The Dreamiest Salmon Pasta with Garlic Cream Recipe Ever Made

Crafting a delectable salmon pasta with garlic cream promises an effortless culinary adventure that will surprise you.

Tender fish meets silky sauce in a dance of flavors that feels almost magical.

Weeknight dinners rarely come this elegant and simple.

Professional chefs might guard their secrets, but this recipe welcomes anyone with basic kitchen skills.

Each ingredient plays a symphony of subtle notes, creating depth beyond expectations.

Creamy textures blend with delicate salmon, making every bite a miniature celebration.

Prepare to be amazed by how quickly you can create something so delicious.

Salmon Pasta With Cream That’s Rich But Balanced

• Quick Weeknight Winner: Whip up this salmon pasta in under 30 minutes, perfect for busy families craving a delicious yet effortless dinner solution.
• Nutritional Powerhouse: Combines protein-rich salmon, fiber-packed broccoli, and satisfying pasta into one balanced meal that delivers essential nutrients and incredible flavor.
• Restaurant-Quality at Home: Creates a creamy, gourmet-style dish with simple ingredients and easy techniques that make you feel like a professional chef without complicated cooking skills.
• Customizable Comfort: Easily adapt the recipe by swapping proteins, adjusting seasonings, or adding extra vegetables to match personal preferences and pantry availability.

Ingredients in Garlic Salmon Pasta

Main Ingredients:

• Fettuccine: Soft, flat pasta that holds creamy sauce well. Choose high-quality Italian pasta for best texture.
• Salmon: Fresh fillet with rich flavor and healthy omega-3s. Look for bright, firm salmon without strong fishy smell.

• Broccoli: Adds green crunch and nutrition. Select firm, dark green florets without yellow spots.

• Heavy Cream, Chicken Broth: Creates smooth, rich base for sauce. Use low-sodium broth for better flavor control.
• Butter: Provides richness and helps sauce emulsify. Select unsalted for precise seasoning.
• Parmesan Cheese: Adds sharp, salty depth to sauce. Freshly grated recommended for best flavor.

• Garlic: Provides intense, aromatic flavor. Fresh cloves preferred over pre-minced.
• Lemon Juice: Brightens dish with citrus tang. Fresh lemons yield best results.

• Pesto: Adds herbal complexity to sauce. Choose basil-based traditional pesto.

• Flour: Helps thicken sauce. All-purpose white flour works best.
• Olive Oil: Enhances cooking and adds subtle flavor. Extra virgin recommended.
• Salt, Pepper: Essential for seasoning. Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper preferred.

Salmon Pasta with Garlic Cream – Cooking Guide

Step 1: Boil Water and Cook Pasta

Fill a large pot with water, add salt, and bring to a rolling boil.

Gently drop fettuccine into the water and cook until perfectly tender with a slight bite.

Save a cup of the starchy cooking water before draining.

Toss the pasta with a light drizzle of olive oil to keep the noodles from clumping together.

Step 2: Prepare Salmon and Broccoli for Roasting

Line a baking sheet with foil and create a cozy spot for your salmon.

Place the fish skin-side down and give it some love with your favorite seasonings.

Splash some fresh lemon juice over the top and dot with small cubes of butter.

• Olive oil
• Salt
• Black pepper

Spread the broccoli around the salmon on the same baking sheet.

Step 3: Roast Salmon and Broccoli

Slide the baking sheet into a preheated oven at 400°F.

Roast for 12-15 minutes until the salmon looks perfectly flaky and reaches an internal temperature of 125-135°F.

Step 4: Craft Creamy Garlic Sauce

Heat a large skillet with butter and olive oil over medium warmth.

Toss in minced garlic and let it dance for about 30 seconds.

Sprinkle in flour and cook briefly.

• Chicken broth
• Heavy cream
• Pesto
• Salt

Simmer and stir until the sauce transforms into a luxurious, thickened dream (3-5 minutes).

Step 5: Bring Everything Together

Turn the heat low and stir in lemon juice and Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.

Add the cooked pasta and roasted broccoli, tossing to coat every inch with the creamy sauce.

Gently break the salmon into tender chunks and fold into the pasta.

If the sauce needs adjusting, splash in some reserved pasta water or extra cream.

Give it a final taste and season with salt, pepper, or a squeeze of lemon to make it sing.

Pasta Tips With Salmon Garlic Cream

• Break salmon into bite-sized pieces gently to maintain delicate texture and prevent overcrowding in the pasta dish.
• Add reserved pasta water gradually to thin sauce or extra cream to thicken, creating your ideal silky texture.
• Toss cooked pasta with olive oil immediately after draining and keep pasta water to help sauce adhere smoothly.
• Sauté garlic briefly to release aromatic oils without burning, ensuring a rich but not bitter flavor profile.
• Taste and adjust seasonings in stages – salt salmon before baking, season sauce while cooking, and do final taste check before serving.

Salmon Pasta Warms Up Creamy and Savory

• Store leftover salmon pasta in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking, keeping it fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
• Keep salmon and pasta separate when storing to prevent the fish from becoming soggy and maintain better texture.
• Warm pasta in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of pasta water or cream to restore moisture and prevent drying out, stirring occasionally until heated through.
• If short on time, microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval to distribute heat evenly and prevent overcooking the salmon.

What Complements Salmon Pasta

• Pair with Crisp White Wine: Enhance the salmon's richness with a chilled Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio, cutting through the creamy sauce and complementing the fish's delicate flavor.
• Create a Fresh Side Salad: Toss mixed greens with a light lemon vinaigrette to balance the pasta's creaminess and provide a bright, zesty contrast to the rich salmon dish.
• Match with Garlic Bread: Serve toasted, buttery garlic bread to soak up the extra cream sauce, adding a crunchy texture and amplifying the garlic notes in the pasta.
• Select Citrus-Infused Sparkling Water: Offer a refreshing, non-alcoholic option that echoes the lemon in the dish and cleanses the palate between bites of creamy pasta.

Salmon Pasta with Garlic Cream Remakes

• Gluten-Free Salmon Pasta: Replace regular fettuccine with gluten-free pasta made from rice, corn, or quinoa. Use gluten-free flour or cornstarch to thicken the sauce instead of wheat flour.
• Dairy-Free Cream Sauce: Substitute heavy cream with coconut cream or unsweetened almond milk. Use nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan cheese for a cheesy flavor.
• Low-Carb Zucchini Noodle Version: Swap pasta with spiralized zucchini noodles. Reduce cooking time for zucchini and adjust sauce thickness to prevent watery texture.
• Vegetarian Alternative: Replace salmon with roasted cauliflower steaks or pan-seared tofu. Add extra herbs and nutritional yeast to maintain rich, savory flavor profile.

FAQs

• What makes the sauce creamy and flavorful?

The sauce combines chicken broth, heavy cream, pesto, and Parmesan cheese, creating a rich, velvety texture with deep, layered flavors that coat the pasta perfectly.

• Can I use a different type of fish instead of salmon?

Yes, you can substitute salmon with other fish like trout, halibut, or cod. Just ensure the fish is fresh and cooked to the same internal temperature for best results.

• Is this recipe suitable for meal prep?

Absolutely! You can prepare the components separately and assemble the dish when ready to eat. Store the salmon, pasta, sauce, and broccoli in separate containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

• How do I know when the salmon is perfectly cooked?

The salmon is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 125-135°F and flakes easily with a fork. The fish should look opaque and have a slightly pink center for a moist, tender result.

Salmon Pasta with Garlic Cream Recipe

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4.5 from 22 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Creamy garlic salmon pasta delivers Mediterranean coastal charm on one delightful plate. Rich flavors blend seamlessly while you savor each luxurious bite of this elegant Italian-inspired seafood classic.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 1 lb (454 g) salmon fillets
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Seasonings and Spices:

• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Cooking Ingredients:

• 8 oz (226 g) fettuccine
• 3 cups broccoli florets
• 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, cubed
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup prepared pesto

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Instructions

1. Prepare a generously salted water bath in a large pot, bringing it to a rolling boil.
2. Immerse fettuccine, cooking until it reaches a perfect al dente texture with a slight bite.
3. Carefully extract and preserve one cup of starchy pasta water before draining, then coat noodles with a light olive oil sheen to prevent clumping.
4. Calibrate oven temperature to 400°F, ensuring precise heat distribution.
5. Arrange salmon on a foil-protected baking surface, presenting the skin-side downward.
6. Lavishly season the fish with complementary spices, cascade fresh lemon juice, and crown with butter cubes.
7. Toss broccoli florets with aromatic olive oil, seasoning with salt and pepper, then distribute across the identical baking landscape.
8. Roast for 12-15 minutes, monitoring internal salmon temperature between 125-135°F and confirming delicate flaking capability.
9. Activate a large skillet, melding butter and olive oil over moderate heat.
10. Introduce minced garlic, allowing a brief 30-second aromatic dance.
11. Incorporate flour, conducting a brief one-minute toasting ritual.
12. Reduce thermal intensity and integrate chicken broth, heavy cream, pesto, and salt through whisking motions.
13. Cultivate a gentle simmer, continuously stirring until sauce achieves luxurious thickening (3-5 minutes).
14. Diminish heat, then fold in lemon juice and Parmesan, ensuring complete cheese dissolution.
15. Unite pasta and roasted broccoli within the creamy embrace, thoroughly coating each element.
16. Delicately fragment salmon into rustic chunks, gently integrating into the pasta composition.
17. Fine-tune sauce consistency utilizing reserved pasta water or additional heavy cream as required.
18. Conduct a final flavor assessment, adjusting with nuanced salt, pepper, or lemon juice refinements.

Notes

• Ensure pasta reaches perfect al dente texture by tasting during cooking and removing from water just before fully soft.
• Select fresh, high-quality salmon with vibrant color and minimal fishy smell for best flavor and texture.
• Keep oven temperature consistent to prevent salmon from overcooking, using a reliable meat thermometer for precise doneness.
• Create dairy-free version by substituting heavy cream with coconut milk and using nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan cheese.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 675
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 480 mg
• Fat: 36 g
• Saturated Fat: 16 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 53 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 38 g
• Cholesterol: 90 mg