Go Back
creamy lemon dill rigatoni with baked salmon
Lauren Eliza Eats

Creamy Lemon Dill Rigatoni with Baked Salmon

A creamy lemon dill rigatoni tossed with flaked baked salmon, fresh dill, and a bright, garlicky cream sauce. A simple yet elegant pasta dish perfect for dinner.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Ingredients
  

Creamy Lemon Dill Rigatoni
  • 12 oz rigatoni pasta
  • 2 Tbsp butter
  • 2 small fresh thyme springs
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 cup chicken or vegetable stock
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 lemon zested and juiced
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 Tbsp fresh dill
Baked Salmon
  • 1 fillet salmon
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • ½ tsp smoked paprika

Method
 

  1. Skin salmon fillet and on a clean cutting board, cube salmon into large chunks.
  2. Add salmon cubes to a bowl with seasoning and toss until evenly combined.
  3. Lay salmon on a single layer on sheet tray. Bake at 350℉ for 12-15 minutes or until salmon is fully cooked. Set aside.
  4. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add your rigatoni and cook to al dente according the box instructions. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water.
  5. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant (about 1 minute).
  6. Pour in stock and simmer on medium heat until reduced to half.
  7. Stir in heavy cream, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
  8. Let cook for a couple of minutes for sauce to thicken. Season with salt and pepper to your taste.
  9. Add in grated parmesan cheese and reduce heat to low. Stir until cheese is melted.
  10. Toss cooked rigatoni and fresh dill into pasta sauce. If sauce is too thick, add splashes of reserved pasta water until desired consistency.
  11. Gently toss in baked salmon into pasta.
  12. Serve creamy lemon dill rigatoni warm and garnish with grated Parmesan, fresh dill, and lemon juice.