This Salmon Spinach Pasta in a creamy sauce is a healthy, easy and delicious meal that's perfect for busy weeknights.
It just may just become your new favorite salmon recipe!
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Seafood and pasta are a match made in heaven. If you loved Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Pasta, or Seafood Enchiladas, you are going to want to make this creamy salmon spinach pasta dish.
Although we should all be eating more seafood for our health, it's important to choose sustainable seafood. If the fish or seafood has been fished in an ocean friendly way, it will usually be labelled as such. You can learn more about it from the Marine Stewardship Council.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- This salmon pasta recipe is a great way to eat more seafood.
- Salmon is good for you! This tasty protein is low in calories and saturated fat. It's also rich in essential fatty acids.
- To make this creamy salmon pasta recipe even healthier, we are using Greek yogurt and not heavy cream.
- This creamy pasta dish is an easy recipe that takes only 20 minutes to make a dinner the whole family will love.
- Salmon spinach pasta may seem fancy, but it works just as well for weeknight dinners as for a date night.
Ingredient Notes
- Salmon There are 5 salmon varieties: Sockeye, Coho, Pink, King (Chinook) and Atlantic. You can use any of them for this spinach salmon pasta recipe. Atlantic salmon has a more subtle flavor and texture. If you prefer wild salmon, be aware that Atlantic salmon is only available as farmed salmon.
- Spinach For this recipe, we're using fresh spinach leaves but you can also use thawed frozen spinach, too.
- Pasta The smaller pasta shapes tend to hold the creamy sauce well, but you can use any pasta. I'm using gluten free rigatoni.
- Greek yogurt You can use sour cream instead. However, Greek yogurt is lower in calories and fat and higher in protein than sour cream. I often use it to create lighter creamy pasta recipes like this one and others, like my asparagus and chicken pasta.
- Lemon Salmon and lemon just go together. But, if you prefer, you can use a splash of white wine in place of the lemon juice.
- Dill Fresh or dried dill will be equally as good. If you use fresh dill, save some to use a a garnish.
How to Make It
Salmon and spinach pasta is so easy to make with just a few simple steps!
- Season the salmon
- Bake until it flakes easily with a fork
- Break salmon into chunks with a fork and set aside
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions, then drain in a colander
- Return the pasta to the pot and stir in spinach until just wilted
- Stir in Greek yogurt, lemon juice, and red pepper flakes
- Add salmon pieces and toss gently
Top Tips
- If you have a larger piece of salmon, cut it into smaller pieces before baking. This will allow for quicker cooking.
- Bake extra salmon for the next day. Leftover salmon is perfect for sandwiches, salads (like this Salmon, Spinach Mandarin Orange Salad), and soups (try Salmon Chowder ). You can also bake it into Salmon Cakes or a Salmon Frittata, or even make Salmon Quesadillas.
- Fresh salmon or thawed frozen salmon will work in this recipe, and you can also use canned salmon.
- Before draining the pasta, scoop out and reserve a cup of the pasta water. You can use it to thin the sauce if necessary.
- Don't add olive oil or any oil to the water when cooking the pasta. It will prevent the sauce from clinging to the noodles.
- Salmon should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145°
Variations
- This recipe will work with smoked salmon as well as fresh. Buy extra smoked salmon to make Salmon Sushi Bowls.
- Substitute spinach with kale, or green peas.
- If you have extra time you can sauté a small onion and a couple of minced garlic cloves. Add these to the pasta along with the spinach.
- If you have an air fryer, you can use that to cook the salmon. Here's how: Air Fryer Salmon.
Did you make this recipe? Please leave a rating in the comments below and let us know how it turned out. Did you make any changes? We would love for you to share and your feedback is important! Thank you for visiting The Food Blog!
Recipe
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Salmon Spinach Pasta
This creamy pasta with delicious chunks of salmon and fresh spinach is a healthy, delicious dinner that's on the table in just 20 minutes.
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Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 479kcal
Ingredients
- 1 pound salmon fillet with skin
- 2 teaspoons dried dill or one tablespoon fresh
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- zest of one lemon
- 12 oz rigatoni or or your favorite pasta
- 4 cups baby spinach leaves
- ½ cup Greek yogurt
- fresh lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 400°. Place salmon fillet skin side down on a parchment lined baking sheet. Sprinkle the fish with dill, lemon zest, salt and pepper and press into the fish.
- Bake the salmon until the flesh is opaque throughout and flakes easily with a fork. Depending on the thickness of your fillet, it should only take 7-10 minutes.
- Remove salmon from oven and break into chunks with a fork. The fish will easily come off of the skin, which can be discarded.
- While the salmon is cooking, cook pasta al dente in a large pot of water until , usually 8-10 minutes, but check your package directions.
- Scoop out and reserve a cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta into a colander.
- Return pasta to pot, and over low heat, add spinach, tossing until leaves are just wilted. Add Greek yogurt, lemon juice and red pepper flakes and toss to coat pasta. Use the reserved pasta water to thin sauce if needed.
- Add salmon and toss again gently until everything is coated with sauce, remove from heat and serve.
Notes
- If you have a larger piece of salmon, cut it into smaller pieces before baking. This will allow for quicker cooking.
- Bake extra salmon for the next day. Leftover salmon is perfect for sandwiches, salads (like this Salmon, Spinach Mandarin Orange Salad), and soups (try Salmon Chowder ). You can also bake it into Salmon Cakes or a Salmon Frittata, or even make Salmon Quesadillas.
- Fresh salmon or thawed frozen salmon will work in this recipe, and you can also use canned salmon.
- Before draining the pasta, scoop out and reserve a cup of the pasta water. You can use it to thin the sauce if necessary.
- Don't add olive oil or any oil to the water when cooking the pasta. It will prevent the sauce from clinging to the noodles.
- Salmon should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145°
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 479kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 423mg | Potassium: 779mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 2926IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 81mg | Iron: 3mg
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Amanda Mason
Super tasty combination! I had never had salmon in pasta before but it was yummy!! Great recipe!
Colleen
Hi Amanda, I'm happy that you loved it! Thanks for your feedback!
Tammy
This really a perfect idea for leftover salmon. It's creamy and delicious...absolute comfort food. I can't wait to make salmon just to have this leftover!
Colleen
This is a perfect recipe for using leftover Salmon, Tammy! I'm so happy that you loved it!
Brianna May
I love trying new pasta recipes! And this one was absolutely delish!!
Colleen
It's great to hear this, Brianna! I appreciate your comment!
UR
I always make pasta with leftover veggies. This spinach pasta looks so creamy and flavorful. I will make this tonight.
Colleen
Enjoy Ur!
Leslie
This is a fantastic way to eat more seafood! Adding spinach was the perfect touch as well!
Colleen
I'm happy you loved this pasta, Leslie!
Oscar
Loved how easy this was to make and it turned out amazing. Would never have thought to use greek yogurt with the pasta, delicious!
Colleen
Hi Oscar, I'm so happy that the salmon spinach pasta turned out great for you. Thanks for the feedback!
Bernice
This pasta dish comes together so quickly and it's delicious. I used our leftover salmon but I wonder, do you think smoked salmon would work as well?
Colleen
Hi Bernice. I'm so glad you found this recipe quick and delicious! Yes, absolutely you can use smoked salmon as I did mention in the post, and even canned salmon works too!
Heather
Loved this salmon pasta! Loved the dill and lemon flavors...and that the sauce was made with greek yogurt. Creamy without the guilt 🙂
Colleen
Just what I love to hear Heather! So happy you enjoyed this recipe!
mikayla
Salmon is a family favorite here, so putting this meal together was great. A new salmon recipe is always welcome, especially when it tasted so good.
Colleen
Hi Mikayla, I'm happy the salmon pasta turned out great for you!
Tania
Made it for my boyfriend and he really enjoyed it! So quick, easy and healthy too!
Colleen
It's great to hear that your boyfriend enjoyed this salmon pasta, Tania! Your comment is appreciated.
Freya
Yum! This was so nourishing, filling and delicious! I loved the idea of salmon cooked with pasta, something I’ve never thought about doing!
Colleen
Hi Freya! I'm so glad you loved this pasta. Thanks for your feedback!
Claudia Lamascolo
Very delicious dish we love salmon and this was a winner!
Amy Liu Dong
This pasta recipe is so easy and delicious. I am sure my family will love this, yummy!
Colleen
I hope your family enjoys the salmon pasta, Amy!
Colleen
That's awesome to hear, Claudia! Thanks for commenting!
Keri
What a simple, but tasty recipe. Thank you so much!
Colleen
You're very welcome, Keri!
Suja md
One of my favorites! These looks absolutely great! can't wait to try!
Colleen
I would love to hear back how it worked out for you, Suja. Enjoy!
Nathan
I adore this recipe, salmon is my favorite kind of fish and I love that this pasta is so quick and easy to make!
Colleen
Hi Nathan! I'm happy to hear that you liked this salmon pasta. It's a family favorite for us!
Kathryn Watson
Very good mea! My family enjoyed it
Colleen
Hi Kathryn! So nice to hear from you. I'm glad that you & your family enjoyed it! Cheers