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This Marry Me Salmon Pasta recipe is my answer to busy weeknights. Tender, perfectly seasoned salmon comes out of the air fryer (or stovetop) while a creamy sun-dried tomato parmesan sauce simmers on the stove. Toss it all over pasta and dinner is on the table in less than 30 minutes!
My son loves salmon made in the air fryer, especially as bite-size pieces, so this recipe works both ways: whole fillets or salmon bites. The secret shortcut is Trader Joe’s Salmon Rub, a seasoning my kid can’t get enough of. Can’t find it? I’ve included a simple homemade blend too!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Air fryer or stovetop. The air fryer cooks the fish while you make the sauce, or sear it in a skillet and build the sauce in the same pan
- Kid-approved. Make it as salmon bites for little hands, or fillets for the grown-ups.
- One-jar seasoning. Trader Joe’s Salmon Rub does the work, with a homemade option if you need it.
- That creamy Marry Me sauce. Garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, parmesan, and basil in a silky half and half sauce.
- Weeknight fast. Pasta, sauce, and salmon all cook at the same time!
How to Make Marry Me Salmon Pasta
- Start the pasta. Cook it in salted water until al dente. Save ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
- Season the salmon. Pat it dry, brush with a little olive oil, and coat with Trader Joe’s Salmon Rub.
- Cook the salmon. USDA’s safe internal temperature for fish is 145°F.
- Fillets: 380°F for 8 minutes.
- Bites: cut skinless salmon into 1½ inch cubes and air fry at 380°F for 6 minutes.
- Stovetop: heat 1 tbsp of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sear fillets 3-4 minutes per side, or cook bites about 5-6 minutes total, turning gently. Medium heat keeps the brown sugar in the rub from burning. Move the salmon to a plate.
- Make the sauce. While the salmon cooks, sauté garlic in olive oil, add sun-dried tomatoes, then stir in broth and half and half. Simmer gently for a few minutes until slightly thickened.
- Finish it. Turn the heat to low, stir in parmesan, then take it off the heat and add lemon juice and basil.
- Serve. Toss the pasta with half the sauce, top with the salmon, and spoon the rest of the sauce over the top.
Helpful Tips
- Keep the sauce smooth. Simmer gently, never at a hard boil, and add the lemon juice off the heat so the half and half doesn’t curdle.
- Add parmesan slowly. Stir it in a handful at a time over low heat so it melts instead of clumping.
- Taste before salting. The salmon rub, parmesan, and broth all bring salt, so the sauce may not need any extra.
- Watch the first batch. The rub contains brown sugar, and air fryers vary, so peek a minute early the first time.
- For salmon bites, use skinless salmon, leave space between the pieces, and turn them gently with tongs instead of shaking the basket.
- No Trader Joe’s nearby? Mix 1 tbsp brown sugar, 2 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp kosher salt, ½ tsp black pepper, and ½ tsp dried thyme.
Storing and Reheating
- Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Store the salmon separately from the pasta if you can.
- Reheat: Warm the pasta and sauce gently on the stove with a splash of half and half or broth to bring the sauce back together. Add the salmon at the end just to heat through so it doesn’t dry out.
- Skip the microwave on high. High heat can make the sauce separate and the salmon rubbery.
Marry Me Salmon Pasta (Air Fryer or Stovetop)
Salmon seasoned with Trader Joe's Salmon Rub, cooked in the air fryer or on the stovetop, and topped with a creamy sun-dried tomato Marry Me sauce over pasta. Make it with fillets or kid-friendly salmon bites!
Ingredients
- 4 salmon fillets, 6 oz each, about 1 inch thick
- 2 tbsp Trader Joe’s Salmon Rub, use a little less for fillets; homemade blend in notes
- 2 tbsp olive oil, divided
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 cups sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped
- 1/2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1.5 cups half and half
- 1/2 cups freshly grated parmesan, + more for serving
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1/3 cups fresh basil, thinly sliced
- 1/3 tsp red pepper flakes, optional
- 1/3 tsp salt for the sauce, only if needed after tasting
- 12 ounces pasta, penne, farfelle, linguine, or fettuccine
Instructions
- Start the pasta: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain.
- Season the salmon: Pat 4 salmon fillets (6 oz each, about 1 inch thick) very dry. Brush with about 1 tbsp of the 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided, then coat the tops and sides well with 2 tbsp Trader Joe's Salmon Rub (use a little less for fillets; homemade blend in notes). Fillets need a little less rub than bites. (Making bites or using the stovetop? See the notes.)
- Air fry the salmon: Preheat the air fryer to 380°F. Place fillets in a single layer (skin-side down if skin-on) with space between them. Air fry 8 minutes.
- Build the sauce: While the salmon cooks, heat the remaining 2 tbsp olive oil, divided in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté 5 garlic cloves, minced for 30–60 seconds until fragrant, then add sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped and cook 1–2 minutes.
- Simmer: Stir in chicken or vegetable broth (or reserved pasta water) and half and half. Bring to a gentle simmer, not a hard boil, and cook 3–4 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Finish the sauce: Reduce heat to low and stir in freshly grated parmesan a handful at a time until melted. Remove from heat, then stir in fresh lemon juice, red pepper flakes (optional) if using, and most of the fresh basil, thinly sliced. Taste before adding salt for the sauce, only if needed after tasting; the parmesan, broth, and rub may already be salty enough. Loosen with reserved pasta water if needed.
- Combine and serve: Toss the pasta with about half the sauce. Top with the salmon, spoon the remaining sauce over, and garnish with the rest of the basil.
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