Description
A quick and creamy pasta dish featuring a vibrant spinach sauce made with fresh garlic, baby spinach, cream cheese, and parmesan. This easy recipe delivers a flavorful meal perfect for weeknight dinners, combining tender pasta with a rich, velvety green sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 oz pasta (penne, rigatoni, or spaghetti)
Sauce
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
- 9 oz baby spinach
- 5 oz cream cheese
- 1 oz parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- A pinch of nutmeg
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Before draining, reserve at least 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned, releasing its aroma to infuse the oil.
- Wilt Spinach: Gradually add the baby spinach to the skillet, seasoning with salt. Stir continuously until the spinach is fully wilted and reduced in volume.
- Create the Sauce: Lower the heat and add the cream cheese to the wilted spinach. Pour in 1/3 cup of the reserved pasta water and stir thoroughly to combine into a creamy sauce.
- Add Parmesan and Nutmeg: Stir in the parmesan cheese and a pinch of nutmeg, mixing until the sauce is smooth and all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Toss Pasta with Sauce: Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the spinach sauce. Toss everything together to evenly coat the pasta with the creamy sauce.
- Serve: Plate the pasta immediately. Garnish with additional parmesan cheese and a grind of fresh black pepper to taste.
Notes
- Reserve pasta water to help thin the sauce and help it adhere to pasta.
- You can substitute cream cheese with ricotta for a lighter sauce.
- Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for some heat, if desired.
- Use fresh parmesan if possible for better flavor.
- Serve with a side of crusty bread or a light salad for a complete meal.
