To make creamy pesto salmon pasta, boil 1 lb of penne while you sear 4 salmon fillets in olive oil for 3 to 4 minutes per side, then set them aside. In the same skillet, soften a small diced onion in 2 tbsp of butter, add garlic powder, Italian seasoning and smoked paprika, then stir in 1 cup of cream and ¼ cup of basil pesto and simmer 2 to 3 minutes. Off the heat, stir in ¼ cup of grated parmesan, toss in the pasta and nestle the salmon on top. It serves 4 in about 20 minutes.
This easy pesto salmon pasta recipe is ready in about 20 minutes and presents like a gourmet meal. Perfectly seared salmon with creamy pesto alfredo pasta makes this dish an excellent choice for a busy weeknight meal or one for weekend entertaining. The salmon and sauce share one skillet, and everyone will love it!
It is my humble opinion that you can never have too many salmon recipes or pasta nights. This skillet recipe for salmon with a pesto cream sauce is one of our favorites to make when we are craving both salmon and pasta. It’s irresistibly delicious and comes together beautifully in one skillet.
And the best part? It’s all ready to go in about 20 minutes!
I first stumbled upon a dish similar to this creamy pesto pasta when dining at Chef Vola’s in Atlantic City. It’s one of those restaurants that is super hard to get into, but once you are there, you’ll understand why–the food is absolutely incredible! They make a creamy pesto sauce that is served over fish and I oftentimes dream about it. It’s that good and I knew I had to create this amazing dish for my salmon + pasta loving family!
why you’ll love pesto salmon pasta
- Time-saving: As a busy mom, time is precious. With this pesto salmon pasta recipe, you can have a flavorful dinner on the table in about 20 minutes. The salmon and the sauce share one skillet while the pasta boils, so there’s very little to juggle.
- Restaurant-worthy: Golden seared salmon in a creamy basil, garlic and parmesan pesto sauce looks and tastes like something you’d order out, but it’s simple enough for a Tuesday night.
- Versatility: Feel free to customize this dish to suit your family’s preferences. You can swap the salmon for any other fish or even grilled chicken if you prefer. You can also play around with different types of pasta, such as whole wheat or gluten-free options, to accommodate dietary needs.
- Budget-friendly: Salmon can be an expensive ingredient, but fear not! This recipe uses many pantry staples, making it a cost-effective option for busy families on a budget. I like to buy my salmon at Aldi. It’s high quality and affordable while giving you enough for leftovers throughout the week.
- Minimal clean-up: With just a skillet and a pasta pot to wash, you’ll be amazed at how easy clean-up can be. This means less time spent in the kitchen and more time to relax and enjoy quality moments with your loved ones.
ingredients
To make this easy, delicious, and comforting skillet salmon recipe you’ll need a few ingredients that you can get at almost any grocery store or even online!
Here’s what we are working with:
- salmon fillets
- olive oil
- salt and pepper
- butter
- onion
- garlic powder
- Italian seasoning
- smoked paprika
- pesto sauce
- cream
- Parmesan cheese
- cooked pasta
how to make pesto salmon pasta
You’ll find the exact amounts and printable steps in the recipe card below. Here’s what each step looks like, plus the little things that make it work.
1. Cook the pasta and sear the salmon. Cook pasta according to package instructions. Season salmon fillets with salt and pepper. Into a large skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil. Once the oil is hot, place the salmon fillets in the skillet skin side down and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until salmon is cooked through or has reached desired doneness. Transfer from skillet and set aside.
2. Start the sauce. In the same skillet over medium heat, add butter and onions. Once onions are translucent add garlic powder, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper to taste. Stir until fragrant.
3. Add cream and pesto. Reduce heat to low; add in cream and pesto sauce and let simmer 2-3 minutes.
4. Stir in the parmesan. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in parmesan cheese until well combined.
5. Combine and garnish. Nestle the cooked salmon fillets into the sauce along with the cooked pasta noodles. Garnish with freshly chopped basil leaves.
can you meal prep pesto salmon pasta?
Yes! It’s a quick and easy meal that comes together quickly, which means more time for you to enjoy your weekend without a whole lot of time spent meal prepping. Simply divide this recipe into 4 meal prep containers. The flavors in this recipe have time to meld together, allowing all that goodness to absorb even more as leftovers. You can choose to keep the salmon fillets whole or cut them into bite-sized pieces to have more to go around. You will be set for the week with this meal. It’s a fantastic option for a complete, quick, and satisfying meal prep.
how to store and reheat pesto salmon pasta
Refrigerate leftovers in airtight containers within 2 hours and eat them within 3 days. Reheat gently in a skillet over low heat or in the microwave at 50% power, with a splash of cream, milk or water stirred into the pasta to loosen the sauce. Low heat keeps the salmon from drying out. We don’t recommend freezing it, because the cream sauce can separate and the pasta turns soft.
tips for the best pesto salmon pasta
- Pat the salmon dry. A dry fillet in hot oil gets a golden crust. Leave it alone for the first 3 minutes so it releases from the pan on its own.
- Save a cup of pasta water. If the sauce gets too thick once the pasta goes in, a splash of starchy pasta water loosens it and helps it cling.
- Keep the sauce at a gentle simmer. Boiling pesto can turn the basil dark and make the oil separate, so keep the heat low once the pesto goes in.
- Taste before you salt. Pesto and parmesan are both salty, so season the sauce at the end.
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. It’s definitely one of those recipes worth saving. There’s nothing better than having what looks and tastes like a gourmet meal on the table, but one that saves you time behind the scenes.
Please leave us a star review and comment if you make this family favorite recipe.
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. I answer every single question as quickly as I can.
Happy cooking! And thanks for being part of our tribe, The Tasteful Tribe!
ENJOY!
pesto salmon pasta FAQs
Yes. Thaw it overnight in the fridge, then pat it very dry before searing so it browns instead of steaming.
Either works. If your fillets have skin, sear them skin side down first, as written. Skinless fillets just need a little less time on the first side.
It should flake easily with a fork and be opaque in the center. The USDA recommends 145°F on an instant-read thermometer. Many people pull it a little earlier for a more tender fillet.
Yes. A jar of basil pesto is what makes this a 20-minute dinner. Homemade pesto works too. Use the same ¼ cup.
We use penne, but any short shape that holds a creamy sauce works, like rigatoni, fusilli or farfalle.
If you love this recipe, check out…
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recipe video
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Easy Pesto Salmon Pasta (Ready in 20 Minutes!)
- SFSugar Free
Ingredients
- 1 pound cooked pasta
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 4 salmon fillets
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp italian seasoning
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ cup pesto sauce
- 1 cup cream
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- fresh basil leaves, finely chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions. Season salmon fillets with salt and pepper. Into a large skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil. Once the oil is hot, place the salmon fillets in the skillet skin side down and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until salmon is cooked through or has reached desired doneness. Transfer from skillet and set aside.
- Prepare the sauce; in the same skillet over medium heat, add butter and onions. Once onions are translucent add garlic powder, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper to taste. Stir until fragrant.
- Reduce heat to low; add in cream and pesto sauce and let simmer 2-3 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the heat and stir in parmesan cheese until well combined.
- Nestle in the cooked salmon fillets into the sauce along with the cooked pasta noodles. Garnish with freshly chopped basil leaves.
Equipment
- 1 skillet
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