Creamy Garlic Butter Tuscan Salmon with Lemon Parmesan Orzo

This Creamy Garlic Butter Tuscan Salmon with Lemon Parmesan Orzo is an incredibly rich, indulgent, and easy one-pan meal. Perfectly pan-seared salmon is smothered in a luxurious garlic butter cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and Parmesan, then served over zesty, cheesy lemon Parmesan orzo. This dish is bursting with Tuscan-inspired flavors and comes together in just 35 minutes!

Why You’ll Love It:
✔ Crispy, Golden-Browned Salmon – Seared to perfection in garlic butter.
✔ Creamy Tuscan Sauce – Sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, Parmesan, and cream.
✔ Lemon Parmesan Orzo – A perfect bright & creamy side dish.
✔ One-Pan Convenience – Minimal cleanup, maximum flavor!

Timings

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Total Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients (Serves 4)

For the Salmon:

• 4 salmon fillets (skin-on or skinless)
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp paprika
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter

For the Creamy Tuscan Sauce:

• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ½ cup chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup baby spinach
• ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
• 2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped (for garnish)

For the Lemon Parmesan Orzo:

• 1 ½ cups orzo pasta
• 3 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
• ½ cup heavy cream
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp lemon zest
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• ½ tsp black pepper

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sear the Salmon

1. Pat salmon dry with paper towels, then season with salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.
2. Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
3. Place salmon skin-side down (if using skin-on) and cook for 3-4 minutes per side until golden and crispy.
4. Remove from the skillet and set aside.

Step 2: Make the Creamy Tuscan Sauce

1. In the same skillet, sauté garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant.
2. Add sun-dried tomatoes and cook for 1 minute.
3. Pour in heavy cream and chicken broth, then bring to a gentle simmer.
4. Stir in Parmesan cheese, letting it melt into the sauce.
5. Add baby spinach and cook until wilted (1-2 minutes).
6. If using, stir in red pepper flakes for a bit of heat.
7. Return the salmon to the pan, spooning sauce over the fillets. Simmer for 2-3 minutes to heat through.

Step 3: Cook the Lemon Parmesan Orzo

1. While the sauce simmers, cook orzo in chicken broth over medium heat until tender (8-10 minutes), stirring occasionally.
2. Stir in butter, heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
3. Season with black pepper and stir until creamy.

Step 4: Assemble & Serve

1. Spoon lemon Parmesan orzo onto plates.
2. Place Tuscan salmon on top.
3. Drizzle with extra sauce and garnish with fresh basil.
4. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Nutritional Information (Per Serving, Approximate)

• Calories: 680
• Protein: 45g
• Carbohydrates: 42g
• Fat: 38g

Want a Healthier Version?
✔ Use light cream or Greek yogurt instead of heavy cream.
✔ Swap orzo for cauliflower rice to reduce carbs.
✔ Replace butter with olive oil for a lighter sauce.

This Creamy Garlic Butter Tuscan Salmon with Lemon Parmesan Orzo is restaurant-quality, indulgent, and so easy to make! Would you serve it as-is or add a side of roasted veggies?

Creamy Garlic Butter Tuscan Salmon with Lemon Parmesan Orzo

Ella Cooks

This Creamy Garlic Butter Tuscan Salmon with Lemon Parmesan Orzo is an incredibly rich, indulgent, and easy one-pan meal. Perfectly pan-seared salmon is smothered in a luxurious garlic butter cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and Parmesan, then served over zesty, cheesy lemon Parmesan orzo. This dish is bursting with Tuscan-inspired flavors and comes together in just 35 minutes!

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian

Servings 4

Calories 680 kcal

COOK MODEStop your screen from going dark

Ingredients

  

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Ingredients (Serves 4)

For the Salmon:

• 4 salmon fillets skin-on or skinless
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp paprika
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter

For the Creamy Tuscan Sauce:

• 4 cloves garlic minced
• ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes chopped
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ½ cup chicken broth or vegetable broth
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup baby spinach
• ½ tsp red pepper flakes optional
• 2 tbsp fresh basil chopped (for garnish)

For the Lemon Parmesan Orzo:

• 1 ½ cups orzo pasta
• 3 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth
• ½ cup heavy cream
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp lemon zest
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• ½ tsp black pepper

Instructions

 

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sear the Salmon

• Pat salmon dry with paper towels, then season with salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.
• Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Place salmon skin-side down (if using skin-on) and cook for 3-4 minutes per side until golden and crispy.
• Remove from the skillet and set aside.

Step 2: Make the Creamy Tuscan Sauce

• In the same skillet, sauté garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant.
• Add sun-dried tomatoes and cook for 1 minute.
• Pour in heavy cream and chicken broth, then bring to a gentle simmer.
• Stir in Parmesan cheese, letting it melt into the sauce.
• Add baby spinach and cook until wilted (1-2 minutes).
• If using, stir in red pepper flakes for a bit of heat.
• Return the salmon to the pan, spooning sauce over the fillets. Simmer for 2-3 minutes to heat through.

Step 3: Cook the Lemon Parmesan Orzo

• While the sauce simmers, cook orzo in chicken broth over medium heat until tender (8-10 minutes), stirring occasionally.
• Stir in butter, heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
• Season with black pepper and stir until creamy.

Step 4: Assemble & Serve

• Spoon lemon Parmesan orzo onto plates.
• Place Tuscan salmon on top.
• Drizzle with extra sauce and garnish with fresh basil.
  
• Serve immediately and enjoy!
  

Notes

Want a Healthier Version?
✔ Use light cream or Greek yogurt instead of heavy cream.
✔ Swap orzo for cauliflower rice to reduce carbs.
✔ Replace butter with olive oil for a lighter sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 680kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 45gFat: 38g

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