This Creamy Parmesan Spinach Mushroom Pasta recipe is scrumptious and ready in under 30 minutes!
How do you take a bowl of pasta in creamy sauce to the next level? Add a generous helping of Parmesan cheese and flavorful, garlicky spinach and mushrooms! Few culinary delights rival the satisfaction of indulging in a hearty portion of creamy pasta. This recipe is not only satisfying, but it’s also so delicious and easy to make that it might just have you dancing with joy in your kitchen. And the best part? You’re just 25 minutes away from having this Spinach Mushroom Pasta on your plate.
Looking for more pasta inspiration? Try our Chicken Mushroom Alfredo and Spaghetti Alla Carbonara recipes for delicious twists on classic favorites.
Why This Recipe Works
- Creamy Delight: The velvety smoothness of the Parmesan sauce envelops every bite of this pasta, creating a luxurious dining experience.
- Earthy Harmony: The combination of mushrooms and spinach adds depth and richness to the dish, while also providing a healthy dose of nutrients.
- Quick and Easy: With straightforward instructions and readily available ingredients, this recipe is perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends.
Ingredient Notes
- Mushrooms: As mushrooms are the star of the show, pick varieties with lots of flavor. I use brown mushrooms like cremini, Baby Bella, or chestnut mushrooms because they are rich in flavor, but regular white button mushrooms will work.
- Spinach – Fresh baby or leaf spinach are great choices. You can use frozen, but be sure to thaw it first and squeeze out as much moisture as possible.
- Garlic: For the best possible flavor. I recommend using fresh garlic. If you must substitute, use pre-peeled garlic or garlic powder, or if you’re not a fan, you can use shallots instead.
- Cream – Half and half (similar to single cream outside the US) is used in this recipe because it keeps the sauce from getting too rich. You can substitute with whipping, heavy, or a full-fat sour cream and milk mixture.
- Cheese – Parmesan cheese is my first choice for this recipe as it helps to thicken the sauce nicely, but you can substitute it with other Italian hard cheeses like Gran Padano or Pecorino Romano.
Recipe Tips
- Always check your mushrooms for soil or dirt and clean them by wiping them with a damp paper towel.
- Take your time cooking mushrooms – let the heat draw out the moisture and give the mushrooms some extra flavor and color! This recipe is super simple, so a little extra effort will be worth your time!
- When cooking your pasta, salt the water well to season the pasta as it boils. The greatest of sauces sauce can’t fix bland pasta.
- There’s nothing worse than mushy pasta – it should still have a bite to it. I recommend testing your pasta for doneness about three minutes before the time on the box. It will finish cooking in the sauce.
- Some Parmesan cheese is salty, so taste your sauce before using the salt.
- Don’t add oil to your pasta water – it will make the sauce slide off the pasta rather than coating it as it should.
Storage & Freezing Instructions ❄
Spinach Mushroom Pasta leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To freeze, portion the cooled pasta into freezer-safe containers or bags and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
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Let’s Make Spinach Mushroom Pasta
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 outside the US
- 1 pound of pasta choose your favorite type
- 8 oz spinach
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons flat-leaf parsley chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Start by bringing a large pot of water to a boil. Add a tablespoon of salt to enhance the pasta’s flavor. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until it’s just under al dente. Remember, it will finish cooking in the sauce.
- While the pasta cooks, heat two tablespoons of olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook until it becomes fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add the sliced mushrooms to the skillet, seasoning them with salt and pepper. Stir occasionally, allowing the mushrooms to cook until they turn golden and tender, approximately 8 minutes.
- Add the spinach to the skillet with the mushrooms, allowing it to wilt and meld into the mixture.
- Once the spinach has wilted, pour in the half-and-half and bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat and let it simmer until the sauce slightly thickens, about 4 minutes.
- Once the pasta is slightly undercooked, reserve about half a cup of the pasta cooking water and then drain the pasta.
- Combine the drained pasta with the sauce in the skillet, along with the chopped parsley and grated Parmesan cheese. Toss everything together until well combined.
- Gradually add half of the reserved pasta water, continuing to toss the pasta until it’s well coated and finishes cooking. If the sauce is too thick, adjust the consistency by adding more pasta water as needed.
- Taste the dish and season with salt and pepper as desired.
- Serve immediately, paired ideally with a light salad and crusty bread for a complete and satisfying meal.
Tips + Notes
- Always check your mushrooms for soil or dirt and clean them by wiping them with a damp paper towel.
- Take your time cooking mushrooms – let the heat draw out the moisture and give the mushrooms some extra flavor and color! This recipe is super simple, so a little extra effort will be worth your time!
- When cooking your pasta, salt to the water well to season the pasta as it boils. The greatest of sauces sauce can’t fix bland pasta.
- There’s nothing worse than mushy pasta – it should still have a bite to it. I recommend testing your pasta for doneness about three minutes before the time on the box. It will finish cooking in the sauce.
- Some Parmesan cheese is salty, so taste your sauce before using the salt.
- Don’t add oil to your pasta water – it will make the sauce slide off the pasta rather than coating it as it should.
Nutrition Information:
Step By Step Instructions
Prepare the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook 1 pound (454 grams) of pasta according to package instructions until just under al dente.
Sauté Garlic: In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add 6 minced garlic cloves and cook until fragrant.
Cook the Mushrooms and Spinach: Add 1 pound (454 grams) of sliced cremini mushrooms, season with salt and pepper, and cook until golden and tender. Add eight ounces (227 grams) of spinach to the skillet and allow it to wilt.
Add The Half & Half and Simmer: Pour 2¼ cups (530 milliliters) of half-and-half into the mixture and bring to a gentle boil. Simmer until slightly thickened, about 4 minutes.
Finish The Dish: Once the pasta is slightly undercooked, reserve ½ cup (120 milliliters) of pasta water and drain the pasta. Add the drained pasta, 2 tablespoons of chopped parsley, and 1 cup (100 grams) of freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Toss until well combined.
Adjust Seasoning and Serve: Gradually add half of the reserved pasta water, tossing until the pasta is well coated and finishes cooking. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve your Spinach Mushroom Pasta immediately.
Lisa Frasc says
Delicious
Sautéed 3 oz diced pancetta first
Make sure to add a lot of salt to pasta water.
Used fresh broccoli instead of spinach. Cooked it with pasta during last 4 min.
Would be great w/shrimp or chicken breast
Erren's Kitchen says
Love the substitution with broccoli!! Thank you for your feedback, Lisa! 🥰
Becky says
I made this for myself for lunch this week and saved the leftovers for lunch the next day and it was yummy! I used whole wheat spaghetti pasta.
Erren's Kitchen says
We are so happy you love the recipe!! Love your choice of pasta too! 😊 Thank you for taking the time to leave feedback!
Arlene says
My family LOVES this recipe! Thanks so much for sharing!
Erren's Kitchen says
Hi Arlene! That’s so great to hear! Thank you for sharing!
Emily says
thanks for a great recipe! I definitely didn’t find it bland, but I did let the mushrooms dry for a little longer. I’m in Australia, so made a few adjustments as needed and thought it could be helpful to share.
– made my own half and half (half light thickened cream, half light milk)
– added about 1/2-1 tablespoon of corn flour/starch
– used a mix of large Portobello and Swiss brown mushrooms as Cremini aren’t so easy to find in my local supermarkets
– as I made it with fried, pumpkin gnocchi, I didn’t add any pasta water
Thanks again. My husband and I both oved this, especially the mushroom flavour.
Erren's Kitchen says
Emily, thank you so much for sharing your personalizations to the dish! I love that you used pumpkin gnocchi! How delicious! 😋
Shari says
This is a great recipe, the flavors were spot on. However my cooking technique needs improvement. When I added the half and half it curdled. I must have done it wrong. I’m not sure how to prevent this for the future. Happy to accept advice here.
Erren's Kitchen says
Hi Shari.
We’re glad you enjoyed the flavors! The curdling issue with the half and half could be related to the temperature or how it was incorporated into the dish. Here are some tips to help prevent curdling in the future:
Make sure the half and half is at room temperature before adding it to the hot skillet. Rapid temperature changes can cause dairy to curdle.
Add the half and half gradually, pouring it in a slow and steady stream while constantly stirring. This helps the dairy to gradually adjust to the heat.
Reduce the heat to low before adding the half and half. Simmer gently to avoid rapid boiling, which can contribute to curdling.
Continue stirring the mixture after adding the half and half. This ensures even distribution of the cream and helps prevent separation.
Sometimes using a higher-fat content half and half can be more stable when added to hot dishes.
If despite these precautions, the mixture does start to curdle, you can try removing it from heat and stirring vigorously. In some cases, adding a little extra cold half and half while stirring might help smooth out the texture.
Remember, cooking is a learning process, and each attempt is an opportunity to refine your skills. Feel free to experiment and adjust the technique to suit your preferences. Happy cooking!
Kathryn Stewart says
I’m making this recipe right now; thanks to this tip, I have set my measured milk out to come to room temperature. I expect this will be delicious!
Erren's Kitchen says
I am glad you saw the tip!! Please let us know how it turned out.😍
Kylee Carey says
My bf & I loved this!
Erren Hart says
I’m so glad you liked the recipe! Your kind words are truly appreciated.
LCK says
this is restaurant quality for sure! It’s the simple fresh ingredients that make it so solid – some people are saying bland but maybe they are people that need a ton of condiments and don’t appreciate clean flavor…
Erren Hart says
Thank you for your feedback! I’m glad you enjoyed the dish! It’s true, sometimes simplicity and fresh ingredients can create a delightful flavor profile. Everyone has different taste preferences, so it’s understandable that some may prefer stronger flavors. However, it’s great to hear that you appreciate the flavor profile I was going for. Happy cooking!
Roxanne says
I thought it was good, but a little bland, so I added some slap ya mama, and it was more flavorful.
Erren Hart says
Thank you for trying the recipe and providing feedback. I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed it, and I appreciate your suggestion of adding some extra seasoning to enhance the flavor. Taste preferences can vary, so it’s always great to experiment with different seasonings to find the perfect balance for your personal taste. Thank you for sharing your experience, and I hope you continue to enjoy the recipe.
Tia says
The sauce was delicious! This is a great recipe! I’ll definitely make it again!
Erren Hart says
Your feedback is much appreciated, and I’m so glad that the recipe worked out well for you.
Mikaela says
I thought the flavor was very bland. I’m confused as to why all the ratings are so high for this recipe. I was sure it would be a winner, but even though I followed all the steps, the sauce tasted like pure mushrooms. No garlic whatsoever. I keep scratching my head wondering where I went wrong. Maybe next time I’ll add sun dried tomatoes or onions.
Erren Hart says
Thank you for trying out the recipe and leaving your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that you found the flavor to be bland and that the sauce tasted too strong of mushrooms with no garlic flavor. We always strive to provide delicious and easy-to-follow recipes, but we understand that everyone’s taste preferences can differ. It’s possible that the mushrooms you used had a stronger flavor that overpowered the other ingredients. It’s also possible that the garlic cloves you used were smaller than the ones typically used, which could explain the lack of garlic flavor. We recommend using larger cloves or adding an additional clove or two to the recipe to enhance the garlic flavor. Thank you again for your feedback, and we hope this helps!
Your idea of adding sun-dried tomatoes or onions to the recipe sounds like a great way to add more flavor and depth to the dish. We encourage our readers to experiment with our recipes and make them their own. Thank you again for your feedback, and we hope you’ll give the recipe another try with your own modifications. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or if there are any other recipes you’d like us to share.