Salmon Skillet with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce

5 from 22 votes
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Salmon Skillet with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce is the ultimate 30 minute weeknight dinner. Serve over orzo for a restaurant-worthy dinner.

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Salmon fillets in a sun-dried tomato cream sauce in a black pan.

Why You’ll Love this Sun-Dried Tomato Salmon:

Crispy salmon, sun-dried tomatoes, and a garlicky cream sauce = the holy trinity.

Just like my favorite Broiled Salmon, this recipe tastes like something out of swanky seafood restaurant, yet you won’t believe how simple it is.

Plus, it comes together in just 30 minutes, making it 100% weeknight-friendly. (Or date-night-friendly, if that’s on your agenda this week!)

The sauce forms right in the pan, making the recipe ultra easy, and the flavor payoff is superb. (You’ll notice a similar sauce in this Sun-Dried Tomato Gnocchi.)

The sun-dried tomatoes add bright umami flavor to cut through the richness of the creamy sauce. Shallots and garlic add a layer of aromatic goodness, while spinach ups the nutrient ante.

One trick to infuse the salmon with extra flavor is to cook it in the oil from the sun-dried tomato jar. (I also use this method in my Ricotta Stuffed Shells recipe!)

Most often, this is olive oil that has been infused for months with that bright, tomato flavor. In this recipe, it’s pure liquid gold!

Serve over orzo with a simple side salad, and devour this delicious dinner.

And if you need more salmon meal inspo, check out this Miso Ginger Salmon or Sesame Crusted Salmon next!

The Ingredients

Recipe ingredients arranged on a wooden board with labels.
  • Salmon: When it comes to seeking the right salmon, I recommend talking to your local fishmonger—or the person behind the fish counter at your local grocery store—to find out what’s best. I suggest wild King salmon, or farmed Atlantic salmon from Norway.
  • Sun-Dried Tomatoes: You need both the tomatoes AND the oil from the jar. This provides a double dose of bright, tomato-y flavor.
  • Heavy Cream: A little goes a long way in bringing together the sauce.
  • White Wine: Look for a dry white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc. Alternatively, you can use chicken or vegetable broth.
  • Spinach: To effortlessly sneak in some extra fiber and nutrients.
  • Shallots: To form the aromatic backbone of the sauce.
  • Garlic: Fresh is a must here! Use as much or as little as you desire.
  • For serving: I love serving this salmon skillet meal over orzo pasta. You can serve it over a bed of sautéed spinach for a lower carb option.

For a complete list of ingredients and quantities, see the recipe card below.

The Directions

Step 1: Sauté Salmon

Heat sun-dried tomato oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Season salmon and cook, skin-side down, until skin is crispy. Flip, and continue cooking 2 more minutes.

Salmon fillets cooking in a skillet, followed by shallots, sun-dried tomatoes, and garlic.

Step 2: Cook shallots until soft, about 2 minutes. Stir in garlic and sun-dried tomatoes, and cook 1 more minute.

Step 3: Deglaze the pan with white wine. Stir in heavy cream and gently simmer.

White wine being added to deglaze the pan, and heavy cream being stirred in.

Step 4: Add Spinach, and stir until wilted. Add salmon back in pan, and garnish with parsley.

Spinach and salmon fillets being added back to the pan, and nestled in the sauce.

Serving Suggestions

I love serving this sun-dried tomato salmon over orzo pasta!

simple, fresh side salad or veggie option is also a great accompaniment to this dish. Something crisp and nutritious will help cut through the richness of the sauce.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Recipe FAQs

What is the Best Salmon to Buy?

The best salmon selection often depends on where you live and the time of year. Salmon is in season from May to October, so this is when you can expect to find the best selection.

However, during summer and winter months, frozen wild salmon is usually the next best thing. My personal favorite is King salmon, also known as Chinook. This variety has a high fat content, which makes the flesh super buttery and rich. Coho salmon is also a good choice, which will have a more delicate texture than King, but similar flavor.

If you purchase farm-raised as opposed to wild, look for the phrase “sustainably-farmed” on the label. This is generally a more responsible and environmentally-sound way to control overfishing.

How to Sauté Salmon:

There are a couple tricks to cooking salmon that’s moist and flaky on the inside with a crisp exterior. One of which is to only cook it on ONE side for most of the time.

Start the salmon skin-side down over medium-high heat and don’t flip it until it’s cooked about halfway through. (The skin should naturally release from the pan… if it sticks, it may need another minute or two.)

After the salmon is flipped, let the residual heat help cook the remainder of the fish without aggressively cooking the tender flesh.

Since King salmon and most farm-raised varieties have a higher fat content, they may take about 8 to 9 minutes total. Leaner varieties like sockeye may only take 6 minutes for medium-rare.

How to Store and Reheat:

  • Store: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for 2 days.
  • Reheat: You can reheat this dish on the stove or in the microwave (I prefer the stove method). After reheating, I like to add a little lemon juice to freshen up the flavors.
    • For the stove, heat a skillet over medium-low heat. Drizzle a teaspoon of olive oil in the pan so that the salmon does not stick. After about a minute, add your salmon and sauce to the skillet and let it heat, covered, for about 5 minutes.
    • For the microwave, place your salmon and sauce on a microwave-safe plate, cover it with a paper towel, and microwave for 30 to 60 seconds. After 30 seconds, adjust the salmon and stir the sauce for even heating.
Sun-dried tomato salmon fillet on a bed of orzo pasta on a small white plate.

Give this 30 minute recipe a try this week for a guaranteed weeknight win.

And, as always, be sure to snap a pic and tag @dishingouthealth so I can see your beautiful creations! Also follow along on Pinterest and Facebook for the latest recipes, plus what I’m loving lately.

More Salmon Dinner Recipes:

5 from 22 votes

Salmon Skillet with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce

Salmon Skillet with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce is the ultimate 30 minute weeknight dinner. Serve over your grain of choice for a restaurant-quality meal the whole family will love.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4

Equipment

  • Large skillet

Ingredients  

  • 1.25 lbs. skin-on salmon, cut into 4 fillets
  • 1 tsp. kosher salt, divided
  • 1/2 tsp. black pepper, divided
  • 1/2 cup sliced sun-dried tomatoes in oil (plus 2 Tbsp. oil from the jar)
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped shallots
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 to 3 handfuls fresh baby spinach
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
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Instructions 

  • Thoroughly dry salmon fillets with a paper towel. Season evenly with 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. black pepper.
  • Heat sun-dried tomato oil in a large skillet over medium. Arrange salmon, skin-side down, in pan and cook until crisp, about 4 to 5 minutes. Gently flip, and continue cooking for 2 more minutes, or until the salmon is cooked through.
    Transfer salmon to a clean plate and cover to keep warm.
  • Add shallots to pan and cook until soft, about 2 minutes. Stir in garlic and sun-dried tomatoes; cook 1 more minute, until aromatic.
    Add wine to deglaze the pan, and gently simmer until most of the alcohol evaporates, about 3 minutes. Stir in heavy cream, and bring mixture back to a gentle simmer. Stir in spinach, remaining 1/2 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. black pepper; cook until spinach wilts, about 2 minutes.
  • Nestle salmon fillets back into the pan, and spoon sauce over each piece. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired.

Notes

For serving: I love serving the salmon and sauce over orzo pasta with a side of Sautéed Broccoli.
  • Store: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for 2 days.
  • Reheat: You can reheat this dish on the stove or in the microwave (I prefer the stove method). After reheating, I like to add a little lemon juice to freshen up the flavors.
    • For the stove, heat a skillet over medium-low heat. Drizzle a teaspoon of olive oil in the pan so that the salmon does not stick. After about a minute, add your salmon and sauce to the skillet and let it heat, covered, for about 5 minutes.
    • For the microwave, place your salmon and sauce on a microwave-safe plate, cover it with a paper towel, and microwave for 30 to 60 seconds. After 30 seconds, adjust the salmon and stir the sauce for even heating.

Nutrition

Serving: 1salmon fillet with sauce | Calories: 415kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 6.5g | Sodium: 780mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 2g

I calculate these values by hand to ensure accuracy, however expect up to a 10% variable depending on food brands.

If you love this recipe, please leave a star rating and review below!
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Recipe Rating




27 Comments

  1. Beth says:

    Do you think the homemade cashew cream would work okay in this one, as opposed to heavy cream?

    1. Jamie Vespa says:

      Yes, definitely!! Enjoy!

    2. Jamie Vespa says:

      Yea definitely!! Enjoy!

  2. Brianna Berkeley says:

    5 stars
    Delicious! This has become one of our favorite ways to enjoy salmon.

    1. Jamie Vespa says:

      Yay! I’m so glad you enjoy this one! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review!

  3. Jilly says:

    5 stars
    This was amazing! I made it with ling cod and it was perfect. Next time I might double the sauce since it was so delicious. Thanks for the recipe!

  4. Danielle Johnson says:

    5 stars
    Simple and delicious recipe. Leftovers heated up well too. So comforting. I will be making this again FOR SURE!
    *For the orzo, I heated it in a skillet over low-medium heat, with some butter for a few minutes then whisked in chicken stock (you can use other broth) and brought to a low boil until cooked through. Just added a bit of flavour instead of using water.

  5. Nathalie says:

    5 stars
    Delicious and easy! Had it for lunch with orzo pasta and will definitely make it again!

    1. Jamie Vespa says:

      I’m so glad to hear, Nathalie! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review!

  6. Marit says:

    5 stars
    Love it! I added kale instead of spinach, worked out great. Served it over bulgur and had roasted pesto veggies on the side. Will definitely make again!

    1. Jamie Vespa says:

      Sounds wonderful! Thank you for taking time to leave a review!

  7. Emily says:

    This was so good! Both my kids gobbled it up and it truly was ready in 30 minutes… definitely a keeper! Thank you!!

  8. Jamie says:

    Can coconut milk be used in place of the heavy cream?

  9. Kathryn Higel says:

    5 stars
    So easy and tasty!! Used broth instead of wine, which worked fine!

    1. Jamie Atterholt says:

      5 stars
      Hi Jamie – Jeff and I make this at least once a month, if not more. I have shared it with friends and family and they love it! Sometimes if I want to be less indulgent, I won’t add cream or I will use a splash of coconut cream – it still tastes amazing. I also didn’t have shallots one night, so I cut up some green onions and presto. It still was awesome. Thank you so much for this wonderful recipe. It’s definitely a staple in our house.

      1. dishingouthealth says:

        Hi Jamie, I’m so glad to hear you enjoy the recipe!! Thank you so much for sharing it with friends and family—I appreciate the support! Cheers

  10. Whitney Cummings says:

    5 stars
    So delicious and easy!!! We served over angel hair pasta!