Creamy Spinach Pasta Dinner
This creamy spinach pasta is a quick and satisfying dinner, perfect for a weeknight meal. Al dente pasta is tossed in a rich sauce with garlic, onion, spinach, and Parmesan cheese.
Equipment
- large pot
- large deep skillet
- wooden spoon
Ingredients
Pasta
- 1 pound short pasta (penne, rotini, orecchiette, or fettuccine) (450g)
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ small onion or shallot, finely diced
- ½ cup vegetable broth or dry white wine (120ml)
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream (360ml)
- 10-12 ounces fresh spinach, roughly chopped or left whole (280-340g)
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (50g), plus more for serving
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- nutmeg Tiny pinch (optional)
Instructions
Cooking Instructions
- Cook pasta in a large pot of heavily salted boiling water until al dente, reserving 1 cup of starchy pasta water before draining.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil and sauté onion for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes, cooking for another minute until fragrant.
- Deglaze the pan with wine or broth, scraping up browned bits, then simmer for 1-2 minutes. Reduce heat to low, add heavy cream and nutmeg, bringing to a gentle simmer.
- Add spinach to the creamy sauce in batches, stirring gently until fully wilted and tender, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add cooked pasta to the skillet, toss with the sauce, and stir in Parmesan cheese. If needed, add reserved pasta water to reach desired consistency.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, then serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan.
Notes
For extra flavor, consider using fresh pasta instead of dried. You can also add grilled chicken or shrimp for a more substantial meal.