Description
This Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta is a quick and comforting dish featuring tender penne pasta coated in a rich, creamy tomato sauce with fresh spinach. The combination of sautéed onions, garlic, and aromatic herbs creates a flavorful base, while cream cheese and Parmesan add a luscious creaminess. Perfect for a simple weeknight dinner, this recipe serves four and comes together in just 25 minutes.
Ingredients
Pasta
- ½ lb penne pasta
Sauce
- 1 yellow onion, small diced (340g, 1.5 cups)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (1 Tbsp)
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 14.5 oz diced tomatoes (1 can)
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp dried basil
- ⅛ tsp crushed red pepper
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp freshly cracked black pepper
- 2 Tbsp tomato paste
- ½ cup water
- 2 oz cream cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan (30g)
- 4 oz fresh spinach
Instructions
- Gather Ingredients: Collect all ingredients and prepare by dicing the onion and mincing the garlic.
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add the penne pasta and cook until tender, about 7-10 minutes. Drain the pasta using a colander.
- Sauté Aromatics: In a large skillet over medium heat, add olive oil, diced onion, and minced garlic. Sauté until onions are soft and translucent, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add Tomatoes and Seasonings: To the skillet, add diced tomatoes with their juices, dried oregano, dried basil, crushed red pepper, salt, and freshly cracked black pepper. Stir to combine. Then add tomato paste and ½ cup water, stirring until the tomato paste is fully incorporated.
- Make Sauce Creamy: Reduce heat to low. Cut cream cheese into pieces and add to the skillet. Whisk the sauce until the cream cheese is fully melted, creating a creamy texture. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted.
- Add Spinach: Add fresh spinach to the skillet and stir gently until wilted, about 2-3 minutes.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the drained pasta to the skillet and stir until well coated with the creamy tomato and spinach sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve warm.
Notes
- You can substitute penne with any other pasta shape like fusilli or rigatoni.
- For a vegan version, replace cream cheese and Parmesan with plant-based alternatives.
- If you prefer a spicier sauce, increase the crushed red pepper amount.
- The sauce can be made ahead and reheated gently before adding pasta.
- Add a splash of pasta water if the sauce becomes too thick upon standing.
