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This Salmon and Broccoli Pasta is perfect for busy weeknight dinners. It is a creamy pasta bake made with cream cheese and minimal ingredients, mostly seasonings. It is easy to make and a family-friendly dish! If you love an easy salmon dinner, try my Salmon Tray Bake too.

creamy salmon and broccoli pasta.
James Wythe

Salmon and Broccoli Pasta at a Glance

James's tipCut the broccoli into small florets. If yours tends to catch in the oven, boil it with the pasta for the last 3 minutes instead and stir it in at the end.

5 minsPrep
20 minsCook
25 minsTotal
4Serves
One dishFamily friendlyWeeknight dinnerCream cheese sauce

Key ingredients

  • Salmon fillet
  • Broccoli
  • Cream cheese
  • Pasta
  • Dill
  • Lemon

Why you'll love it

  • About 731 kcal a portion
  • About 40g of protein a portion
  • Creamy sauce, no cream

Quick summary

This salmon and broccoli pasta bakes salmon, broccoli and cream cheese with dill, Italian seasoning, garlic and onion powder for 20 minutes, then stirs in penne, lemon juice and parsley. It takes 5 minutes of prep and 25 minutes in total, and serves 4. Any cream cheese works.

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Why this recipe works

This salmon and broccoli pasta bake is a delicious mix of tender chunks of salmon with broccoli and pasta in a fantastic creamy sauce. Sure to be a new family favourite!

You get a whole meal in a single dish as it has protein, pasta and veg! A portion is about 731 kcal with 40g of protein. It’s an easy recipe to double up if you are feeding more people, or split it 6 ways for lighter portions.

Prep only takes a couple of minutes and then you toss it in the oven while the pasta cooks! Easy peasy! And the cream sauce pretty much makes itself!

Ingredients to make Salmon and Broccoli Pasta

Ingredients to make Salmon and Broccoli Pasta.
  1. Salmon Fillet: is the star of the salmon broccoli pasta.
  2. Broccoli: brings this amazing meal up a notch in colour, nutrients and flavour. If you have any spare try my Broccoli Soup or Broccoli Pasta.
  3. Cream Cheese: forms the base of the creamy salmon sauce. Use any cream cheese you like, such as Philadelphia, or a dairy free one (I used a dairy free version).
  4. Dried Dill: adds a nice, sweet flavour to this pasta dish.
  5. Italian Seasoning: is a great blend of delicious herbs.
  6. Garlic Powder: gives a nice umami flavour.
  7. Onion Powder: is a great partner for garlic powder.
  8. Red Pepper Flakes: bring a little bit of heat.
  9. Lemon Juice: brightens up this simple salmon pasta.
  10. Fresh Parsley: makes for a beautiful and tasty topping at the end.
  11. Pasta: Any pasta shape would work but I prefer penne. I used a gluten free penne; use one if you need it gluten free.
  12. Olive Oil: adds a great flavour.

See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Substitutions

  • Salmon Fillets: could be replaced with another meaty fish, chicken, steak, or even tofu. If you want to stick with salmon, but don’t have anything fresh, canned salmon will also work.
  • Broccoli: You could substitute or add to the veg in this dish. Peas, courgettes or tomatoes would be a great addition to the broccoli florets.
  • Cream Cheese: could be replaced with double cream or crème fraîche. You could also try it with Greek yoghurt or coconut yoghurt: stir yoghurt through at the end with the pasta rather than baking it, so it stays smooth.
  • Pasta: While I prefer penne, you could use spaghetti, linguine, pasta spirals, or whatever you prefer!
  • Italian Seasoning: If you can’t find this then try adding in some dried basil, oregano, thyme and rosemary. 

Variations

  • Spicy: Increase the red pepper flakes or add in some cumin to spice up this dish.
  • Deluxe: Top with some lemon zest, parmesan cheese, and/or spring onions to bring this dish up a notch.
  • Kid friendly: If your kids don’t like salmon, you could swap it for a meat they do like, or leave it out. For a chicken version, try my Chicken Pasta Bake.

How to make Salmon and Broccoli Pasta

skinned salmon fillet and chopped broccoli on a wooden cutting board.

Step 1: Skin the salmon fillet and chop the broccoli into smaller florets.

salmon, broccoli and cream cheese with spices in a baking dish.

Step 2: Add to a large baking dish along with the cream cheese. In a small bowl combine the dill, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder and chilli flakes. Give them a mix and then pour over the salmon, broccoli and cream cheese. Drizzle over olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper and bake at 200°C fan (220°C conventional, gas 7) for 20 minutes.

pasta in salted water.

Step 3: Boil the pasta in salted water for 12 minutes, or as the packet says.

mixing salmon, broccoli and cream cheese.

Step 4: Remove the dish from the oven, break up the salmon pieces and mix with the broccoli and cream cheese. The salmon is cooked when it is opaque all the way through and flakes easily.

adding pasta to the baking dish along with the lemon juice and chopped parsley.

Step 5: Drain the pasta, add directly to the baking dish along with the lemon juice and chopped parsley. Stir and it’s ready to serve.

Hint: Reserve a cup of pasta water for the end. Sometimes you may prefer an extra splash of water in your sauce to get it to your preferred consistency.

Leftovers

Cool this creamy salmon and broccoli pasta within 2 hours, then keep it covered in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat it on the hob or in the microwave, with a splash of water to loosen the sauce, until steaming hot all the way through, and only reheat it once. I wouldn’t recommend freezing this recipe.

Recipe FAQs

Can you reheat salmon and broccoli pasta?

Yes. Cool it within 2 hours and keep it covered in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat it on the hob or in the microwave with a splash of water to loosen the sauce, until steaming hot all the way through, and only reheat it once.

How do you know when salmon is cooked?

Salmon is cooked when the flesh has turned from see-through to opaque all the way through and flakes easily with a fork. Check the thickest piece. After 20 minutes in the oven, chunks of salmon fillet should be cooked through.

Can I make a creamy sauce if I don’t have cream?

Yes! I use cream cheese in this pasta bake. It melts in the oven and makes a creamy, tasty sauce. Any cream cheese works, regular or dairy free.

Can I use Greek yoghurt instead of cream cheese?

Yes. Bake the salmon and broccoli without the cream cheese, then stir about 150g of Greek yoghurt through with the pasta at the end, off the heat, so it stays smooth. A dairy free yoghurt works the same way.

Can I make it in a pan instead of the oven?

Yes. Cook the salmon, broccoli, seasonings and cream cheese in a large frying pan over a medium heat, cook the pasta in a pot to the side, then combine everything in the frying pan.

How do I stop the broccoli burning?

Cut it into small florets and make sure it is coated in the oil and cream cheese. If your oven runs hot, boil the broccoli with the pasta for the last 3 minutes instead and stir it in at the end.

More Salmon Recipes

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creamy salmon and broccoli pasta.
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5 from 2 votes

Salmon and Broccoli Pasta

By: James Wythe
This family-friendly Salmon and Broccoli Pasta uses minimal ingredients making it a breeze to prepare!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4

Equipment

Ingredients 

  • 500 g salmon fillet, skinned
  • 1 head of broccoli
  • 150 g cream cheese, regular or dairy free
  • ½ tsp dried dill
  • ½ tsp italian seasoning
  • ¼ tsp garlic powder
  • ¼ tsp onion powder
  • Pinch red pepper flakes
  • ½ lemon, juiced
  • Handful fresh parsley
  • 350 g pasta (penne), gluten free if you need it (I used gluten free)
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
Metric – US Customary

Instructions 

  • Skin the salmon fillet and chop the broccoli into smaller florets.
  • Add to a large baking dish along with the cream cheese. In a small bowl combine the dill, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder and chilli flakes, give them a mix and then pour over the salmon, broccoli and cream cheese. Drizzle over olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper and bake at 200°C fan (220°C conventional, gas 7) for 20 minutes.
  • Boil the pasta in salted water for 12 minutes, or as the packet says.
  • Remove the dish from the oven, break up the salmon with a spatula and mix with the broccoli and cream cheese. The salmon is cooked when it is opaque all the way through and flakes easily.
  • Drain the pasta, add directly to the baking dish along with the lemon juice and chopped parsley. Stir and it’s ready to serve.

Notes

Step-by-Step Photos: My blog post includes helpful step-by-step photos to help guide you through making this recipe.
Substitutions & Variations: I have included a list of these in the post above.
To Store: Cool within 2 hours, then keep covered in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat in a pan over a low heat or in the microwave, with a splash of water to loosen the sauce, until steaming hot all the way through. Only reheat once.
To Freeze: I wouldn’t recommend freezing this recipe.
Tip 1: If you prefer, you could also make this in a large pan on the stove rather than in the oven. Everything that would originally cook in the oven, you’ll cook in the frying pan. Cook the pasta in a pot to the side and then combine everything into the frying pan. It would also be delicious with some grilled salmon!
Tip 2: I love making my sauce from scratch, but if you want to save a little time, you can use a jar of alfredo sauce.
Tip 3: The cook time for the pasta will depend on the type of pasta you use. Because the pasta won’t be cooked more after the end of the pasta cooking time, you want it to be fully cooked rather than al dente.
Tip 4: If the broccoli catches in your oven, boil it with the pasta for the last 3 minutes instead and stir it in at the end.

Nutrition

Calories: 731kcal | Carbohydrates: 74g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 5g
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About James Wythe

Hey, I'm James! A fully qualified health coach, cookbook author, full time food blogger and new dad with over 1 million followers. I started this journey after a sudden illness left me bed bound for 2 years and housebound for 4 years! I’m here to help you make healthy and delicious food for you and your family in less time!

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6 Comments

  2. Love the idea of using cream cheese and spices with the salmon, but I think the broccoli really needs slight pre-cooking, as it burns easily

    Reply

    1. Hey Rachel, you could boil the broccoli separately and then add to the dish with the pasta at the end if you prefer it that way. Just tried to make things easier and do it in one dish 🙂 enjoy!

      Reply