Pasta with Creamy Spinach Sauce
Transform your weeknight dinner with this luscious Pasta with Creamy Spinach Sauce—an irresistible blend of comfort and nutrition. This recipe combines tender pasta of your choice with a velvety sauce made from fresh spinach, garlic, cream cheese, and heavy cream, all elevated by the savory richness of Parmesan and a hint of nutmeg. The spinach is blended to a smooth, vibrant puree, creating an exquisite texture that clings to every strand or shape of pasta. Ready in just 30 minutes, this dish is perfect for busy evenings yet elegant enough for entertaining. Serve it with a side of crusty bread or a crisp green salad for a complete meal that’s as indulgent as it is easy to prepare. Perfectly creamy, flavorful, and satisfying, this pasta dish is the ultimate comfort food for spinach lovers.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 400 grams pasta (penne, fettuccine, or your choice)
- 200 grams fresh spinach
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 pieces garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 60 grams cream cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 0.25 teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- water for boiling pasta
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions for al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water and then drain the pasta.
While the pasta is cooking, 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.
Add the fresh spinach to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until wilted, about 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and let it cool slightly.
Transfer the wilted spinach to a blender or food processor. Add the heavy cream and blend until smooth. Set aside.
In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the cream cheese and stir until melted and well combined.
Pour the blended spinach-cream mixture into the skillet with the melted cream cheese. Stir until the sauce is smooth and begins to thicken, about 2-3 minutes.
Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese, salt, black pepper, and nutmeg (if using). Mix until the cheese has melted and the sauce is creamy. If the sauce is too thick, add the reserved pasta water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the desired consistency is reached.
Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat evenly with the creamy spinach sauce.
Serve immediately, garnished with additional Parmesan cheese if desired.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
2359 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 165.5 g | 212% | |
| Saturated Fat | 92.0 g | 460% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2.9 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 446 mg | 149% | |
| Sodium | 4293 mg | 187% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 138.0 g | 50% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 12.7 g | 45% | |
| Total Sugars | 7.0 g | ||
| Protein | 64.6 g | 129% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.1 mcg | 1% | |
| Calcium | 1181 mg | 91% | |
| Iron | 8.6 mg | 48% | |
| Potassium | 314 mg | 7% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
