Pasta for dinner never looked this good, especially when it all comes together in just one pot and under 30 minutes. This quick and easy one-pot creamy spinach pasta recipe is a pasta and veggie lovers dream. Think: a homemade, subtly creamy blush cream sauce, tossed with fresh sautéed spinach and spiral pasta, this is guaranteed to be a repeat recipe on your dinner menu over and over again.
Pasta is never just meant to be made for one season, it's perfect for all year round!
Pasta recipes are my favorite ways to get more vegetables infused into my meals, such as my three cheese macaroni and cheese with spinach, my pasta primavera, or a deliciously easy orzo pasta salad.
Jump to:
- What ingredients do I need for this creamy spinach pasta recipe?
- How do I make this pasta recipe?
- Recipe Swaps and Substitutions
- Ways to vary this this spinach pasta recipe
- Why you'll love this creamy spinach pasta
- How do I store this recipe? Can I freeze it?
- PRO TIP:
- Hungry for more?
- Did you like this recipe? Share it!
- Easy Creamy Spinach Pasta
What ingredients do I need for this creamy spinach pasta recipe?
- Short, spiral pasta: We love using short, spiral pastas in this type of recipe as the grooves from how it's cut grabs the pasta really well and lets it get all saucy. It's just so good. I highly recommend fusilli, radiatore, or from Trader Joe's their Bucati Corti (Featured in this recipe)
- Spinach: I highly suggest with the fresh baby spinach leaves and wilt using some butter on a medium flame. The use of fresh spinach brings out a gorgeous green color, and it's what we prefer.
- Shallot: Shallot brings a delicious flavor to a sauce and overall to a dish. It's aromatic, fragrant, and tastes amazing with garlic.
- Garlic: Similar to shallot, 3 cloves minced works great in this recipe. Just enough for flavor, not overpowering.
- Tomato paste: This is the tomato aspect of the recipe, and when combined with the onions, garlic, chicken stock, and half and half, it creates a gorgeous hue of blush or pink, and of course, tastes amazing.
- Chicken stock: The addition of chicken stock gives the sauce depth and also is an essential building block of making the blush cream sauce.
- Heavy Cream: The ingredient that brings it all together: the cream! Just half a cup gives the sauce the most beautiful blush color, and adds such rich flavor, without being too powerful.
- Parmesan Cheese: While not picture, it's a great add in and garnish!
See the recipe card below for specific information about quantities.
How do I make this pasta recipe?
Step 1: Start by adding a tablespoon of butter to a medium frying pan over a medium heat. Add the spinach and sauté the spinach in the melted butter. Sprinkle a little garlic powder and set aside
Step 2: To the same pan, add in the minced garlic and onion, sauté in olive oil until fragrant. Add in the teaspoon of tomato paste and stir to combine.
Step 3: Pour in the chicken stock and let the mixture simmer for a minute or so. Then, pour in the heavy cream and stir.
Step 4: Let simmer on low for 10-15 minutes or until the cream sauce begins to thicken. Add back the sautéed spinach and mix to combine.
Step 5: Meanwhile, boil your favorite pasta, strain, and add directly to the sauce. Stir to coat the pasta and combine the spinach.
Step 6: Serve with a generous sprinkle of parmesan cheese.
HINT: Let the sauce simmer for a little while on a very low flame, occasionally stirring. Once the sauce thickens and bubbles, turn off the heat and let sit covered.
Recipe Swaps and Substitutions
If you're not a dairy fan, or if you're not into spinach, here's some swaps I recommend:
- Dairy - Switch out the heavy cream for some almond milk or coconut milk. The dairy alternatives will likely change the overall taste of the pasta, but not too much!
- Vegetables - Throw in roasted broccoli or cauliflower. I love adding roasted vegetables to pasta dishes, like my vegetable pasta bake. It gives a great charred flavor, and holds the sauce very well.
- Protein - A pan seared chicken breast, ground sausage, or sautéed shrimp, would be so good in this creamy pasta dish.
Ways to vary this this spinach pasta recipe
Want to add some extra flavor? Here are a few ways you can create this recipe and make it your own with your own variations:
- Spice- add a few red pepper flakes to the garlic and shallot as it cooks.
- Toppings - add ricotta to the pasta and stir in to make it even creamier!
- Baked - while this recipe isn't meant to be baked, you can add it to a casserole dish and bake in the oven with some mozzarella on top for 15 minutes.
Why you'll love this creamy spinach pasta
This pasta recipe is truly one of the easiest recipes to make and is great for all different reasons.
- Make for a meal prep recipes for the week for lunch. Topped with sliced crispy chicken cutlets or with baked turkey meatballs are great ways to get protein added into this dish.
- Prepare this meal ahead of time for a dinner during the week.
- Leftovers make for great kids options for school.
How do I store this recipe? Can I freeze it?
To Store: Add any leftover pasta to an air-tight container and place in the fridge for up to five days.
To Freeze: To add this recipe to the freezer, pour the pasta into a freezer-safe container or dish and place in the freezer for up to two months. When ready to eat, thaw overnight in the fridge and warm in a skillet over medium heat. Add ¼ water to the pasta and a touch of parmesan cheese get it thick and creamy again.
PRO TIP:
Cook the pasta to al dente or a minute less: The pasta will continue to cook once it's off the flame, and we'll be adding it to a warm sauce anyway.
Hungry for more?
Looking for other pasta recipes just as amazing as this one? You've got to try these out!
Did you like this recipe? Share it!
If you're just as in love with this recipe as I am, please share a comment below and rate it! Better yet, share this recipe with family and friends!! Thank you for being here!!
Easy Creamy Spinach Pasta
Equipment
- 1 large pot
- 1 strainer
- 1 frying pan
- 1 wooden spoon
- measuring cups
Ingredients
- 1 lb pasta
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 large shallot minced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup chicken stock
- ½ cup heavy cream
- salt
- pepper
Instructions
- Add a tablespoon of butter to a medium frying pan on medium heat.
- Add the spinach and sauté the spinach in the melted butter. Sprinkle a little garlic powder and set aside.
- To the same pan, add in the minced garlic and onion, sauté in olive oil until fragrant.
- Add in the tablespoon of tomato paste and stir to combine.
- Pour in the chicken stock and let the mixture simmer for a minute or so. Then, pour in the heavy cream and stir.
- Cover and let simmer on low for 5-7 minutes or until the cream sauce begins to thicken and will coat the back of a spoon.
- Meanwhile, boil your favorite pasta, strain, and add directly to the sauce. Add back the sautéed spinach and mix to combine.
- Serve with sprinkle of parmesan cheese.
Sue
I just made this recipe for my family last night and they all raved about how delicious this sauce is. The spinach added in is just a bonus. Even my pickiest son liked it! Will be adding this to my rotation for sure. Thank you.