This salmon pasta with cream cheese is my Italian twist on the iconic NYC lox bagel—smoky, tangy, and topped with everything bagel seasoning.
For more easy pasta recipes, check out our crispy gnocchi with ham and cheese, creamy feta pasta, Italian sausage pasta, and garlic parmesan chicken pasta.
Introduction
This pasta dish is my Italian-style tribute to the NYC classic lox bagel. Before becoming a full-time food blogger, I used to travel to New York City often for work, and whenever I had free time, I'd head straight to Brooklyn or the Lower East Side to hunt down the best bagels in town.
I must’ve tried dozens, but the one I kept coming back to was the lox bagel with everything seasoning—creamy, tangy, smoky, and just a little bit addictive. That unforgettable combo of cream cheese, smoked salmon, capers, red onion, and dill stuck with me, and this recipe brings it all together in a bowl of pasta.
It's rich, comforting, and topped with a generous sprinkle of everything bagel seasoning to seal the deal. Also, it's incredibly easy to make, in about 20 minutes, excellent for a comforting weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
For quantities, see recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Fettuccine, penne, or spaghetti
- Olive oil
- Garlic
- Red onion
- Cream cheese (full-fat or reduced-fat)
- Pasta water
- Cold-smoked salmon
- Lemon (zest and juice)
- Capers
- Fresh dill
- Everything bagel seasoning - DIY with 2 tablespoon sesame seeds, 1 tablespoon poppy seeds, 1 tablespoon garlic flakes, 1 tablespoon onion flakes, and 1 teaspoon flaky salt.
- Fresh cracked black pepper
- Garlic-panko topping (optional but recommended): panko breadcrumbs, olive oil, garlic, salt.
How to make salmon pasta with cream cheese
Step 1: Boil the pasta – Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain.
Step 2: Sauté the aromatics – In a large skillet over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add the sliced red onion and sauté for 2–3 minutes until soft. Add grated garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
Step 3: Melt in the cream cheese – Add the cream cheese and stir until it starts to melt. Use the reserved pasta water gradually to loosen it into a creamy sauce. Stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice, capers, chopped dill, and lots of cracked black pepper.
Step 4: Combine pasta and salmon – Toss in the cooked pasta and gently fold in the smoked salmon right before serving—this keeps the silky texture of the salmon intact.
Step 5: Finish with toppings – Plate the pasta, sprinkle generously with everything bagel seasoning, extra dill and black pepper.
Variations
- Use hot-smoked salmon if you prefer a more flaked, cooked texture.
- Add a handful of arugula or thin-sliced cucumber on top if you want to lean more into the "bagel topping" feel.
- For a bit of tang, you could stir in a spoonful of sour cream or Greek yogurt with the cream cheese.
Tips
- Use high-quality smoked salmon: Go for cold-smoked salmon for that silky, lox-style texture and bold smoky flavor.
- Remember to reserve some pasta water: It helps loosen the cream cheese and creates a silky, glossy sauce that clings to every strand of pasta.
- Add salmon at the end: Best off the heat to preserve it's color, texture, and flavor.
- Use acid to balance richness: Cream cheese can be heavy, so lemon juice and zest are key for brightness.
- Finish with fresh herbs and everything seasoning: Dill brings a fresh, slightly grassy note that balances the richness, while everything bagel seasoning adds crunch and punch. Add a little right before serving so it stays crisp.
More Easy Weeknight Dinners
- Tuna steak
- Chicken saltimbocca
- Rasta pasta
- Taco bowl with hot honey sauce
- Salmon bowls
- Baked cod
- Greek chicken with lemon and orzo
- Chicken shawarma
If you tried this Salmon Pasta recipe or any other recipe on our blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let us know how it goes in the comments. We love hearing from you!
Recipe
Salmon Pasta with Cream Cheese (Lox Bagel Style)
Video
Ingredients
- 12 ounces fettuccine or another pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic grated
- 1 small red onion thinly sliced
- 7 ounces cream cheese
- 1 cup reserved pasta water
- 5 ounces cold-smoked salmon sliced
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice + zest
- 2 tablespoons capers rinsed
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill
- 2 teaspoons everything bagel seasoning
- 4 twists black pepper
Instructions
- Boil the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook 12 ounces fettuccine al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup reserved pasta water
- Sauté the aromatics: In a large skillet over medium heat, warm 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add 1 small red onion and sauté for 2–3 minutes until soft. Add 2 cloves garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
- Melt in the cream cheese: Add 7 ounces cream cheese and stir until it starts to melt. Add ½ cup reserved pasta water gradually to loosen it into a creamy sauce.
- Add flavor: Stir in 2 tablespoons lemon juice, lemon zest, 2 tablespoons capers, 2 tablespoons fresh dill, and 4 twists black pepper.
- Combine pasta and salmon: Toss in the cooked pasta and gently fold in 5 ounces cold-smoked salmon right before serving—this keeps the silky texture of the salmon intact. You might need to add more pasta water to keep the sauce creamy.
- Finish with toppings: Plate the pasta, sprinkle generously with everything bagel seasoning, extra dill and black pepper.
Notes
- Spaghetti or fettuccine → Swap with penne or rigatoni
- Olive oil → Substitute butter.
- Garlic → Substitute with shallots for a milder touch
- Red onion → Use shallots, yellow onion, or thin-sliced green onions
- Cream cheese → Swap with mascarpone, or a mix of sour cream and a splash of milk
- Cold-smoked salmon → Use hot-smoked salmon, cooked fresh salmon, or even canned salmon in a pinch
- Capers → Use chopped green olives or a tiny bit of anchovy for that briny kick
- Fresh dill → Replace with chives or dried dill
- Everything bagel seasoning → DIY with 2 tablespoon sesame seeds, 1 tablespoon poppy seeds, 1 tablespoon garlic flakes, 1 tablespoon onion flakes, and 1 teaspoon flaky salt
- Cherry tomatoes (optional) → Sub with sun-dried tomatoes or thin cucumber slices for a fresh crunch
- Use good smoked salmon: Cold-smoked gives that silky, lox-style texture and bold flavor.
- Save pasta water: It loosens the sauce and makes it extra creamy.
- Add salmon last: Off the heat to keep it soft and flavorful.
- Balance with lemon: Juice and zest cut through the richness.
- Finish fresh: Dill adds brightness; everything seasoning adds crunch—sprinkle just before serving.
Debbie says
Sooo lecker! Da ich kein Bagel-Gewürz bekommen habe, habe ich es selbst gemischt. Und aus Mangel an frischen Tomaten mussten getrocknete herhalten.
Die Kombination der Zitronensäure, dem Lachs zusammen mit dem Bagel-Panko-Crunch und der Frischkäse Sauce ist der Hammer! Wir werden das Rezept bestimmt noch öfter kochen!
Louise Vestergaard says
Vielen Dank, Debbie! I am so happy that you enjoyed the pasta ❤️.
Thank you for your kind review.