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This canned salmon pasta recipe is fast, fresh, light, and uses a handful of everyday ingredients. It’s ready in about 20 minutes and is ridiculously simple to make!
You may also like my Easy Canned Tuna Pasta, which this recipe is based on.
Why you’ll love it
If you’re wondering what to make with canned salmon, this quick and easy pasta is sure to hit the spot. Canned salmon is inexpensive, healthy, and convenient. I always keep some on hand for when I want a low-effort meal and am not in the mood for tuna.
Other than my Canned Salmon Salad Sandwiches, this is one of my favorite canned salmon recipes. You can feel good about since it’s got simple yet super flavorful ingredients, and you can throw it together fast. It’s a satisfying clean out the fridge and pantry meal.
What you’ll need
- Pasta – absolutely any variety will work here. I like spaghetti since I always have it on hand in my pantry.
- Olive oil – for sautéing
- Garlic – if you really love garlic, feel free to use more than suggested
- Salmon – try a can of pink or sockeye
- Lemon – we’re using both fresh lemon juice and lemon zest for brightness and to bring out the flavors of the fish
- Parsley – it’s a pop of freshness and contrast
Pro tip
This recipe works best with skinless/boneless canned salmon, but bone-in skin-on is fine too. You may need to mash it together a bit more, but the soft bones are perfectly safe to eat and really nutritious and packed with vitamins and minerals! Have leftover Baked Salmon? Feel free to use it.
How to make canned salmon pasta
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
Boil the pasta. Meanwhile, in a small pan, sauté the garlic in the olive oil until fragrant. Add in the canned salmon, lemon juice and zest, and the chopped parsley. Let it heat through.
Then add a couple of tablespoons of the starchy hot pasta water, and toss with the drained pasta. Season with salt & pepper. Top it off with freshly grated parmesan if desired.
Tools for this recipe
Check out Natasha’s favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!
- I use my handy Microplane grater to easily zest the lemon. It’s also great if you want fresh parm on top.
- For any recipe that calls for minced garlic, I simply use my garlic press to crush the cloves with little effort and no peeling, and this cute yet functional garlic saver helps keep it fresher for longer.
- Store dry pasta in your pantry in an airtight spaghetti keeper.
Substitutions and variations
- You could add in a chopped tomato or little tomatoes (grape, cherry, etc.) cut in half for some more dimension.
- Capers would go great in here! Plus you’ll feel a little fancy when eating this dish.
- Try throwing in a handful of spinach towards the end. Simply let it wilt for a minute or two.
- Add in more fresh herbs if you happen to have some from the garden. Fresh dill would be fantastic.
- If you want to make this creamy, add a splash of heavy cream or a dollop of crème fraîche, sour cream, or cream cheese in towards the end.
What to serve with canned salmon spaghetti
- It’s great as is, but you could definitely serve it with a slice of crusty bread or a dinner roll to make the meal more substantial. Cheesy Garlic Bread always works as well.
- Try a side salad with mixed greens, fresh veggies, and this Easy Italian Dressing for a lighter side dish. This Creamy Pesto Dressing is another good option.
Leftovers and storage
- This salmon pasta is best fresh. However, it will keep in the fridge in a covered container for 3-4 days, but I prefer to eat leftover seafood sooner rather than later.
- Reheat in a small saucepan over a low heat, stirring occasionally.
- I don’t recommend freezing leftovers of this pasta.
Questions about this easy canned salmon pasta? Let me know in the comments below! I’d love it if you left a review and a star rating. You can also find me on Instagram.
Canned Salmon Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 large cloves garlic minced
- 1 (5 ounce) can salmon (pink or sockeye, boneless/skinless)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice + zest of 1/2 lemon
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 4 ounces uncooked pasta (I used spaghetti)
Instructions
- Boil a salted pot of water for your pasta and cook it al dente according to package directions. Prep your other ingredients while it cooks.
- When the pasta is close to being ready, add the oil to a small pan over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the garlic and cook it for 30 seconds.
- Stir in the salmon (break it up with your fork/flake it, and if you wish, add in the juices from the can for more flavor), the lemon juice + zest, and parsley. Let it heat through.
- Once the pasta is done, add some of the pasta water (a couple tablespoons) to the sauce and then drain the pasta and toss with the sauce. Season with salt & pepper as needed. Grate some parmesan on top if you wish.
Notes
- See blog post for more suggestions for add-ins/variations.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Easy, quick and tasty.
Thanks, June! 😀
This was so good, thoroughly enjoyed it. Pasta is one of my fav foods and it was so great knowing there wasnt some calorie laden sauce, I didn’t add cheese, but still so tasty. I added a chopped tomato, and the spinach which i would double next time and the dill you suggested just sent it home. Thanks for s pretty healthy dinner. Cheers!
You’re very welcome!
Simple and nutritious! I also added spring onion , chilli flakes and chopped ginger … absolutely stunning 🤩
Thank you, Liz!! 😀
Very delicious! I added some chopped green onions (instead of parsley) and some black olives, then topped with some parmesan cheese. Easy and quick to make. Will be making this again. Thank you!
You’re very welcome, Sue!