Easy Creamy Salmon Linguine
This easy creamy salmon linguine recipe comes together in under 30 minutes, offering a delicious and satisfying meal with minimal effort.
Equipment
- Large pot
- Non-stick skillet
- Paper towels
- Whisk or fork
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 salmon fillets (about 4-6 ounces each), fresh or frozen (thawed)
- 8 oz linguine (or your favorite pasta)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 4-6 tablespoons cream cheese
- up to 1 cup Reserved pasta cooking water
- fresh parsley Optional garnishes:
- dill Optional garnishes:
- lemon wedges Optional garnishes:
- Parmesan cheese Optional garnishes:
- red pepper flakes Optional garnishes:
- spinach Optional garnishes:
- cherry tomatoes Optional garnishes:
Instructions
Cook the Pasta
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook linguine until al dente.
- Reserve about 1 cup of pasta cooking water before draining; set pasta aside.
Prepare the Salmon
- Pat salmon fillets dry and season generously with salt and pepper.
Pan-Seared Method
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat, then cook salmon skin-side down for 4-5 minutes until crispy.
- Flip and cook for another 3-5 minutes until cooked through.
Baked Method
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C), line a baking sheet, and drizzle salmon with olive oil.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until cooked through.
Make the 2-Ingredient Sauce
- Once salmon is cooked, flake it into bite-sized pieces.
- In the same pan, combine cream cheese and a splash of reserved pasta water; stir until smooth and creamy.
- Adjust consistency with more pasta water as needed and season with salt and pepper.
Combine Everything & Serve
- Add drained pasta and flaked salmon to the pan with the sauce and toss gently to coat.
- If the sauce is too thick, add more pasta water until it coats the pasta nicely.
- Serve immediately, garnished with parsley, dill, lemon, Parmesan, red pepper flakes, spinach, or cherry tomatoes as desired.
Notes
This dish is highly customizable; feel free to add your favorite vegetables like asparagus or peas during the last few minutes of pasta cooking for an even heartier meal.