Creamy Spinach Mushroom Pasta Recipe
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.
- Author: Emma
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
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
- 3–4 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)
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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