Creamy Salmon & Asparagus Pasta

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This creamy salmon-and-asparagus pasta tastes like spring in a bowl—light, bright and packed with fresh asparagus and tender salmon in a silky, lemon-kissed cream sauce. It’s the perfect weeknight dinner for when you want something comforting and quick to pull together after a long day.

 an image of the Creamy Salmon & Asparagus Pasta
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Photographer: Hannah Hufham, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

  • Lemon-kissed cream sauce makes this pasta taste fresh and bright, like spring in a bowl.
  • Salmon provides protein and heart-healthy omega-3s.
  • Using skinless salmon creates a delicious crust for extra flavor.

This Creamy Salmon & Asparagus Pasta is the perfect pick-me-up after a long day. Don’t let the “creamy” part fool you, though—this dish is anything but heavy. A light and bright lemon cream sauce creates a dreamy coating for the fiber-rich pasta, asparagus and simply seasoned heart-healthy salmon. Italian seasoning provides a wisp of herby undertones, while garlic adds its mellow-spicy bite. Briny Parmesan cheese balances the dish, and a sprinkling of grassy dill adds final flair. This dish comes together quickly and is a great weeknight dinner. Keep reading for our expert tips, including how to save time in the kitchen.  

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! 

  • We suggest using skinless salmon, so a crust develops on the flesh rather than on the skin that you’ll likely be tossing out. The crust will add delicious flavor to the pasta.
  • Make sure the pan and oil are nice and hot before adding the skinless salmon. This will help prevent it from tearing when you flip it. A fish spatula can also help. 
  • Evaporated milk adds a nice creaminess and subtle sweetness to the pasta. If you don’t have evaporated milk, you can substitute it with ⅔ cup whole milk.
  • We find that a flat whisk is useful for making creamy sauces like this because it flattens against the skillet, allowing you to easily incorporate the ingredients into the sauce.

Nutrition Notes

  • Salmon is a great source of protein that’s also loaded with heart- and brain-healthy omega-3s and vitamin B12. If you choose sockeye salmon, you’ll even get some vitamin D. The antioxidant astaxanthin in salmon will help reduce inflammation, which is one of the root causes of most diseases.
  • Asparagus may make your pee stink, but its health benefits are worth it. Asparagus is good for making sure your blood properly clots, thanks to its vitamin K. It’s also been associated with fighting cancer and supporting a healthier brain. If you’re feeling like you’re retaining water, asparagus might help flush it out of your body.
  • Whole-wheat pasta adds fiber and antioxidants to this dish. If you don’t have or don’t like whole-wheat pasta, simply swap it for white pasta or another pasta of your choice. Even white pasta will still add some gut-loving fiber and help fill you up.
  • Parmesan cheese doesn’t add a whole lot of nutrition to this dish because you’re not getting a lot of it per serving. But it does toss in some calcium and protein. It’s also relatively high in salt, so if your body is sensitive to sodium, consider reducing the amount of salt you add to this dish to make up for the saltiness of the Parm.
 an image of the ingredients to make the Creamy Salmon & Asparagus Pasta

Photographer: Hannah Hufham, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 4 servings

  • 8 ounces whole-wheat linguine or spaghetti

  • 1 pound skinless salmon fillet, patted dry

  • ½ teaspoon ground pepper

  • ½ teaspoon salt, divided

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

  • 2 pounds fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1½-inch pieces

  • tablespoons minced garlic

  • ½ teaspoon salt-free Italian seasoning (such as Mrs. Dash)

  • 2 (5-ounce) cans evaporated milk

  • 2 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, softened

  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest, plus more zest for garnish

  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice

  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, plus more for garnish

Directions

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Cook 8 ounces linguine (or spaghetti) according to package directions for al dente, omitting salt and fat. Drain, reserving 1 cup pasta cooking water.

  2. Meanwhile, sprinkle salmon with ½ teaspoon pepper and ¼ teaspoon salt. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium heat; add the salmon and cook, undisturbed, until a crust has formed on both sides, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate and let rest until cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes. Do not wipe the pan clean. Flake the salmon into chunks.

    an image of the salmon cooking in the skillet

    Photographer: Hannah Hufham, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

  3. Increase heat to medium-high. Add asparagus pieces to the skillet; cook, stirring occasionally, until bright green and almost tender, about 4 minutes. Add 1½ tablespoons garlic and ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning; cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 20 seconds.

    an image of the asparagus cooking in the skillet

    Photographer: Hannah Hufham, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

  4. Stir in 2 (5-ounce) cans evaporated milk; bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring often, until starting to thicken, 1 to 2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low and add 2 ounces cream cheese, 1 teaspoon lemon zest and the remaining ¼ teaspoon salt; cook, stirring constantly, until melted and smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat; gradually stir in ½ cup Parmesan until melted, about 2 minutes. Stir in 3 tablespoons lemon juice and 3 tablespoons dill until smooth.

    an image of the evaporated milk added to the asparagus

    Photographer: Hannah Hufham, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

  5. Add the reserved cooked pasta and salmon, tossing to coat in the sauce. Add pasta cooking water, ¼ cup at a time, as necessary to loosen the sauce. Garnish with lemon zest and/or dill, if desired.

Nutrition Information

Serving Size: about 2 cups

Calories 625, Fat 27g, Saturated Fat 10g, Cholesterol 103mg, Carbohydrates 62g, Total Sugars 12g, Added Sugars 0g, Protein 46g, Fiber 8g, Sodium 734mg, Potassium 1,153mg

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can I make this pasta with chicken breasts?

    Absolutely! You can use chicken breasts instead of salmon, or forgo meat and fish altogether for a vegetarian pasta.

  • How can I tell when salmon is done cooking?

    Salmon changes color as it cooks, transitioning from a translucent red or raw state to an opaque pink. After cooking for 6 to 8 minutes, check for doneness by using a sharp knife to cut into the thickest part of the fish. It is done when the flesh starts to flake but still has a slight translucency in the center and an instant-read thermometer registers 145°F.

  • What is the white stuff on cooked salmon?

    It’s called albumin, a liquid protein that solidifies when the fish is cooked, and it’s perfectly safe to eat. It’s in all salmon, and it seeps out as the muscle fibers contract under heat, becoming thick and a bright white.

  • What should I serve with Creamy Salmon & Asparagus Pasta?
  • How should I store and reheat leftovers?

    Like most creamy pasta, this is best the same day it’s made. We don’t recommend reheating salmon because it dries out fast, compromising flavor and texture. If you do have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, and you can do your best by gently reheating leftovers over medium-low heat in a skillet or in 30-second bursts in the microwave.

EatingWell.com, April 2025

Additional reporting by
Carrie Myers, M.S.
Carrie Myers
Carrie Myers is a portfolio entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in the health and wellness space. As a writer and editor, Carrie has worked for both consumer and trade print and online publications. She's been quoted in several articles as a health and fitness expert. Carrie is also a certified life and wellness coach and exercise physiologist, and the founder of CarrieMichele Co., a lifestyle company that helps women create lives they love where they can be authentic.
and
Linda Frahm
Linda Frahm has been a copy editor and fact checker working with food and nutrition content for the past 30-plus years for consumer print and online publications.