This spaghetti with spinach sauce recipe is a super simple pasta sauce that’s quick, healthy, and really flavorful. This vibrant sauce is made with grated cheese, giving it a creamy, delicious taste.
Serve with warm, Homemade Garlic Bread and a simple salad for an easy weeknight dinner.
Pasta With Spinach
If you’re after some hearty comfort food on a budget, this vegetarian pasta is just the thing.
Why This Recipe Works
- Using sliced fresh garlic instead of minced adds a punch of flavor without being overwhelmingly garlicky.
- Blending the sauce with the salted pasta water adds a silky texture as well as seasoning.
- Using fresh spinach instead of frozen packs this dish with extra nutrients you don’t get with frozen vegetables.
- Using fresh Parmesan cheese adds creaminess and depth of flavor.
A Versatile Spinach Pasta Recipe
This is also a very versatile dish. I’ve had readers report back that they’ve used anything from salmon to pistachios as variations. Don’t be afraid to add your own personal touch to this easily adaptable recipe.
This spaghetti with spinach sauce is not only delicious, but it’s really healthy too.
Spinach Buying Guide
- When buying fresh spinach, look for leaves that have a dark green color. Avoid any with yellowing color or wilting.
- Avoid spinach with slimy leaves or have a sour, musty odor.
The Health Benefits of Eating Spinach
Spinach has so many health benefits. It’s high in iron, as well as vitamins A and C. Spinach is loaded with not only nutrients, but it’s also rich in antioxidants.
It’s said that eating spinach can benefit eye health, reduce stress, help prevent cancer, and reduce blood pressure levels. So, I eat it often and this dish is one of my favorite ways to prepare it!
Cooking Perfect Spaghetti
- Don’t add oil to the cooking water. Adding oil to the water to keep it from sticking will cause the sauce to slip off the Spaghetti.
- Salt like you mean it. The cooking water should taste like the ocean. This is the only time you’re able to season pasta and keep it from tasting bland.
- Wait for a rapid boil. Starches in the spaghetti absorb water instantly and so you want the water as hot as possible to begin cooking properly. Adding the spaghetti too soon may cause it to cook improperly.
- Stir during cooking. Occasionally stirring the spaghetti while cooking will keep it from clumping together.
How To Make Spaghetti With Spinach Sauce
Start a pot of water for the pasta and cook the spaghetti until just undercooked.
Heat some olive oil in a large frying pan on medium-high heat. Add the garlic and sauté.
Add the spinach to the pan.
Sauté with the garlic. Once wilted, season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and set aside.
Before draining the pasta, reserve a cup of the pasta water.
Drain the pasta, and set aside.
Add the spinach and garlic mixture to a food processor ( or blender).
Add the cheese and half of the reserved pasta water.
Puree until it forms a sauce (adding more pasta water if needed).
Add the sauce back into the pan.
Add the par-cooked spaghetti.
Stir to combine and heat through, adding more pasta water if needed.
Once the spaghetti is cooked through, taste and season with more salt and pepper if necessary. Serve sprinkled with extra grated cheese.
A Healthy Recipe For Kids
The lovely, leafy spinach in this spaghetti with spinach sauce recipe makes for a flavorful and intriguing bright green pasta that even kids will want to dive into!
Case in point:
Every time one of my son’s close friend comes over, he always asks me what we were having for dinner. Followed by ‘Can we please have that green spaghetti you make? That’s so good; I love it!’
How could I say no to that? Luckily, it’s so easy to make!
This recipe is the perfect example of how you can hide veggies in food to trick the kids into eating them because otherwise, he wouldn’t touch a bowl full of spinach!
Erren’s Top Tips
- Work fast with the garlic. Garlic burns easily, especially when chopped or sliced. If you’re worried it may burn, keep a little water handy and add a tablespoon or two before adding the spinach to the pan.
- To puree the sauce, I use a food processor, but a blender would also work if you add the pasta water in before blending.
- I use fresh spinach, but frozen would work too if it’s thawed and squeezed of excess water.
Other Great Pasta Dishes
Did you make this?
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Let’s Make Spaghetti with Spinach Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves sliced
- 16 oz fresh baby spinach washed
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 pound spaghetti
- ½ cup grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese plus more for serving
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large deep frying pan on medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook to soften, but not quite brown.
- Add the spinach and sauté with the garlic until wilted. Season with salt and pepper, remove from heat and set aside.
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Reserve a cup of the pasta water before draining. Drain, and set aside.
- Add the spinach and garlic mixture to a food processor or blender with the cheese and half of the pasta water. Puree until it forms a sauce (adding more pasta water if needed).
- Add the sauce back into the pan to combine and heat through, again adding more pasta water if needed.
- Once heated through, taste and season with more salt and pepper if necessary. Serve sprinkled with extra grated cheese.
Tips + Notes
- Work fast with the garlic. Garlic burns easily, especially when chopped or sliced. If you’re worried it may burn, keep a little water handy and add a tablespoon or two before adding the spinach to the pan.
- To puree the sauce, I use a food processor, but a blender would also work if you add the pasta water in before blending.
- I use fresh spinach, but frozen would work too if it’s thawed and squeezed of excess water.
Nutrition Information:
Update Notes: This post was originally published in April of 2014, but was republished with new photos, step by step instructions, tips, and a video August of 2018.
Shanti says
Will this sauce freeze well?
Erren Hart says
Yes, just freeze it in a freezer-safe container for up to three months.
Husna Ebrahim says
I absolutely did not like the recipe. However, I should admit that my grandmother was okay with it. Due to the grinding of the spinach it amplifies the bitterness of the spinach which makes it unpalatable for me. Everyone much preferred a white sauce
Erren Hart says
Thank you for trying our spinach sauce, Husna. I’m sorry to hear that you didn’t enjoy it but glad your grandmother did. Our recipe is designed to highlight the natural flavors of spinach, so it may not be for everyone. We love hearing feedback from our readers, so thank you for letting us know your thoughts.
Shanti says
Hello Husna, try adding a splash of lemon or lime juice while grinding. It takes the bitterness away and also helps bring up the taste of Spinach while helping the body to absorb Iron better :-). You can also add a handful of Cilantro. This brings a fresh herb taste to the pasta.
Erren Hart says
Thanks for the feedback, Shanti! Great ideas!
Riana says
My son who detests eating veggies loves this pasta – he too asks when I can make him the green pasta . Thank you so much for this great recipe . This is a keeper !!
Erren Hart says
I remember those days well. I’m so glad I could help you find a way to get green vegetables into your son’s diet with out tears! Thanks for letting me know! 🙂
Audrey says
Simple but delicious! I love that this is way healthier than a traditional pasta with a cream sauce, but it taste just as decadent with the parmesan. You can even toast pine nuts to add on top like you would with a pesto, it works well together.
Erren Hart says
That’s awesome to hear, Audrey! 🙂 I appreciate you taking the time to leave such great feedback!
Grant says
Such a great and easy recipe. Even my picky toddler will eat it!
Erren Hart says
That’s great, Grant! It’s a favorite of mine! I’m glad you all enjoyed it!
Valerie Hopkins says
Delicious and very easy to make! I made some ravioli, but wanted a healthier sauce since we’re all on diets. Husband loved it. And he makes it a habit to never eat anything green. Lol…
Erren Hart says
That’s so wonderful to hear, Valerie! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review! 🙂
Kelvin says
Delicious! We had a spinach glut in the garden and had run out of ideas, I googled spinach & pasta, and this popped up.
Super easy, and super tasty.
Erren Hart says
Wonderful! I appreciate the feedback!
Joseph Lopes says
We made it with FRESH from our garden KALE!! Loved it. Will definitely make it again.
Erren Hart says
Really glad to hear it, Joseph! Thanks for coming back to let me know! 🙂
Tonya Simms says
Loved it. Will definitely make it again.
Erren Hart says
Awesome to hear, Tanya! Thanks for leaving a 5-star review! 🙂
Stacey C says
Loved it. Putting this one into regular rotation!
Erren Hart says
Wonderful! I appreciate the feedback!