Description
This creamy garlic butter salmon pasta combines tender pasta, flaky salmon, and a rich, garlicky butter cream sauce in one skillet. It’s a flavorful, easy-to-make dish that feels gourmet but comes together in under 40 minutes—perfect for date night or a cozy weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
- Salmon fillets (skin-on or skinless)
- Pasta (fettuccine, linguine, or penne)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Optional: crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside, reserving ½ cup of pasta water.
- Season the salmon with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet and sear the salmon for 3–4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt the butter and sauté garlic for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Stir in Parmesan cheese and lemon juice until smooth and creamy.
- Toss the cooked pasta into the sauce. Use reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
- Flake the salmon into chunks and fold into the pasta gently.
- Top with parsley and extra Parmesan before serving.
Notes
- Add sautéed spinach or cherry tomatoes for extra color and nutrition.
- Swap salmon with shrimp or grilled chicken.
- For a dairy-free version, use coconut cream and nutritional yeast.
