Name: Smoked Salmon Pasta with Cream Cheese
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 12 ounces pasta; 1 teaspoon kosher salt (plus additional, to taste); 1 tablespoon butter; 1/4 cup minced shallots or red onions; 2 cloves garlic (minced ); 8 ounces cream cheese (cut into cubes); 1 tablespoon lemon juice; 1/3 cup shredded Parmesan; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 8 ounces smoked salmon; 1/2 cup diced tomatoes; 2 tablespoons chives or green onions

This easy Salmon Pasta recipe comes together in just 20 minutes, with a smooth, creamy sauce that doesn't rely on heavy cream yet still clings to the pasta. The smoked salmon adds depth and richness, while the sauce stays light and silky, making it an easy dinner that still feels a little special.

Fusilli pasta noodles in a bowl coated with a white sauce, there are chunks of smoked salmon, chopped chives and a lemon wedge in the corner.

A woman with medium-length dark brown hair and fair skin smiling with trees behind her.

Note from Erin

I developed this recipe during a busy season of life when I was craving something special but didn't want to spend a long time in the kitchen. I love how it transforms simple ingredients into a luxurious dish.

The cream cheese melts into a smooth sauce that clings to the pasta without feeling heavy, and the flavor pairs really well with smoked salmon.

Key Ingredient Information

The recipe card at the bottom of this post includes the complete list of ingredients, measurements, and instructions.

Salmon pasta ingredients in individual bowls.

Salmon: I love making this recipe with leftover hot-smoked salmon, but store-bought cold-smoked salmon works just as well. If you are using cold-smoked salmon, cut it into ribbons.

Pasta: This works best with heartier shapes that can catch and hold the sauce. I've had the best results with fusilli and rotini because the sauce settles into the twists.

Cream Cheese: I recommend taking the cream cheese out of your fridge 30 minutes before cooking. It'll melt more smoothly, creating a silkier sauce.

Red Onion: I always mince this very finely so it softens completely into the sauce. Shallots are slightly sweeter, but both work well if they're cooked until fully softened.

Tips to Make the Best Creamy Salmon Pasta

A stainless steel pot on a grey countertop filled with boiling water and fusilli pasta with steam above the pan.

Cook Pasta

Drain the pasta when it still has a little bite. When mixed with the hot sauce, it will continue to cook slightly, and you don't want mushy pasta.
Don't forget to save the pasta water. That starchy liquid is crucial for achieving the right sauce consistency. It helps the sauce cling to the pasta better than plain water would.

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Two images , the left has cubes of cream cheese and some pasta water in a skillet, and the right is creamy white sauce in a skillet with a whisk.

Make the Cream Cheese Sauce

Let the cream cheese soften in the pan for a minute before stirring. It will melt more evenly and come together faster.

Pro Tip: If you are using cold-smoked salmon, add it to the skillet with the garlic. This extra time will change the texture to a flakier "cooked" salmon.

Two side-by-side images - the left image shows plain pasta in a creamy sauce, the right has chunks of pasta added on top.

Add the Pasta & Salmon

I look for the sauce to lightly coat the pasta and still move in the pan. If it feels thick or sticky, it needs a splash of pasta water
When incorporating the smoked salmon, use a light touch. You want nice, flaky pieces throughout the dish, not tiny bits that get lost in the sauce.

A skillet filled with creamy pasta spirals topped with pieces of smoked salmon and garnished with chopped chives.

How Do I Fix a Broken Sauce?

Don't panic if your sauce suddenly looks curdled or slightly grainy. I've had this happen when the pan gets too hot, right as the cream cheese starts melting.
Turn the heat to low, add a small splash of hot pasta water, and stir gently.
Within about 20–30 seconds, you should see it start to smooth out and turn glossy again.
If it still looks a little rough, add another splash and keep the heat low. It almost always comes back together once the cream cheese fully melts.

Two bowls of salmon pasta with cream cheese sauce and a small bowl of shedded parmesan with a wooden spoon.

Recipe

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Comments

5 from 4 votes

Note from Erin

Key Ingredient Information