Spinach Mushroom Pasta

A close up image of pasta in a creamy sauce with mushrooms and spinach.

4.98 from 47 votes

This simple vegetarian pasta combines the flavors of garlic, mushrooms, and spinach in a luscious creamy Parmesan sauce.

Photo-illustrated step-by-step instructions can be seen below the recipe card.

Course Dinner

Cuisine Italian

Keyword Creamy Parmesan pasta, mushroom and spinach recipe, Spinach Mushroom Pasta

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 25

Servings

Calories 778

Author Erren Hart

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.

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