This is a dish that brings together the rich, savory flavors of salmon and the aromatic, herby goodness of pesto in one comforting casserole. This bake offers a perfect balance of creamy, cheesy pasta combined with the distinct flavor of pesto, all topped with tender chunks of salmon. Whether you’re looking for a hearty family dinner or a simple yet elegant meal to serve guests, this dish is sure to impress.
The beauty of this pasta bake lies in its layers of flavor. The pesto, made with fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, and olive oil, infuses the pasta and salmon with a vibrant herbal essence that’s both rich and fresh. The creamy texture of the pasta complements the bold pesto, while the salmon adds a delicious, flaky contrast. Each bite offers a satisfying combination of flavors, making it a dish that feels indulgent but not too heavy.
What makes this pasta bake especially appealing is how easy it is to prepare. With just a few ingredients, you can create a flavorful, comforting meal. The pasta is cooked and mixed with the pesto and flaked salmon, then baked until golden and bubbly. The baking process melds all the flavors together, allowing the pesto to infuse every bite of the pasta, while the salmon becomes tender and slightly crispy on top. A sprinkle of cheese adds a creamy, melty finish, making it even more irresistible.
This pasta is versatile, too. You can easily swap the salmon for another type of fish, like tuna or trout, depending on your preference. For a vegetarian version, substitute the fish with roasted vegetables or a plant-based protein. You can also add some greens, like spinach or arugula, for extra freshness.
This dish is a perfect blend of convenience, flavor, and comfort. Whether you’re serving it on a busy weeknight or for a special occasion, it’s sure to be a hit with everyone at the table.
Ingredients
- 200 g salmon fillets skinless and boneless
- 250 g penne pasta or pasta of choice
- 100 g pesto store-bought or homemade
- 150 ml cream heavy cream
- 100 g cherry tomatoes halved
- 50 g parmesan cheese grated
- to taste Salt and pepper for seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F).
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large bowl, mix together the pesto, cream, and half of the grated Parmesan cheese.
- Add the drained pasta, salmon fillets (cut into bite-sized pieces), and cherry tomatoes to the pesto mixture, and gently stir to combine.
- Transfer the mixture to a greased baking dish and sprinkle the remaining Parmesan cheese on top.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until the salmon is cooked through and the top is golden brown.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste before serving. Enjoy your Pesto Salmon Pasta Bake!
Nutrition
This was soooo good! The family devoured it in minutes!
Nah, didnt work out for me. Not a fan of salmon in pasta I guess. 🤷♂️
Easy to make but my pasta got a bit mushy 🤷♀️. Maybe I cooked it too long? Still tasted good, tho!
Why cream AND pesto? Seems like it would be too rich. But yeah… it is rich. I ate it anyway. Could probably use half the cream if you’re not into heavy sauces.
Totally fair—cream + pesto is definitely on the rich side. I like it because the cream mellows the pesto and helps the pasta bake up extra creamy, but yeah, cutting it to half is a smart move if you want it lighter.
I think salmon tastes like fishy cardboard! Never gonna try this.
No way this is as good as it sounds… but wow. I used store-bought pesto and it tasted fresh. Next time I’ll add a little garlic or spinach for extra flavor.
Easy and quick, but I wish the recipe had more sauce guidance. Mine came out a little thick, so I added an extra splash of cream.
Decent idea, but 20-25 min felt a little tight for my oven. I ended up baking closer to 30 min to fully cook the salmon and melt/brown the top. Still tasty though.
I was skeptical about baking salmon with pasta, but it worked! Cherry tomatoes popped in the oven and the top went nice and golden.
Delicious! I added some spinach for extra greens. Yum!!!
Sounds great! Spinach is a smart addition. I’ll try that next time.
Yum? I dunno, I think salmon and pesto is a weird combo. Spinach or not, I’m skeptical.
How much is 200g in ounces? I can never convert these things right. Help!
200g is about 7.05 ounces! I always use Google for conversions, it helps a lot.
Looks good on paper, but I think it would be better stovetop instead of oven. Baking dried my salmon a bit. Maybe cover it with foil halfway?
I don’t know about mixing salmon with pesto. Sounds weird to me. Gonna try but skeptical.
Super easy and fast for an oven meal. I swapped penne for fusilli and it worked fine. Honestly 10/10 for weeknights.
The tomatoes made it watery for me—like, a lot. Maybe I should’ve patted them dry or used less. Tasty but the texture was off.
Pasta bake? Who knew? My grandma used to make something similar, but with chicken.
Delicious! The cream and pesto combo is heavenly! 😍
I love pesto! That sounds super yummy. Gonna try it for dinner! 🥳
Pasta bake? More like a pasta mistake! Didn’t like the salmon mixed with everything. Yuck!
Pasta in the oven? Sounds weird, but I tried it and it’s actually good! I was surprised.
The recipe said 20-25 mins, but mine took 40! What’s up with that?!
That happened to me too! I think my oven runs a bit cooler than it says, so I have to bake everything longer. Maybe check your oven temp with a thermometer?
Wow! My whole family went back for seconds. Super easy and it smells amazing while baking. Five stars, no question.
I didn’t have cream, so I used milk instead. Can’t believe how good it turned out! My family loved it, thanks!
Really? Milk? I wouldn’t have thought that could work. Are you sure it tasted good? I wasn’t happy when I tried substitute ingredients before.
Wow, that’s great to hear! Using milk instead of cream is such a smart idea! I’m glad your family enjoyed it.
Too much cream for my liking. It was more like soup than a bake.
I understand where you’re coming from. The cream can be really overwhelming! Maybe try less next time?
Soup? That’s a bit dramatic! I thought it was perfect for a creamy pasta bake. Just add more pasta if you think it’s too much.
I’m not sure about baking salmon in pasta like this—feels like it might overcook. But honestly, the texture was good. I just wouldn’t go full 25 minutes.
I feel you—25 minutes at 200°C can definitely push salmon into dry territory. I’ve had better luck doing closer to 15-18 mins and making sure it’s just “opaque and flakey,” not cooked to death. Texture wise though? That creamy pesto pasta + tomatoes combo really works.
ngl I tried it once and my salmon was kinda chewy… not like fish should be 😅 Maybe my oven runs hot? Still tasted good, just the timing seems off. Next time I’ll start checking early.
Not gonna lie, I forgot to cut the salmon small and it took forever. Sauce was still good though. Also I may have used penne that cooked too long because I got distracted—still worked.
Tasty but that’s too much cream if you ask me. 😬
Salt and pepper “to taste” is the only part I trust 😂 I forgot to season enough and it was bland until I added more cheese and pepper at the end. Will make again.
Salmon and pasta bakes are hit or miss. This one was kind of bland until I added salt and pepper at the end (like a lot). I’d also add red pepper flakes.
Totally agree—bakes like this can come out kinda flat if the seasoning’s light. Next time I’ll follow your idea and add extra salt/pepper right at the end, and I’ll definitely toss in some red pepper flakes too. Thanks!
Tasty little dish, but where’s the garlic?! How can you have pesto without garlic?
Decent idea, but I think 200°C for 20-25 min runs a bit fast for thicker salmon. I’d suggest checking earlier or cutting the salmon smaller—mine almost dried out on the edges.
This was so easy to make! My family loved it!
It was okay, but I think it needed more seasoning. The pesto was a bit too overwhelming for my taste. I’ll stick to my usual recipes.
So easy to make! Even a caveman could do it! 😂
Pretty good overall. Mine needed a couple extra minutes in the oven to get the salmon fully cooked. Also I might’ve used too much pesto—still tasty though.
Yummy!
Right?! The pesto + cream combo sounds dangerously good. I’m definitely trying this—200°C for 25 mins seems perfect for keeping the salmon juicy.
Yummy but also… do you really use salmon *raw* in it? I feel like 20-25 min might be too short, unless the pieces are tiny. Still gonna try tho 😅
I followed the recipe mostly, but 200°C for 20-25 min felt a bit short—my salmon wasn’t fully cooked until I baked 10 minutes more. Otherwise tasty!
Shud I cook the pasta before? I thought it goes in raw? Totally confused. 😕
Tried this tonight—super comforting. The pesto + cream combo is rich without being too heavy, and the tomatoes pop nicely. Would definitely make again!
This recipe was delish! The pesto mixed with salmon is a game changer. I added a bit of lemon for flavor. 5 stars!
I totally agree! The lemon adds such a nice zing to the dish. Can’t wait to try it myself!
Not gonna lie, I’m skeptical about baking salmon in pasta bake form. But this surprised me—no fishy taste at all. Winner.