Creamy Garlic Salmon Pasta

Creamy Garlic Salmon Pasta is a fancy yet simple dish that mixes the rich flavors of salmon with a creamy sauce that has garlic in it. You may make this recipe for big occasions, weeknight dinners, or just to treat yourself to a fancy and warm supper. The salmon is soft and flaky, and the pasta is al dente. The smooth, garlicky cream sauce ties everything together in the best manner possible. This creamy salmon pasta will quickly become a favorite in your recipe collection, whether you’re cooking for yourself or trying to wow visitors.

Great for:

Special events or date evenings
Dinners on weeknights
Meals with the family
People who enjoy seafood
People who love pasta

This creamy garlic salmon pasta is great for a number of reasons.

Here’s why Creamy Garlic Salmon Pasta will be your new favorite meal:

The creamy sauce, garlic, and salmon all work together to provide a flavor that is both rich and satisfying.
Quick and Easy: You only need a few simple ingredients to make this recipe, and it tastes great.
You may simply change the recipe to fit your tastes by adding your favorite herbs, vegetables, or types of pasta.
This recipe is both filling and good for you since it has a good mix of healthful omega-3s from the salmon, protein from the pasta, and creamy richness from the sauce.
You can enjoy it as a filling dinner or as a tasty meal for a party or gathering.

Time to Prepare and Cook

30 minutes total time
Time to Get Ready: 10 Minutes
Time to cook: 20 minutes
Four servings
About 600 to 650 calories per serving
Important Nutrients: 35g of protein, 55g of carbs, and 30g of fat

What you need

To make this Creamy Garlic Salmon Pasta, you will need these things:

Two salmon fillets, each weighing around 6 ounces
8 ounces (approximately 225 grams) of whatever kind of pasta you like, such as linguine, spaghetti, or fettuccine.
2 teaspoons of olive oil
Chop up 4 cloves of garlic.
1/2 cup of heavy cream or coconut cream, which is a dairy-free option
1/2 cup of chicken or veggie broth
1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon of lemon zest (optional, for added flavor)
1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese (optional for added richness)
Add salt and pepper to taste.
You can use fresh parsley as a garnish.
1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes (optional for heat)

Ingredient Highlights

Salmon is the main ingredient in this recipe. It is a great source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids. The flaky, soft texture of the pasta makes a nice contrast with the creamy sauce.

Garlic: This recipe needs garlic because it adds a strong, fragrant flavor that goes well with the creaminess of the sauce.

Heavy Cream: The sauce gets its silky, smooth texture from heavy cream, which makes each bite taste rich and creamy. If you don’t want dairy, you can use coconut cream or a plant-based cream instead.

Pasta: Pick the shape of pasta you like most. The creamy sauce goes well with linguine or fettuccine, but spaghetti or penne would also be good alternatives.

Lemon: The fresh lemon juice and zest give the meal a zesty flavor that cuts through the cream sauce’s richness.

What You Need to Make Creamy Garlic Salmon Pasta

Here are some things you might need to cook this dish:

Skillet: A big, nonstick skillet for cooking the fish and preparing the sauce with garlic and cream.
Big Pot: A big pot to boil the pasta and make the sauce water.
A cooking thermometer makes sure that the salmon is cooked to the right internal temperature, which is 145°F or 63°C.
Whisk: A whisk may help mix the cream and broth together smoothly, which will make the sauce smooth.

How to Make Creamy Garlic Salmon Pasta in Steps

To cook the salmon for Creamy Garlic Salmon Pasta:

1. Season the salmon fillets with salt, pepper, and a little olive oil before cooking them. Add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes if you want it to be a little spicier.

Put a nonstick skillet on medium heat. When the pan is heated, put the salmon fillets in skin-side down and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, depending on how thick the fillets are. Turn the salmon over and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes, or until it is fully cooked and can be easily flaked with a fork.
After the salmon is done cooking, take it out of the skillet and put it on a plate to cool.

To cook the pasta for Creamy Garlic Salmon Pasta:

While the salmon is cooking, fill a big pot with salted water and bring it to a boil. Add the pasta and cook it according to the directions on the package until it is al dente.
When you’re done, save about a cup of the pasta water and throw away the remainder. Put the spaghetti away.

To make the Creamy Garlic Sauce for Creamy Garlic Salmon Pasta:

In the same skillet you used to cook the salmon, add another tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the garlic smells good. Be cautious not to burn it.
Pour in the chicken or vegetable broth and heat to a boil. Let it cook for 2–3 minutes to thicken a little. Stir in the heavy cream and let the sauce simmer for another 3–4 minutes, or until it thickens.
Add the lemon juice and zest to give it a vibrant flavor. You can add grated Parmesan cheese if you want to make it even creamier. Add salt and pepper to taste.

To mix everything together for creamy garlic salmon pasta:

Use a fork to break up the cooked salmon into little pieces. If you choose, you can remove the skin.
Put the cooked pasta in the skillet with the creamy garlic sauce. Toss the pasta to make sure the sauce covers it all. If the sauce is too thick, add a little of the pasta water you saved to make it thinner and get the consistency you want.
Gently mix the flaked salmon into the pasta so that it is spread out evenly.

To serve Creamy Garlic Salmon Pasta:

Put the creamy garlic salmon pasta on plates. If you want, you can add fresh parsley and a little Parmesan cheese as a garnish. Serve right away and enjoy!

How to Serve Salmon Pasta with Creamy Garlic

There are many tasty ways to serve Creamy Garlic Salmon Pasta:

A light green salad with mixed greens, cucumber, and a basic vinaigrette goes well with the creamy pasta.
With Garlic Bread: A piece of crispy garlic bread goes well with the creamy sauce and makes the meal even more special.
With Roasted veggies: Add more nutrients and texture to this recipe by serving it with roasted veggies like broccoli, asparagus, or zucchini.
For Special Occasions: This meal is great for date evenings or when you have friends over. For a fancy lunch, serve it with a cold glass of white wine or a drink without alcohol.

More tips for making creamy garlic salmon pasta

Use Fresh Salmon: Instead of frozen salmon, use fresh, high-quality salmon fillets for the finest taste and texture.
Don’t overcook the salmon. If you do, it will dry up rapidly. Check the fillets and take them off the fire as soon as they flake easily with a fork.
You may use any kind of pasta you choose, but longer shapes like linguine or fettuccine go best with the creamy sauce.
Add some heat: If you want things hot, add more red pepper flakes to the garlic sauce or pour hot sauce on top of the final dish.
Add Vegetables: You can add sautéed spinach, peas, or sun-dried tomatoes to the creamy garlic sauce to make it taste better and give it more nutrition.

Different Ways to Make Creamy Garlic Salmon Pasta

You can try these 10 other kinds of Creamy Garlic Salmon Pasta:

For a delicious seafood flavor, use shrimp instead of salmon in the Creamy Garlic Shrimp Pasta.
For extra greens, add fresh spinach to the pasta and sauce for Spinach and Garlic Salmon Pasta.
Lemon-Dill Salmon Pasta: Instead of parsley, use fresh dill and add more lemon zest for a crisp, herbal flavor.
Tomato and Garlic Salmon Pasta: To make the sauce more colorful and delicious, add diced tomatoes.
Mushroom & Garlic Salmon Pasta: Sauté the mushrooms with the garlic to bring out their deep, earthy taste that goes well with the salmon.
Creamy Garlic Salmon Pasta with Capers: To the sauce, add a tablespoon of capers for a salty, tart flavor that cuts through the creaminess.
Add a tablespoon of pesto to the garlic salmon pasta to give it a fresh, herby flavor that makes it taste better.
Coconut Cream Garlic Salmon Pasta: Use coconut cream instead of heavy cream to give the classic creamy sauce a tropical twist.
Creamy Garlic Salmon Pasta with Asparagus: For a fresh, crunchy texture that goes well with the creamy sauce, add tender asparagus spears to the dish.

How to store and freeze creamy garlic salmon pasta

You may freeze this creamy pasta meal, but the sauce may split a little when you heat it up again. Let the dish cool completely before putting it in an airtight container in the freezer for up to two to three months. To reheat, put it in the fridge overnight to thaw, then gently cook it in a pan over low heat. To make the sauce creamy again, add a little milk or broth.

Storage: You may keep leftover pasta in the fridge for up to three days in an airtight container. To bring the sauce back to life, add a little extra cream or pasta water when you reheat it.

Questions and Answers about Creamy Garlic Salmon Pasta

Is it okay to use frozen salmon for this recipe? Yes, you can use frozen salmon, but be sure to thaw it all the way before cooking it to make sure it cooks evenly.
Is it possible to create this dish without dairy? You can use coconut cream or another cream that doesn’t have dairy in it instead of Parmesan cheese.
Is it possible to make the sauce ahead of time? Yes, you may make the creamy garlic sauce ahead of time, put it in the fridge, and then heat it up when you’re ready to put the dish together. When you reheat it, just be sure to add a little pasta water to keep it creamy.
What other veggies can I use in the pasta? You can add any vegetables you choose, such spinach, peas, broccoli, or sun-dried tomatoes, to make them taste better and be healthier.
Is it okay if I use a different kind of fish? You can use other hard fish, such trout or cod, instead of salmon, but the taste will be different.