Looking for a dish that combines the elegance of Italian cuisine with the rich flavors of salmon? Pasta al Salmone is your go-to recipe! It's a quick dinner recipe using penne pasta, a creamy lemon sauce, and fresh salmon!
These are the exact kind of recipes I love. Simple enough for weeknight, but special enough to serve for a dinner party. It's all about balance! Weeknights don't have to be boring and hosting doesn't have to be hard.
Salmon recipes are a go-to for me! Just like Lemon Caper Tray Baked Salmon and Asparagus or 30 Minute Healthy Mediterranean Salmon Recipe, they are done quickly and will be the star of the show for date night, weeknight, or any special occasion.
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Why You'll Love It
This simple creamy pasta will be one of your new favorite 30 minute recipes and here's why!
- It's a one-pot meal! Less clean up is always a win in my book for a simple recipe.
- 30 minute dinner. Quick and delicious? This salmon pasta will not have your in the kitchen all day.
- It's hearty, but refreshing. I love the mix of salmon and lemon together. It's a protein rich dinner that is filling, but refreshing from the lemony sauce!
🥂Make it A Rosy Moment
This recipe is a staple in our home. For many reasons, but mostly because its my quintessential "simple yet special" recipe and here's how I'd serve it to make it a rosy moment...
☀️Summer Dinner Party - light and fresh flavors of seafood pasta pair well with a chilled glass of wine and good friends!
- Pasta al Salmone
- Chilled bottle of Chasing Venus Sauvignon Blanc
- 5 Minute Marinated Italian Tomatoes
❤️Date Night In -Dinner for two! Make this simple pasta for your partner and enjoy a romantic night at home!
- The Best Italian Limoncello Spritz
- Pasta al Salmone
- Italian Stuffed Mushroom Caps
- Parmesan Mushroom Toast
🎄Seafood Holiday Dinner - want to switch it up this year for your holiday dinner? A salmon pasta is a unique and easy meal for your family!
Important Ingredients
When a recipe is this simple, fresh ingredients and quality ingredients are important! So good quality salmon, great pasta, and parmigiano reggiano will make this classic Italian pasta dish really shine. Here are the basic ingredients you'll need:
- Fresh salmon fillets or smoked salmon - If you are short on time, smoked salmon is a great alternative to cooking your own salmon. Or you could even use leftover salmon!
- Penne pasta (or other short pasta shape like rigatoni, ziti)
- Heavy cream (or dairy-free alternative like coconut milk or oat milk)
- White wine or vodka (Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio is always a good option, any dry white wine will work!)
- Aromatics: Shallots, fresh garlic, extra virgin olive oil
- Toppings: Parmesan cheese, fresh basil, kosher salt, pepper, lemon zest, red pepper flakes
Swaps and Substitutions
Here are a few swaps and subs for this penne al salmone recipe:
- Try vegetable broth for non-alcoholic version of the sauce
- Add vodka instead of white wine for a penne alla vodka!
- Switch up the pasta shape for whatever you may have on hand! (Farfalle al salmone anyone?!)
- Mix in caramelized onions for a deep, hearty flavor
- Top with some cherry tomatoes or sun-dried tomatoes
- Stir in asparagus or fresh peas for a fresh and bright addition
- Use other fresh herbs, such as fresh dill or fresh parsley, for a unique flavor combination. I love dill and salmon together!
- Make homemade, fresh pasta for something really authentic.
Full Recipe Below
Find the full list of ingredients & measurements below!
Step by Step Instructions
Pasta lovers rejoice! Making this salmon dish with a tasty cream sauce couldn't be easier and it's done in 30 minutes!
- Step 1: Heat a large skillet over medium high heat with olive oil. Saute the shallots for 2-3 minutes. Add in garlic and cook one more minute. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt, red pepper flakes, and black pepper.
- Step 2: Add in the salmon fillets skin side down and sear for 2-3 minutes.
- Step 3: Flip the salmon and gently pull off the skin.
- Step 4: Add in the white wine to deglaze the pan, scraping the bottom of the pan to remove anything that is stuck. Cook for 8-10 minutes until the wine is reduced.
- Step 5: Reduce the heat to low, then pour in the heavy cream and allow to simmer while you prepare the pasta.
- Step 6: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the pasta according to package instructions. Cook 8-10 minutes until al dente. (Strain and reserve 1 cup of pasta water)
- Add the pasta back to the sauce along with lemon zest, lemon juice, and reserved pasta water just a little at a time to thin out the sauce enough to coat the pasta.
- Gently flake apart the cooked salmon while stirring (make sure to still leave a few large salmon pieces). Top with fresh basil and extra lemon zest!
Top Tip
Prepping the salmon is so easy! Feel free to leave the skin on for cooking OR use my easy tutorial for the best way to remove salmon skin! You could also cut the salmon into pieces before cooking if you prefer that in your pasta alla salmone!
Other Cooking Techniques for Salmon
If you don't feel like baking your salmon, there are many other ways to prepare it that are just as easy.
- Use a large frying pan and pan sear the salmon. I love leaving the skin on for this like in my Crispy Rosemary Crusted Salmon!
- Use an air fryer. Dice the salmon into pieces and air fry them to perfection! Directions for air fried salmon are in this recipe for Air Fryer Salmon Bites.
- Bake the salmon on a sheet tray. I love prepping salmon like this, it's easy to make a few salmon fillets this way. Bake at 350 degrees for 17 minutes.
Tips & Tricks
Even an easy recipe like this has some tips and tricks to be used for an even more delicious salmon pasta recipe. Here's some tips for this easy dish:
- Using fresh vs smoked salmon - I prefer a wild salmon for my recipe, but using smoked salmon could cut down on cooking time and brings a whole new flavor to this dish! Salmon is the star of this dish, so make sure it's good quality as well.
- Achieving the perfect creamy consistency in the sauce is easy, just be sure to use freshly grated parmesan cheese so it melts down beautifully for the best results.
- Remove the pan from heat before adding in the cream to avoid scalding the white cream sauce.
- Cook your pasta al dente for the best texture and avoid it coming out too chewy.
- Use reserved pasta water in the salmon cream sauce to ensure it sticks to the pasta well!
- Use up leftover salmon for seafood pasta recipes like Salmon Spinach Pasta or One Skillet Salmon Pesto Pasta or in a Cream Cheese Salmon Dip!
& if you enjoyed this salmon pasta recipe, try my easy tuna pasta salad recipe!
What to Serve with Penne alla Salmone
Next time you make this creamy penne pasta dish, serve it up with some of these other recipes for a quick solution to a busy weeknight dinner.
- Homemade Dutch Oven Bread
- Spinach and Ricotta Rolls
- Fresh green salad
- Lemon Pepper Mozzarella Balls
💡Recipe FAQ
Use an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat on the stove for a delicious dinner! Buon appetito!
Sure! Defrost the salmon prior to cooking and use your preferred cooking method.
It's a delicious Italian penne pasta dish with a creamy white wine sauce and fresh salmon poached right in the sauce! It's an easy, one-skillet dinner that's done in 30 minutes.
Related Recipes
If you tried this Pasta al Salmone Recipe, or any other of the delicious recipes on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
📖 Recipe
Pasta Al Salmone
Equipment
- 1 skillet
Ingredients
- 4 salmon fillets or one large whole fillet
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1.5 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 shallot diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 lemon juiced
- zest of 1 lemon
- 1 cup dry white wine
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese freshly grated
- 16 oz penne pasta
- basil for garnish
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium high heat with olive oil. Saute the shallots for 2-3 minutes. Add in garlic and cook one more minute. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt, red pepper flakes, and black pepper.
- Add in the salmon fillets and sear for 2-3 minutes. Then flip the salmon over and gently peel the skin to remove it.
- Add in the white wine to deglaze the pan, scraping the bottom of the pan to remove anything that is stuck. Cook for 8-10 minutes until the wine is reduced.
- Reduce the heat to low, then pour in the heavy cream and allow to simmer while you prepare the pasta.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the pasta according to package instructions. Cook 8-10 minutes until al dente. (Strain and reserve 1 cup of pasta water)
- Add the pasta back to the sauce along with lemon zest, lemon juice, and reserved pasta water just a little at a time to thin out the sauce enough to coat the pasta.
- Gently flake apart the cooked salmon while stirring (make sure to still leave a few large salmon pieces).
- Top with fresh basil and extra lemon zest!
Notes
- Using fresh vs smoked salmon - I prefer a wild salmon for my recipe, but using smoked salmon could cut down on cooking time and brings a whole new flavor to this dish! Salmon is the star of this dish, so make sure it's good quality as well.
- Achieving the perfect creamy consistency in the sauce is easy, just be sure to use freshly grated parmesan cheese so it melts down beautifully for the best results.
- Remove the pan from heat before adding in the cream to avoid scalding the white cream sauce.
- Cook your pasta al dente for the best texture and avoid it coming out too chewy.
- Use reserved pasta water in the salmon cream sauce to ensure it sticks to the pasta well!
- Use up leftover salmon for seafood pasta recipes like Salmon Spinach Pasta or Salmon Pesto Pasta or in a Cream Cheese Salmon Dip!
Phyllis says
Yummy, this is a perfect dish