• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to header navigation
  • Skip to footer top navigation
  • Skip to footer bottom navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Skinny & Fit is Always Delicious
Display Search Bar
Follow me on Facebook! Follow me on Twitter! Follow me on Pinterest! Follow me on Instagram! Follow me on YouTube! Contact Cart
  • Client Login

Skinny Fitalicious®

Because skinny & fit always tastes delicious

  • Weight Loss Coaching
  • Weight Loss Coaching
    • Coaching / Free Consult
    • Client Testimonials
  • Free Class
  • Podcast
  • Blog
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Index
    • Best Calorie Calculator
    • Megan Recommends
    • Meal Plans
  • Podcast
  • Cookbook
  • About
    • About Megan
    • Policies
    • Contact

BONUS!

3 Smart Strategies To Stop Cravings So You Can Lose Weight!

20 Minute Baked Pesto Salmon {Low Carb, Whole30, Paleo}

March 22, 2017

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate I earn qualifying purchases. Click here for more about this policy.

20 Minute Baked Pesto Salmon. Steamed in foil packs, this Paleo, low calorie, gluten free meal is a healthy twist on a dinner favorite served with nut free pesto! Whole30 + Gluten Free + Low Calorie + Paleo + Low Carb

20 Minute Baked Pesto Salmon. Steamed in foil packs, this Paleo, low calorie, gluten free meal is a healthy twist on a dinner favorite! Gluten Free + Low Calorie + Paleo

Fast. Easy. Healthy 20 minute dinners! That’s my jam during the week. I may work from home, but I’m still too busy to play Martha Stewart every night. Between school, freelancing, running this website and coaching clients, life is busy and now I’m sharing that time with a guy too.

Last week I made this 20 Minute Baked Pesto Salmon dinner. Everything bakes together in foil packs. I love using them because it steams to food to perfection. My favorite way to eat salmon!

20 Minute Baked Pesto Salmon. Steamed in foil packs, this Paleo, low calorie, gluten free meal is a healthy twist on a dinner favorite! Gluten Free + Low Calorie + Paleo

20 Minute Baked Pesto Salmon

I already had the pesto and salmon ready to go in the foil packs when he texts me saying he doesn’t love pesto can he get it on the side. Who doesn’t love pesto? I explained this wasn’t the kind of pesto he was used to. This pesto is made with avocado and parsley.

Super creamy, with a little spark of heat. Not oily and completely nut free. You know what he said? “It’s fake pesto!” Still, he was reluctant to try so I left the pesto off his salmon. But I needed to make him try it somehow.

20 Minute Baked Pesto Salmon. Steamed in foil packs, this Paleo, low calorie, gluten free meal is a healthy twist on a dinner favorite! Gluten Free + Low Calorie + Paleo

You see, I’m the queen of sneaking healthy food into people’s diets. I used to hate healthy food so I know what it feels like to look at an avocado and think there’s no way I’m gonna eat that. Now it’s my ultimate challenge when someone tells me they don’t like a food to find a way to get them to eat it.

So when he wasn’t watching, I boiled quinoa pasta and stirred in avocado pesto. He didn’t know it was there and ate every bite of it! Muahahaha!!!

20 Minute Baked Pesto Salmon. Steamed in foil packs, this Paleo, low calorie, gluten free meal is a healthy twist on a dinner favorite! Gluten Free + Low Calorie + Paleo20 Minute Baked Pesto Salmon. Steamed in foil packs, this Paleo, low calorie, gluten free meal is a healthy twist on a dinner favorite! Gluten Free + Low Calorie + Paleo

So I got him to eat the pesto but then, he didn’t eat his asparagus. Whomp…whomp. Who doesn’t eat asparagus? Ugh! Guess we have some work to do in the vegetable department.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering. He’s a good cook. A few days earlier he made chicken fajitas. Of course, he consulted with me before making said dinner, but he did good. Such a treat having someone else make dinner while I was finishing homework and a zillion other things, and who loves me in my yoga pants! Who is this guy and how has he snuck into my life?

20 Minute Baked Pesto Salmon. Steamed in foil packs, this Paleo, low calorie, gluten free meal is a healthy twist on a dinner favorite! Gluten Free + Low Calorie + Paleo

But enough about him! This 20 Minute Baked Pesto Salmon goes down as a success. I was busy seeing clients until he arrived and this was a simple way to get a healthy and delicious meal on the table without a lot of effort. From oven to table in 20 minutes. Now who’s gonna complain about that?

I order my salmon from Sizzlefish. They deliver it frozen in a cooler to your front door which makes it easy to eat high protein and those healthy omega-3’s! I love having their fish on hand for quick and easy meals. 

20 Minute Baked Pesto Salmon. Steamed in foil packs, this Paleo, low calorie, gluten free meal is a healthy twist on a dinner favorite! Gluten Free + Low Calorie + Paleo

More Salmon Recipes

Low Carb Everything Bagel Salmon

Everything Bagel Salmon! A healthy fish recipe that's Whole30 compliant and baked in 20 minutes. A quick and easy meal that is easy and delicious. Low Carb + Paleo + Whole30 + Keto + Gluten Free + Low Calorie

Crispy Oven Fried Salmon

Crispy Oven Fried Salmon! Salmon crusted with gluten free oats, parsley and parmesan and baked on a sheet pan to crispy perfection. An healthy, gluten free weeknight meal! Low Calorie + Gluten Free

Low Sugar BBQ Salmon

Low Sugar BBQ Salmon made on a sheet pan in less than 20 minutes. Low sugar BBQ sauce, thyme & green beans compliment the meal perfect. A hearty, yet healthy with simple good for you ingredients. Gluten Free + Low Calorie

Low Carb Lemon Herb Salmon with Zucchini Noodles

Lemon Herb Salmon Zucchini is a quick one pan meal packed with protein and tons of flavor. A 30-minute weeknight dinner that's low carb, low calorie, gluten free, dairy free and Paleo!

Teriyaki Sriracha Salmon

An easy skillet Teriyaki Sriracha Salmon marinated in a homemade teriyaki sauce & topped with a Sriracha Greek yogurt sauce that you can't resist! Big on flavor, spicy as you like & perfect for a quick meal. Gluten Free + Low Calorie

Pecan Oat Salmon

Pecan Oat Salmon! Salmon breaded in a pecan-oat-parsley mixture & sautéed in one pan. An easy dinner, ready in 20 minutes & packed with nutrients! Gluten Free + Low Calorie

Cranberry Balsamic Salmon

Skillet Cranberry Balsamic Salmon! This ONE skillet roasted balsamic salmon infused with maple syrup & cranberries is a simple 30 minute sweet & pungent dinner. Perfect for holiday & winter dinner menus! Paleo + Gluten Free + Low Calorie! 

Hungry for More? Subscribe to get insider tips delivered to your inbox! And be sure to stay in touch on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.

20 Minute Baked Pesto Salmon

20 Minute Baked Pesto Salmon. Steamed in foil packs, this Paleo, low calorie, gluten free meal is a healthy twist on a dinner favorite! Whole30 + Low Carb + Gluten Free + Low Calorie + Paleo

Author Skinny Fitalicious
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 3 servings
Calories 309 kcal
20 Minute Baked Pesto Salmon. Steamed in foil packs, this Paleo, low calorie, gluten free meal is a healthy twist on a dinner favorite! Gluten Free + Low Calorie + Paleo
Print

Ingredients

For the Salmon Packs:

  • 9 ounces salmon or 3 filets
  • 1 bunch asparagus ~6 cups
  • 3 tsp extra virgin olive oil
  • salt and pepper to taste

For the Pesto:

  • 1 avocado ripe
  • 1 parsley roughly chopped
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Prepare a baking sheet by place 3 sheets of tin foil on them. Make sure the tin foil pieces are large enough to cover 6-7 asparagus & salmon each.

  2. In a food processor or blender, add all ingredients for the pesto except for the extra virgin olive oil. Blend on high until creamy then slowly drizzle in the extra virgin olive oil to emulsify.

  3. Next place 6-7 asparagus on one foil drizzle with 1 tsp of extra virgin olive oil, sprinkle with salt & pepper. Top the asparagus with a salmon fillet. Then smooth 1 tablespoon of the pesto over the top of the salmon.
  4. Close the foil over the salmon and asparagus by bringing the two sides together and crinkling the edges together. Crinkle the top and bottom as well until it is closed completely.
  5. Repeat the process for the remaining 2 salmon fillets.
  6. Place the foil packets on the baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes until salmon is flaky.

  7. Serve immediately with extra pesto on the side!

Recipe Notes

  • Pesto makes approximately 1 cup or 16 tablespoons. The nutritional value reflects one tablespoon used for each salmon fillet.
  • Pesto nutritional value is: 37 calories per 1 tablespoon
  • My Amazon shop has more products similar to those used for this recipe and that I recommend to my nutrition clients.
  • Love salmon? Try these recipes: Cranberry Balsamic Salmon, Pecan Oat Salmon, Teriyaki Sriracha Salmon, Low Carb Lemon Herb Salmon with Zucchini Noodles, Low Sugar BBQ Salmon, Crispy Oven Fried Salmon, Low Carb Everything Bagel Salmon
Course Dinner
Cuisine American, Italian
Keyword dairy free, dinner, gluten free, low calorie, low carb, nut free, Paleo, pesto, salmon, sheet pan, Whole30, zucchini, zucchini noodles
Nutrition facts per serving (1serving)
Calories 309 kcal
Fat 26.2 g
Saturated Fat 3.8 g
Cholesterol 20.1 mg
Sodium 32.3 mg
Potassium 0 mg
Carbohydrates 10.6 g
Fiber 6.3 g
Sugar 2.8 g
Protein 11.3 g
Vitamin A 0 %
Vitamin C 0 %
Calcium 0 %
Iron 0 %

Love my recipes?

Check out my cookbook!

Learn More

What I Used For The Recipe

 

20 Minute Baked Pesto Salmon. Steamed in foil packs, this Paleo, low calorie, gluten free meal is a healthy twist on a dinner favorite! Gluten Free + Low Calorie + Paleo20 Minute Baked Pesto Salmon. Steamed in foil packs, this Paleo, low calorie, gluten free meal is a healthy twist on a dinner favorite served with nut free pesto! Whole30 + Gluten Free + Low Calorie + Paleo + Low Carb

About Megan

Megan is a certified nutrition practitioner, author, freelance food photographer and fitness instructor living in Phoenix, Arizona. On her blog, Skinny Fitalicious she shares EASY, gluten free recipes for weight loss. Follow Megan on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram for the latest updates.

< Previous Post
Next Post >
673 shares
  • Share358
  • Tweet

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment

    Leave a Comment Cancel reply

    Recipe Rating




  1. Susie @ Suzlyfe says

    March 22, 2017 at 3:28 am

    I love cooking salmon this way! I used to do this all the time with mustard, and I’ve definitely done it with pesto. Easy clean up too!

    Reply
    • Megan says

      March 22, 2017 at 5:16 pm

      Mustard sounds really good! I haven’t done that in awhile.

      Reply
  2. Patrick@looneyforfood.com says

    March 22, 2017 at 6:55 am

    I love foil packet cooking! The best easiest ever and salmon works so well in it! Love the pest on it, very spring.

    Reply
    • Megan says

      March 22, 2017 at 5:15 pm

      With all this heat, I’ve been forced into warm weather cooking. You can’t go wrong with foil packets!

      Reply
  3. Blair says

    March 22, 2017 at 10:31 am

    I love the combo of salmon and pesto — better yet if the pesto is made with avocado! Sounds delicious, healthy, and fresh. And can’t beat that easy clean-up!

    Reply
    • Megan says

      March 22, 2017 at 5:09 pm

      It is light and filling. Perfect for these hot days we’re having in Arizona!

      Reply
  4. Rachel @ Bakerita says

    March 22, 2017 at 3:50 pm

    Literally anything covered in pesto makes me really happy. This looks SO delicious! Must try for dinner soon 🙂

    Reply
    • Megan says

      March 22, 2017 at 5:08 pm

      Oh yes, pesto on everything so good!

      Reply
  5. Dayna says

    March 22, 2017 at 5:23 pm

    Can this be made for one serving with the same cooking instructions?

    Reply
    • Megan says

      March 22, 2017 at 6:40 pm

      Oh yes, just store the extra pesto in the refrigerator.

      Reply
  6. Nonna says

    February 9, 2018 at 10:00 am

    could I use frozen asparagus in this recipe without changing any of the process. TIA

    Reply
    • Megan says

      February 9, 2018 at 11:56 am

      I’m guessing you can. It needs to be thawed and dried really well and probably will need to bake for less time otherwise it will be really soggy so I suggest you bake on a sheet pan and not with the salmon in the foil pack.

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Meet Megan

Megan is a nutrition practitioner, author of the Low Calorie Cookbook and podcast host of the Dish On Ditching Diets. Megan helps women over 35 lose weight after losing 80 pounds herself. Here you get low calorie recipes for weight loss that balance hormones. Learn more about my weight loss programs HERE!

  • Nutrition Coaching
  • Skinny Fitalicious Meal Plans
  • Shop and Resources
  • Weight Loss Tips

Latest Video

https://youtu.be/L1t4wDjG5do

Some links on this site are affiliate links for which I am compensated a small commission if the link is clicked and a purchase is made. There is no cost to you. For a full disclosure policy, visit my Policies.

My Cookbook

low calorie cookbook

Follow me on Facebook! Follow me on Twitter! Follow me on Pinterest! Follow me on Instagram! Follow me on YouTube!
  • Weight Loss Coaching
  • Free Weight Loss Class
  • Podcast
  • Recipe Index
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer
© 2023 Skinny Fitalicious® Design by Melissa Rose Design Development by Once Coupled