND low on calories!
One of the many thoughtful features of Brenda’s cookbook is the inclusion of nutritional information with each recipe. This Salmon Spinach Bake stands out with only 348 calories per serving – an impressively low count for such a satisfying and flavorful meal! This makes it an ideal choice for anyone looking to enjoy delicious food without compromising their dietary goals. It’s a fantastic example of how wholesome ingredients can come together to create a light yet filling dinner, offering both exceptional taste and significant health benefits. It’s truly a win-win for mindful eating.
One strategy I’ve adopted to streamline my weekly meal prep is to cook a batch of grains, like brown rice or quinoa, early in the week. This simple habit ensures that a foundational component for dishes like this Salmon Spinach Bake is always at the ready. Since this recipe specifically calls for cooked brown rice, having it prepared beforehand dramatically cuts down on the cooking time, transforming it into a truly quick and effortless weeknight option for your family. To complete this nutritious meal, I served it alongside perfectly roasted broccoli and steamed green beans, creating a vibrant and balanced dinner. It was incredibly satisfying, utterly delicious, and most importantly, a meal I felt genuinely good about serving to my loved ones. This dish exemplifies how easy it can be to create wholesome, flavorful dinners even on your busiest evenings, making it a staple for anyone seeking efficient and delicious weeknight dinner ideas.
For more inspiring and healthy recipes from Brenda, be sure to visit her blog, Sugar-Free Mom. If you’re looking to add a fantastic resource to your kitchen library, you can purchase her exceptional book, Sugar-free Mom: Naturally Sweet and Sugar-free Recipes for the Whole Family, directly from Amazon (affiliate link.) It’s an investment in healthier, happier mealtimes for your entire family, filled with practical tips and delicious dishes that don’t compromise on flavor.
I hope you enjoy this easy and delicious salmon spinach bake recipe!
This recipe is more than just a meal; it’s an invitation to rediscover your love for healthy cooking, effortlessly blending nutrition with gourmet taste. The simplicity of preparation, coupled with its incredible flavor profile and health benefits, makes this creamy Parmesan salmon bake an instant favorite. Give it a try this week and experience how delightful healthy eating can truly be!
Salmon Spinach Bake from Sugar-Free Mom
Author: Aggie’s Kitchen
Yield: 6 servings 1x
Category: Fish
Method: Oven
Salmon spinach bake is a healthy baked salmon that is perfect for a weeknight dinner. This easy salmon recipe has a creamy Parmesan sauce that is beyond delicious!
Ingredients
- 8 oz fresh spinach
- 3 tablespoons water
- 2 cups cooked brown rice
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup sour cream, light
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt, 2%
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons milk, 1%
- 2 lb salmon filets
Instructions
- Microwave spinach with water, covered, for 3 minutes. Drain, squeezing out as much water as possible.
- Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl combine rice, spinach, salt, and pepper. In another bowl whisk egg, sour cream, yogurt, Parmesan, mustard and lemon juice. Reserve 1/2 cup of sauce for topping on filets.
- Add spinach/rice mixture to sauce in the bowl. Whisk milk into reserved sauce. Transfer rice/spinach mixture to a greased 1 1/2-quart baking dish. Top rice with salmon filets. Drizzle remaining sauce over salmon filets. Top with additional Parmesan cheese. Bake 30 minutes or until internal temperature registers 150 degrees.
Notes
Because my oven runs hot, my dish was cooked and ready in about 25 minutes.
Recipe from Sugar-free Mom: Naturally Sweet and Sugar-free Recipes for the Whole Family
For more aquatic culinary delights and inspiration, be sure to Follow Aggie’s Kitchen’s board Fish and Seafood on Pinterest. It’s a fantastic resource for discovering new and exciting ways to incorporate fish and seafood into your diet.
Looking for more delicious and healthy salmon recipes? Explore these other favorites:
- Honey Mandarin Almond Crusted Salmon
- Grapefruit and Pistachio Crusted Salmon
- Healthy Broiled Salmon Gyros
- Chipotle Salmon Tacos
(Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase through any of these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. These earnings help support Aggie’s Kitchen and allow me to continue sharing delicious recipes and helpful content. Thank you for your support!)
Thank you for stopping by Aggie’s Kitchen today! Your visit means a lot, and I hope you found inspiration for your next meal. Are you connected with me across my social media channels? You can follow me on Instagram for daily foodie delights, Twitter for quick updates, Facebook for community engagement, and Pinterest for endless recipe ideas. If you’d like to ensure you never miss a new post, please consider subscribing to Aggie’s Kitchen and have each delicious recipe and article delivered straight to your e-mail inbox. Simply add your email here. Happy cooking, and I look forward to sharing more culinary adventures with you soon!