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    Home » Pasta

    Creamy Lemon and Fresh Tomato Salmon Pasta

    Published: Mar 8, 2017 / Updated: May 26, 2020 / 165 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my affiliate disclosure for more details.

    Jump to Recipe

    My creamy lemon and fresh tomato salmon pasta is an easy and fresh (yet decadent!) pasta dish that's ready in only 20 minutes.

    close-up of white bowl with creamy lemon and fresh tomato salmon pasta
    Photos updated 5/2020

    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. Something about seafood pasta hits the spot for me.

    piece of fresh salmon searing in a skillet

    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. 😉

    Love creamy salmon recipes? You'll probably like my creamy Tuscan salmon or my creamy salmon piccata.

    close-up of salmon and tomato pasta (spaghetti) with lemon garlic cream sauce

    Recipe notes & tips:

    • You can buy salmon with the skin on or already taken off. If you bought salmon with the skin on and don't want to eat it, you can simply peel it off after you've done the searing step... it's really easy to do that. 
    • I love my Microplane zester/grater to zest the lemon and grate parmesan cheese.
    • I used spaghetti for this creamy salmon pasta recipe, but feel free to sub with any pasta you choose.

    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.

    More salmon pasta recipes you may like:

    • Easy Smoked Salmon Pasta
    • Lemon Dill Salmon Pasta
    • Garlic Butter Salmon Pasta
    • Cajun Salmon Pasta

    two white bowls of fresh tomato salmon pasta

    Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions about this fresh salmon pasta recipe!

    close-up of white bowl with creamy lemon and fresh tomato salmon pasta

    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. 
    4.87 from 58 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 2
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
     

    • 4 ounces uncooked spaghetti (or other pasta)
    • 1/2 pound fresh salmon
    • 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning or to taste
    • 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 al dente 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 4-5 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.

    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. 
    Keyword salmon pasta with tomato, tomato salmon pasta
    Author Natasha Bull
    « Easter Chocolate Covered Strawberries
    Pork Chops in an Irish Whiskey Cream Sauce »

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    1. Rachel Thornton says

      January 21, 2023 at 7:28 PM

      Absolutely delicious. I made this on a whim so I did not have the lemon; other than that I followed the recipe as written and it tasted fabulous.

      Reply
      • Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says

        January 21, 2023 at 9:14 PM

        Excellent! So glad it worked out, Rachel!

        Reply
    2. Pauline Clarke says

      January 12, 2023 at 10:53 PM

      5 stars
      I love this recipe so tasty I’m making it again today, thanks for posting it

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 13, 2023 at 11:40 AM

        Wonderful! You're very welcome, Pauline. 🙂

        Reply
    3. Agata O says

      December 24, 2022 at 3:35 PM

      5 stars
      Ive made this so many times and this recipe is such a winner I'm making it for our Christmas Eve seafood dinner. It's going to razzle dazzle the whole family! 5 star meal for sure!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        December 25, 2022 at 4:38 PM

        That makes me so happy! 🙂

        Reply
    4. Karen says

      October 25, 2022 at 4:24 AM

      Loved the shuttle lemon flavour, it was delicious and so easy. I used cooking cream. I might add in capers next time but I cannot fault this. I will make it again. Thanks.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 25, 2022 at 10:34 AM

        You're welcome!

        Reply
    5. Rob says

      June 26, 2022 at 11:47 AM

      5 stars
      This is without doubt the best recipe I have ever found. I'm not one to particularly follow recipes but this is so simple and easy to follow. It's one of the most rewarding recipes you'll come across. Thank you so much for sharing this little gem.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        June 27, 2022 at 12:33 AM

        That's so nice to hear, Rob!! 🙂 I appreciate your kind review!!

        Reply
    6. Jean says

      April 7, 2022 at 7:03 PM

      5 stars
      Fantastic yummy recipe. I substituted fresh salsa I made instead of tomatoes and butternut squash noodles instead of pasta. Great recipe. A keeper for sure. P

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 7, 2022 at 8:01 PM

        Love those twists!

        Reply
    7. Lisa Curwin Brown says

      December 19, 2021 at 5:03 PM

      5 stars
      Very Good! I had extra salmon so more meaty and had made fresh carrot pasta. Definitely a keeper recipe. Used Coffee Cream (18%) as the cream portion. Otherwise no changes and it was truly amazing.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        December 19, 2021 at 5:40 PM

        I'm so pleased you enjoyed it, Lisa! 🙂

        Reply
    8. Gloria b says

      November 6, 2021 at 4:04 PM

      This was really, really good

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        November 6, 2021 at 6:40 PM

        Thank you!! 🙂

        Reply
    9. Conrad Clayton says

      October 12, 2021 at 6:02 AM

      Can you substitute either low fat creme frais or yogurt for the cream in this recipe?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 12, 2021 at 9:36 AM

        You could give it a try, but it won't taste quite the same, and there's always a chance lower fat products won't work well or will curdle.

        Reply
    10. NF says

      August 11, 2021 at 9:55 PM

      5 stars
      This recipe is amazing, Was looking for A yummy recipe to use my moms fresh tomatoes from her garden, this was the ticket! I used smoked salmon instead of fresh, which added to the richness of the cream sauce. Since I did not need to sear the salmon I sautéed a little onion and garlic in the butter then added tomatoes, fresh basil, cream and other ingredients.
      All the flavors in this recipe were amazing together, the lemon, cream tomato and salmon. I 100% recommend it !
      Thank you for sharing ur recipe Natasha

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        August 12, 2021 at 10:32 AM

        I'm so glad you were able to tweak it and enjoyed it. You're very welcome!! 😀

        Reply
    11. Ivana says

      July 9, 2021 at 11:45 AM

      5 stars
      I have made this recipe hundreds of times since discovering it! My family and die, including a picky eater old, absolutely love it!
      Thank you very much it is so tasty and so versatile, sometimes I use canned tomatoes, sometimes escape pod an ingredient sometimes are use a different mustard it’s a really delicious recipe- awesome x

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        July 9, 2021 at 3:59 PM

        Fantastic!! That makes me so happy!

        Reply
    12. Cathy Fields says

      June 28, 2021 at 5:17 PM

      5 stars
      Absolutely delicious! We served it with garlic bread and roasted asparagus. 👅

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        June 28, 2021 at 5:35 PM

        Great!!! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I want some garlic bread now lol.

        Reply
    13. Paul Lockyer says

      June 27, 2021 at 7:42 PM

      5 stars
      Very nice balance of acid (from the lemon and to a lesser extent, the tomatoes), and creaminess. I made it with linguine which was perfect for the sauce to stick to. This is a keeper.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        June 27, 2021 at 8:38 PM

        So pleased you enjoyed it, Paul! 🙂

        Reply
    14. Aleksandra says

      June 7, 2021 at 4:40 PM

      5 stars
      I was reading through the comments to see if anyone had made this recipe lactose free and stumbled upon a negative review…. I have no idea how anyone with tastebuds could have a single bad word to say about this recipe !! It is amazing and whenever I want to make a quick and easy mouthwatering dish, this is what I come to ♥️

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        June 8, 2021 at 7:28 AM

        Aww thank you so much!! 🙂 I'm glad you like it!

        Reply
    15. Hungry mama says

      May 28, 2021 at 3:28 PM

      5 stars
      I made it with leftover salmon and used plain yogurt since I didn’t have cream. I turned out wonderful! My two year old ate four bowls of it. Thanks for this recipe! Yum!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 28, 2021 at 6:33 PM

        Fantastic! So glad it worked out! 🙂

        Reply
      • Conrad Clayton says

        October 12, 2021 at 6:04 AM

        5 stars
        Hi, wish I'd scrolled down before posting my query about alternatives to the cream.
        Thanks.

        Reply
        • Natasha says

          October 12, 2021 at 9:37 AM

          It's all good! 🙂

          Reply
    16. sharon says

      May 23, 2021 at 4:45 AM

      5 stars
      I added some mushrooms. This was delicious! Thank you

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 23, 2021 at 10:24 AM

        Great!! So pleased you enjoyed it.

        Reply
    17. Lynn says

      May 22, 2021 at 5:49 PM

      5 stars
      I am somewhat of a foodie and knew this would be awesome from looking at the preparation...and it was!!! Simply delicious dish. I added some peas to give a little green pop to the dish. We make this dish often and love it every time!!!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 22, 2021 at 8:51 PM

        Yay!! so happy you enjoyed it. Thanks for taking the time to write a review. 😀

        Reply
    18. Lori Millsap says

      May 18, 2021 at 12:59 PM

      5 stars
      Delicious, quick & easy! Thank you 🤩
      I don't usually post or rate as I'm typically rushing around & forget. Today our neighbor gave us a bag full of tomatoes from their garden. We have lemons on our tree and leftover salmon. This was perfect! I followed your recipe (loosely measuring because I was lazy) & it was delicious.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 18, 2021 at 1:00 PM

        Fantastic!! So happy you enjoyed it, Lori. Thanks for taking the time to write me a review. 🙂

        Reply
    19. Lynda says

      April 6, 2021 at 9:23 AM

      5 stars
      I had some cooked salmon and grape tomatoes to use up and this recipe came up when I searched those two ingredients in Google. So happy that I tried it as it was absolutely delicious! This dish is a keeper and will go into my meal plan rotation. I plan on trying your salmon piccata recipe the next time I buy some more salmon.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 6, 2021 at 9:31 AM

        Wonderful!! I'm so glad you liked it. Hope you enjoy the piccata too! 🙂

        Reply
    20. Larissa faria says

      March 17, 2021 at 5:18 PM

      5 stars
      Love you’re website and how easy it is to follow the recipes. When my boyfriend and I are stuck and don’t know what to eat I always go on your blog.

      My boyfriend is lactose free so we usually sub it into a creamer from so delicious that is lactose free . Do you think I would have an issue with it?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        March 18, 2021 at 9:39 AM

        That's awesome! I'm so glad you are a regular reader... I really appreciate that. I think that could work, I also heard that Silk makes a dairy-free whipping cream you could try.

        Reply
    21. Sara says

      February 28, 2021 at 10:45 AM

      5 stars
      This is so incredibly delicious. I make it all the time, for myself, for guests, for anyone. It’s lemon-y, garlic-y, salmon-y perfection! 🙌🏽

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 28, 2021 at 12:27 PM

        Aww thank you so much!! 😀

        Reply
    22. OGRamsay says

      February 23, 2021 at 3:41 PM

      1 star
      Made this exactly as posted and it sucked. Terrible recipe

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 23, 2021 at 3:43 PM

        Is that right? Can you articulate why or are you just going to be rude about it? The majority of the reviews are positive, so I'd love to hear what went wrong.

        Reply
    23. NMcDonald says

      January 28, 2021 at 6:30 PM

      5 stars
      I made this last night and it was delicious!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 29, 2021 at 11:51 AM

        Fantastic!! Thank you!

        Reply
    24. Amanda Rush says

      November 7, 2020 at 4:45 PM

      5 stars
      This is incredibly tasty! Restaurant quality. Def a keeper.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        November 7, 2020 at 4:48 PM

        I'm so happy to hear that, Amanda! Thanks for commenting! XO

        Reply
    25. Danielle says

      November 3, 2020 at 8:24 AM

      I am in love with this recipe and didn't even make it yet! Love your website!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        November 3, 2020 at 9:13 AM

        Thank you, Danielle! 🙂

        Reply
    26. Natasha says

      September 9, 2020 at 2:59 AM

      5 stars
      Cooked this tonight for my fussy family and we all loved it! Highly recommend 😊 I added some baby spinach to give a bit of colour and doubled the quantity it was perfect!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        September 9, 2020 at 9:22 AM

        Yay!! Great!

        Reply
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