Tender, juicy salmon fillets stuffed with a medley of cream cheese, spinach, and parmesan cheese is truly a match made in heaven. And, all of these ingredients come together in my Creamy Spinach Stuffed Salmon, aka the ultimate weeknight dinner that comes together in under 30 minutes. This recipe is such a fun and delicious way to prepare salmon that is perfect for the whole family!
Friends, if there’s one protein that my family always requests that I make, it’s salmon. Whether it’s my Perfect 8-Minute Broiled Salmon or my simple and easy Salmon Sushi Cups, salmon is one recipe that my boys (and my husband, Greg) can’t get enough of. And I am definitely not complaining!
I absolutely love salmon. This lean fish is not only an excellent source of protein, but it also packed with heart-healthy omega 3’s and fatty acids. What could be better than that?! Add in the fact that it is delicious, and can be prepared in so many different ways, and you’ve got a dish made in heaven. Not to mention, you guys are always requesting more simple salmon recipes, and when you ask, I deliver! This recipe comes together in under 30 minutes, and is perfect for a simple and easy weeknight dinner.
Now, the best part of this salmon is arguably the filling. This salmon is stuffed with a blend of cream cheese, spinach, and parmesan cheese that perfectly oozes out of it as it cooks. I love serving this salmon on top of rice, because the excess filling soaks into the rice and then you’re left with a creamy, cheesy rice that is almost too good to be true. And, add in some perfectly cooked broccoli on the side (or my easy Smashed Brussels Sprouts) and you’ve got the perfect dinner ready in minutes!
What You Need to Make This Easy Weeknight Dinner Recipe
- Salmon: Of course, you’ll need salmon in order to make this recipe!
- Cream Cheese: Make sure the cream cheese is soft and spreadable for this recipe! I recommend leaving the cream cheese out on the counter for 10-15 minutes to soften it, or you can always place the cream cheese into a small bowl and microwave it for 20 seconds, to soften it in a pinch.
- Spinach: Spinach is packed with vitamins and minerals and is the perfect way to sneak extra veggies into this recipe.
- Garlic: I highly recommend using fresh garlic, whenever possible. It adds a flavor that garlic powder just can’t replicate!
- Parmesan Cheese: There is nothing better than biting into this salmon and being met with a cheesy, delicious stuffing, and the parmesan cheese perfectly compliments the cream cheese!
- Ground Black Pepper: A touch of ground black pepper adds a delicious flavor to the stuffing.
- Seasoning Blend: To season this salmon to perfection, we’ll be using a combination of paprika, garlic powder, and cumin. Yum!
How to Make This Creamy, Cheesy Stuffed Salmon
To make this stuffed salmon, start by preparing the salmon itself. Cut slits or pockets about 3/4 quarter of the way through the salmon, being careful not to cut all the way through. Repeat until each piece of salmon is cut and set them aside.
Next, prepare the filling. Add the softened cream cheese, spinach, mashed garlic, parmesan cheese, and ground black pepper to a bowl and mix to combine. If the cream cheese is not soft, you can microwave it for 20 seconds to soften it. Then, stuff the filling into the salmon, packing in as much as you can!
In a separate small bowl, mix together the paprika, garlic powder, and cumin until they’re fully combined. Then, rub the spice mixture on top of each piece of salmon.
Once the salmon is seasoned, grease a large, oven-safe skillet (like a 10-inch cast iron) with butter or oil and transfer the salmon pieces into the skillet. Finally, transfer the skillet into the oven and broil it for 13 minutes, or until the salmon is cooked to your liking. Once it’s done, remove it from the oven, serve, and enjoy!
If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a review and rating below! To see more recipes and behind the scenes, follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube! I’m also now on Pinterest, so stop by and take a look at what’s new.
** Photography by Gayle McLeod
Ingredients
- 4 4-6 Ounce Pieces Salmon
- 1 Cup Cream Cheese
- 1 Cup Fresh Spinach, chopped
- 2 Cloves Garlic, mashed
- ½ Cup Parmesan Cheese, freshly grated
- ½ Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
- 1 Teaspoon Paprika
- 1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 Teaspoon Cumin
Instructions
- To make this stuffed salmon, start by preparing the salmon itself. Cut slits or pockets about 3/4 quarter of the way through the salmon, being careful not to cut all the way through. Repeat until each piece of salmon is cut and set them aside.
- Next, prepare the filling. Add the softened cream cheese, spinach, mashed garlic, parmesan cheese, and ground black pepper to a bowl and mix to combine. If the cream cheese is not soft, you can microwave it for 20 seconds to soften it.
- Then, stuff the filling into the salmon, packing in as much as you can!
- In a separate small bowl, mix together the paprika, garlic powder, and cumin until they're fully combined.
- Then, rub the spice mixture on top of each piece of salmon.
- Once the salmon is seasoned, grease a large, oven-safe skillet (like a 10-inch cast iron) with butter or oil and transfer the salmon pieces into the skillet.
- Finally, transfer the skillet into the oven and broil it for 13 minutes, or until the salmon is cooked to your liking.
- Once it's done, remove it from the oven, serve, and enjoy!
Rate & review
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What others are saying
This was delicious! We love salmon and wanted to try something different. Paired it with roasted sweet potato. So good!
Yum! I am so happy you enjoyed it, Rachel! Thank you so much for making this recipe and for leaving such a kind review!
Another Kalejunkie win, I should stop being surprised. I subbed the salmon for chicken, but it doesn’t matter because this filling makes the meal. The creamy spinach filling might be the yummiest combination I’ve had with a protein!
I’m so happy it turned out well for you, MacKenzie! The chicken sounds like a delicious addition!
I took the risk and made this for Thanksgiving. It did not disappoint at all. I added Mushrooms and Onions to the filling. And had a side of loaded mashed potatoes. Thank you very much. Lovely idea!
I am so happy to hear that, Savya! Thank you so much for making this recipe and for your review!
I made it just as you suggested, and it was delicious will be making it again with mushrooms and onions
I just made this as written and it was delicious! The spinach stuffing was so flavorful. I will definitely be making this again.
I am so happy to hear that, Deborah! Thank you for your review!
My family and I were looking for something different to eat, I saw a stuffed salmon photo on Facebook and googled a recipe. This recipe was the first to come up so I decided to try it because I had most of the ingredients anyway. This was a great recipe! Everyone loved it! I would suggest 5 pieces of salmon if the pieces are small. Ours were small so 4 pieces wasn’t enough for all of the stuffing. I can’t wait to make it again ❤️
We love Salmon pan seared but I wanted to try a new recipe. I made the recipe as stated, however I had 5 nice pieces of salmon and used all of the stuffing along with putting a little bit on the top the last 5 minutes of broiling time. I always enjoy a recipe that uses a cast iron skillet. My Husband said that the doesn’t want to eat salmon any other way from now on!
Delicious! I made this for my mom and she really enjoyed it! I loved how quick this was to put together and how tasty it turned out. I will definitely be making this again!