Cajun Salmon Pasta
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This Cajun Salmon Pasta is done in the amount of time it takes to make your pasta! It’s quick, creamy, full of your favorite veggies and delicious! Juicy chunks of flaky salmon tossed in a spicy cream sauce over pappardelle noodles – it will be your new favorite!
What You Will Love About Cajun Salmon Pasta
There are many things to love here: the dish is done in about 20 minutes, the salmon is fresh and flaky, it’s packed full of veggies and the creamy sauce is light and zippy! This is a great weeknight dinner!
Cajun Salmon Pasta Ingredients
I like to add lots of veggies to this Cajun pasta dish – it stretches the dish and serves more people! (Or gives you more leftovers!)
- pasta – I used pappardelle but fettuccine or linguini works great too
- fresh salmon – I used 1/2 lb salmon fillets
- olive oil
- vegetables: onion, red bell pepper (any color you like), zucchini, mushrooms
- garlic
- butter
- heavy cream – you can use heavy cream or whipping cream
- Parmesan cheese – be sure to use fresh Parmesan and grate it yourself
- lemon juice – try and use fresh lemon juice if possible
- Cajun seasoning – I chose Slap Ya Mama – but use what you like – all the cajun spices are similar. They typically contain: paprika, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper, oregano, and thyme.
How to Make Cajun Salmon Pasta Recipe
This dish is easy and is mainly done in one pan! I used an air fryer for the salmon – but you can also cook in the skillet.
- Boil a large pot of water for the pasta and add a tbsp of salt. Cook pasta al dente according to package directions. When you drop the pasta in the water, you can start your salmon and sauce. When pasta is done, RESERVE 1/3 cup pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- Lightly season the salmon with half of the cajun seasoning
- Cook salmon to a medium rare doneness. You can do this in the skillet or the air fryer. I like to cook with skin on because it’s super easy to flake salmon from skin after it’s cooked:
- For skillet: Add the oil to a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the salmon for 3 minutes/side. Remove salmon and set aside.
- For air fryer: Lay salmon in air fryer and cook at 360 for 7 minutes. Leave in air fryer until ready to use.
- Add oil to the skillet over medium high heat. Lightly season veggies with cajun seasoning. When oil is hot, add garlic, onion, pepper, zucchini and mushrooms. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened. Spoon veggies out of pan and set aside.
- Turn skillet down to medium heat and add the butter, cream, parmesan cheese, lemon juice, and Cajun seasoning to the pan. Stir until the sauce is smooth.
- ALERT: You’ve seasoned the salmon & veggies with cajun seasoning. If you’re not fond of spice – stop here. Customize to your taste! If you like spice – add more to the sauce – but Go easy – it’s spicy!
- Add pasta and pasta water to pan with sauce and toss to combine and coat pasta
- Add the veggies back into the pan and toss.
- Flake salmon into bite sized pieces and add to pasta and toss lightly so as to not break up the pieces too much.
Tips, Tricks & FAQs
I prefer the Slap Ya Mama cajun seasoning because they have two spice levels and the mild is still SPICY!
Lightly season throughout. I’m not a big fan super of spice – so I go light. I did a light sprinkle on the salmon. Then added a light sprinkle on the veggies. Then I added a little to the sauce. Once it’s all together – I tasted and said “Whoa Nellie – I’m good!” haha – it wasn’t too spicy – but it was JUST RIGHT – for me at least.
I went for pappardelle – I think it’s so pretty and I had some. But you can use fettucini, linguine or even spaghetti. Heck – go crazy and use ziti or bowtie!
This pasta dish makes enough for 4-6 people. That said – you might have leftovers! Store leftovers in airtight container in the refrigerator up to a week – or freeze up to three months. Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes. Because it is a cream-based sauce, it will turn a little oily when you reheat. If you have a larger amount you want to reheat, add to a sauce pan and refresh with 1/4 cup of cream and 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese.
Recipe Variations
- Salmon varieties – you could save more time and use canned or pouch salmon. I think fresh adds so much more texture and flavor – so I highly recommend fresh.
- Vegetables – I used onion, bell pepper, zucchini & mushroom – but asparagus, broccoli, spinach, tomato & green beans would also be good. Use what you like and what you have!
- Seasoning – I used Slap Ya Mama cajun seasoning but there are tons of seasoning varieties out there – use what you like! You can also make your own.
- Dairy Free – Hmmmm. Well – you could use Coconut Milk but I’m not sure on the cheese. I love cheese too much to be dairy-free!
- Gluten Free – The only gluten is likely in your pasta – so swap a gluten free pasta and you should be good to go!
More Pasta Recipes
More Salmon Recipes
Cajun Salmon Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 oz uncooked pappardelle pasta can also fettucini or linguine
- 1/2 lb fresh salmon
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion thinly sliced
- 1 bell pepper thinly sliced
- 1 small zucchini sliced
- 8 oz mushrooms sliced
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- 4 tbsp salted butter
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/3 cup pasta water
- 1/2 lemon juiced
- 1/2 tbsp Cajun seasoning (split)
Instructions
- Boil a large, salted pot of water for the pasta. Cook pasta al dente according to package directions. When you drop the pasta in the water, you can start your salmon and sauce. When pasta is done, drain and set aside.8 oz uncooked pappardelle pasta
- Lightly season the salmon with half of the cajun seasoning1/2 lb fresh salmon, 1/2 tbsp Cajun seasoning (split)
- Cook salmon to a medium rare doneness. You can do this in the skillet or the air fryer. I like to cook with skin on because it's super easy to flake salmon from skin after it's cooked:For skillet: Add the oil to a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the salmon for 3 minutes/side. If using skillet, remove salmon and set aside.For air fryer: Lay salmon in air fryer and cook at 360 for 7 minutes.1/2 lb fresh salmon
- Add 2 tbsp oil to the pan over medium high heat. Lightly season veggies with cajun seasoning. When oil is hot add garlic, onion, pepper, zucchini and mushrooms. Reduce heat to med high. Saute for 3-4 minutes until softened. Spoon veggies out of pan and set aside.2 tbsp olive oil, 1 small yellow onion, 1 bell pepper, 1 small zucchini, 8 oz mushrooms, 2 tsp minced garlic
- Turn heat down to low and add the butter, cream, parmesan cheese, lemon juice, and Cajun seasoning to the pan. Stir until the sauce is smooth.4 tbsp salted butter, 1 cup heavy whipping cream, 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1/2 lemon, 1/2 tbsp Cajun seasoning (split)
- You’ve seasoned the salmon & veggies with cajun seasoning. If you’re not fond of spice – stop here. If you like spice – add more to the sauce – but Go easy – it’s spicy!
- Add pasta and pasta water to pan with sauce and toss to combine and coat pasta1/3 cup pasta water
- Add the veggies back into the pan and toss.
- Flake salmon into bite sized pieces and add to pasta and toss lightly.
- Serve with freshly grated parmesan and fresh parsley if desired.
