How to make spinach pasta with creamy red sauce. This quick and easy recipe uses fresh spinach, spaghetti sauce, cheese, butter, and garlic to make the best simple dinner! Healthy homemade vegetarian noodle meal, but you could add chicken for a heartier version. Cheesy one pot meal.
We have a refrigerator full of fresh spinach. Our CSA is harvesting spring greens at a ridiculously fast pace, and they are passing the greens along to us. And then, of course, our backyard garden is producing more lettuce and spinach than I think we can ever eat. Who planned what we would plant?!
I hate masses of green mush otherwise known as cooked spinach, and I've already grown tired of cold salads, so we had to find a new way to eat the dark green leaves in our fridge.
Fortunately, the CSA passed this recipe along with one of our boxes. We made it tonight and loved it.
What you'll need to make creamy spinach pasta
Ingredients:
- Corkscrew pasta - Any shape and variety will work.
- Butter - I prefer unsalted.
- Fresh spinach
- Fresh, whole garlic - You'll press this. Freshly pressed garlic tastes 100% different from jarred or powder. It matters in this recipe.
- Spring onions
- Half and half or whole milk
- Carrots
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Cheddar cheese - You could use any kind of shredded cheese, like mozzarella or monterey jack.
- Spaghetti sauce - The best is my Granny's homemade spaghetti sauce, but use whatever you have.
How to make creamy spinach pasta
- Cook and drain the fusilli pasta. Leave in the colander for now.
- In the same pot, melt the butter, press the garlic, and add the onion. Cook for 5 minutes on low. Add the carrots and stir frequently.
- Add the spinach and cook on high heat until just wilted. Add salt and pepper.
- Toss the pasta back into the pot and reduce heat to the lowest possible.
- Add half and half, cheese, and pasta sauce, and stir until warm.
Try these other healthy pasta dishes while you're here:
- Quick and Easy Salsa Chicken Pasta
- Cucumber Pasta Salad - A Healthy Alternative to Creamy Pasta Salad
- Cheesy Shrimp Pasta
- Quick & Easy Vegetarian Pesto Pasta Primavera
Recipe
Creamy Spinach Pasta
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pounds fusilli pasta
- ¼ cups butter
- 1 large bunch fresh spinach chopped into matchstick-sized pieces
- 3 cloves garlic pressed
- 5 spring onions diced
- 1 cups half and half or substitute whole milk
- ¼ cups carrot grated
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
- 1 cups cheddar cheese shredded
- 2 cups spaghetti sauce
Instructions
- Cook and drain the fusilli pasta. In the same pot, melt butter, add the garlic and onion and cook for five minutes on low. Add the carrots and stir often.
- Add spinach and cook on high heat until just wilted. Add salt and pepper.
- Toss pasta back into the pot and reduce heat to very low.
- Add half and half or milk, cheese, and pasta sauce and stir until warm.
rachel-asouthernfairytale says
I have no words.
OH MY NOMMMMMMMMM
rachel-asouthernfairytale says
I have no words.
OH MY NOMMMMMMMMM
Kiki says
That sounds really good! Thanks for passing the recipe along!
Kiki says
That sounds really good! Thanks for passing the recipe along!
Ann Kroeker says
That sounds so simple and so yummy. I put in some spinach too late into the garden--I hope it doesn't get all wilty in the heat. If I get a lot, I'll try this! If not, I'll toss it in salads. It's nice to have options, isn't it? I'm no expert, but I'll bet there are some other interesting pasta combos you could try, don't you think?
Ann Kroeker's last blog post..Make-Do Mondays: Campsite Coffee
Tara says
Ann - Yes! I do think we'll find lots of combination now that we know we like slightly cooked spinach. If your spinach doesn't thrive now, you can always try again in August. You should be able to grow some nice plants in the cool of the fall. 🙂
Ann Kroeker says
That sounds so simple and so yummy. I put in some spinach too late into the garden--I hope it doesn't get all wilty in the heat. If I get a lot, I'll try this! If not, I'll toss it in salads. It's nice to have options, isn't it? I'm no expert, but I'll bet there are some other interesting pasta combos you could try, don't you think?
Ann Kroeker's last blog post..Make-Do Mondays: Campsite Coffee
Tara says
Ann - Yes! I do think we'll find lots of combination now that we know we like slightly cooked spinach. If your spinach doesn't thrive now, you can always try again in August. You should be able to grow some nice plants in the cool of the fall. 🙂
Snow White says
Yummy!
Snow White's last blog post..Breaded Chicken Fingers
Snow White says
Yummy!
Snow White's last blog post..Breaded Chicken Fingers
Lisa@Blessedwithgrace says
Sounds like a great idea.
Lisa@Blessedwithgrace's last blog post..Tempt My Tummy Tuesday.......A twist on Chicken Salad
Jenna @ Newlyweds says
Oh what a great way to eat spinach, Yum!
Jenna @ Newlyweds's last blog post..30 Day Shred – Day 17-20
Jessica says
YUM!! That does sound really good!!
Have you tried making "green smoothies" - those take spinach. I know it may sound weird, but you can't taste it and gives a health boost to smoothies.
Jessica's last blog post..Falafel and Pita
Jessica says
YUM!! That does sound really good!!
Have you tried making "green smoothies" - those take spinach. I know it may sound weird, but you can't taste it and gives a health boost to smoothies.
Jessica's last blog post..Falafel and Pita
Bonnie says
MMMM...I love spinach. Might just have to print this out.
Bonnie's last blog post..Tackle It Tuesday
Bonnie says
MMMM...I love spinach. Might just have to print this out.
Bonnie's last blog post..Tackle It Tuesday
Susie's Homemade says
Yummy tackle!
Susie's Homemade's last blog post..Tackling a Playset
Susie's Homemade says
Yummy tackle!
Susie's Homemade's last blog post..Tackling a Playset
zoe says
I have a fantastic recipe for Spinach on my food and fitness blog, sadly the links in the side bar need updating, but it you're interested I'll sort out the link for you. It's spicy mince (ground meat) with rice and spinach.
zoe's last blog post..Beefy Mexican Rice
Tara says
My husband loves spinach...this might be a good recipe to try.
Tara says
My husband loves spinach...this might be a good recipe to try.
Lisa@Blessedwithgrace says
Sounds like a great idea.
Lisa@Blessedwithgrace's last blog post..Tempt My Tummy Tuesday.......A twist on Chicken Salad
Jenna @ Newlyweds says
Oh what a great way to eat spinach, Yum!
Jenna @ Newlyweds's last blog post..30 Day Shred – Day 17-20
Liz@HoosierHomemade says
We typically don't eat spinach in our house, but I may have to try this!
Thanks for sharing!
~Liz
Liz@HoosierHomemade's last blog post..Painting Project - Week 3
zoe says
I have a fantastic recipe for Spinach on my food and fitness blog, sadly the links in the side bar need updating, but it you're interested I'll sort out the link for you. It's spicy mince (ground meat) with rice and spinach.
zoe's last blog post..Beefy Mexican Rice
Brenda says
My family loves spinach and pasta and this looks great!
Brenda's last blog post..Delivered Meals for TMTT & Tuesdays Tribute
Liz@HoosierHomemade says
We typically don't eat spinach in our house, but I may have to try this!
Thanks for sharing!
~Liz
Liz@HoosierHomemade's last blog post..Painting Project - Week 3
Muthering Heights says
Yum, that sounds delicious!
Muthering Heights says
Yum, that sounds delicious!
Brenda says
My family loves spinach and pasta and this looks great!
Brenda's last blog post..Delivered Meals for TMTT & Tuesdays Tribute
Dawn (Painter Mommy) says
Wow! Great recipe! I love spinach.
Dawn (Painter Mommy)'s last blog post..Is my Baby Pooping Too Much?
Dawn (Painter Mommy) says
Wow! Great recipe! I love spinach.
Dawn (Painter Mommy)'s last blog post..Is my Baby Pooping Too Much?