Creamy Pasta with Lemon Pepper Salmon Bites

Nothing complements Lemon Pepper Salmon like rich, creamy pasta. With a fresh citrusy flavor and a kick of pepper, this flavorful dish is my go-to for a quick and easy weeknight dinner.

If you're looking for a new way to pan fry your salmon, try my lemon pepper pasta! In just 30 minutes, it goes from the fridge to your dinner table. Throw tender salmon bites over a bed of creamy pasta for a tasty family meal.

Want to try more delicious lemon pepper recipes? Try my ultra popular Hot Honey Lemon Pepper Wings, this Creamy Lemon Pepper Chicken, and the crispy Lemon Pepper Honey Chicken Wings.

Ingredients

A luscious cream-based pasta sauce complements the zingy taste of lemon pepper salmon. Season cubed salmon filets with lemon pepper seasoning and some cajun seasoning for a spicy pop of flavor that adds depth to the dish.

You can use fresh or frozen salmon for this recipe. Just defrost the salmon before seasoning.

Creamy Pasta Sauce: 

• Butter
• Olive oil
• Yellow bell pepper, diced
• Green bell pepper, diced
• Garlic, minced
• Heavy cream 
• Lemon pepper seasoning
• All purpose seasoning
• Black pepper
• Garlic powder
• Penne pasta, cooked to al dente

Lemon Pepper Salmon:

• Salmon filets, cut into 1 inch cubes
• Lemon pepper seasoning 
• Cajun seasoning
• Olive oil
• Freshly squeezed lemon juice for serving

See recipe card for quantities.

How to Make Lemon Pepper Salmon with Pasta

Start by preparing the creamy pasta sauce. Cook the penne pasta until it's al dente then set it aside. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat then add the olive oil to prevent burning.

Add diced yellow and green bell peppers, sautéing until softened, around 2-3 minutes.

Stir in minced garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds to a minute. Gradually pour in heavy cream while stirring constantly.

Then reduce the heat to low and add lemon pepper seasoning, all-purpose seasoning, black pepper, and garlic powder. Stir until well combined, then remove from heat and set aside.

For the salmon, drizzle olive oil into a large skillet and heat over medium-high heat for about a minute.

Add salmon pieces in a single layer, avoiding overcrowding the pan.

Cook for 1 minute on each side, adjusting time for preferred doneness. Remove salmon from the skillet and set aside.

To plate, reheat the pasta sauce over medium heat for about a minute. Gently fold the cooked penne pasta into the sauce until coated.

Plate the pasta and top with the cooked salmon cubes. Finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice over the salmon. Your lemon pepper salmon with pasta is now ready to enjoy!

Hint: Gently pat dry the salmon before seasoning. Spices are more likely to adhere to the surface when it's dry.

Substitutions & Variations

• Baked Lemon Pepper Salmon - I like how efficient it is to prepare everything on the stove but you can bake salmon while the sauce cooks. Season per the instructions, place them on the baking sheet, and add them to an oven preheated to 375°F for about 15 minutes.
• Add Veggies - Broccoli, brussels sprouts, and asparagus are great ways to add some nutrients to this meal.
• Fresh Herbs - Garnish the dish with fresh parsley for a great presentation.

Equipment

Use a large skillet to cook the sauce and later the salmon bites. Use tongs to flip the salmon so they cook evenly.

Storage

Store leftover lemon pepper salmon pasta in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

How do you reheat salmon pasta?

Reheat leftovers in the microwave or on the stove over medium-low heat until warmed through. You may need to add a splash of heavy cream to loosen up the sauce.

FAQ

Related

Looking for other salmon recipes? Try these:

Continue to Content

Yield: 4 servings

Creamy Pasta with Lemon Pepper Salmon Bites

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Nothing complements Lemon Pepper Salmon like rich, creamy pasta. With a fresh citrusy flavor and a kick of pepper, this flavorful dish is my go-to for a quick and easy weeknight dinner.

Print

Ingredients

Creamy Pasta Sauce:

• 1 tablespoon Butter,
• 1 tablespoon Olive oil
• ½ Yellow bell pepper, diced
• ½ Green bell pepper, diced
• 1 teaspoon Garlic, minced
• 1 ½ cup Heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon Lemon pepper seasoning
• ½ tablespoon All purpose seasoning
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon Garlic powder
• 4 cups Penne pasta, cooked to al dente
• 4 6 oz Salmon filets, cut into 1 inch cubes
• 1 tablespoon Lemon pepper seasoning
• ½ tablespoon Cajun seasoning
• 1 tablespoon Olive oil
• Freshly squeezed lemon juice for serving

Instructions

Make the Pasta Sauce:

Cook your pasta according to package instructions until it reaches al dente texture, then set it aside. 

Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat, add in the olive oil while the butter melts so that it does not burn. Gently add the bell peppers into the skillet and saute them for 2-3 minutes until they are softened. 

Now add the minced garlic into the skillet and stir it around until it becomes fragrant, about 30 seconds to a minute (careful not to burn it). Gently pour in your heavy cream while stirring constantly. 

Reduce the heat to low and add in all of your seasonings including the lemon pepper seasoning, all purpose seasoning, black pepper, and garlic powder. Stir the seasoning into the heavy cream until they are fully combined. 

Remove your sauce from the heat and set it aside. 

Cook your salmon:

Drizzle your olive oil into a large skillet over medium high heat. Let the skillet heat up for about one full minute. You want your skillet to be piping hot so that you can get a nice sear on your salmon. 

Once the skillet is hot, add your salmon bites in one even layer; Cook the salmon bites in batches if needed so that you don’t overcrowd the pan. 

Allow them to cook on each side for 1 minute. Be sure to cook each side! Cook for an additional 30 seconds depending on how well done you like your salmon. 

Remove the salmon from the skillet and set it aside. 

Make your plate!

Reheat your pasta sauce over medium heat for about a minute, then gently fold the penne pasta into the sauce. 

Plate the pasta onto your dish of choice, then top the pasta with your salmon bites add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, and enjoy!

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 454Total Fat: 64gSaturated Fat: 28gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 32gCholesterol: 116mgSodium: 477mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 4gSugar: 4gProtein: 28g

This website provides approximate nutrition information as a courtesy and for convenience only.

Did you make this recipe?

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Food safety

• Cook lemon pepper salmon to a minimum temperature of 145°F (62.8°C).
• Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw seafood.
• Wash hands after touching raw seafood.
• Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods.
• Never leave cooking food unattended.
• Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds.
• Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove.

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.