This One-Pan Creamy Chipotle Salmon is an easy-to-make meal packed with chipotle peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and a creamy sauce with a little kick!
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Does anyone else feel like they never get enough sleep? Like ever? My body would love 8 hours enough, but I generally get closer to 5; maybe 6 if I'm lucky.
And while I'm pretty good at getting through the day on little sleep without being overly tired or dragging, I'm definitely not as productive as I could be when I'm lacking sleep.
Which means a) I end up working a lot later into the evening (and continue the cycle of going to bed too late) and b) I need something easy for dinner or else we run the risk of ordering takeout. Enter this One-Pan Chipotle Salmon.
Any meal that's a one-pan meal is automatically going to get my vote when I'm overtired. Cooking is hard enough; washing dishes is downright torture. Are you with me??
❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
You'll love this recipe because it's easy, healthy, and packed full of flavor.
It's the kind of dinner you make when you're ridiculously tired and *this* close to ordering takeout. But you're also really trying to eat healthy and you know you really should just get in the kitchen and cook.
And you'll be so thankful you did after seeing how easy this salmon is to make and how absolutely delicious it is. Plus? It's all made in one pan and barely creates any dirty dishes. Which is always a major win, especially when you're super tired.
🗒 Ingredients
You don't need too many ingredients for this chipotle salmon, which is another one of my favorite things about it. Here's everything required:
- Salmon
- Salt and pepper
- Unsalted butter
- Chopped sun-dried tomatoes, plus oil
- Finely chopped chipotle peppers
- Diced onion
- Minced garlic
- Low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth
- Heavy cream
- Adobo sauce (from chipotle peppers)
- Baby spinach
🥘 How to make one-pan creamy chipotle salmon
One-pan salmon means I can make it, eat it, and clean it up in no time at all. This dinner is easy and so, so good!
To start, lightly season salmon filets on each side with salt and pepper.
In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add salmon to the pan, skin-side-up and cook for about 4 minutes. Flip and cook for another 4 minutes skin-side-down. Remove salmon from pan and set aside on a plate.
Add sun-dried tomatoes, oil, chipotle peppers, and onion to the pan and cook for about 5 minutes.
Add garlic and cook for another 2 minutes, until garlic is fragrant and onions are translucent.
Add broth to pan and bring to a simmer, scraping up the browned bit from the bottom of the pan with a spatula. Once simmering, slowly pour the cream into the pan, followed by the adobo sauce. Stir.
Add spinach to pan and cook for about 30 seconds, until spinach is wilted.
Add salmon back to pan to heat through, spooning sauce over the salmon.
🍚 What to serve with chipotle salmon
When you're ready to plate your chipotle salmon, you should plate it with something else delicious! Of course, you don't need any sides with this dish, but I certainly recommend them.
The sauce is absolutely incredible when mixed with rice or something similar.
Here's what I like best:
- Brown rice
- Quinoa
- Cauliflower rice
- Farro
- Broccoli
- Green beans
Just MAKE SURE to spoon some extra chipotle sauce over the salmon before enjoying. That's key!
It's so easy to eat unhealthily when you're tired, so having some easy go-to healthy-ish meals that are also super satisfying is important.
Salmon fits the bill of being healthy. Chipotle salmon takes care of being satisfying.
There is some cream in this dish, but in my opinion, it's so worth it. If you want to cut some calories/fat, you can totally use half and half instead.
I used both chipotle peppers and sun-dried tomatoes in this dish because I wanted to jazz it up a bit. It wasn't until I looked at my photos that I realized chipotles and sun-dried tomatoes look incredibly similar and one might think this dish is loaded with chipotle peppers.
But don't worry; this meal is only mildly spicy; the kind of spice that packs in a ton of flavor, with the addition of a little sweetness from the tomatoes.
Since I was only cooking for Chris and myself, we had plenty of leftovers for the next day. I don't always love salmon leftovers, but this was a major exception.
Sometimes I see "cooking for 2" recipes that I want to try, but then I realize I'd be so sad without leftovers. Dinner leftovers at lunch are the best!
And since I now work from home, I can happily heat up my leftover chipotle salmon in the microwave without worrying about offending my co-workers.
My dog is the opposite of offended by my heating up leftover salmon. Except when I don't share with her... And while I'm usually happy to give her salmon, something tells me the chipotle peppers wouldn't be the best idea for her.
But for me? They are indeed the very best idea.
🎉 More easy salmon recipes
I love having an arsenal of easy salmon recipes ready to go since they help me get a healthy meal on the table on a weeknight. I mostly grill, sauté, or bake it, but I also can't wait to try salmon on the smoker!
Here are a few more of my favorites:
- Everything Bagel Salmon
- Cajun Salmon Pasta
- Creamy Grapefruit Salmon
- Salmon BLT Salad
- Salmon Fettuccini with Sour Cream Caesar Sauce
- Winter Salmon Tacos with Butternut Squash Salsa
- Chili Lime Salmon Over Coconut Rice
- Chipotle-Rubbed Grilled Salmon Tacos
- Blackened Salmon (from Primavera Kitchen)
- Tomato Coconut Salmon Curry (from Simple Fresh n Yum)
OK, now excuse me while I attempt to go to bed at a semi-normal time so I can dream of more delicious one-pan recipes that will make your life easier!
Do you have a favorite one-pan meal or a meal that's healthy and leaves you with few dirty dishes?
📖 Recipe
One Pan Creamy Chipotle Salmon
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ lb. salmon, cut into 4 filets
- Salt and pepper
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
- ⅓ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes, plus 1 Tbsp oil from jar
- ¼ cup finely chopped chipotle peppers (from about 3 chipotle peppers)
- 1 cup diced onion
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 Tbsp adobo sauce (from chipotle peppers)
- 1 ½ cups baby spinach
Instructions
- Lightly season salmon filets on each side with salt and pepper.
- In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add salmon to the pan, skin-side-up and cook for about 4 minutes. Flip and cook for another 4 minutes skin-side-down. Remove salmon from pan and set aside on a plate.
- Add sun-dried tomatoes, oil, chipotle peppers, and onion to the pan and cook for about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for another 2 minutes, until garlic is fragrant and onions are translucent.
- Add broth to pan and bring to a simmer, scraping up the browned bit from the bottom of the pan with a spatula. Once simmering, slowly pour the cream into the pan, followed by the adobo sauce. Stir. Add spinach to pan and cook for about 30 seconds, until spinach is wilted.
- Add salmon back to pan to heat through, spooning sauce over the salmon.
- Serve over brown rice, quinoa, cauliflower rice, or whatever you desire! Be sure to spoon extra sauce over the salmon when serving.
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Sharon says
This dish looks absolutely mouth watering, delicious! Love that there are leftovers...such a bonus!!
Jennifer says
Oh wow, this looks amazing! I work from home too so no offending my co-workers! Just tempting my pets, lol!
Demeter says
Haha sometimes you just have to beat that high score! ? And chipotle sauce is always so yummy!
Teri Stephens says
When I saw the picture of the salmon my mouth started watering and wow! I love this idea of combining the sun-dried tomatoes with the chipotles. Great call, I love bold flavors.
Ruchi says
Love Salmon and this Chipotle Salmon look so delicious. Adding it to my meal plan!
Traci says
I love salmon and all the flavors you have going on here! And of course, you had me at one pan 🙂 Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Monica | Nourish & Fete says
This sounds so delicious! Chipotle is the best flavor - pairing it with salmon sounds absolutely amazing!
Emilie says
Love one pan dinners! I'd probably have to cut down on the peppers though for my kids who can't handle any spice. Thanks for the recipe!
Laura says
This salmon recipe sounds perfect for me and my family. We love salmon and I have a load of sun dried tomatoes I can use. No leftovers in my household, I am afraid
Catherine Brown says
Wow, this looks AMAZING! I've never made salmon like this... that's gonna change ASAP! I love these flavors and colors together too. 🙂
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
Hahaha....I remember when I was a kid throwing a complete tantrum cause I didn't want to stop playing the game....I just had to get to the next level. Oh my! These days, I do love to play the occasional game of Mario and I maintain my composure a little more (or that's what I tell myself, lol). Anywho - this looks awesome, Sues! I have yet to try chipotle with salmon so this has got to happen. Looks fabulous!
Beth says
Hehe! On the games! They do suck you in! The only reason your husband beat you is because you were working and he was playing the dumb game! 🙂 This salmon looks fantastic! Salmon is my favorite and I love this sauce you've come up!
Sues says
@Beth haha I love your comment... VERY good point!! 🙂
Emily of The Three bite Rule says
First of all, this looks delicious. Second....what game??
Rachel says
This looks so spicy and savory that it's hard to believe it's fish for dinner!
Karyl | Karyl's Kulinary Krusade says
This looks delicious! I've never cooked with chipotle peppers, but I love sundried tomatoes and salmon. I'm gonna have to give this recipe a try
Nicoletta @sugarlovespices says
Such great flavors in this salmon dish! Perfect weeknight meal, tasty and nutritious!
Rezel Kealoha says
haha. It's one of the reasons why I don't have any games on my phone anymore and save it for long flights! As for the salmon. I want some please!
Amanda Mason says
Oh my goodness you have my heart with this dish! I'm SOOOO making this this week! ALL my favorite ingredients! I might leave out the heavy cream though to make it a bit healthier but YES to this recipe! Pictures are so appetizing!!!!
Sharon says
I love spicy food and you made regular salmon into something spectacular with this recipe. Delicious!
Kathryn @ FoodieGirlChicago says
I love one pan dishes for easy weeknight meals! This one looks delicious!
Katie Crenshaw | A Fork's Tale says
This dish looks so flavorful. I have never thought of these ingredient combinations. I am excited to try it.
Jennifer says
I’m always looking for new salmon recipes and this one looks delish!
Paige says
This looks really creamy and savory, yum with the rice!
Camille says
One Pan Creamy Chipotle Salmon
Looks amazing! I can’t wait to try it. Is it as flavorful without the adobo sauce? I don’t have any. Do you have/show a recipe for the adobo sauce? I see the notes to use the chipotle peppers next to it but no recipe. I’ve never made it before. thanks
Camille says
Disregard last message. First time buying can of chipotle peppers. See the adobo sauce now. Can’t wait to make this!
Linda Ritchey says
4 minutes per side is too long for salmon. I did 2 minutes per side and it was perfect for me, but I prefer my fish rare. In your photo you can see the fat has cooked (turned white) and is rising to the surface of the fish. This means it is already overdone.
I did not have any sun dried tomatoes so I simply skipped them. The result was very, very good. The heat is just right. The sauce compliments the spinach and the salmon. My family enjoyed it and I will make this again. Great recipe!