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Spinach Garlic Pasta: fast, simple, delicious
Fast spinach garlic pasta with parmesan in 25 minutes. Simple, veggie-forward dinner.
Why this recipe works
This quick spinach garlic pasta is a light, weeknight-friendly dish. It suits cooks who want a fast, veggie-forward meal with simple pantry staples.
- spinach garlic pasta
- quick vegetarian pasta
- easy weeknight pasta
- garlic parmesan pasta
- pasta with spinach
- one-pot pasta
- light pasta sauce
Key takeaways
Ready in under 25 minutes
One-pot-style flavor from garlic and spinach
Creamy finish with parmesan and a splash of pasta water
Recipe guide
This quick spinach garlic pasta is a light, weeknight-friendly dish. It suits cooks who want a fast, veggie-forward meal with simple pantry staples.
A bright, speedy pasta that stars spinach and garlic.
- Ready in under 25 minutes
- One-pot-style flavor from garlic and spinach
- Creamy finish with parmesan and a splash of pasta water
Ingredients overview
Simple pantry list: pasta, fresh spinach, olive oil, garlic, parmesan, red pepper flakes, salt. Prepare 200 g pasta and 150 g spinach per serving for a light meal.
Step-by-step method
Boil salted water and cook pasta to al dente. Sauté garlic and red pepper in olive oil, wilt spinach, toss in pasta, add parmesan and a splash of pasta water to loosen the sauce. Season to taste.
Tips for perfect texture
Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, don’t overcook spinach, add more water to adjust sauce consistency, finish with immediate serving for best texture.
Ingredients
- 200 g pasta
- 150 g fresh spinach
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 clove garlic
- 50 g grated Parmesan
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente, reserving about 1/2 cup pasta water before draining
- Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat
- Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds to 1 minute
- Add the spinach and cook, tossing, until just wilted
- Toss the drained pasta into the skillet with the spinach
- Add grated Parmesan and a splash of reserved pasta water, tossing to create a light sauce; add more pasta water if needed
- Season with salt to taste and serve immediately
FAQs
Can I use frozen spinach?
Yes, thaw and squeeze out excess moisture before adding to the skillet.
Can I make this dairy-free?
Omit parmesan or substitute with a plant-based parmesan; you may need a bit more pasta water to emulsify.
How can I bulk this up for leftovers?
Add cooked chicken or chickpeas, or top with toasted breadcrumbs for crunch.