Salmon Mac And Cheese is the perfect casserole dish you need to make for a hearty meal. It comes together in under 40 minutes using simple ingredients.
Here are some more pasta recipes that you may like – Bob Evans Copycat Mac and Cheese, White Sauce Pasta, Chicken Florentine Pasta, and Instant Pot Tuscan Chicken Pasta.
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About Salmon Mac And Cheese
Salmon Mac And Cheese is a hearty casserole dish perfect for a comforting meal. It is rich, super creamy, and loaded with omega three fatty acids from the salmon.
Mac and cheese with salmon come together in under 40 minutes using a few simple ingredients.
The subtle flavor and texture of salmon really complement the cheesy and creamy baked pasta.
Double or triple the recipe to make a big batch and include it in your weekly meal planning, as this one warms up really well.
Serve it on the side with grilled chicken, or on its own with a side of homemade bread, a sandwich, or a refreshing salad.
Ingredients
For The Salmon
Salmon – You can use fresh or frozen salmon. If using frozen salmon, make sure to thaw it before cooking.
Others – You will also need extra virgin olive oil, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and lime juice to season the salmon.
For The Pasta
Pasta – Dried elbow macaroni pasta is a preferred choice to make mac and cheese. However, you can use other short pasta such as penne, farfalle, rigatoni, or fusilli.
Cheese – This recipe uses a combination of medium-sharp cheddar cheese and gruyere cheese. If you are not a fan of gruyere cheese, use more cheddar cheese instead.
All-Purpose Flour – All-purpose flour is used to thicken the creamy sauce.
Milk – Use whole milk (full-fat milk) for the rich and creamy texture. You can use low-fat or skim milk, but full fat will give it a better texture.
Others – You will also need light olive oil, unsalted butter, salt, black pepper, and paprika.
How To Make Salmon Mac And Cheese
Cook The Salmon
Heat 2 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
Once the oil is hot, add
- 7 oz (200 g) salmon (cut into ½-inch cubes)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked pepper
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
to the pan and saute for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently.
Remove the pan from the heat and set aside.
Cook The Pasta
Bring 4-5 cups of water to a boil.
Once the water starts to boil, add 1 tablespoon salt and 250 g (8 oz) of elbow macaroni pasta and stir gently.
Cook for 1 minute less than the package directions for al dente.
Drain the water and toss the pasta with 2 tablespoon of light olive oil to keep it from sticking. Keep it aside.
Make The Sauce
Melt ¼ cup butter (salted or unsalted) in a large saucepan over medium heat.
Add ¼ cup all-purpose flour to the pan and whisk for 1 minute, until the flour is lightly browned.
Reduce the heat to low.
Slowly pour in 1 cup of whole milk, while whisking constantly, until combined and smooth.
Add
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ½ cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup of shredded gruyere cheese
and mix well, until combined.
Stir in another 1 and ½ cups of whole milk and whisk until the sauce is creamy and smooth.
Remove the pan from the heat.
To Assemble
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F and grease a 9×8 inch baking dish. Set aside.
Add the cooked pasta to the pan with the cheese sauce along with the cooked salmon and stir well to combine.
Pour the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish.
Top with 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese and ½ cup shredded gruyere cheese.
Keep the baking dish in the middle rack of the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, until the chees is bubbly and lightly golden brown.
Remove the tray from the oven. Dish out the pasta onto serving plates and serve hot.
Storage Suggestions
Leftovers can be stored in an air-tight container for about 4-5 days, in the refrigerator. Reheat in microwave or pan, until nicely heated.
Add in a little milk while reheating to adjust the consistency, if the pasta has thickened after refrigeration.
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Recipe Card
Salmon Mac And Cheese Recipe
Ingredients
For The Salmon
- 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
- 7 ounce salmon (200 g, cut into ½- inch cubes)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
For The Pasta
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 8 ounce dried elbow macaroni pasta (250 g)
- 2 tablespoons light olive oil
For The Sauce
- ¼ cup butter (salted or unsalted)
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 and½ cups whole milk (divided)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup shredded gruyere cheese
For The Assembly
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup shredded gruyere cheese
Instructions
Cook The Salmon
- Heat olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
- Once the oil is hot, add salmon, salt, pepper, paprika, and lime juice to the pan and saute for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Remove the pan from the heat and set aside.
Cook The Pasta
- Bring 4-5 cups of water to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Once the water starts to boil, add salt and macaroni pasta and stir gently.
- Cook for 1 minute less than the package directions for al dente.
- Drain the water and toss the pasta with olive oil to keep it from sticking. Keep it aside.
Make The Sauce
- Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.
- Add flour to the pan and whisk for 1 minute, until the flour is lightly browned.
- Reduce the heat to low.
- Slowly pour in 1 cup of whole milk, while whisking constantly, until combined and smooth.
- Add salt, black pepper, paprika, cheddar cheese, and gruyere cheese and mix well, until combined.
- Stir in another 1 and ½ cup of whole milk and whisk until the sauce is creamy and smooth.
- Remove the pan from the heat.
To Assemble
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F and grease a 9×8 inch baking dish. Set aside.
- Add the cooked pasta to the pan with the cheese sauce along with cooked salmon and stir well to combine.
- Pour the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- Top with sharp cheddar cheese and gruyere chesee.
- Keep the baking dish in the middle rack of the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, until the chees is bubbly and lightly golden brown.
- Remove the tray from the oven. Dish out the pasta onto serving plates and serve hot.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!