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Spaghetti with creamy red sauce and chunks of roasted salmon in a white bowl sprinkled with parmesan, fresh herbs, and with a lemon wedges on the side.

Creamy Cajun Salmon Pasta

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  • Author: Veronika Sykorova
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 15 mins
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 2 1x
  • Category: Pasta
  • Method: Oven and Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American

Description

This Creamy Cajun Salmon Pasta is an easy 20-minute dinner perfect for both weeknights and special occasions!


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1/2 lb raw salmon
  • 2 tbsp avocado oil, divided
  • 2 tbsp cajun seasoning, divided
  • 4 oz dry spaghetti
  • 1/2 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 3 1/2 oz soft goat cheese (1/2 cup?)
  • 1/4 cup grated parmesan or pecorino cheese (plus more for serving)
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh chives or parsley
  • 1/2 lemon cut into 2 wedges

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400F (200C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Wash and dry your salmon and put it on the prepared baking sheet skin down.
  3. Drizzle the salmon with 1 tbsp of avocado oil coating it on both sides.
  4. Season with 1 tbsp of the cajun seasoning. If your salmon has skin on and you won’t eat it, you don’t have to season it on the bottom. Set aside for a few minutes while you get your spaghetti to start cooking.
  5. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti according to package instructions (usually 11-13 minutes).
  6. While the spaghetti is cooking, transfer the prepared salmon to the oven and roast for 10-15 minutes.
  7. Add the remaining 1 tbsp of avocado oil to a large pan over medium-high heat.
  8. Add finely chopped yellow onion and 1 tsp of cajun seasoning to the pan and cook for 3 minutes. Add more oil if needed.
  9. Add the tomato paste, soft goat cheese, and the rest of the cajun seasoning. Add a good splash of the cooking pasta water so the goat cheese doesn’t burn. Lower the heat if needed.
  10. Cook for 2-3 minutes stirring constantly until the cheese melts and creates creamy sauce.
  11. Add ½ cup of the boiling pasta water to the sauce, parmesan cheese, and fresh chives. Stir until it’s all well mixed.
  12. Reserve 1 cup of cooking water in case it’s needed and drain the pasta.
  13. Add the pasta to the sauce and toss gently to coat. Add more pasta water if needed. Turn off the heat.
  14. Take the roasted salmon out of the oven and break it into small chunks using two forks or a knife.
  15. Add the salmon to the pasta and toss again.
  16. Serve with lemon wedges, more parmesan, and fresh herbs if desired. Enjoy!

Notes

Prep: This dish comes together very quickly so I recommend having everything prepped and measured before you start. I start by bringing the pasta water to boil, adding pasta, then putting the salmon into the oven, and making the sauce while the pasta and salmon cook.

Storing: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days. Do not freeze.

Reheating: Reheat the pasta in a small pot on the stove over medium heat with a good splash of water to prevent it from burning.

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