Description
A creamy and flavorful Spinach Mushroom Pasta recipe that combines tender sautéed mushrooms, fresh spinach, and a rich half-and-half sauce tossed with your favorite pasta. This easy-to-make dish is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner and serves 4 people.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 pound Cremini mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
- 2¼ cups half-and-half or single cream
- 1 pound pasta of choice
- 8 oz spinach
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons flat-leaf parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Boil Water and Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook it until it is just under al dente, so it finishes cooking in the sauce later.
- Sauté Garlic and Mushrooms: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Add the sliced mushrooms, season with salt and pepper, and sauté until they become tender and slightly browned.
- Add Spinach and Cream: Stir in the spinach and cook until it wilted down. Pour in the half-and-half and let it simmer gently until the sauce thickens slightly, about 3-5 minutes.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Drain the pasta, reserving some pasta water. Add the pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Stir in the chopped parsley and freshly grated Parmesan cheese, tossing everything together to combine.
- Adjust Consistency and Season: Gradually add reserved pasta water as needed to coat the pasta and achieve your preferred sauce consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve: Serve the creamy spinach mushroom pasta hot, ideally accompanied by a fresh salad and crusty bread for a complete meal.
Notes
- Using half-and-half keeps the sauce creamy but lighter than heavy cream; it can be substituted based on preference.
- Save some pasta water to loosen the sauce if it becomes too thick.
- Cremini mushrooms provide a deep, earthy flavor, but you can substitute with white mushrooms or portobello if desired.
- To make it vegetarian friendly, ensure the Parmesan cheese is free of animal rennet.
- Add crushed red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
