Marry Me Salmon is the kind of recipe that instantly elevates your dinner table. Flaky salmon fillets are cooked in a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce with garlic, shallots, parmesan, and fresh baby spinach for a savory flavor and pop of color. With bold flavors, a creamy texture, and fresh herbs, this restaurant-quality dish feels perfect for a special occasion yet simple enough for a weeknight dinner. Pair it with your favorite pasta or a side of crusty bread to soak up every last bit of that Tuscan-style sauce.
Why Youโll Love This Recipe
- Flaky salmon fillets paired with a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce for the best flavor and texture. If you love the marry me flavors, try out our creamy marry me chicken pasta.
- Savory flavor from garlic, parmesan, oregano, and red pepper flakes for just a touch of heat.
- Restaurant-quality dish that feels special enough for a date night or holiday but easy for a weeknight dinner.
- Fresh herbs and baby spinach add a pop of color and extra flavor to the creamy sauce.
- Plenty of ways to serve: over your favorite pasta, with garlic butter noodles, or with a side of crusty bread.
- A flavorful dish the whole family will love, with a balance of creamy texture, depth of flavor, and Tuscan-inspired richness.
Ingredient Notes
- Salmon fillets - you will want to use skinless salmon for this recipe to prevent the salmon skin from getting into the sauce. Looking for another salmon recipe? Try our fan favorite pesto crusted salmon.
- Chicken broth - can swap for chicken stock or vegetable broth if desired.
- Half and half - you can swap this for heavy cream if you want a richer, creamier sauce. You can also swap for light coconut milk for a dairy-free version of the cream sauce.
- Parmesan cheese - we highly recommend using freshly grated parmesan! We love using this microplane to create fine shreds that melt easily without clumping.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and measurements.
Recipe Tips & Variations
- Adjust the heat: Use more or less red pepper flakes depending on whether you want a mild version or a touch of heat.
- Swap the dairy: For an even richer sauce, replace half and half with heavy cream. For a lighter option, try whole milk or a dairy-free alternative like canned coconut milk (it will slightly change the flavor but still give a creamy texture). Try our Thai inspired meatball soup with rice noodles for another creamy, dairy-free option.
- Add more greens: Baby spinach is classic, but kale or arugula are great additions for extra flavor and a pop of color.
- Change up the protein: While flaky salmon fillets are the star, this creamy sun-dried tomato sauce also pairs well with chicken, shrimp, or even gnocchi.
- Serving suggestions: This flavorful dish is delicious with garlic butter noodles, your favorite pasta, mashed potatoes, or a simple side of crusty bread to soak up the creamy sun-dried tomato sauce.
- Extra flavor boost: Finish with a sprinkle of lemon zest, more parmesan, or fresh basil to brighten the dish and enhance the savory flavor.
How to Make Marry Me Salmon
For the full recipe instructions, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
Step 1: Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the salmon filets with salt and pepper. Place the salmon in the pan and sear for 3โ4 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and nearly cooked through. Remove the salmon from the pan and set aside.
Step 2: In the same skillet, reduce the heat to medium. Add the minced shallot and garlic. Sautรฉ for 1โ2 minutes until fragrant and slightly softened.
Step 3: Pour in the chicken broth and half & half (or coconut milk). Stir to combine.
Step 4: Add the parmesan cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Stir gently until the cheese melts and the sauce is smooth.
In a small bowl, mix the arrowroot powder or cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water to form a slurry. Stir it into the sauce and cook for another 2โ3 minutes until slightly thickened.
Step 5: Stir in the chopped spinach and cook until wilted, about 1 minute.
Step 6: Add in the lemon juice.
Step 7: Nestle the salmon back into the skillet.
Spoon the sauce over the filets and simmer for another 2โ3 minutes, or until the salmon is cooked through and reaches 145 degrees fahrenheit.
Top with fresh basil and additional parmesan cheese if desired just before serving.
Creamy Marry Me Salmon FAQs
Let the salmon cool to room temperature. Store in an airtight container in the fridge and eat within 3-4 days.ย
This recipe is gluten free. It can be dairy free with the use of coconut milk and the omission of parmesan cheese.ย
Other Easy Salmon Recipes
If you make this easy marry me salmon recipe, please let us know how it turns out in the comments below and/or rate the recipe! Donโt forget to tag us on Instagram to show us your finished productโit makes our day every time we see you trying the recipes we love!
Creamy One-Pan Marry Me Salmon
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons avocado oil or olive oil
- 4, 6 ounce salmon fillets (skinless)
- 1 shallot, minced
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- ยพ cup chicken broth
- ยพ cup half and half (swap for light coconut milk for dairy-free if needed)
- โ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- โ cup sun-dried tomatoes, removed from oil and chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ยฝ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- ยฝ teaspoon salt
- ยฝ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoons arrowroot powder or cornstarch
- 3 cups fresh spinach, chopped
- ยฝ lemon, juiced
- ยผ cup fresh thinly sliced basil, for garnish
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the salmon filets with salt and pepper. Place the salmon in the pan and sear for 3โ4 minutes on each side, or until golden and nearly cooked through. Remove the salmon from the pan and set aside.
- In the same skillet, reduce the heat to medium. Add the minced shallot and minced garlic. Sautรฉ for 1โ2 minutes until fragrant and slightly softened.
- Pour in the chicken broth and half & half (or coconut milk). Stir to combine.
- Add the parmesan cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Stir gently until the cheese melts and the sauce is smooth.
- In a small bowl, mix the arrowroot powder or cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water to form a slurry. Stir it into the sauce and cook for another 2โ3 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Stir in the chopped spinach and cook until wilted, about 1 minute. Add in the lemon juice.
- Nestle the salmon back into the skillet.
- Spoon the sauce over the filets and simmer for another 2โ3 minutes, or until the salmon is cooked through and reaches 145 degrees fahrenheit.
- Top with fresh basil and additional parmesan cheese if desired just before serving.
Notes
- Save time/prep ahead:
- Chop ahead: Mince the shallot and garlic, and slice the sundried tomatoes up to 1 day in advance; store in an airtight container in the fridge.
- Grate cheese early: Shred parmesan ahead of time and keep it refrigerated for quick use.
- Portion salmon: If buying a large fillet, cut into individual salmon fillets before cooking to save time at dinner.
- The recipe can be found on My Fitness Pal by searching "BWB Marry Me Salmon." The nutrition content provided for each recipe is an estimate created through the My Fitness Pal database. Please be aware that the nutritional content of each recipe may vary based on the products you use, the precision of your measurements, and the source you use to obtain nutrition data. While we try to provide accurate information, we give no guarantee regarding the accuracy of the nutritional information provided.ย
J
You want something with a lot of flavor? This is the dish for you. I thought this was delicious! Those sun-dried tomatoes made the dish.