This Salmon and Asparagus Pasta is my favorite light comfort dinner. The tender salmon, crisp asparagus, and creamy Parmesan sauce come together so perfectly.
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Why This Recipe Stands Out
This Salmon and Asparagus Pasta is my favorite way to bring a little bit of freshness and comfort to dinner all at once. Here’s why it always turns out so well:
- Light but Creamy Sauce: Using milk instead of heavy cream keeps the sauce silky without feeling too rich. The texture is just as good as that of my Easy Spaghetti Carbonara.
- Perfectly Cooked Salmon: Searing the salmon first gives it a golden top and locks in all the juices. It reminds me of the perfect texture I get with my Seared Salmon with Brown Potatoes recipe.
- Springy Vegetables: Asparagus cooks right alongside the pasta, which means fewer dishes and more flavor.
- Quick One-Pot Finish: Everything comes together in a single pan at the end, so the sauce coats each strand of pasta.
- Easy to Adjust: You can swap the salmon for another fish or change up the veggies based on the season.
Key Ingredients
- Salmon – Tender and rich, salmon adds satisfying protein and a buttery flavor that pairs beautifully with the light cream sauce.
- Asparagus – Bright and slightly crisp, asparagus brings a fresh, green contrast that balances the richness of the salmon and sauce.
- Barilla ProteinPLUS Spaghetti – Hearty and slightly nutty, this pasta provides extra protein while soaking up the silky Parmesan sauce.
- Garlic – Sautéed until fragrant, garlic infuses the sauce with savory depth that ties all the flavors together.
- Milk & Flour – Whisked into a light roux, milk and flour create a creamy sauce that’s lighter than traditional heavy cream versions.
- Parmesan Cheese – Nutty and salty, Parmesan melts into the sauce for a rich, savory finish that clings to every strand of pasta.
- Olive Oil – Used for searing the salmon and sautéing aromatics, olive oil adds subtle fruitiness and helps build flavor.
Substitutions and Variations
Here are some of my favorite substitutions and variations:
- Pasta Options: Protein-enriched spaghetti works well here, but you can use regular spaghetti, linguine, or even penne.
- Dairy Adjustments: Milk keeps the sauce lighter, but half-and-half or cream can be used for a richer texture. A splash of lemon juice also brightens up the sauce.
- Vegetable Add-ins: Asparagus is classic in this dish, but peas, spinach, or sautéed zucchini can be added for more color and nutrition.
How to Make Salmon and Asparagus Pasta
Step 1: Heat 2 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Season salmon with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper, then cook for 3–4 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper towel.
Step 2: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti for 10 minutes, adding asparagus during the last 5 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup pasta water.
Step 3: In a separate pan, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Whisk in flour and cook for a few minutes, stirring constantly.
Step 4: Slowly add milk, reduce heat to low-medium, and whisk until smooth. Season with remaining ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Stir in Parmesan.
Step 5: Remove sauce from heat. Toss with pasta, asparagus, and salmon. Add reserved pasta water to loosen sauce if needed.
Step 6: Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.
For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.
What to Serve with Salmon and Asparagus Pasta
Fresh Salads
- Serve this pasta with a simple mixed greens salad tossed with a lemon vinaigrette. The bright, citrusy dressing cuts through the creamy sauce and complements the salmon.
- A Microgreens Salad is also a good match. Its crisp texture and fresh flavors pair nicely with the tender asparagus and pasta.
Light Vegetable Sides
- Roasted cherry tomatoes with a little olive oil and garlic add a sweet, juicy side that goes well with the savory salmon and Parmesan sauce.
- You could also serve Skillet Green Beans or Baked Zucchini to keep the plate colorful and light.
Bread
- Offer slices of homemade bread to mop up any extra sauce on the plate. The soft inside and crusty exterior of the bread work well with the creamy pasta.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can use cream if you want a richer, more decadent sauce. Milk keeps it lighter, but cream will give it a thicker, silkier texture.
No, you can bake it if you prefer. Just season the salmon with salt, pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil, then bake at 400 F for about 13 minutes. This is a good option if you want a hands-off method.
Absolutely. Broccoli, peas, or even spinach would all be great substitutes. Just be sure to adjust the cooking time so the vegetables stay tender but still have a little bite.
Pasta water contains starch that helps loosen the sauce while making it cling nicely to the noodles. It also gives the sauce a slightly glossy finish.
Place any leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Reheat gently on the stove with a splash of milk or water to loosen the sauce and keep it creamy.
More Recipes You'll Enjoy
- Salmon Soup - This Easy Salmon Soup makes a great weeknight meal. It's full of protein and healthy fat, it's creamy and so yummy. You'll be making it again!
- Sheet Pan Salmon Oreganata - This Sheet Pan Salmon Oreganata With Green Beans And Potatoes is a quick, healthy, and satisfying dinner. Everyone will love the flaky, crispy coating and zesty flavors.
- Fennel Crusted Salmon - This Fennel Crusted Salmon With Creamed Kale is an easy, restaurant-worthy meal with salmon that's tender, flaky, and packed with flavor, and the creamy, garlicky kale is the perfect accompaniment.
- Air Fryer Salmon Bites - Air fryer salmon bites take only 15 minutes to prepare, offering a quick and delicious meal option. The blend of simple ingredients with fresh fish ensures a consistently fantastic result.
Recipe
Creamy Salmon Asparagus Pasta
Ingredients
- 5 ounces Spaghetti I used Barilla ProteinPLUS
- 2 salmon fillets skinned and cut into a bite-size pieces
- 2 cloves garlic finely minced
- ½ bunch asparagus tough ends removed and asparagus cut in half
- 1 ½ cup milk
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 1 ½ tablespoons flour
- 1 teaspoon salt divided
- ½ teaspoon pepper divided
- 3 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped (optional)
Instructions
- In a medium pan heat 2 tablespoon of olive oil and over medium heat. Season salmon with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon of pepper and add to a skillet. Cook salmon for 3-4 minutes on each side. When it's cooked, transfer to a paper towel.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add spaghetti and cook for 10 minutes or until ready. In the last 5 minutes of cooking, add asparagus in the same pot with the pasta. After pasta is ready, drain pasta and asparagus reserving 1 cup of pasta cooking water.
- While the pasta is still cooking, heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a separate large saucepan and over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Whisk in flour and fry for a few minutes whisking vigorously to prevent from burning.
- Add milk, reduce the heat to low-medium and whisk the sauce until no lumps remain. Season the sauce with the remaining ½ teaspoon of salt and ¼ teaspoon of pepper and add Parmesan cheese.
- Remove saucepan from the heat and combine sauce with cooked pasta, asparagus and salmon. Optional - Add pasta cooking water to the pasta to thin out the sauce even more.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately!
Nutrition
Iryna Bychkiv is the founder and writer of the culinary website Lavender & Macarons, where she shares clean, European-inspired recipes that are delicious, easy to prepare, and made with wholesome ingredients. Iryna loves creating meals that are simple yet healthy and unique, including vegan and vegetarian recipes.
Iryna is also a freelance writer for MSN and Associated Press Wire.
Dave says
I made this with canned salmon. The rest of the ingredients except the salt I kept as written. This made a delicious meal and was relatively easy to make. I'm sure using a fresh salmon fillet would make it quite luxurious.
I would have like to have had a more quantified amount of salmon to use. I've lived in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S.. There a salmon fillet can go over 2 lbs.
I would imagine this recipe would be good substituting snap peas, broccoli, or regular peas for the vegetables. In addition I can believe it would be good with left over Thanks Giving turkey or rotisserie chicken. Perhaps even chopped clams would work.
Eryna, Thank you so much for sharing.
Iryna Bychkiv says
Dave, thank you for your comment and 5-star rating! I'm happy you enjoyed this recipe!
Ron Harrison says
This was so good. I used 8 ounces of leftover salmon that had been baked in a cream sauce with lemon and garlic. I had about 1/2 cup of leftover cream sauce from the baked salmon to which I added 1 cup of 2% milk. Great flavor and very satisfying. I can also see using about 8 ounces of smoked salmon (or even canned salmon) and having a different, but equally tasty dish. I did not use Barilla PorteinPlus Spaghetti; I used regular spaghetti. Thank you for a wonderful, versatile recipe.
Iryna Bychkiv says
Ron, thank you so much for your comment and 5-star rating! I'm happy you enjoyed this salmon asparagus pasta recipe:)
Kim says
Can I use almond milk and almond flour instead of regular milk and flour?
Iryna says
Yes, you can use almond milk.
Elvia says
Hello,I did it but substitute the salt because of my blood pressure,I think it need more flavor or is it that it need the regular salt instead?
Iryna says
Hi Elvia! Sorry the dish didn't come out as you expected. I'm not sure what kind of salt substitute you used, but generally yes, salt helps to improve the flavor. Maybe next time you can also try adding a bit more garlic making sure not to burn it and cook not longer than 1 minute or even 30 seconds as it also tends to lose the flavor once cooked longer.
Calleigh Keibler - TheForkBite says
This looks yummy. I love grilled salmon and never thought of adding this in a pasta. Brilliant! Gotta try this for sure. Thanks for the recipe.
Iryna says
Thanks Calleigh! Yes, salmon in a pasta works really good:)
Edyta at Innocent Delight says
I never made salmon with pasta but I really like this idea and will have to try it soon!
Iryna says
Thanks Edyta! You should definitely try it;)
Ginny says
Protein plus! I can go for that!. Love your creamy asparagus sauce too!
Iryna says
Thank you Ginny!
Jenni LeBaron says
Yum, I have been craving a bowl of pasta lately. This is making me hungry!
Valentina says
Such a yummy good-for-you dinner. And so cozy, too. Love the step-by-step photos. 🙂
Iryna says
Thank you Valentina!