Cheesy Salmon Pasta with Spinach & Mushrooms

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Looking to savor the goodness of salmon in a whole new way? Our cheesy salmon pasta, teamed up with fresh spinach and earthy mushrooms, could be your family’s solution to an easy dinner plus it packs a punch of Omega-3s.

Salmon Pasta with Spinach and Mushrooms on a white plate and counter

What’s so Great About Cheesy Salmon Pasta?

Salmon is one of those “superfoods” that adds a ton of protein and healthy fats to our diets. It’s also expensive! If you’re a busy mom like me, you’re probably always trying to find ways to get your kids these nutrients without breaking the budget.

I’m always looking for ways to sneak in a bit of salmon to get my pickier eaters a serving of heart healthy omega three fatty acids. I like to find creative ways for everyone in my family of six to get more salmon without having to dish out $50 for dinner for us all. My family enjoys this versatile salmon recipe with mushrooms and spinach.  

Salmon pasta is a wonderful way to enjoy salmon in a frugal way. (It’s delicious, too!)

The nutrients are important, but I also need a quick salmon recipe as we are always on the go. Make this entire meal in under 30 minutes – cooking salmon is actually really easy. Are you inspired to try something new tonight?

What’s the best type of salmon to use in this pasta recipe?

Buy wild caught Alaska Sock-eye salmon whenever possible. It’s a little more expensive than farmed salmon, but the health benefits are significantly better. Farmed salmon has more fat than wild-caught salmon, and it does not have the beneficial ratio between healthy Omega 3s and bad Omega 6s. The ratio of healthy fats is better in wild-caught salmon.

cheesy salmon pasta with vegetables on a white plate with napkin and fork  on table

Finding Sitka Salmon

I have found wild-caught salmon at Costco and Aldi, bought it from Butcher Box, and was recently sent some Sitka Salmon to try out. Usually, I’m skeptical of home delivery foods (I’m not sure why – we buy plenty from Amazon). The Sitka Salmon was nice, though, and I appreciate the attention to the packaging, too.

sitka salmon in box with recyclable plastic liner and compostable foam

It included a recyclable plastic liner and compostable foam. Put these in your home compost pile and watch it disappear. If you don’t have a compost heap, dissolve the foam in water to make nutritious food for your plants! How awesome is that?

Additionally, the salmon is first rate. It’s wild-caught, just the way I like it. It’s traceable to fishermen who are paid an above average salary for their work, and the company purchases carbon offsets and promotes small-scale fisheries and conservation in Alaska. This is a salmon I can feel good about having shipped right to my door!

spinach, mushrooms, and salmon in pan being sauteed for pasta recipe

Ingredients for Cheesy Salmon Pasta

Salmon pasta is quick, easy, and affordable. Most of the ingredients are probably already in your kitchen and easily found in grocery stores.

  • Pasta – Use your favorite kind of pasta. My kids love bowtie, rotini, and shells the most.
  • Wild-caught Salmon
  • Spinach (or other veggies)
  • Mushrooms (or other veggies)
  • Salt and pepper
  • Onion
  • Garlic

Can I use other vegetables than spinach and mushrooms?

Combine and use vegetables in this salmon pasta recipe that you and your family love. We like the combo of spinach and mushrooms. If you don’t like mushrooms, leave them out or replace with broccoli, zucchini, or your other favorite.

banza chickpea pasta types in boxes and bags on counter

Choose a protein-packed pasta

Like I mentioned above, the shape of pasta is really up to you. Use whatever type of pasta floats your boat. I like organic pasta from Costco, but Aldi has a great option, too, if you’re gluten-free.

Recently we tried a high protein pasta called Banza Pasta that is quite tasty. It’s made made from chickpeas with 25 g of protein and 13 g of fiber per serving! The texture and flavor are earthier than white flour pasta. It is yummy.

delicious salmon pasta on a white plate with onions and spinach leaves in background

Make Cheesy Salmon Pasta Recipe

Gather your ingredients, and boil a pot of salted water to cook your pasta. Add pasta and cook according to package instructions when the water is boiling. I like my pasta a little al dente, so I don’t usually cook it as long as the package says. Drain and reserve pasta for later.

While the pasta is cooking, heat butter or oil over medium heat in a large pot. I love my 7 1/4  qt, oven proof Le Creuset Dutch Oven, by the way. It was expensive but worth every penny!

Once the butter is melted, salt and pepper the salmon fillets. Cook skin side down for 3-4 minutes. Flip the salmon and cook for 3-4 more minutes. The skin should be crispy and easy to peel off after you flip it, so peel that skin off. 

Add another tablespoon of butter or olive oil if you prefer now. Then, add diced onions and sliced mushrooms. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until the onions are translucent. Add garlic and cook another 1 -2 minutes. Put the salmon back in the pot.

If you haven’t already, take off the skin from the salmon. Break the salmon into small pieces using your spatula. Add spinach, and cook for 2-3 minutes until everything is cooked through.

{By the way, I’ve found that by chopping my spinach up very small, I can claim it’s an herb, and my picky eaters don’t even notice it. If I didn’t have picky eaters, I would not chop it so small.}

By now, your pasta should be finished cooking, and you can add it to the pot with the veggies and the salmon.

Reduce heat to low. Add two cups of shredded cheese and stir until melted. You should end up with an ooey-goey delightful pasta. Remove from heat and top with the Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper to taste.  I sometimes add a splash of lemon juice to this creamy salmon pasta recipe, too.

salmon pasta with mushrooms and spinach finished and ready to serve on wooden counter with white cloth napkin

Grab a fork and dig in! This dish is so tasty I don’t need to bother with a plate. 😉

If you’d like more salmon recipe inspiration, here you go!

Salmon Street Tacos

Greek Salmon Sheet Pan Dinner

Creamy Salmon Pasta with Lemon Caper Cream Sauce

We all know the benefits of eating salmon. Combine those Omega 3s and protein with pasta and nutritious vegetables for a quick and easy salmon pasta dinner. Do you have a favorite salmon pasta dish to share? Let me know in the comments.

Yield: 6 servings

Cheesy Salmon Pasta with Mushrooms & Spinach

Cheesy Salmon Pasta with Mushrooms & Spinach

Quick and easy pasta recipe stretches salmon so everyone in your family can have a serving without breaking the bank.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 pound pasta
  • 12 ounces salmon {preferably wild caught from Alaska}
  • 2 tablespoons butter, split
  • 1/2 onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, pressed
  • 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped small if you're feeding picky eaters
  • 6 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced
  • 2 cups shredded cheese {I used a combo of French Comte & sharp white cheddar}
  • 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan
  • Salt & Pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Boil a pot of water and cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
  2. While the pasta is cooking, heat one tablespoon butter over medium heat in a pan big enough to accommodate the finished dish.
  3. Add the salmon skin side down and cook for 3-4 minutes, then flip and cook for 3-4 more minutes. Once flipped, remove the skin from the salmon and discard.
  4. Add another tablespoon butter if needed, then cook the onions and mushrooms for 2-3 minutes. Add garlic and spinach and cook for 2-3 more minutes.
  5. Reduce heat to low, add the 2 cups shredded cheese and stir until the cheese is melted.
  6. Remove from heat, add Parmesan cheese and salt and pepper to taste.
  7. Enjoy!

    Notes

    I recommend wild-caught Alaska salmon in all my salmon recipes. Feel free to experiment with veggies based on your preference.

    Nutrition Information:

    Yield:

    6

    Serving Size:

    1

    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 540Total Fat: 32gSaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 108mgSodium: 612mgCarbohydrates: 28gFiber: 2gSugar: 2gProtein: 35g

    Nutritional data is not always correct.

    Did you make this recipe?

    Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram tagging @simplifylivelove! I love to see your photos!

    About Michelle Marine

    Michelle Marine is the author of How to Raise Chickens for Meat, a long-time green-living enthusiast, and rural Iowa mom of four. She empowers families to grow and eat seasonal, local foods; to reduce their ecological footprint; and to come together through impactful travel.

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    15 Comments

    1. Michelle! This looks absolutely mouth-watering! So glad to have found you on the Enjoying Yummy Recipes group! I haven’t had pasta in a while… and the addition of salmon sounds amazing!

      Love from Buenos Aires,
      felicia

    2. What a great recipe! So comforting. Thank you very much for joining in the celebration of #purebloglove, we enjoy having you each week. I hope to see you on Thursday at 8PM, EST through Sunday night. ~Cydnee

    3. I am rating it 4 stars because I would really have liked a little more detail on the types of cheese that should be used. Since I only had Mozzarella, I used that and it became too heavy. I think the mozzarella would have worked if it was only 1 cup instead of 2.

      Otherwise, the pasta is good. The taste of salmon is very strong so be careful when serving to someone not used to western food (my Korean boyfriend was not a fan). I also used fettuccine noodles and added some red bell pepper.

      1. Add it with the garlic! Sorry – that information was missing from the recipe card, but included in the longer directions above. Thanks for pointing that out! 🙂

    4. Made it tonight! Used some of the salmon I caught on the Kenai. It was fantastic, thanks for the recipe.