The 20-Minute Ina Garten Recipe I Can’t Stop Making

I’ve always been intimidated by cooking fish—especially salmon. While it is one of my favorite foods to order in restaurants, making it at home seems somewhat daunting. But then, I stumbled on a foolproof salmon recipe from none other than the Barefoot Contessa. 

In “Barefoot Contessa Foolproof,” Ina Garten’s New York Times best-selling cookbook, the Barefoot Contessa reveals all her secrets to creating fuss-free, impressive meals. The one that caught my eye? A six-ingredient recipe for simple salmon and cherry tomatoes.

It only takes a few minutes to whip together, and the results are so gorgeous that it could easily be the star of a last-minute dinner party. Plus, it only requires a handful of ingredients, making it a great option for busy weeknights as well. Turns out restaurant-quality salmon isn’t as complicated as I thought.

How To Make Ina Garten’s 6-Ingredient Salmon Recipe

I first came across this recipe while searching for easy recipes to make for myself on a busy weeknight. As a college student who cooks mostly for herself, I immediately saved this recipe when it appeared on my TikTok feed because it is easy to customize the serving size.

In the video, the creator who makes this recipe says this is the “only way to eat salmon.” As it is so easy to make, I can see why. All it takes is six ingredients and a few minutes to prepare.

If following the recipe for Garten’s classic salmon recipe on TikTok seems a little intimidating, the dish was featured on her television show, so you can still have Garten teach you how to turn six ingredients into a show-stopping meal.

To make the “melting” cherry tomato sauce, sauté chopped onions, garlic, salt, pepper, and butter in a pan before adding sliced cherry tomatoes. Next, add fresh basil and balsamic vinegar, then remove the pan from the heat.

Coat the salmon in olive oil and season it with salt and pepper. Sear it in a cast-iron skillet on the stove for around 5 minutes, then finish it off in the oven. Once the salmon is cooked through, spoon the cherry tomato sauce on top and serve.

To upgrade this dish, I recommend adding pasta or serving it with rice. You could also make this recipe even simpler by cooking the salmon in foil packets instead.

While I’m mostly cooking for one these days, this dish feels like the perfect reason to invite a group of friends over for dinner. Ready in just 20 minutes, I’m definitely returning to this recipe again and again.