Description
A quick, one-pan weeknight dinner featuring seared salmon in a rich, creamy sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and garlic served over pasta.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs salmon fillets
- Salt and black pepper
- Italian seasoning
- 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil)
- 1.5 cups heavy cream
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup chicken broth (low-sodium)
- 4 cups fresh baby spinach
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 pound penne or rigatoni
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining, then set pasta aside.
- While pasta cooks, heat butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season salmon fillets with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Sear salmon in the skillet for 3-4 minutes on one side until golden brown. Flip and cook for another 2-3 minutes until cooked through but moist. Remove salmon from pan and set aside on a plate.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic to the same skillet and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add chopped sun-dried tomatoes and cook for 1 minute.
- Pour in chicken broth and simmer for 2 minutes to deglaze the pan, scraping up brown bits. Stir in heavy cream and simmer for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Toss in fresh spinach and stir until wilted (1-2 minutes). Remove skillet from heat.
- Stir in grated Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. If sauce is too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Add drained pasta to the skillet and toss to coat in the sauce. Flake salmon into large chunks and gently fold into the pasta.
- Serve immediately with extra Parmesan, fresh basil, and black pepper.
Notes
Do not overcook the salmon; it continues to cook after removal from heat. Use the oil from the sun-dried tomato jar for extra flavor. Always remove the pan from heat before adding cheese to prevent clumping. Reserve pasta water to help the sauce cling to the noodles.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate with salmon
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 800
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 60
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 35
Keywords: Tuscan salmon pasta, creamy salmon recipe, one-pan dinner, weeknight meals, easy pasta recipes, healthy salmon dinner