Baked Lemon Butter Salmon Pasta

If you are looking for an easy, light, and delicious lemony salmon and pasta recipe this is a wonderful place to be! Baking the salmon and boiling the pasta can be done at the same time, so your meal is pretty much completely ready within about 20 minutes total.

The fresh lemon juice and zest add fabulous flavor and "zing" to this dish - complemented by a light buttery / olive oil base and lots of delicious garlic baked with the salmon. 

Some herbs and light salt and pepper finish this off. A generous grating of parmesan cheese would be a wonderful addition, but it doesn't need more than the tender pasta, flaky salmon, and that lovely lemon! So happy together! 

Baked Lemon Butter Salmon Pasta

Makes about 2 servings, double for a larger group!

Ingredients

1/2 lb salmon fillet

2 TBS butter, divided use

1 TBS minced garlic (jarred)

1 medium lemon, divided use

1/4 tsp salt, more to taste

1/8 tsp black pepper, more to taste

1 TBS olive oil

1/2 TBS dried parsley

4-oz fettuccine pasta

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 390 degrees. Lightly salt and pepper your salmon on both sides, and place in a 2-quart baking dish. 
2. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze half of it over the salmon. Place the minced garlic over the salmon and add 1 TBS of butter.
3. Bake in the preheated oven 15 minutes, or until salmon is cooked through and flakes easily.
4. While salmon is baking, bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta per package directions, about 12-14 minutes until al dente (or to your preferred tenderness).
5. When salmon is cooked, break apart into large chunks (it will break apart a little further when you toss it with the pasta). 
6. Add the cooked pasta to the baking dish with the salmon. Drizzle the pasta and salmon with 1 TBS olive oil, and add remaining TBS of butter. Zest 1/2 of the lemon and add to the pasta, then squeeze out the juice of the remaining half of the lemon into the pasta as well. Add 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp pepper, along with the dried parsley (or fresh if you have it and prefer!)
7. Toss everything gently until pasta is well coated in the pan juices and everything you have added in, and salmon is evenly distributed amongst the pasta. 
8. Taste, and adjust the seasonings. Add a touch more butter or oil if needed, if your pasta is too dry.
9. Feel free to add some shredded parmesan cheese before serving! 

Recipe adapted from Spend with Pennies