This creamy salmon pasta is an easy 30-minute dinner made with pan-seared salmon, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, parmesan, and farfalle. The salmon is served over pasta tossed in a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce with Italian seasoning and a touch of red pepper for extra flavor. Looking for more inspiration? Explore all our easy pasta recipes for dinner.
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Ingredients list for the salmon tomato pasta
- 1 1/2 pounds (700g) salmon fillets, with or without skin
- 3 large garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 yellow onion, minced
- 1 small jar (3-4 oz) sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and sliced (reserve 2 tablespoons oil for the recipe)
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1 cup (250ml) half and half
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup (125ml) vegetable stock (or 1 crumbled bouillon cube with 1/2 cup water)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt and fresh cracked pepper, to taste
- 8 oz (250g) farfalle pasta
- 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped basil
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Directions
1. To make the creamy salmon pasta: Cook pasta according to package instructions, until al dente. Drain, reserving some pasta water and set aside.
2. Lightly season salmon fillets with salt and pepper. In a large nonstick pan on medium heat, sear salmon fillets in 2 tablespoons oil, 2 – 3 minutes on each side. Remove salmon from the pan and set aside.
3. In the same skillet add 2 tablespoons oil reserved from the sun-dried tomatoes jar, saute onion, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, paprika, red chili pepper flakes and Italian seasoning for 1 minute until garlic is fragrant.
4. Add vegetable stock to deglaze the skillet and bring to a gentle simmer. Add half and half to the skillet and stir until a creamy sauce forms. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
5. Remove the sauce from heat. Stir in the cooked pasta and add a little reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce until creamy.
6. Return the salmon to the skillet and warm gently for a few minutes. Sprinkle with fresh basil and parmesan, then serve immediately.
Recipe notes: Half and half is made from equal parts light cream and milk. You can use half light cream and half 2% milk, in place of half and half. Alternatively, you can use all light cream or heavy cream.
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Tips for the Creamy Salmon Pasta recipe
This creamy salmon pasta comes together quickly, but a few simple details can make the sauce and salmon even better:
- To prevent cooked pasta from sticking together, wait until the water is at a full, rapid boil before adding the farfalle. Then stir the pasta as it cooks, aim for stirring every 2-3 minutes.
- Use freshly grated parmesan for the best flavor and a smoother, creamier sauce.
What other types of pasta can we use?
Use any pasta shape that holds the sauce well. Penne and rotini make excellent alternatives for this salmon pasta recipe.
How and how long to store the creamy salmon pasta leftovers?
This creamy salmon pasta recipe keeps well in the fridge for 2 or 3 days. Reheat on the stove or in the microwave, adding a tiny splash of water to loosen up the sauce if necessary. If you kept the salmon fillets, you can cover with a lid to allow for better reheating, without crumbling the fish when stirring.
What other readers are saying about this creamy pasta recipe
“Came out super good! I used chicken stock instead of veggie and added Parmesan cheese last.” – Talitha
“I love it. However, I used chicken stock instead of the veggie stock and it worked just fine.” – Ibtihal
More pasta recipes you might enjoy
- Instant Pot Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
- 20-Minute Sausage Pasta Skillet
- Tomato Spinach Sausage Pasta
- Creamy Garlic Shrimp Pasta
Most Popular Recipes
Recipes Eatwell101 readers come back to again and again.
Reviews
See what readers thought — or share how it turned out for you.
How did it turn out?
