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Garlic Butter Salmon Pasta: Restaurant-Worthy Dinner in 20 Minutes

This garlic butter salmon pasta recipe delivers restaurant-quality results in just 20 minutes, combining tender pan-seared salmon with a rich buttery garlic sauce over perfectly cooked pasta. The dish creates an extraordinary dining experience with minimal cleanup and is perfect for weeknight dinners.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 450
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ingredients
  • 8 oz salmon fillet, skin removed
  • 8 oz pasta (linguine or fettuccine work best)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 lemon (zest and juice)
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Parmesan cheese for serving

Method
 

Instructions
  1. Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package directions until al dente, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
  2. Pat salmon dry with paper towels, season generously with salt and pepper, and cut into 1-inch cubes.
  3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, add salmon pieces and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through, then remove salmon and set aside.
  4. Reduce heat to medium, add butter to the same skillet, once melted add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned, then stir in lemon zest and juice.
  5. Add cooked pasta to the skillet with a splash of reserved pasta water, toss to coat in garlic butter sauce, then add salmon back to pan along with fresh parsley and season with salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes.
  6. Divide pasta among plates, top with grated Parmesan cheese, and garnish with additional parsley and lemon wedges.

Notes

Don't overcook the salmon - it continues cooking after removal from heat. Use starchy pasta water for a creamier sauce texture. Fresh garlic provides the best flavor for this simple sauce.