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Creamy Spinach Mushroom Pasta Recipe

4.7 from 109 reviews

This creamy spinach mushroom pasta is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that combines tender pasta with sautéed mushrooms, fresh spinach, and a luscious Parmesan cream sauce. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, this recipe balances savory flavors and comforting textures in a one-pan sauté and pasta toss.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta

  • 8 oz pasta (penne, fettuccine, or your favorite)

Sauté

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
  • 8 oz mushrooms, sliced (baby bella or white)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 34 cups fresh spinach
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Sauce

  • ½ cup heavy cream or half-and-half
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (plus extra for topping)
  • ½ cup reserved pasta water (as needed)

Instructions

  1. Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
  2. Sauté Mushrooms: In a large skillet, heat olive oil or butter over medium heat. Add the sliced mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until they release their moisture and become golden brown, about 5–7 minutes.
  3. Add Garlic and Spinach: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Add the fresh spinach and toss until it wilts down, about 2–3 minutes.
  4. Make Cream Sauce: Pour in the heavy cream or half-and-half, stirring to combine. Add salt and black pepper. Let the sauce simmer gently for 2–3 minutes to thicken slightly.
  5. Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the vegetables and cream sauce. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a little at a time until the desired consistency is reached. Toss everything together until well coated and heated through.
  6. Serve: Remove from heat and serve immediately, topped with extra Parmesan cheese if desired.

Notes

  • You can substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or full-fat milk for a lighter sauce, but the sauce may be less rich.
  • Use gluten-free pasta to make this recipe gluten-free.
  • Add cooked chicken or shrimp for extra protein.
  • Fresh mushrooms work best for flavor and texture over canned.
  • Reserve pasta water provides starch that helps the sauce cling to the pasta perfectly.

Keywords: spinach mushroom pasta, creamy pasta, vegetarian pasta recipe, easy dinner, Italian pasta with spinach