Creamy salmon pasta recipe that is easy, and simple. This dish is packed full of flavor, quick to make, and perfect for date night, weeknight, family dinner, or any occasion. Learn how to make salmon with creamy pasta that can be served on its own or with a side of vegetables like pan fried vegetables or boiled asparagus.
Creamy Salmon Pasta Recipe
This creamy salmon pasta recipe ticks all the right boxes. It's easy, quick, packed full of flavor, cheesy, filling, and delicious. What's not to love?
Salmon and pasta recipes are quick and great for any time of the day or for any occasion. A romantic dinner meal, weeknight dinner, celebratory meal, or whatever the occasion, pasta salmon is the perfect meal.
For this creamy pasta with salmon, I used spaghetti and it is just perfect wrapping in all the creamy salmon sauce for a yummy salmon spaghetti! You can however use any of your favorite pasta.
You can also use any type of salmon for this recipe be it canned salmon, smoked salmon, blackened salmon, or fresh salmon. For this post, I used fresh salmon fillets then seasoned, and pan fried them before cutting them into chunks.
Only a few ingredients are used in making this salmon and pasta dish and those ingredients are inexpensive and accessible.
This salmon pasta is just so good. A combination of parmesan, salmon, and pasta, this dish is delicious, filling, and satisfying. Every mouthful is indulgent.
Let me show you how to make it in quick, easy steps.
Related: Creamy lemon pasta, creamy tomato pasta
Ingredients
The detailed ingredient list, measurements, and directions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post
Salmon fillets- Use skinless salmon or salmon with skin. You can also use canned salmon or smoked salmon.
Pasta- I have used spaghetti for this post. Use any pasta of your choice. Long pasta like spaghetti, linguine, or tagliatelle or short pasta like penne, or rigatoni.
Heavy cream- This is also known as double cream. You can substitute it for cream cheese or single cream.
Onion- Freshly diced onions work best.
Garlic- Minced
Pasta seasoning or Italian seasoning- Here's a recipe for homemade spaghetti seasoning
Parmesan- I used Parmigiano Reggiano
Fresh Basil leaves or Spinach
Salt
Olive oil
Butter
Lemon juice (optional)
How To Make Salmon Pasta
This is a step by step instructions on how to make creamy salmon pasta:
Cook salmon- You can cook the salmon by baking it, air frying it, or pan frying. I simply pan fried it in the same skillet I later used to make the sauce. To panfry, clean and pat salmon dry and season it on both sides.
Place a skillet on medium heat then add oil. When the oil is heated, place the salmon in the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes without moving it. Flip and cook the other side for another 2 minutes until cooked through.
Transfer to a plate then use a fork to cut it into chunks. Set it aside.
Cook pasta- Add water into a pot and when it comes to a boil, add salt and the pasta. Stir it and let the pasta boil till aldente while stirring intermittently so they don't stick together.
When the pasta is cooked, reserve a cup of pasta water and drain. Set aside
Make the sauce
While the pasta is cooking, place the skillet back on medium heat, add butter and olive oil and when melted, add the diced onions and cook till soft and fragrant.
Add in the minced garlic and saute for 30 seconds then pour in the seasoning and heavy cream.
Stir to combine then add in the Parmesan. Simmer for 2 minutes or till the cream starts to bubble and the cheese melted into the sauce.
Pour in some of the pasta water to loosen the sauce slightly.
Add the salmon chunks and the drained pasta to the creamy salmon sauce, squeeze in lemon juice
Toss till the pasta and the salmon sauce are combined being careful not to break down the fish.
Take it off the heat. Serve and enjoy.
Variation
Creamy salmon pasta without cream- Yes, you can make it without cream. Substituting heavy cream for a combination of pasta water and cornflour slurry still gives you a silky creamy pasta. Pasta water is high in starch and the starch thickens the sauce. To make a cornflour slurry, mix 1 tablespoon of cornflour with 3 tablespoons of water. Add this where it states to add cream.
Salmon spinach pasta- Add a cup of baby spinach to the sauce, before adding salmon and tossing to combine. This makes the dish colorful with added nutrients.
Cajun salmon pasta- Use cajun seasoning to season the salmon before cooking. Also, add some cajun seasoning to the sauce.
What To Serve With
It's a main meal that can be served on its own or with sides like the below suggested:
Pan fried vegetables
Boiled asparagus
Roasted carrots, air fryer baby carrots.
Coleslaw
Salad
No yeast bread, garlic bread, dinner rolls
Sauteed vegetables
How To Store Salmon Pasta
It is best eaten as soon as it is cooked however you can save leftovers for later. Here's how to store it:
Transfer to an airtight bowl. Label with dates and store in the fridge where it will keep well for up to 3 days or store it in the freezer where it will keep for up to 3 months.
Reheat it in the microwave or on the stove.
To Reheat it in the microwave- Transfer it to a microwaveable plate, sprinkle it with some milk or water then microwave it on high settings at 30 seconds intervals until it's warmed to your preference. Be careful not to microwave for too long as it can dry out.
To reheat it on the stove- Transfer the salmon pasta to a pan, add a dash of milk, and cook on low heat till it's warmed.
You can also turn it into a bake by adding it to a baking dish, sprinkle with water then top with shredded cheese before baking it in the oven.
Tips For Making Salmon Pasta
- You can bake, air fry, pan fry, or grill salmon for this recipe. Leftover salmon can also be used.
- Cook the salmon first before cooking the creamy sauce.
- Remember to reserve pasta water before draining the spaghetti.
- You can add spinach or other quick-cooking leafy green vegetables to make it colorful and for added nutrients.
- It's best served as soon as cooked.
FAQS
Long pasta like spaghetti, linguine, and fettuccine are great. Also, short pasta like penne and rigatoni, are good with salmon.
Yes. Add some water or cream so the sauce loosens and the pasta remains creamy when warmed.
More Salmon Recipes
Pan fried salmon
Air fryer salmon with skin
Salmon seasoning
Salmon marinade
Air fryer frozen salmon
More Creamy Pasta Recipes
Creamy spinach pasta
Creamy Tomato pasta
Spicy Pasta
Canned tuna pasta
Creamy lemon pasta
I hope you like this creamy salmon pasta recipe as much as we do. If you find this post helpful, please rate it 5 stars and leave me a comment below. I love reading from you.
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Creamy Salmon Pasta Recipe
Equipment
- Pot
- Skillet
- Spoon
Ingredients
- 12 oz (350g) Pasta Spaghetti or any type
- 2 Salmon fillets
- 1 and ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 small Onion chopped
- 3-4 cloves Garlic minced
- ½ cup Parmesan
- 1 tablespoon pasta seasoning or Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon Fresh Basil chopped
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Butter
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook salmon- You can cook the salmon by baking it, air frying it, or pan frying. I simply pan fried it in the same skillet I later used to make the sauce. To panfry, clean and pat salmon dry and season it on both sides.Place a skillet on medium heat then add oil.
- When the oil is heated, place the salmon in the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes without moving it. Flip and cook the other side for another 2 minutes or until cooked through.
- Transfer to a plate then use a fork to cut it into chunks. Set it aside.
- Cook pasta- Add water into a pot and when it comes to a boil, add salt and the pasta. Stir it and let the pasta boil till aldente while stirring intermittently so they don't stick together.
- When the pasta is cooked, reserve a cup of pasta water and drain. Set aside.
- Make the sauce- While the pasta is cooking, place the skillet back on medium heat, add butter and olive oil and when melted, add the diced onions and cook till soft and fragrant.
- Add in the minced garlic and saute for 30 seconds then pour in the seasoning and heavy cream.
- Stir to combine then add in the Parmesan. Simmer for 2 minutes or till the cream starts to bubble and the cheese melted into the sauce.
- Pour in some of the pasta water to loosen the sauce slightly.
- Add the salmon chunks and the drained pasta to the creamy salmon sauce, squeeze in lemon juice.
- Toss till the pasta and the salmon are combined being careful not to break down the salmon too much.
- Take it off the heat. Serve and enjoy on its own or with a side of vegetables.
Notes
- You can bake, air fry, pan fry, or grill salmon for this recipe. Leftover salmon can also be used.
- Cook the salmon first before cooking the creamy sauce.
- Remember to reserve pasta water before draining the spaghetti.
- You can add spinach or other quick-cooking leafy green vegetables to make it colorful and for added nutrients.
- It's best served as soon as cooked.
Nutrition
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