Creamy Salmon and Spinach Pasta

Name: Creamy Salmon and Spinach Pasta (Air Fryer)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 lb salmon fillets, cut into pieces; 2 cups fresh spinach; 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved; 5 oz garlic and herb cream cheese spread; 1 tbsp roasted garlic paste; Tuscan seasoning, to taste; Garlic pepper seasoning, to taste; 1 tbsp lemon flavored extra virgin olive oil; 12 oz rotini pasta, cooked; 1/4 cup reserved pasta water

This creamy salmon and spinach pasta combines tender air-fried salmon, fresh spinach, and cherry tomatoes in a rich garlic herb cream sauce, all cooked together in one pan for an elegant yet simple weeknight dinner.

🌍American 🏷️Salmon pasta 🏷️Creamy pasta 🏷️Spinach pasta 🏷️Salmon Spinach

🏷️

🏷️Cherry tomatoes

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TikTok

Total

25 min

Servings

4

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$20–$33

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok

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TikTok

Ingredients

1 lb salmon fillets, cut into pieces
2 cups fresh spinach
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
5 oz garlic and herb cream cheese spread
1 tbsp roasted garlic paste
Tuscan seasoning, to taste
Garlic pepper seasoning, to taste
1 tbsp lemon flavored extra virgin olive oil
12 oz rotini pasta, cooked
1/4 cup reserved pasta water

10 Ingredients

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Instructions

1
In a parchment-lined air fryer basket, add the salmon pieces, fresh spinach, halved cherry tomatoes, garlic and herb cream cheese, and roasted garlic paste.
2
Season everything with Tuscan seasoning and garlic pepper seasoning. Drizzle with lemon flavored olive oil.
3
Place the basket in the air fryer and cook at 300°F for about 10 minutes, or until the salmon is cooked through.
4
Remove the basket from the air fryer. Add the cooked pasta directly to the basket.
5
Pour in the reserved pasta water and add more Tuscan seasoning over the pasta if desired.
6
Using a spatula, mix everything together directly in the air fryer basket until the sauce is creamy and all ingredients are well combined.
7
Serve immediately.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Pat salmon pieces dry before air frying to achieve better browning and prevent steaming.
Reserve pasta water before draining—the starch helps emulsify the cream sauce and coat the pasta evenly.
Add spinach at the end to prevent overcooking; it wilts quickly from residual heat.
Don't skip the lemon-flavored olive oil; it brightens the rich sauce and complements salmon naturally.

Substitutions

Rotini pasta → penne or linguine (same cooking time, maintains sauce cling)
Cherry tomatoes → sun-dried tomatoes (use 1/4 cup, more concentrated flavor)
Fresh spinach → frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry (reduces water content)
Garlic and herb cream cheese → mascarpone mixed with garlic and Italian seasoning (slightly lighter texture)

Storage & make-ahead

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days; reheat gently on the stovetop with a splash of pasta water to restore creaminess.