This creamy spinach pasta recipe is quick and easy to make and takes about 20 minutes to make from start to finish. Creamy garlicky spinach sauce tossed in penne pasta, it comes together so quickly, is super filling, and delicious.
Why this recipe is good
- This recipe is great for busy weeknights when you need something easy, quick, comforting, and delicious. Perfect for all occasions, weeknight dinners, dinner dates, and many more.
- This dish is brimming with flavor! The combination of the cream, garlic, onions, parmesan cheese, and baby spinach melds together to create a rich, flavorful, and hearty sauce. The creamy spinach sauce coats the pasta nicely, each mouthful is like a warm hug in your mouth. Savoury yet delicious!
- Economical: you can have this pasta dish on your dinner table in 20 minutes without putting a dent in your bank account. I am a big fan of homecooked cheap meals that delivers greatly on flavor.
Related recipe: creamy tomato spinach pasta, spinach and ricotta pasta, and garlic sauteed pasta.
Ingredients
You will need this handful of ingredients to make this amazing comfort food.
Penne pasta: I love using penne pasta for this creamy spinach pasta recipe as it embodies the creamy sauce like a divine union. You can use any other shaped pasta of your choice.
Fresh baby spinach: substitute with frozen spinach but make sure to defrost it and squeeze out any excess moisture as that can make the creamy sauce loose.
Unsalted butter: If using salted butter, then adjust the overall salt you will be adding to this dish accordingly.
Olive oil: substitute with avocado oil, or any other neutral-tasting cooking oil of your choice.
Onion: while this is optional for this recipe, I highly recommend using onions as it complements the spinach and helps build the flavor
Parmesan cheese: adds so much umami and flavor to this dish! Feel free to adjust the amount of Parmesan used according to your taste preferences
Salt and black pepper
Garlic: fresh garlic all the way, please don't substitute with garlic powder, they just wouldn't taste the same.
Italian seasoning: substitute with Herbs de Provence and any mixed dry herbs of your choice.
Heavy cream: this is the key to making a creamy and luscious sauce. You can substitute with single cream to keep this recipe healthy.
Red pepper flakes: you need a little bit of a kick to balance out the creaminess of this dish. However, if you don't like spicy food then omit it completely.
How to make creamy spinach pasta
Here is a quick step-by-step instructions on how to make creamy spinach pasta.
Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to boil over high heat. Add the penne pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve some pasta water for later
Make the creamy spinach sauce: Meanwhile, melt some butter with olive oil in a large skillet. Add onion and saute until soft and fragrant, stirring occasionally so it doesn't burn. Add chopped garlic and saute until fragrant. Add baby spinach to the sauteed aromatics, season with Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes, stir to combine, and cook until down until wilted.
Add heavy cream and Parmesan cheese, stir to combine and bring to a gentle simmer for another 3-4 minutes until the sauce has slightly thickened and the flavor meld. Taste and adjust the salt accordingly. Bear in mind that the pasta is already salted and you may still need to add the pasta water.
Toss it all together: Drain the cooked pasta and add it to the creamy spinach sauce. Stir or toss everything together until evenly coated with the sauce and serve immediately. Enjoy!
Make this a wholesome dish: serve it with this baked thin sliced chicken breast, you can make the chicken the same time you cook the pasta.
Tips
- Use fresh garlic rather than pre-minced garlic, giving the sauce more depth of flavor.
- Don't overcook the pasta - it should still be slightly firm when you add it to the sauce.
- The Parmesan cheese gives this dish a lot of flavor, so don't skip it. Substitute with vegan or vegetarian parmesan cheese to make it vegan and vegetarian-friendly.
- Add some cooked chicken or shrimp to the sauce before tossing it with the pasta to make this dish healthier and more filling.
- This recipe can be easily doubled for more servings; you will need a bigger pot or pan.
How to store
This dish is best served fresh on the day it's made. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Reheat in the microwave or a skillet (with a splash of milk) until heated through and enjoy! I don't recommend freezing this creamy pasta since the cream may split when thawed and that may change the look and texture of the dish.
More creamy pasta recipes you should try next
Creamy Spinach Pasta
Ingredients
- ½ lb penne pasta
- ½ lb fresh baby spinach
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup brown onion finely chopped
- 1 cup parmesan cheese freshly grated off a block
- Salt and black pepper
- 1 ½ Tablespoon garlic
- ½ Tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to boil over high heat. Add the penne pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve some pasta water for later
- Meanwhile, melt some butter with olive oil in a large skillet. Add onion and saute until soft and fragrant, stirring occasionally so it doesn't burn. Add chopped garlic and saute until fragrant. Add baby spinach to the sauteed aromatics, season with Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes, stir to combine, and cook until down until wilted.
- Add heavy cream and Parmesan cheese, stir to combine, and bring to a gentle simmer for another 3-4 minutes until the sauce has slightly thickened and the flavor meld. Taste and adjust the salt accordingly. Bear in mind that the pasta is already salted and you may still need to add the pasta water.
- Drain the cooked pasta and add it to the creamy spinach sauce. Stir or toss everything together until evenly coated with the sauce and serve immediately. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutritional data: Please note that the nutrition label provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. It will vary based on the specific ingredients and brands you use. Under no circumstances will thedinnerbite.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.
And there you have it, a simple and quick creamy pasta recipe you can make at home in no time. As always, if you made this recipe, I would love to hear from you! Kindly rate the recipe 5 star and leave me feedback in the comment section below. Tag me @thedinnerbite on Instagram and save it away to your Pinterest. Please subscribe to the blog if you haven’t for free new recipes in your inbox.
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