This Marry Me salmon combines seasoned, perfectly seared salmon with gluten-free pasta bathed in a rich, seasoned tomato cream sauce to create a family dinner that satisfies everyone.

I love the rich, creamy texture and bold flavor of Marry Me pasta. It's delicious on its own, but when you combine it with proteins to make dishes like Marry Me chicken or Marry Me shrimp, you get something truly magical.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Marry Me Salmon Pasta
- Marry Me Salmon Video
- Ingredients
- Flavor Variations
- How to Make This Marry Me Salmon Recipe
- Hint
- Storage
- What to Serve with Marry Me Salmon Pasta
- Tips for the Best Marry Me Salmon Recipe
- More Delicious Salmon Recipes
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Related
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Why You'll Love This Marry Me Salmon Pasta
- Flavorful Salmon: The salmon is seasoned with the perfect combination of spices and seared to perfection.
- Rich, Creamy Sauce: The tomato cream sauce is rich and creamy with the perfect blend of spices.
- Simple Ingredients: This recipe uses simple ingredients and seasonings you can find in your kitchen or any grocery store.
- Easy to Make: This recipe only takes around 20 minutes from start to finish.
- Versatile: With just a couple of tweaks, you can make this a gluten and dairy-free dish.
Marry Me Salmon Video
Ingredients

Salmon
- Salmon Select Cuts: These meaty salmon fillet pieces are rich and flavorful.
- Sun-dried Tomato Oil and Olive Oil: Sun-dried tomato oil and olive oil create a wonderful crust on the salmon and add more flavor than pure olive oil. I prefer Costabile olive oil for its flavor, quality, and purity. Use Code: 15GoldenGK for 15% off.
- Seasonings: A blend of Ac'cent Flavor Enhancer, Italian seasoning, Old Bay, and smoked paprika gives the salmon a bold, smoky flavor.
Sauce
- Gluten-Free Penne: I find the shape and texture to be the best for holding on to the pasta sauce.
- Mince Onion and Garlic: The classic aromatic combo adds deep flavor with bite and a touch of sweetness.
- Sun-dried Tomatoes: Sun-dried tomatoes add deep, complex tomato flavor.
- Chopped Spinach: Spinach adds color and a bit more flavor.
- Chicken Broth and Heavy Cream: Chicken broth and heavy cream combine to create a creamy base full of flavor for the sauce.
- Gluten-Free Flour: Gluten-free flour helps thicken the sauce. I prefer Bob's Red Mill 1:1 gluten-free flour.
- Seasonings: A blend of Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, Ac'cent Flavor Enhancer, and basil give the sauce an Italian flavor with a little something extra.
See the recipe card at the end of the post for a full list of ingredients and their exact amounts.
Flavor Variations
- Salmon: Cod, halibut, hake, or pollack are all excellent substitutes for salmon.
- Other Proteins: You can use chicken, pork, beef, or your favorite fish and shellfish for this recipe.
- Dairy-Free: Use plant butter and cream and nutritional yeast in place of Parmesan to create a gluten and dairy-free version of this recipe.
- No MSG: While the flavor enhancer adds a big boost of flavor, you can leave it out if MSG doesn't agree with you. It will still be delicious!
How to Make This Marry Me Salmon Recipe
Salmon
1: Coat both sides of the salmon with the seasonings.

2: Sear the salmon in the sun-dried tomato oil and olive oil to get a good crust on both sides. Then, cover the pan and continue cooking until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees.

Sauce
1: Boil the pasta according to the package directions for al dente while the salmon is cooking. Drain and set it aside.
2: Remove the salmon and melt the butter. Then, cook the garlic, onion, sun-dried tomatoes, tomato paste, and pasta seasonings until fragrant. Then, add the flour and stir until combined.
3: Add the vegetable broth, heavy cream, and spinach. Then, cook until the sauce begins to thicken and the spinach begins to wilt. Finally, add the parmesan and stir until creamy.

4: At this point, you can remove some of the sauce to drizzle over the salmon later if you like. Gently mix in the pasta. Then, serve it on a plate topped with the salmon and garnished with fresh basil.

Hint
I find it easiest to use a meat thermometer to ensure my salmon is perfectly cooked.
Storage
Refrigerate this Marry Me salmon for up to 3 days in an air-tight container. Because the sauce is made with heavy cream, freezing is not recommended.
To reheat the dish, microwave individual portions at 1-minute intervals until heated through.
What to Serve with Marry Me Salmon Pasta
Serve this delicious salmon dish with simple vegetable sides like this air fryer asparagus or pan-fried zucchini and squash.
For dessert, try an equally rich treat like this white chocolate raspberry cake or vanilla bean cake.
Tips for the Best Marry Me Salmon Recipe
- Medium heat is best for getting a good sear on the salmon without burning it.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure your salmon is fully cooked without being overdone.
- Immediately drain and rinse your pasta in cold water after it reaches al dente. This ensures the pasta stops cooking and won't be too mushy when added to the sauce.
More Delicious Salmon Recipes

Frequently Asked Questions
Marry Me pasta is a dish made with a creamy tomato sauce and pasta. Various meats and vegetables may also be added to it, depending on the recipe.
Absolutely! Just use plant cream and butter and nutritional yeast in place of parmesan cheese.
The best way is to use a meat thermometer. The salmon is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees. If you don't have a thermometer, check the color and texture. The salmon is done when it changes from translucent to opaque and pink and easily flakes with a fork.
Related
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📖 Recipe

Marry Me Salmon
Equipment
- Plate
Ingredients
Salmon
- 1.5 lbs Salmon select cuts
- 3 tablespoon sun-dried tomato oil
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ tablespoon smoked paprika
- ¾ tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¾ teaspoon Ac'cent flavor enhancer
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay
Sauce
- 12 oz gluten free penne pasta
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¾ teaspoon Ac'cent flavor enhancer
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon dry basil
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 2 tablespoon gluten free flour
- 2 tablespoon minced onion
- 2 tablespoon minced garlic
- 3 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups chicken broth
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes
- ½ cup chopped spinach
- 1 cup parmesan cheese
Instructions
Salmon
- Coat the salmon on both sides with the Ac'cent flavor enhancer, paprika, Italian seasoning, Old Bay, salt, and pepper.
- Preheat the sun-dried tomato oil and olive oil in a large, non-stick skillet over medium heat. Then, sear the salmon for 3 minutes per side.
- Place a lid on the pan and continue cooking the salmon until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees.
Sauce
- Boil the pasta according to the package directions for al dente while the salmon is cooking. Then, drain the pasta and set it aside.
- Remove the salmon from the pan and melt the butter in it over medium-low heat. Then, saute the garlic, onion, sun-dried tomatoes, tomato paste, Ac'cent flavor enhancer, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and dry basil. Cook for 2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add the flour and stir until combined. Then, add the vegetable broth, heavy cream, and spinach. Cook until the sauce begins to thicken and the spinach is wilted.
- Add the parmesan and stir until creamy. Then, remove some sauce to drizzle over the salmon after plating. Gently mix the pasta into the sauce and serve it topped with salmon garnished with fresh basil.
Lindsay says
We LOVED this! My kids will eat pink anything and this was a massive hit for dinner.
Swathi says
This Marry Me salmon is delicious even my fried salmon lover's son loved it. I am going to make it again.