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Easy Creamy Salmon Pasta: The Perfect Weeknight Comfort Food

This creamy salmon pasta combines tender salmon flakes with a luxurious garlic cream sauce over perfectly cooked pasta, ready in under 30 minutes. It's a restaurant-worthy dish that delivers elegant comfort food with minimal effort for busy weeknights or entertaining.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 480
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ingredients
  • 12 oz salmon fillet, skin removed
  • 8 oz pasta (linguine or fettuccine work best)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 lemon, juiced and zested
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

Method
 

Instructions
  1. Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook your pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
  2. Prepare the Salmon: While pasta cooks, pat the salmon dry and season with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook salmon for 3-4 minutes per side until cooked through. Remove from skillet and flake into bite-sized pieces.
  3. Make the Cream Sauce: In the same skillet, add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in the heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
  4. Combine Everything: Add the cooked pasta to the cream sauce along with a splash of reserved pasta water to thin the sauce. Gently fold in the flaked salmon, lemon juice, and parsley. Season with additional salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.
  5. Serve Immediately: Garnish with extra Parmesan, lemon zest, and fresh parsley. Serve hot and enjoy this comforting one pot pasta dinner!

Notes

Don't overcook the salmon - remove when still slightly pink. Use pasta water for silkier sauce. Season salmon, sauce, and taste before serving for layered flavor.