Easy Creamy Garlic Salmon Pasta Perfect for Weeknight Dinners

Garlic salmon pasta pairs cooked salmon with a creamy sauce and a serving of pasta.

Ingredients

Measure the ingredients below before you begin. Optional additions are marked in the list.

• 2 salmon fillets, each about 6 ounces
• 8 ounces (about 225 grams) of pasta of your choice, such as linguine, spaghetti, or fettuccine
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 4 cloves of garlic, chopped finely
• 1/2 cup of heavy cream, or coconut cream if you don’t want dairy
• 1/2 cup of broth made from chicken or vegetables
• 1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon of lemon zest (optional, for extra flavor)
• 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese (optional for more creaminess)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh parsley for decoration (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes (optional for heat)

How to make it

1. To prepare the salmon, season the fillets with salt, pepper, and a little olive oil. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for extra heat if you like things spicy.

2. Prepare the Salmon: Put a non-stick skillet on the stove over medium heat. Put the salmon fillets in the pan skin-side down and cook them for 4 to 5 minutes, depending on how thick they are. Turn the salmon over and cook it for another 3 to 4 minutes, or until it is fully cooked and flakes easily with a fork.

3. Take it out and set it aside: After the salmon is done cooking, take it out of the skillet and put it on a plate to cool.

4. Boil the Pasta: While the salmon is cooking, put a lot of salt in a big pot of water and bring it to a boil. Add the pasta and cook it according to the package directions until it is still firm. When you're done, save about a cup of the pasta water and throw away the rest. Put the pasta away.

5. Add another tablespoon of olive oil to the same skillet you used to cook the salmon and turn the heat to medium. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until it smells good. Be careful not to burn the garlic.

6. Add the broth and cream: Pour in the chicken or vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Let it cook for two to three minutes to let some of the water out. Add the heavy cream and keep cooking for another 3 to 4 minutes, stirring every so often, until the sauce thickens.

7. Add some flavor to the sauce: Add the lemon juice and zest to give it a bright flavor. You can add grated Parmesan cheese to make it even creamier if you want. Add salt and pepper to taste.

8. Flake the Salmon: Use a fork to break the cooked salmon into small pieces. If you want, you can take off the skin.

9. Put in the Pasta: Put the cooked pasta in the skillet with the creamy garlic sauce. Toss the pasta to coat it evenly with the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add some of the reserved pasta water to thin it out and get the consistency you want.

10. Put in the salmon: Carefully fold the flaked salmon into the pasta so that it is evenly spread out.

11. Serve and garnish: Put the creamy garlic salmon pasta on plates. If you want, you can add fresh parsley and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese on top. Enjoy right away!

Tips and serving

Cook the salmon to 145°F (63°C), or until opaque and easily flaked; add reserved pasta water if needed.

For more ideas, try Easy Creamy Garlic Shrimp Pasta Recipe for Weeknight Dinners or Easy Honey Garlic Butter Baked Salmon Recipe for Weeknights.