Craving a restaurant-quality meal that’s ready in under 30 minutes? This Creamy Salmon Spinach Pasta is your answer. It’s the perfect combination of tender flaked salmon, vibrant spinach, and a luscious, garlicky cream sauce, all tossed with your favorite pasta. This dish is simple enough for a hectic weeknight but feels special enough for a date night in. We’re skipping complicated steps and focusing on rich, satisfying flavors that come together in a flash.
The magic of this recipe lies in its simplicity and the quality of its ingredients. A velvety, parmesan-infused sauce clings to every noodle, perfectly complementing the rich salmon. It’s a complete, balanced meal in one pan, saving you time on cleanup and giving you more time to enjoy your delicious creation. Get ready to add a new favorite to your dinner rotation.
The simple steps to creating a luxuriously creamy sauce.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Quick & Easy: From start to finish, this elegant pasta dish is on the table in just 30 minutes.
Rich & Flavorful: The combination of garlic, parmesan, and a hint of lemon creates a perfectly balanced, savory cream sauce.
One-Pan Wonder: The salmon and sauce are cooked in the same skillet, making cleanup incredibly simple.
Versatile & Customizable: Easily swap ingredients based on what you have on hand. Check our tips below for easy substitutions!
Ingredients for Creamy Salmon Spinach Pasta
Here’s what you’ll need to create this decadent dish. Exact measurements are in the recipe card below.
Pasta: Fettuccine, linguine, or penne work beautifully as they hold the creamy sauce well.
Salmon: Two skinless salmon fillets, about 6 ounces each. You can use fresh or frozen; just be sure to thaw frozen fillets completely.
Olive Oil & Butter: A combination for searing the salmon and creating a rich sauce base.
Garlic: Freshly minced garlic is essential for the best flavor.
Heavy Cream: This creates the signature luscious and creamy texture.
Chicken or Vegetable Broth: To thin the sauce to the perfect consistency.
Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan melts better and provides a nutty, salty flavor.
Spinach: A generous amount of fresh spinach wilts down perfectly into the sauce.
Lemon Juice: A squeeze of fresh lemon juice brightens up all the flavors.
Seasoning: Salt, black pepper, and a pinch of red pepper flakes for a little warmth.
How to Make Creamy Salmon Spinach Pasta Step-by-Step
Making this creamy pasta is easier than you think. Follow these simple steps for a perfect result every time.
A rich and satisfying weeknight dinner ready in just 30 minutes.
Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook your pasta according to package directions until al dente. Just before draining, reserve about one cup of the starchy pasta water.
Sear the Salmon: While the pasta cooks, pat the salmon fillets dry and season them generously with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place the salmon in the skillet and sear for 4-5 minutes per side, or until cooked through and golden brown. Remove the salmon from the skillet and set it aside.
Start the Cream Sauce: In the same skillet, reduce the heat to medium. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in the broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.
Make it Creamy: Stir in the heavy cream and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Let it cook for 2-3 minutes, then stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until it’s fully melted and the sauce has thickened slightly. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
Combine Everything: Add the fresh spinach to the sauce and stir until it has wilted, which should only take a minute or two. Squeeze in the fresh lemon juice. Flake the cooked salmon into large chunks and return it to the skillet. Add the drained pasta to the sauce.
Finish and Serve: Toss everything together gently until the pasta is well-coated in the creamy sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency. Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan and fresh parsley if desired.
Tips for the Perfect Creamy Pasta
Don’t Overcook the Salmon: Salmon cooks quickly. Searing it for 4-5 minutes per side is usually enough. It will continue to cook slightly when you add it back to the sauce, ensuring it stays tender and moist. For a similar recipe that perfects the salmon technique, check out our Marry Me Salmon.
Use Freshly Grated Parmesan: Pre-shredded cheese often contains anti-caking agents that can prevent it from melting smoothly into the sauce, resulting in a grainy texture.
Reserve Pasta Water: The starchy pasta water is liquid gold! It helps emulsify the sauce, making it extra creamy and helping it cling to the pasta beautifully.
Don’t Boil the Cream Sauce: After adding the cream and cheese, keep the sauce at a gentle simmer. Boiling it can cause the sauce to separate or curdle.
What to Serve with Salmon Pasta
This Creamy Salmon Spinach Pasta is a satisfying meal on its own, but it also pairs wonderfully with a few simple sides. A crisp green salad with a light vinaigrette or some steamed asparagus can add a fresh contrast. For something heartier, serve it with garlic bread or a crusty baguette to soak up every last bit of the delicious cream sauce. It’s a versatile main course, much like this Cajun Steak Pasta, which also pairs well with simple sides.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. To reheat, gently warm the pasta in a skillet over low heat. You may need to add a splash of milk, cream, or broth to loosen the sauce and restore its creamy consistency. Microwaving is possible but can sometimes make the salmon tough.
Long pasta shapes like fettuccine, linguine, or tagliatelle are excellent choices as they hold the creamy sauce well. However, short pasta like penne or fusilli also work great.
Absolutely. You can use frozen salmon fillets, but make sure to thaw them completely in the refrigerator overnight before cooking. Pat them very dry with paper towels to ensure a perfect sear.
To prevent the sauce from splitting, use full-fat heavy cream and avoid boiling it. Keep the sauce at a gentle simmer after adding the cream and cheese. Also, using freshly grated Parmesan helps it melt smoothly.
Yes, you can substitute the heavy cream with full-fat coconut milk or a dairy-free cream alternative. Use a dairy-free parmesan cheese substitute and olive oil or vegan butter instead of regular butter.
If you don’t have spinach, you can substitute it with other greens like chopped kale (add it earlier to allow it to soften) or arugula (stir it in at the very end). You could also add steamed asparagus or peas.
More Delicious Dinner Ideas
If you enjoyed this Creamy Salmon Spinach Pasta, you’ll love exploring other simple yet elegant dinner recipes. For another fantastic one-pan meal, try our Creamy Herb Chicken. We hope this dish becomes a staple in your home. Let us know how you liked it in the comments, and don’t forget to share your creations on Pinterest!
The only Creamy Salmon Spinach Pasta recipe you'll ever need!
Creamy Salmon Spinach Pasta Recipe
FL Recipes
Creamy Salmon Spinach Pasta: A 30-Minute Dinner Dream
This Creamy Salmon Spinach Pasta is the ultimate 30-minute meal. Tender salmon, fresh spinach, and a luscious garlic parmesan cream sauce come together for a dish that's perfect for any night of the week. An easy, elegant, and flavorful dinner.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
Pat salmon fillets dry and season with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear salmon for 4-5 minutes per side, until cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside.
In the same skillet over medium heat, add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in the broth to deglaze, scraping up any browned bits.
Stir in heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Cook for 2-3 minutes, then stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce has thickened. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
Add spinach and stir until wilted. Squeeze in lemon juice. Flake the cooked salmon into chunks and return to the skillet. Add the drained pasta.
Toss everything together gently until well-coated. If needed, add reserved pasta water to thin the sauce. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Calories: 750kcalProtein: 38gFat: 45gFiber: 4g
Notes
Tip 1: Use freshly grated Parmesan for the smoothest sauce. Tip 2: Don't overcook the salmon. It will continue to cook when added back to the hot sauce. Tip 3: The reserved starchy pasta water is key to achieving the perfect sauce consistency.
Hi, I’m Emily Carter, and welcome to FL Recipes! I share simple, healthy recipes that make cooking easy, fun, and delicious for everyone. more about me »
