Creamy salmon pasta

Seared salmon in creamy dill sauce on pasta. This easy salmon pasta recipe takes minutes to make and will be a hit with your friends and family.

Creamy salmon pasta with fresh dill.

Ingredients needed

  • Salmon. I used salmon fillets but you can use canned salmon too, if preferred. This same recipe would also be delicious with tuna, mackerel or any other canned fish.
  • Extra-virgin olive oil. 
  • Butter. 
  • Onion. 
  • Fresh garlic cloves. 
  • Cream. Heavy cream/whipping cream.
  • Fresh dill. Fresh parsley, tarragon or chives will also be delicious and add loads of flavor.
  • Fresh lemon juice.
  • Salt and black pepper.
  • Pasta. I used linguine but spaghetti, fettuccine, or penne will all work for this pasta dish.

How to make creamy salmon pasta

  1. Cook the salmon: The salmon for this creamy salmon pasta recipe is simply seared before being flaked into the sauce. Pat skin-on salmon fillets dry with paper towels then season generously with salt and pepper and drizzle with a few teaspoons of olive oil. Heat a nonstick frying pan or large skillet over medium-high heat then sear the salmon, skin-side down, for 4-5 minutes until the skin is crisp. Carefully flip over and cook for another 2 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside while you make the sauce.
  2. Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente then drain and reserve a cup of cooking water.
  3. How to make creamy sauce for pasta: In the same pan, melt a tablespoon of butter and add an onion that you’ve diced finely. Cook for a few minutes until softened then add the crushed garlic. Allow to cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in the cream and add the fresh dill. You can substitute chopped parsley or tarragon for the dill if you prefer. Stir in a squeeze of fresh lemon then season with salt and plenty of freshly cracked black pepper. Simmer gently for a few minutes until the sauce coats the back of a spoon. Flake in the salmon (discard the skin if preferred or chop finely and add to the sauce) and toss in cooked pasta. Add a splash of the pasta cooking water to thin out the sauce if necessary then serve.
Salmon in a creamy dill sauce.

Can you freeze salmon pasta?

Cream sauces don’t always freeze very well as they can split once thawed. This recipe takes minutes to make and it’s much better when prepared fresh. However, the salmon can be cooked up to a day in advance and kept covered in the refrigerator before being flaked into the sauce. Similarly, the cream sauce can be made a day in advance before being reheated gently in a pan on the stovetop before tossing with cooked pasta.

Creamy pasta recipes

  1. Creamy lemon pepper pasta 
  2. Creamy spinach garlic chicken
  3. Pasta with basil cream sauce
Salmon in a creamy dill sauce on pasta.

Salmon recipes

  1. Baked sticky apricot salmon
  2. White wine garlic salmon
  3. Creamy garlic butter salmon
  4. 20-minute Honey Garlic Salmon
Creamy dill salmon pasta

Creamy salmon pasta

Seared salmon in creamy dill sauce on pasta. This easy dinner recipe takes minutes to make and will be a hit with your friends and family.
4.59 from 127 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Keyword: creamy pasta recipe, Creamy pasta sauce, Salmon pasta
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Calories: 428kcal
Author: Alida Ryder
Servings: 4 – 6

Ingredients

  • 400 g (14oz) salmon fillets skin-on
  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • salt and pepper to taste

For the creamy pasta sauce

  • ½ onion finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves crushed
  • 1 cup heavy / whipping cream
  • 1 tbsp dill finely chopped
  • 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 500 g (1lb) pasta cooked and 1 cup water reserved.

Instructions

  • Pat the salmon dry with paper towels. Drizzle over the olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
  • Heat a nonstick frying pan over high heat. Add the salmon, skin-side down, and cook until the skin is crispy and golden (approximately 3-4 minutes). Carefully flip the fish over and cook for another minute or two on the other side until done to your preference. Remove from the pan and set aside.
  • Add the butter to the pan then add the onion. Cook for a few minutes until softened and add the garlic. Cook for 30 seconds then pour in the cream. Add the dill and lemon then bring to a gently simmer.
  • Simmer the cream sauce for 5-7 minutes until it coats the back of a spoon. Flake in the salmon and season with salt and pepper.
  • Add the pasta and toss until the pasta is coated in the sauce. If necessary add a few tablespoons of pasta water.
  • Taste and adjust seasoning then serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 428kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 85mg | Potassium: 534mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 192IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 2mg