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Home Recipes By Type Pasta

Salmon Pasta

This Salmon Pasta recipe features pan-seared salmon in a rich and tangy parmesan cream sauce. It's a delicious and easy to make meal.
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By: Diana Published on September 5, 2022

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tongs serve linguini pasta with creamy salmon sauce

Need a new recipe idea for date night? Salmon Pasta is a 30-minute skillet meal that will be perfect! Pan-seared salmon in a rich and tangy parmesan cream sauce is a beautiful, delicious, and easy meal to make.

tongs serve linguini pasta with creamy salmon sauce


Creamy alfredo sauces are irresistable, and when paired with savory salmon filets and pasta – well, forget about it! I could probably eat this whole pan by myself.

It’s much better to share though, and this seafood pasta is a great one to cook for date night. You could also try making Lobster Pasta or Garlic Shrimp Pasta. All three of these recipes are similar but perfectly seasoned to match the type of seafood included.

a large, enameled, two-handled skillet filled with salmon pasta in cream sauce

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  1. Easy Recipe with Minimal Ingredients – While you could add veggies or other flavors to this dish, I love it just like this, with a garlic and lemon cream sauce and lots of freshly grated parmesan cheese.
  2. Ready in under 30 minutes – You can cook this meal in the same amount of time that it takes to boil water and cook pasta! While the pasta is cooking, the salmon and sauce is made, and then it’s all put together before serving.
  3. A Delicious Seafood Pasta Dish – Salmon Pasta is super creamy, savory from the garlic and parmesan, and has just the right amount of acidity from fresh lemon juice. Everyone is going to love this dish!
  4. Perfect for Date Night – This recipe serves 2-4 people, so it’s the perfect one to make and share with someone you love. After all, the way to someone’s heart is often through their stomach!

Ingredients In Creamy Salmon Pasta

Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

  • Pasta: Linguine is gorgeous in this dish, but you can use any type of past you enjoy.
  • Salmon: Use fresh salmon or frozen salmon that you’ve thawed. Remove the skin before cooking.
  • Salt and Pepper: Season the salmon before adding it to the pan.
  • Butter: We’ll pan-fry the salmon in butter to give it a beautiful crust, and start building the decadent sauce.
  • Heavy Cream: If you’re in the UK, this is called double cream. This is what makes the sauce nice and creamy.
  • Garlic, Lemon Juice, Parmesan Cheese: These are the classic flavors of this dish. Use fresh garlic, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and parmesan cheese that you’ve grated from a wedge.

How To Make Salmon Pasta

three images showing how to pan fry salmon fillets.
  1. Cook Pasta: In a medium-sized saucepan with salted water, cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. When the pasta is cooked, reserve 1 cup of the pasta water and drain the pasta.
  2. Meanwhile, cook the Salmon: Season the fillets with salt and pepper and heat butter in a non-stick skillet. Cook the salmon on all sides until the internal temperature reaches 145°F/62°C. Remove onto a plate and keep warm.
a collage of three images showing to make easy salmon pasta.
  1. Make the Parmesan Cream Sauce: Add garlic to the same skillet, and cook for 30 seconds until it’s fragrant. Then deglaze the pan with ¼ cup of the reserved pasta water, scraping up any bits of flavor stuck to the pan. Add the heavy cream, lemon juice, and parmesan cheese. Let the sauce bubble until it becomes smooth and thick.
  2. Adjust the Sauce: At this point, taste the sauce. Add salt and pepper if needed. You can also add a bit more pasta water if you think the sauce is too thick.
  3. Mix and Serve: Add the cooked pasta and cooked salmon to the sauce, and gently break the salmon into bite-sized pieces. Toss to combine. Serve immediately with fresh parsley, more grated parmesan, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.

Tip!

Burnt garlic tastes terrible, so be sure to only cook it briefly. 30 seconds is the perfect amount of time to bring out the flavor. Be ready to deglaze the pan right away after cooking the garlic.

Recipe Tips

  • Cook the pasta to al dente. Avoid overcooking the pasta. It will cook further when you add it to the sauce, so your final dish will end up mushy.
  • It’s very important to save some of the pasta water before you pour it down the drain! The starchy water helps make the sauce silky and rich, and you may need extra to thin out the sauce at the end.
  • Wondering about the white spots?  The slimy bits of white stuff coming out of your salmon while it cooks are called albumin, and they are totally harmless. While it might lot look appealing, it’s just protein coming to the surface. Once the salmon is mixed into the pasta, you won’t see it anyways.
  • Try with extra garlic or spice. If you really enjoy garlic, feel free to increase it to 4 cloves instead of just 3. A pinch of crushed red pepper is also a tasty way to add some spicy flavor.
  • Perfect for 2 or 4. Technically this recipe makes four servings (2 ounces of pasta per person), but if you want to make the portions larger, it’s perfect for two people.
closeup view of linguini with salmon

Storing Tips

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

To reheat, add a splash of water and heat on the stove over low heat until hot.

What To Serve With Salmon Pasta

Salad: a healthy green salad is the perfect easy side dish to pair with a rich, savory pasta like this one. Try a simple tossed green salad with homemade vinaigrette, or give the extra effort and assemble a delicious wedge salad with bacon and blue cheese.

Veggies: Instead of salad, cook up your favorite green vegetables to serve with salmon and pasta. The air fryer cooks up asparagus or your favorite mix of fresh vegetables in just minutes.

Bread: You’ll want to have some bread on hand to wipe your plate clean. You don’t want to waste a drop of this delicious cream sauce! copycat Olive Garden breadsticks are easy and delicious or try making homemade bread in your breadmaker for the occasion.

Don’t forget dessert! Serve a slice of rich New York style cheesecake, or chocolate covered strawberries after the meal.

More Delicious Salmon Recipes

Honey Garlic Salmon

Cedar Plank Salmon

Tuscan Salmon

Salmon Tacos

All Seafood →

FAQs

Is Salmon Pasta Healthy?

While this dish is calorie-heavy with its creamy sauce, adding fresh salmon to your diet is a great way to get heart-healthy fats and nutrients into the mix. Enjoy in moderation!

Can I make this pasta with frozen salmon?

Frozen salmon filets are a staple in my freezer. Be sure to thaw the fillets in the fridge overnight so that they are ready to cook.

Why is my salmon sticking to the pan?

It’s best to use a non-stick pan when cooking fish fillets. Stainless steel or cast iron pans are not going to work as well. It’s also important to let the pan heat up before adding the fish.

You are going to love this easy Salmon Pasta recipe! Make it for date night, or enjoy it with the whole family, and be sure to Pin the recipe.

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Recipe
tongs serve linguini pasta with creamy salmon sauce
5 from 25 votes
(Click stars to rate!)

Salmon Pasta

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
Cook Time: 20 minutes mins
Total Time: 25 minutes mins
Author: Diana
Print Rate Recipe
This Salmon Pasta recipe features pan-seared salmon in a rich and tangy parmesan cream sauce. It's a delicious and easy to make meal.
4 servings
This Salmon Pasta recipe features pan-seared salmon in a rich and tangy parmesan cream sauce. It's a delicious and easy to make meal.

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Skillet or saute pan
  • Spatula

Ingredients 

  • 8 ounces uncooked pasta linguini, spaghetti, or tagliatelle
  • 8 ounces (225g) salmon fillets fresh or thawed, skin removed
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teasoon ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 3 cloves garlic pressed or very finely minced
  • ¾ cup (180ml) heavy cream double cream in the UK
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • ½ cup grated parmesan cheese grate it fresh for best flavor
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley chopped
  • Lemon wedges for serving

Instructions 

  • In a medium-sized saucepan, boil water and salt it to your preference. Add your pasta, and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. When the pasta is cooked, reserve 1 cup of the pasta water and drain the pasta.
  • Meanwhile, pat the salmon dry and season with salt and pepper.
  • In a skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Cook the salmon on all sides until it has a nice crust and is cooked through. The salmon is done when the internal temperature reaches 145°F/62°C. Remove onto a plate and keep warm.
  • To the same skillet, add the garlic and saute for 30 seconds. Then deglaze the pan with reserved pasta water (about ¼ a cup) and scrape off any bits stuck to the bottom of the pan.
  • Add the heavy cream, lemon juice, and parmesan. Let the sauce bubble until it becomes smooth. Add additional reserved pasta water if needed to get the sauce to the right consistency. Taste it and adjust seasonings as needed.
  • Add the salmon back to the sauce, and gently break it apart with your spatula into bite sized pieces.
  • Add the cooked pasta, and mix it in with the sauce and the salmon. Cook for one more minute until everything is warmed through.
  • Remove from heat, garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately with extra grated parmesan cheese and a squeeze of fresh lemon.

Notes:

  • Cook the pasta to al dente. Avoid overcooking the pasta. It will cook further when you add it to the sauce, so your final dish will end up mushy. 
  • It’s very important to save some of the pasta water before you pour it down the drain! The starchy water is what makes the sauce silky and rich, and helps it stick to the pasta. 
  • Try with extra garlic or spice. If you really enjoy garlic, feel free to add an extra clove or two. A pinch of crushed red pepper is also a tasty way to add some spicy flavor.
  • Perfect for 2 or 4. Technically this recipe makes four servings (2 ounces of pasta per person), but if you want to make the portions larger, it’s perfect for two people. 
  • To Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat over low heat until just warmed through. You may need to add a splash of water to thin the sauce, as it will thicken when cooled. 

Nutrition Information

Calories: 374kcal, Carbohydrates: 45g, Protein: 23g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 50mg, Sodium: 541mg, Potassium: 461mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 535IU, Vitamin C: 7mg, Calcium: 140mg, Iron: 2mg

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

© Little Sunny Kitchen

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  1. Joe says

    Posted on 9/17/24 at 01:09

    Don’t add the parm cheese while cooling, it will just become a large ball of goop! Wait till the very end and stir in while NOT on the heat.

    Reply
    • Little Sunny Kitchen says

      Posted on 9/17/24 at 19:54

      Thanks Joe!

      Reply
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