Salmon Pesto Pasta

5 from 2 votes
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Salmon pesto pasta is a great, elevated dinner that is ready in under 30 minutes. The herbaceous, beautiful green pesto lights up the salmon and the pasta.

Salmon pesto pasta is a great, elevated dinner. Ready in under 30 minutes. The herbaceous, beautiful green pesto lights up the salmon and the pasta.
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Why Make This Salmon Pesto

This recipe is simple to whip up, it’s elevated and beautiful. The spinach walnut pesto is full of superfoods and antioxidants. This is a great way to get in some extra greens with the pesto. You will find this meal filling and delicious.

My husband loved this recipe and has since requested it a few times. If you want something with a little more creamy texture, Baked Salmon Pasta is a must. This meal makes for a great meal prep as well, the salmon can easily be reheated if you have leftovers. Also try my Tuna Pesto Pasta.

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients for this recipe on plates and in bowls.

Basil. Fresh basil will work best.

Spinach. Fresh spinach. You won’t taste it much, it adds a lot of color and great antioxidants.

Walnuts. Walnuts are a bit cheaper and much easier to find than pine nuts so I love to use them in pesto.

Parmesan. Fresh grated Parmesan to add a nutty saltiness to the pesto.

Lemon. Fresh lemon juice is the best for this recipe.

Garlic. This add aroma and a little bite to the pesto.

Olive Oil. A high quality oil with neutral flavor will be best.

Seasoning. Red pepper flakes and salt for flavor and heat in the peso.

Pasta. Any pasta shape will work for this!

Salmon. I opt for boneless and skinless salmon but you can use any salmon of choice. Try my Pistachio Salmon for another nutty wonderful concoction. Chicken Breast will also work great! Full instructions below in the recipe card.

Recipe Variations

Walnuts. You can use pine nuts in place of the walnuts if preferred.

Basil. You can also use cilantro in place of the basil.

Parmesan. Pecorino will work, or you can use nutritional yeast to make it dairy free. Just add some salt to taste if needed since parmesan add a lot of saltiness to the pesto.

Salmon. If you don’t have salmon, you can add canned tuna to the pasta or use a white fish. Chicken breast will also work great.

Pasta. use any pasta of choice. You can also use zucchini noodles or riced cauliflower to make this lower carb.

Steps To Make This Recipe

Steps to make this recipe in a small blender.

Step One. Start water to boil pasta in. Add all the pesto ingredients to a food processor and blitz until blended well and the walnuts are broken down. Feel free to add more olive oil if you’d like to thin it out or it the pesto is not blending. Set aside.

Step Two. Preheat to 375º. On a parchment lined baking sheet, add the salmon and top with pesto, about 1-1.5 tbsp on each salmon. The rest will be for the pasta. Bake Salmon for 12-15 minutes.

Steps to make this recipe. Pesto on salmon and a mixing bowl.

Step Three. While pasta is boiling, be sure to collect 1.5 cups of pasta water before draining!

Step Four. Once the pasta is al dente, grab pasta water, drain and put back into the pot. Add in the pesto and 1/2 cup of pasta water at a time until pesto is evenly spread. Plate the pasta and add the salmon on top. Sprinkle with extra parmesan if desired and enjoy.

Salmon with pesto over pasta with a silver fork.

Recipe Tips

  • Don’t overcook your protein! Be sure to check on it throughout the cooking process. 
  • If you are using chicken breast, start with browning the chicken in an oven safe skillet. Season it with salt and pepper, brown for about 6 minutes on each side. Brush the chicken with pesto and then bake on 350º for about 12-14 minutes or until it reaches 165º internally.

Recipe FAQs

What type of salmon is best?

It’s always best to try and get wild caught sustainable salmon, but you can use any salmon of choice. I tend to go for what’s on sale.

Can I make this dairy free?

Yes, make this dairy free by using nutritional yeast in place of the Parmesan.

Make Ahead & Storage Tips

Make the pesto ahead of time to cut down on time. The pesto will last in the fridge for up to 3 days. If you have leftovers, store everything in an airtight container. It will last in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The pesto itself can be stored in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

Other Salmon Recipes To Enjoy

If you loved this recipe let me know! Also, follow me on Instagram & Pinterest for even more fun recipes to make you feel good from the inside out. Thanks for being here.

Pesto pasta with salmon on top and parmesan.
5 from 2 votes

Salmon Pesto Pasta

Salmon pesto pasta is a great, elevated dinner that is ready in under 30 minutes. The herbaceous, beautiful green pesto lights up the salmon and the pasta,
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Servings: 4

Equipment

  • food processor or high speed blender

Ingredients 

Pesto

  • ½ cup walnuts
  • ½ cup olive oil
  • Tbsp lemon juice
  • ¼ cup parmesan , *see notes
  • ½ tsp red pepper flakes, *see notes
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 4 cup fresh spinach
  • ¼ cup fresh basil leaves
  • 2 garlic cloves

Salmon Pesto Noodles

  • 5 cups pasta
  • 1-1½ cup pasta water
  • .75 lb salmon, Or 4 filets
  • 4 Tbsp parmesan , optional for topping
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Instructions 

  • Start water to boil pasta in. Add all the pesto ingredients to a food processor and blitz until blended well and the walnuts are broken down. Feel free to add more olive oil if you'd like to thin it out or it the pesto is not blending. Set aside.
  • Preheat to 375º. On a parchment lined baking sheet, add the salmon and top with pesto, about 1-1.5 tbsp on each salmon. The rest will be for the pasta. Bake Salmon for 12-15 minutes.
  • While pasta is boiling, be sure to collect 1.5 cups of pasta water before draining!
  • Once the pasta is al dente, grab pasta water, drain and put back into the pot. Add in the pesto and 1 half cup of pasta water at a time until pesto is evenly spread, it may not need all the water so add in increments. Plate the pasta and add the salmon on top. Sprinkle with extra parmesan if desired and enjoy.
  • If you are using chicken breast, start with browning the chicken in an oven safe skillet. Season it with salt and pepper, brown for about 6 minutes on each side. Brush the chicken with pesto and then bake on 350º for about 12-14 minutes or until it reaches 165º internally.

Notes

  • Don’t overcook your protein! Be sure to check on it throughout the cooking process. 
  • skip if you are sensitive to heat. 
  • use nutritional yeast to make this dairy free
  • salt to taste! 
  • If you are using chicken breast, start with browning the chicken in an oven safe skillet. Season it with salt and pepper, brown for about 6 minutes on each side. Brush the chicken with pesto and then bake on 350º for about 12-14 minutes or until it reaches 165º internally.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 585kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 46g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g | Monounsaturated Fat: 24g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 1993mg | Potassium: 1589mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 4339IU | Vitamin C: 34mg | Calcium: 238mg | Iron: 5mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Author: Bailey
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4
Calories: 585
Keyword: 30 minute, Salmon
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2 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Love this recipe, love the combo with salmon. Highly recommend.