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Garlic Butter Salmon Pasta: Your New Favorite Weeknight Dinner

This Garlic Butter Salmon Pasta combines juicy salmon fillets with tender pasta in a luxurious garlic butter sauce. Perfect for busy weeknights, it delivers restaurant-quality dining in under 30 minutes with minimal cleanup.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 450
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ingredients
  • 12 oz salmon fillets, skin removed
  • 8 oz linguine or fettuccine pasta
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 lemon (juice and zest)
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)

Method
 

Instructions
  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining
  2. Pat salmon fillets dry and season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning, then cook for 4-5 minutes per side until golden and cooked through
  3. Create the garlic butter sauce by sautéing minced garlic in butter for 1 minute until fragrant
  4. Add lemon juice, lemon zest, and heavy cream to the skillet, then toss in cooked pasta with reserved pasta water
  5. Flake cooked salmon into chunks and gently fold into pasta, stirring in Parmesan cheese and parsley

Notes

Don't overcrowd the salmon when cooking, always reserve pasta water for the sauce, use fresh garlic for best flavor, and don't overcook the salmon as it continues cooking after removal from heat.