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Creamy Tuscan garlic salmon is an easy 30-minute restaurant-quality meal. The pan-seared salmon gets smothered in the most amazing creamy Tuscan garlic sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach. This is one unforgettable meal!

We love Tuscan-inspired recipes at our house. They are some of the top searched recipes on the site! Be sure to also try this Creamy Tuscan Garlic Chicken, Stuffed Tuscan Garlic Chicken, and Creamy Tuscan Garlic Shrimp ASAP!

A pan with creamy tuscan garlic salmon all cooked.

A Reader’s Review

My new go-to recipes when I want to impress. Also great with shrimp and chicken. Had my g’friends over and they all but licked their plates. No leftovers to take home!

-Judy

Tuscan Garlic Salmon Recipe

I feel like my collection of salmon recipes is now complete with the Tuscan garlic salmon. It’s crispy and flaky salmon and smothered in a creamy garlic sauce. This helps keep the salmon fillets tender, flaky, and moist. Tuscan recipes are always some of the top searches on this site and I think it’s because the sauce is finger-licking good!

My favorite part about this recipe is that you can get a restaurant-quality meal RIGHT AT HOME! This meal is ready in under 30 minutes and is better than any restaurant I have had. This meal is one that you will make over and over again! Cook it with some pasta and a delicious salad and it will be the perfect meal.

Ingredients in Creamy Tuscan Garlic Salmon

This salmon looks at tastes like it’s from a restaurant but the ingredients used are actually very simple! Check out the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact measurements.

  • Salmon Fillets: These will be the star of the show!
  • Olive Oil: You will sear your salmon in the olive oil to get a nice golden edge.
  • Garlic Cloves: If you don’t have fresh garlic cloves on hand then you can used minced garlic. 1/2 teaspoon equals about 1 clove of fresh garlic.
  • Heavy Cream: The heavy cream stands out and give the sauce that delicious creaminess that you want in this recipe!
  • Chicken Broth: This will be the base of the sauce and gives some additional flavor.
  • Garlic Powder: Can you ever have too much garlic? I don’t think so!
  • Italian seasoning: I like to make my Italian seasoning at home using this recipe because it’s so delicious. But you can use store bought as well!
  • Parmesan Cheese: This adds to the taste and texture of the sauce.
  • Cornstarch: The cornstarch will help your sauce to thicken.
  • Spinach: I use fresh spinach that I have chopped up.
  • Sun-Dried Tomatoes: This is th best flavor that you can add to the dish in my opinon!
Uncooked salmon fillets.

How to Make Creamy Tuscan Garlic Salmon

  1. Sear the Salmon: To start,To start, add oil to a large skillet and salt and pepper your salmon. Pan sear the salmon by placing skin side down and turn to medium low heat. 
  2. Cook and Flip: Let it cook for about 7 minutes and then flip the salmon over and then cook for an additional 3 minutes until it is barely pink in the center. Set aside on a plate.
  3. Make Sauce: Add minced garlic to your pan and cook for a minute and then stir in the heavy cream, chicken broth, garlic powder, Italian seasoning and parmesan cheese to make the cream sauce.
  4. Add Spinach and Tomatoes: Whisk in the cornstarch and then let it sit at a gentle simmer for 1-2 minutes. Add spinach and sun-dried tomatoes and let simmer until spinach starts to wilt. Then, add the salmon filets back to the pan. Serve over some pasta (like spaghetti noodles).
Salmon fillets being cooked in a frying pan getting ready for the creamy Tuscan garlic sauce.

When is Salmon Fully Cooked?

This creamy Tuscan garlic salmon is cooked with the fat liquefies and runs out. Cook the salmon further only to get the degree of doneness that you desire. When flakes separate easily but the meat is translucent, it’s rare but edible. The internal temperature of fully cooked salmon should be 135-145 degrees Fahrenheit.

4 pictures showing how to cook salmon fillets in the sauce.

Variations

This creamy Tuscan garlic salmon recipe is so easy and is ready in under 30 minutes! Here are some tips and variations to make yours the best of the best.

  • Simmer, don’t boil: To get your sauce nice and creamy and avoid having it separate, you want to keep the sauce simmering and don’t let it boil.
  • Broth: You can substitute the chicken browth for water or vegetable broth.
  • Fish: If you prefer to use another type of fish, you can try trout, cod or tilapia instead.
A closeup of creamy tuscan garlic salmon.

What is Tuscan Style Food?

It is a blend of garlic, Italian-style herbs, and can include spinach and sun-dried tomatoes. It is great served as a pasta dish.

A plate with a salmon fillet with creamy sauce and a fork cutting into it.

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Insanely Good Creamy Tuscan Garlic Salmon

5 from 23 votes
By: Alyssa Rivers
Creamy Tuscan Garlic Salmon is an easy 30-minute restaurant-quality meal. The pan-seared salmon gets smothered in the most amazing creamy Tuscan garlic sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach. This is one unforgettable meal! 
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4 Servings

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • To start, add oil to a large skillet and salt and pepper your salmon. Pan sear the salmon by placing skin side down and turn to medium low heat. 
  • Let it cook for about 7 minutes and then flip the salmon over and cook for an additional 3 minutes until it is barely pink in the center. Set aside on a plate.
  • Add minced garlic to your pan and cook for a minute and then add the heavy cream, chicken broth, garlic powder, Italian seasoning and parmesan cheese. 
  • Whisk in the cornstarch and let simmer for 1-2 minutes. Add spinach and sun-dried tomatoes and let simmer until spinach starts to wilt. Add the salmon back to the pan.

Video

Notes

Originally Posted on October 14, 2018
Updated on June 12, 2022

Nutrition

Calories: 371kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 8gFat: 33gSaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 91mgSodium: 372mgPotassium: 611mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1796IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 221mgIron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian, Italian American, Mediterranean
Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

About Alyssa Rivers

Alyssa Rivers is the author of 'The Tried and True Cookbook', a professional food photographer and experienced recipe-developer. Having a passion for cooking, her tried and true recipes have been featured on Good Morning America, Today Food, Buzzfeed and more.

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Recipe Rating




62 Comments

    1. Either one works for this recipe. I did use the sun dried tomato that was in oil for this recipe though. Hope you enjoy!

  1. It looks so yummy. I love salmon! Do you think substituting the spinach with broccoli will taste as good?

  2. 5 stars
    Very good!! I made it with skin on but then peeled it off at the table before eating. The skin came off easily. Very good flavor. I served it over bow tie pasta. I would probably double the sauce portion if I were to make it again to better accommodate the pasta. Kids turned their noses up and wouldn’t eat it, but my husband and I enjoyed it!

    1. I like to use skinnytaste.com or myfitnesspal.com for any nutritional information. Hope that helps you find what you are looking for too.

  3. Do you think this will hold with skinless salmon? Or does the skin help with keeping the prices together?

    The recipe looks delicious!

    1. You are welcome to try it skinless. That would not be a problem. You will not need to cook it as long.

  4. 5 stars
    Omg. This was amazing. I saw this on FB and immediately got excited. I shared the post and headed to store. My sister rushed over after I posted pics and my husband rushed home from work to devour. I had to save my son some. I passed out without knowing afterwards. Thanks a mil.??????

  5. Great recipe!
    Pro-tip: If you live outside the US like me or simply dont have cornstarch in your cupboards, you can substitute the 1 tablespoon of cornstarch for 2 tablespoons of plain flour 😉

    1. Hi Anais, in Europe we call cornstarch ‘cornflour’! I hope that helps! It’s generally found in most supermarkets. But yes, some self raising flour will do in a pinch!

  6. 5 stars
    Amazing!!!! We forgot the cheese. I will add next time, but it is so delicious even without that I plan on serving often. Thank you !!!

  7. Hello;
    If pasta where to be used with the salmon dish, what kind would you recommend?

    Also your thoughts of serving the salmon with a potato/celery root mash.
    Maybe to heavy?

    I’ve made the sauce with chicken before and the addition of a couple of teaspoons of capers adds a nice pop!

    1. I like to use a bowtie pasta or a thick pasta that can soak up the cream sauce.

      The potato celery root mash sounds delicious. The capers sounds great too! Enjoy!

    1. I apologize, which part are you looking for?! I would love to help in any way that I can. Thank you for following along with me! XOXO

  8. 5 stars
    My husband and 2 younger kids loved this meal. I served it with mashed potatoes, broccolini and baked pumpkin. It was amazing!

    1. That is awesome! I am so glad that it was loved by all! Thank you for sharing and following along with me! XOXO

  9. I love some of your recipes that are posted and would love to get more of them without all of the junk mingled inside the recipes

  10. 5 stars
    This salmon was amazing my husband said the best meal he has had in 6 months.
    The sauce is fabulous I added A bit more spinach and A bit more cream I actually used half and half