This Cheesy Lemon Garlic Salmon Pasta is a delicious and fun way to serve salmon to kids! Tender flakes of salmon and sweet oven-roasted cherry tomatoes are tossed with long, thin noodles in a lemony garlic sauce with plenty of melty parmesan and cheddar.
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Table of Contents
The salmon, tomatoes and garlic roast on one sheet pan while the pasta cooks, so there's very little hands-on cooking. The cheesy, lemony sauce is a great way to introduce fish to little ones in a familiar, kid-friendly form!
Why You'll Love This Lemon Garlic Salmon Pasta
- Mostly hands-off: The garlic, salmon, and tomatoes roast on one pan while the pasta boils, so there's very little active cooking.
- Kid-friendly flavours: Cheesy, garlicky and lightly lemony, with tender flakes of salmon mixed right in.
- Nutrient-rich: Salmon is a source of protein and omega-3 fats, including DHA, and the cheese adds calcium.
- Great for self-feeding: Long noodles are fun for toddlers to practise picking up with their hands or a fork.
- Easy to customize: Stir in spinach, add fresh basil or leave the tomatoes on the side for anyone who prefers them that way.
The dietitian in me knows fish is a great food to offer kids, but the mom side knows it can often take some time for little ones to warm up to it. Neither of my kids eats salmon on its own (yet!), so I love that this recipe pairs it with one of their favourite foods - cheesy pasta. Having something familiar on the plate can make a newer food feel a little safer to explore. And if they pick around the salmon, that’s okay! Every time they see, smell or touch it is still valuable exposure. You can also deconstruct this meal and serve the salmon on the side, so your child can decide if they want to try it and how much.
Ingredients for Lemon Garlic Salmon Pasta for Kids
You only need a handful of simple ingredients for this easy family dinner.
- Pasta noodles: Spaghetti pasta noodles tend to work best here because the sauce clings to each strand, but any pasta noodle will work.
- Salmon fillet: Skinless or skin-on both work, and always check for bones.
- Cherry tomatoes: They roast alongside the salmon until soft, sweet and jammy.
- Garlic: Oven-roasted garlic adds so much delicious flavour to this dish.
- Olive oil: Coats the salmon and tomatoes, then helps carry the garlic and lemon through the pasta.
- Lemon: Both the zest and juice brighten up the whole dish.
- Salt and pepper: Help bring out the flavour.
- Parmesan and cheddar: Parmesan adds that savoury flavour, and cheddar makes the sauce extra melty and kid-friendly.
- Fresh basil or spinach (optional): Sprinkle basil on top, or stir a few handfuls of spinach into the hot pasta to wilt.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Cheesy Lemon Garlic Salmon Pasta
The salmon, tomatoes and garlic roast on one sheet pan while the pasta cooks, then everything gets tossed together in the pasta pot.
Start with the garlic: cut the top off the bulb, drizzle the cut side with a little olive oil, wrap it in aluminum foil and roast on the pan for 15 minutes at 400°F.
While the garlic roasts, halve or quarter the cherry tomatoes and pat the salmon dry. Then after 15 minutes of roasting the garlic, add the salmon to the pan, skin side down, and arrange the tomatoes around it. Drizzle with the rest of the olive oil, lightly season with salt and pepper, and roast for another 12-15 minutes, until the salmon is cooked through (70°C / 158°F). Thicker fillets may need a few extra minutes.
While the salmon bakes, cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Save ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
Return the pasta to the pot with the ½ cup reserved pasta water. Add olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, and both cheeses. Stir well to combine.
Flake the salmon into bite-sized pieces, checking for any bones. Squeeze the soft roasted garlic out of its skins and mash it with a fork.
Add the roasted tomatoes, flaked salmon, and mashed garlic to the pasta.
Stir gently into the pasta. Top with any fresh basil or extra cheese if you like!
Hint: To get a nice creamy sauce with no clumps, take the pot off the heat before adding the cheese. Add the cheese a little at a time, tossing well between each addition. The starchy pasta water helps the cheese melt into a smooth sauce.
Substitutions
- Pasta: Any pasta noodle works, like linguine or fettuccine or even penne or rotini. For younger toddlers, short shapes like fusilli or penne can be easier to pick up. Use gluten-free pasta if needed.
- Salmon: Trout works well, or use canned salmon (drained, with any larger bones removed) for an even quicker dinner.
- Cheese: Use all parmesan or all cheddar.
Variations
Stir a few handfuls of diced baby spinach into the hot pasta to wilt, or add peas for a pop of colour. Swap the cherry tomatoes for roasted broccoli florets or zucchini, or add a spoonful of plain Greek yogurt or cream cheese for an extra creamy sauce.
Want more dinner ideas for pasta night? Try my Parmesan Crusted Chicken Pasta or this Roasted Vegetable Pasta Sauce.
Serving Ideas for Lemon Garlic Salmon pasta
Although this pasta can be a complete meal on its own, it can be paired with a few other items to round it out. Here are some of our favourites to serve it with.
- Veggies on the side: Serve with cucumber slices, steamed broccoli or a simple green salad.
- Deconstructed plate: For toddlers who like their foods separate, serve the noodles, salmon, and tomatoes in separate spots on the plate.
- Include a preferred/already accepted food: If the pasta feels pretty new or isn't yet accepted by your child, including 1-2 already accepted foods on the table can help the meal feel less intimidating. I'll often include a little extra cheese, avocado, or some apple slices.
Need more toddler-friendly dinner ideas? I have a full post with Easy Dinner Ideas for Toddlers! And if you're looking for a little more support with getting dinners prepped and reducing dinnertime battles, check out my 3x5 Dinner Prep Method!
Equipment
- Large pot
- Sheet pan
- Parchment paper
- Aluminum foil
- Zester or microplane
- Colander
- Tongs
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat with a splash of water or milk to loosen the sauce. I don't recommend freezing this one, since the pasta and salmon can get soft once thawed.
Toddler Nutrition Tip
Whole grain pasta is a great way to add more fibre to this dish. If your little one is hesitant about whole grain noodles, try mixing half whole grain and half white pasta. You can also try a fibre-added white pasta like Catelli Smart, which looks and tastes like regular pasta but has as much fibre as whole wheat.
Lentil, chickpea and bean pastas are great options too. They have about double the protein and fibre of regular pasta, plus a little more iron. The vitamin C in the cherry tomatoes helps your child absorb the iron from these plant-based pastas!
FAQ
Yes! Salmon is a low-mercury fish and a great choice for little ones. Make sure it's fully cooked to 70°C (158°F), or until it's opaque and flakes easily with a fork, and check for any small bones before serving.
Yes, canned salmon works well and makes this dinner even quicker. Drain it and gently fold it into the pasta at the end with the tomatoes.
Add the cheese to the hot pasta off the heat, along with the reserved pasta water, and toss well. The starchy pasta water helps the cheese melt into a smooth sauce.
It's best served fresh, but leftovers keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. Add a splash of water or milk when reheating to bring back the creamy sauce.
Baby spinach, peas, roasted broccoli or zucchini all work well. Stir spinach or peas into the hot pasta, or roast other veggies on the sheet pan with the salmon.
Offer it alongside foods they already enjoy, like cheesy pasta, and keep the pressure low. You can serve the salmon mixed into the pasta or on the side so your child can explore it at their own pace. It can take many exposures before a new food is accepted, and that's completely normal!
Recipe
Cheesy Lemon Garlic Salmon Pasta for Kids
Equipment
- Large pot
- Sheet pan
- Parchment paper
- Aluminum foil
- Zester or microplane
- Colander
- Tongs
Ingredients
Salmon, Tomatoes & Garlic
- 1 head garlic
- 3 tablespoon olive oil for the garlic, salmon and tomatoes
- 1 salmon fillet about 6-7 oz / 170-200 g
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved, or quartered for younger kids
- dash salt
- dash pepper
Pasta
- 500 g spaghetti or other pasta noodles of choice
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lemon zested and juiced
- 1 cup parmesan cheese grated, plus extra for topping
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- ½ cup reserved pasta water
- salt and pepper to taste
Optional
- fresh basil leaves for topping
- baby spinach chopped, a few handfuls
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a sheet pan with parchment paper (or foil).
- Cut the top off the garlic bulb, drizzle the cut side with about 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and wrap it in aluminum foil. Place it on the sheet pan and roast for 15 minutes.
- While the garlic roasts, halve or quarter the cherry tomatoes and pat the salmon dry with a paper towel.
- Take the pan out of the oven. Place the salmon skin side down next to the garlic and arrange the tomatoes around it. Drizzle the salmon and tomatoes with the remaining olive oil and season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Return the pan to the oven and roast for 12-15 minutes. Thicker fillets may need a few extra minutes.
- While the salmon roasts, cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Before draining, scoop out ½ cup of the pasta water and set it aside. Drain the pasta, return it to the pot and toss with the olive oil.
- Remove the sheet pan from the oven and check the salmon. It's done when it reaches 70°C (158°F) in the thickest part, or is opaque and flakes easily with a fork. If it needs more time, return it to the oven for a few minutes. Flake the salmon into bite-sized pieces, removing the skin and any bones.
- Carefully unwrap the garlic, watching for hot steam, and let it cool slightly. Squeeze the soft cloves out of their skins and mash them with a fork.
- With the pot off the heat, add the reserved pasta water, mashed garlic, lemon zest and lemon juice to the pasta and toss. Add the parmesan and cheddar a little at a time, tossing well until the cheese melts into a smooth sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Gently fold in the flaked salmon and roasted tomatoes. If using spinach, stir it in now so it wilts in the warm pasta.
- Top with extra parmesan and fresh basil, if using, and serve warm.
Notes
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Do you find you're scrambling at 5pm to get dinner on the table? Want an easier system to getting dinner prepped, and get your time back before dinner (without prepping for hours on a Sunday)? Check out my 3x5 Dinner Prep Method! Toddler-friendly dinner recipes that can be prepped in 3, five-minute steps, then cooked hands-off and all recipes can be served deconstructed and family-style!
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