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This Creamy Salmon Pasta is the perfect recipe for a date night meal at home. Quick and easy to make, this restaurant-style pasta with salmon will become your new favorite dinner.
Ladies and gentlemen, the best pasta dish with salmon. It’s rich and creamy, loaded with juicy grilled salmon bites and delicious flavors. This recipe makes the perfect dinner at home, it’s easy, comforting and surprisingly good for you. Because this healthy salmon pasta is rich in protein, nutrients and omega-3 fatty acids from the fish. Plus, it tastes so delicious that you’ll instantly feel happy and satisfied. Nothing healthier than a happy mind!
Here at home we love salmon, we have it at least twice per week. After so many air fryer salmon bites and salmon patties, last night we treated ourself with a super creamy salmon spaghetti dish. Oh my goodness…It tasted incredible. My girlfriend was so impressed that she wondered why the recipe wasn’t on my blog. Well, not for too long because today I’m sharing with you the best salmon pasta recipe ever!
Ingredients and substitutes
This is a quick and easy salmon pasta recipe, with simple ingredients. I made mine with fresh salmon fillets and linguine pasta, but there are many other variations. From the best types of pasta to fish, in the following lines you’ll find everything you need to know.
- Pasta. I like making linguine or salmon spaghetti, these are my two favorite picks. Other types of pasta that goes well with salmon are angel hair, pappardelle, penne, fusilli and farfalle.
- Salmon. The best salmon pasta is made from fresh salmon fillets, with or without skin. It has more taste, texture and nutrients. You can also make salmon pasta with canned salmon, but the taste won’t be the same.
- Cream cheese. Many recipes use heavy cream, but I prefer cream cheese (fat reduced) because it makes the dish healthier. You can replace with heavy cream, sour cream, crème fraiche, blended cream cheese or a combination of cream cheese and Greek yogurt.
- Milk. You can make salmon pasta sauce with whole milk, semi-skimmed milk or dairy-free alternatives such as oat milk.
- Dry white wine. The addition of wine makes the cream more flavorsome. You can replace with chicken broth, in case you do not consume alcohol or if you prepare dinner for kids.
- Olive oil. Choose high quality extra virgin olive oil, we’ll need it to grill the salmon fillets.
- Butter. The best salmon pasta cream is made with butter, it adds a richer flavor. As an alternative you can use more olive oil.
- Baby spinach. Fresh spinach leaves are recommended, but also frozen spinach can be used.
- Onion and garlic. This restaurant-style recipe uses fresh onion and garlic cloves instead of powdered seasonings.
- Salt and pepper. Season with as much salt and pepper as you feel necessary.
Choosing the best salmon for pasta
Fresh, frozen, canned and smoked. There are many types of salmon, but not all of them are the same. When it comes to making the best pasta dish with salmon, you should pay close attention to your choice. Here’s an overview.
- Fresh salmon fillets. With skin or without skin, fresh salmon is the one I recommend the most. It has a richer taste and juicier texture.
- Frozen salmon fillets. Also frozen fish is great, but you will need to thaw it ahead. Remove from the freezer, place in the fridge and allow it to thaw completely before cooking. Do not use when it is still frozen.
- Canned salmon. Canned salmon pasta is a quick and convenient alternative, but it does not produce the same taste and texture. I would say use canned fish as a last resource, if you are in a rush or if you don’t have fillets at home.
- Smoked salmon. Another option is smoked salmon, it gives the dish a unique flavor but is saltier and has less texture. To make creamy pasta with smoked salmon, you’ll only need to cut the smoked fish into small stripes or dices and add it to the sauce.
How to make salmon pasta creamy?
- Cook pasta. Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil over high heat. Once the water starts boiling, add a pinch of salt and lower the heat. Add pasta and cook according to package direction until al dente. Once cooked, drain, drizzle with olive oil and set aside.
- Cook salmon. While the pasta is cooking, remove skin from the salmon fillets and dice into bite-sized pieces. Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Add diced salmon, part of the salt and grill until the fish is cooked through. Do not overcook salmon, or it will get dry. Once it is ready, remove from the pan and set aside.
- Make pasta sauce. In the same skillet where you grilled the salmon, add butter, chopped onion, minced garlic, salt and pepper. Sauté for about 1-2 minutes until fragrant, being careful not to burn it. Add cream cheese, milk and dry white wine to the sautéed onion, whisk to dissolve cream cheese and cook until the sauce is smooth. This should take about 5-6 minutes. A couple of minutes before it is ready, add fresh baby spinach into the cream.
- Toss cream, pasta and salmon. Stir in the cream the grilled salmon, followed by the cooked pasta. Gently toss salmon with pasta and cream. Adjust with more salt and pepper if it is necessary, serve warm.
Watch the video recipe
Recipe tips
- Make this creamy pasta dish with fresh salmon fillets, cooked at home right before preparing the cream. In comparison to smoked or canned salmon, fresh fillets are juicier, more tender and flavorful. Plus, they are healthier without excessive amounts of sodium.
- Choose the pasta wisely, and cook it just until al dente. The best pasta for salmon is linguine, spaghetti, pappardelle and penne, the ones that also most restaurants use.
- Add extra seasonings, herbs and spices if you want. My two recommendations are chili flakes for more spiciness and lemon zest for tanginess.
- Do not overcook the salmon, or it will get dry. You should grill it just for a couple of minutes on both sides so that it remains juicy and tender.
How to store and freeze
Creamed salmon on pasta tastes better fresh, right after making. This is when the dish is at its creamiest and tastiest. But if you have leftovers, they can safely be stored in the refrigerator or in the freezer.
- In the fridge: Once it has cooled, transfer salmon with pasta and cream to an airtight container and refrigerate for a maximum of 2 days.
- In the freezer: Carefully pack leftovers in an airtight freezer safe container and freeze for up to a month. Before serving the salmon pasta meal, allow it to thaw and reheat in a pan with more olive oil.
What goes well with salmon pasta?
This pasta and salmon dish already tastes delicious on its own, maybe with a glass of wine. But if you are looking for something more, then I recommend pairing it with something fresh and green to balance the flavors. A simple salad with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, and a light vinaigrette dressing will add a refreshing touch to your meal. Or try it with roasted vegetables.
For all the bread lovers out there, you can serve salmon and spaghetti with garlic bread on the side. The garlicky bread will soak up all the delicious sauce while adding a satisfying crunch to each bite.
More healthy pasta recipes
Salmon Pasta
Ingredients
- 14 oz (400 g) linguine, or spaghetti
- 14 oz (400 g) salmon fillets
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ⅓ onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ¾ cup (180 g) cream cheese, or heavy cream
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) milk
- ¼ cup (60 ml) dry white wine
- ¾ tsp sea salt, or more to taste
- ground black pepper, to taste
- lemon zest, optional
- 5 oz (140 g) baby spinach, fresh
Instructions
Cook pasta until al dente
- Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil over high heat. Once the water starts boiling, add a pinch of salt and lower the heat. Add pasta and cook according to package direction until al dente. Once cooked, drain, drizzle with oil and set aside.
Make salmon pasta sauce
- While the pasta is cooking, remove skin from the salmon fillets and dice into bite-sized pieces.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Add diced salmon, part of the salt and cook until the fish is tender. Do not overcook salmon, or it will get dry. Once it is cooked through, remove from the pan and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add butter, chopped onion, minced garlic, salt and pepper. Sauté for about 1-2 minutes until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Add cream cheese, milk and dry white wine to the sautéed onion, whisk to dissolve cream cheese and cook until the sauce is smooth. This should take about 5-6 minutes. A couple of minutes before it is ready, add fresh spinach leaves into the cream. If the salmon pasta sauce has thickened too much, add a couple tablespoons of milk more.
- Stir in the grilled salmon bites, followed by the cooked pasta. Gently toss sauce, salmon and pasta. Adjust with more salt and pepper if it is necessary and serve warm.
Made it for dinner tonight. Very good. I will definitely make it again.
Hey dear Linda,
thanks a lot for your kind feedback!
I am incredibly happy to hear this from you. Happy that you liked this creamy salmon pasta recipe, perfect for a cozy healthy family dinner.
I wish you a great day,
Matteo
Salmon pasta looks yummy!
Hey dear Liza,
thanks a lot!! This fresh salmon pasta is definitely a must-try. It’s so creamy and tasty, plus it comes together in minutes in a pan. Make it with fresh salmon, canned salmon or smoked salmon fish, it will always taste delicious.
Have a great day,
Matteo