Friend, if you’ve got leftover salmon and no plan, this pasta salad is your answer. It’s cool, creamy, full of fresh crunch, and somehow tastes even better after chilling in the fridge. I’ve been making pasta salads for years, tweaking textures and flavors so they don’t turn dry, bland, or forgettable, and this one hits every note. You know I love a recipe that looks like you tried hard but secretly took almost no effort, and this salmon pasta salad delivers every time.
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Salmon Pasta Salad Ingredients
- Salmon
- Pasta: The best pasta for pasta salad is usually short and can hold its shape and texture when mixed with other ingredients. Rotini, penne, and farfalle work great. When cooking pasta for pasta salad, it's important to follow the instructions on the package for how to cook it al dente. This will ensure the pasta doesn't become mushy when it's mixed with other ingredients.
- Ranch Seasoning (Optional)
- Mayo, Sour Cream, or Plain Greek Yogurt
- Vegetables
How to Make Salmon Pasta Salad
Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Air fry, bake, sear, or grill the salmon.
- Cook the pasta in accordance with the package instructions.
- Add mayo, Greek yogurt, or sour cream (whatever you chose) to your serving dish along ranch seasoning.
- Add the cooked pasta, cooked salmon, and remaining ingredients. Taste repeatedly and adjust the seasoning if necessary.
- Chill for an 1-2 hours if desired or serve immediately.
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Salmon Pasta Salad
Want to save this recipe for later?
I'll email it to you, so you can come back to it later! You will also grab your FREE ebook with my best 30-minute one-pot meals! Dinner stress stops here.
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1- 1 ½ pounds raw salmon
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika Regular paprika is fine.
- salt and pepper to taste
Pasta Salad
- 8-10 oz rotini pasta
- 1– 1 ½ cups mayo plain Greek yogurt, or sour cream Start with ½ cup and add additional if needed to get the dish creamier.
- 2-3 cups fresh or steamed broccoli
- ¼ cup diced tomatoes
- ¼ cup sliced olives
Homemade Ranch Seasoning (You can also use store-bought seasoning and season to taste)
- 1 teaspoon chives
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Drizzle olive oil all over the salmon. Sprinkle the spices throughout and rub them into the salmon. Ensure the salmon is completely covered with spices and add additional if necessary.
Air Fryer Salmon
- Spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil. Place the seasoned salmon in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry the salmon for 10-12 minutes at 370 degrees. Mine was ready right at 10 minutes. Use a meat thermometer and test that the inside of the salmon has reached 145 degrees.
- Cool and then flake the salmon into smaller pieces using a fork.
Baked Salmon
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Add the seasoned salmon to a piece of foil large enough to hold the salmon and to wrap and cover it.
- Bake for 10 minutes.
- Unwrap the salmon so it is no longer fully covered. Bake for for another 2-5 minutes. Use a meat thermometer and ensure the fish has reached an internal temperature of 145 degrees. Check the temperature in the thickest part of the fish.
- Cool and then flake the salmon into smaller pieces using a fork.
Pan Seared Salmon
- Place a skillet on medium-high heat with olive oil to coat and prevent sticking.
- When the pan is hot, add the seasoned salmon to the pan with the skin side up.
- Allow the salmon to cook for 4 minutes. Do not move the salmon after you have placed it in the skillet.
- Monitor the sides of the salmon to determine the perfect time to flip. When the color of the side of the salmon has lightened about ¾ths of the way up, it’s time to flip. This usually only takes 3-4 minutes.
- Flip the salmon. I find a silicone spatula works best.
- Cook skin side down for 4 minutes.
- Remove the salmon from the pan. Cool and then flake the salmon into smaller pieces using a fork.
Pasta Salad
- Cook the pasta in accordance with the package instructions.
- Rinse the pasta in cold water and pat dry.
- Add the mayo, Greek yogurt, or sour cream (whatever you chose) to your serving dish along ranch seasoning.
- Add the pasta, cooked salmon, and remaining ingredients. Taste repeatedly and adjust the seasoning if necessary.
- Chill for an 1-2 hours if desired or serve immediately.
Notes
- Make this pasta salad yours! Load it up with the vegetables that you like.
- You can double the recipe by using double the ingredients.
- If you use a ranch seasoning packet if you wish, start with 2 tablespoons.
- If you like a wet pasta salad, then serving immediately after chilling the dish will work best for you. You may find that you need additional mayo or sour cream (Greek yogurt). Add additional to suit your taste and texture needs.
- You can use ranch dressing or any salad dressing if you wish to substitute mayo, Greek yogurt, or sour cream
- Add additional seasoning to suit your taste if necessary.
Nutrition
Nutrition Data
Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
Substitutions and Variations
- Shredded Cheese
- Cucumbers
- Feta or Gorgonzola Cheese
- Chopped Cauliflower
- Chopped Dill Pickles
- Sweet Pickle Relish
- Jalapenos
- Celery
- Red Peppers
- Green Peppers
- Creole Seasoning
- Cajun Seasoning
- Homemade BBQ Seasoning
Frequently Asked Questions and Recipe Pro Tips
You can bake, pan sear, air fry, or grill the salmon using any of my recipes: Air Fryer Salmon, Pan Seared Cast Iron Salmon, and Grilled Salmon in Foil
Use a meat thermometer and check the thickest part of the salmon, you’re looking for 145°F if you want it fully cooked. The fish should be light pink, opaque, and flake easily when pressed with a fork. If you like it a little more tender and silky, you can pull it around 135°F for medium-rare. Decide what works best for you.
The easiest way to substitute mayo is to swap plain Greek yogurt or sour cream because it's a 1:1 switch. You can also use ranch dressing, mashed avocados, pesto sauce, or hummus.
It can sit out 1-2 hours. It takes about 2 hours for bacteria to start to grow to dangerous levels. In warm temperatures, that time shrinks. You can read the Food Safety Guidance from the FDA here. If you're serving pasta salad at an event or picnic, consider keeping it chilled in an insulated cooler with ice packs to maintain a safe temperature.
Yes. Canned salmon is budget-friendly and works great. Drain it well and remove any large bones or skin if preferred.
Yes, smoked salmon adds a salty, savory flavor. Because it’s stronger, you may want to use a little less.
Short pasta like rotini, bowtie, shells, or penne holds the dressing well and makes the salad easier to eat.
Toss the pasta with dressing while slightly warm, and reserve a little dressing to stir in before serving.
If stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, the salad can last for about 3-4 days. However, the quality will likely start to decline after the first day as the pasta and vegetables may become softer.
If you know you want to make it ahead or eat leftovers, consider keeping the mayo/dressing separate until you're ready to serve. Toss the salad with the mayo/dressing just before eating to maintain the best texture.
You can freeze it, but I wouldn’t recommend it. In general, mayo, yogurt, and sour cream do not freeze well and usually develops ice crystals.
Serve With These Dishes
Smoked Crab Legs
Grilled King Crab Legs with Garlic Butter
Smoked Shrimp
Smoked Scallops
More Seafood and Pasta Salad Recipes
Seafood Stuffed Mushrooms with Shrimp and Crab
Seafood Jambalaya with Shrimp
Seafood Gumbo
Shrimp Burger
Salmon Fettuccine Alfredo
Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Street Corn Pasta Salad
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