Salmon and Lemon Pasta with Fresh Herbs

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-19 · Updated 2026-04-19

A quick weeknight meal featuring Norwegian salmon fillets in a bright lemon-herb sauce over pasta. This Norwegian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 22 minutes, pairs Norwegian salmon fillets, penne pasta, lemon zest for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 485 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 6 oz (170 g) per serving Norwegian salmon fillets
• 8 oz penne pasta
• 1 tbsp lemon zest
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh dill
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add penne and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
2. Step 2: While pasta cooks, season salmon fillets with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
3. Step 3: Add salmon to skillet, skin-side down, and cook for 4 minutes without moving. Flip and cook for 3-4 minutes until opaque and flakes easily.
4. Step 4: Remove salmon and set aside. Add lemon zest, juice, dill, and parsley to the skillet. Stir for 1 minute until fragrant.
5. Step 5: Return drained pasta to the skillet and toss with sauce, adding reserved pasta water 1 tbsp at a time until the sauce coats the pasta evenly.