My creamy lemon and fresh tomato salmon pasta is an easy and fresh (yet decadent!) pasta dish that’s ready in only 20 minutes.
My creamy garlic salmon pasta has done really well (I hope I didn’t just jinx it!), and I wanted to do something similar in this tomato salmon pasta.
Although salmon is versatile and I like to prepare it several different ways, enjoying it with pasta and a creamy sauce is probably my all-time favorite way of cooking it.
Salmon pasta is so quick and easy and typically tastes like it’s more complicated to make than it is!
I love seafood pasta. When I’m anywhere near a coast, I order copious amounts of it since normally I’m landlocked and don’t usually have access to the best seafood. It’s not like you can’t get seafood here, but it’s just not the same as being right there.
You can find pretty good salmon here, so that’s my go-to when I’m craving something from the ocean. I’m not even a big pasta person (though you wouldn’t know it with the volume of pasta recipes I post on here!), but something about seafood pasta hits the spot for me.
It’s not spring yet, but the lemon and tomato make this a comforting yet light and fresh meal. A little bit of Dijon mustard is my not-so-secret ingredient (you’ll see it a lot if you read this blog often) for adding more depth of flavor.
Aaaand of course garlic is in here because it’s basically my lifeblood. I actually need a new garlic press because I’ve managed to use mine to the point where it’s partially destroyed. 🙂
I used spaghetti for this creamy salmon pasta recipe, but feel free to sub with any pasta you choose.
And, like any pasta dish, a bit of fresh parmesan cheese grated on top seals the deal. 🙂
I hope you enjoy this easy salmon pasta recipe as much as I did! I really need to make it again soon.
That lemon-tomato-cream sauce is the best, really.
Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions about this fresh salmon pasta recipe!
Creamy Lemon and Fresh Tomato Salmon Pasta
My creamy lemon and fresh tomato salmon pasta is an easy and fresh (yet decadent!) pasta dish that's ready in only 20 minutes.
Ingredients
- 4 ounces uncooked spaghetti (or other pasta)
- 1/2 pound fresh salmon
- Italian seasoning
- Salt & pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 2 medium tomatoes chopped
- 3/4 cup heavy/whipping cream
- Juice and zest of 1/2 medium lemon (about 1 tbsp juice)
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Chopped parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Boil a salted pot of water and cook pasta according to package directions.
- Sprinkle both sides of the salmon with Italian seasoning and salt & pepper, to taste
- Add oil and butter to a skillet on medium heat. Sear salmon for 3 minutes/side. Remove salmon from pan and set aside.
- Add the tomato, cream, lemon juice and zest, garlic, and Dijon mustard. Stir until smooth and cook for 2 minutes, then stir in the parmesan.
- Add the salmon back into the pan, and use a spoon to break it up into smaller pieces. Reduce heat to medium-low and cover. Cook for another 5 minutes, or until the salmon is cooked through. Season with more salt and pepper if needed.
- Once the pasta is cooked, toss it with the sauce. Serve with parsley and some extra grated parmesan cheese if desired.
Recipe Notes
- I don't recommend subbing the cream with half-and-half or milk because the sauce is likely to curdle due to the amount of citrus in this recipe.
Love creamy salmon recipes? You’ll probably like my creamy Tuscan salmon.
Sara says
I just made this for dinner this evening and it’s SO good! I didn’t have the Dijon mustard but it still turned out fine. Thanks for the great recipe, was super quick and easy!
Natasha says
I’m so glad you liked it, Sara!! 🙂 Thanks for leaving a comment!
tom martella says
Wow- what a dish! Now I don’t have to take my wife out for a really nice dinner! Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Natasha says
Haha thanks, Tom!!
John Hampton says
Thanks for the recipe.
My girlfriend LOVED it 😉
Natasha says
So happy to hear that, John!
Tracy says
Made this delicious dish for lunch with girlfriends today – it was a hit! Thanks for the recipe.
Natasha says
That’s great! Thanks for letting me know!
Martin Joseph says
I just made this recipe from some salmon fillets I had left from yesterday and it was absolutely delicious!
I followed the recipe to the letter and it turned out – my daughter is a real foodie and she really loved it!
Thank you Natasha – I will definitely make it again.
Martin
x
Natasha says
That’s so great to hear, Martin!! 🙂 Thanks for leaving a comment.
Lynda says
This was Amazing. Made it with GF pasta & it was great! Definitely a keeper.
Natasha says
That’s awesome!! Thanks for letting me know. ❤️
Reena says
This looks amazing! How many ounces were your salmon pieces?
Natasha says
Hi Reena! I usually buy ones that total about 1/2 lb. I’ll update the recipe. They tend to vary a lot and I just eyeball what seems like a good serving size. Enjoy!
Christelle says
Very good recipe but did not have enough lemon juice for the taste so I had to add more. As we say, we all have different taste.
Overall, great, easy and fast recipe to cook on a week night and very delicious … with more lemon juice squeezed on top with shredded parmesan and fresh ground pepper. Thanks! 🙂
Natasha says
So glad you liked it! Yes, definitely adjust to taste. I had one person complain on a similar recipe that there was way too much lemon juice… I can’t please everyone haha. Personally I am like you and prefer more.
Lorena says
Yummy! Thanks for the recipe. My 2 boys in the house loved it! Will definitely make this again.
Natasha says
Awesome! Thanks for letting me know. 🙂
Pat says
I used my leftover salmon that was a bit over cooked. So I sautéed the garlic first, threw in the listed ingredients into the pan. Then, I added my salmon that I chopped up and cooked penne pasta. Stirred and served. Delicious recipe for leftover salmon.
Natasha says
So glad you liked it and were able to salvage that overcooked leftover salmon, Pat! 🙂
Aaron Cooper says
Great! Enjoyed cooking it and eating it 😀
Natasha says
Excellent!! Thanks, Aaron!
Mary tuck says
Absolutely delicious recipe. Thank you so much for posting. Will be following your future recipies
Natasha says
That’s wonderful to hear, Mary! ❤️
Louise says
Great recipe. But how do you stop the cream curdling?
Natasha says
Did the cream curdle for you? I avoid using half-and-half or milk for recipes like this because of that issue. I have never had a problem with heavy cream curdling in a sauce (even with acidic ingredients like lemon and tomatoes). Cooking at a lower temperature can help with curdling as well.
Louise Bostock says
Yes, the second time I cooked it I kept the temperature low and it really worked. I LOVE this recipes!
Natasha says
❤️❤️
Dave Percy says
Brilliant, simple recipe. Love it!
Natasha says
Awesome! Thanks so much for letting me know.
Dave S says
So I made the Keto version using Zoodles instead of pasta. It turned out really great. I sauted the zoodles after the salmon came out of the pan for about five minutes.
Natasha says
Love your zoodles idea! So glad you liked the dish.
Andre says
I swapped the fresh tomatoes for tinned chopped tomatoes, which i dranned first. I them swapped the fresh salmon for frozen salmon, cooked in the oven for 25 min. The cream i swapped for oat cream (my gf is lactose intolerant) and the parmesan for a lacto free one. It tasted absolutrly delicous. Well done for the recipe.
Natasha says
I am so glad you were able to modify the recipe for your lactose-intolerant gf! Thanks for the tips (may help other readers) and so happy you guys enjoyed it.
Giancarlo Morini says
Would this work with Fat Free Greek yoghurt instead of cream to reduce calories?
Natasha says
Hi! You could give it a try, but it’ll definitely change the texture and taste.
Muk says
I made a few small changes to this dish last night, and my wife was very impressed with the meal. Thank you for sharing.
Natasha says
That’s great!! Thanks for letting me know. 🙂
Mong says
This is an amazing recipe! Thank you for sharing
Dan says
Thanks from the UK! We’ve just made it and it was amazing! Easy restaurant quality pasta at home!!
Natasha says
That’s wonderful to hear, Dan! Hope you guys are staying cool.. heard the weather has been crazy hot over there!
Yevette Jones says
THANKS for your salmon n pasta recipe, followed it to the T! But added some cherry tomatoes from my garden and used penne pasta!!! Used some baguette bread from yesterday n sprinkled cheese on it( put in oven) my Son loved it!
Fed up cooking same old, same old n stumbled on you’re recipe on internet.
Will certainly log on to you for lovely, refreshing ideas!x
Natasha says
Excellent, I’m so happy it worked out 🙂
Laurie Nicholas says
Hi, what other Herb can bè used?
Natasha says
Hi Laurie! Italian seasoning is a mix of herbs, so I’d probably either leave it out or use whatever herb blend you have in your pantry. Changing it to just one herb will change the taste of the dish, and I haven’t tested it with anything else. Herbs de Provence would work too if you have a jar of that.
Nadine says
This was delicious! I’m not the best cook so thankful it is a simple recipe to make but would impress if entertaining. Thank you.
Natasha says
I’m so happy the recipe was easy to follow, Nadine… that is what I am for! Thanks for coming back and letting me know. 🙂
Sandra Amos says
Just made this for the first time. Wanted a quick meal this evening and this certainly didn’t disappoint. Very tasty indeed. Forgot to add the parmesan, have only just realised but it was very good even without. I had some baby plum tomatoes so halved these and also added some sugar snaps to the spaghetti once it was almost finished cooking. Will definitely be making it again.
Natasha says
That’s great!! so happy it worked out, Sandra!