Creamy Spinach Pasta

This incredibly creamy pasta dish will make your family think you spent hours in the kitchen! Anyone who loves rich, comforting pasta will absolutely adore this recipe. The best part is you get all that amazing creaminess in just 15 minutes flat.

Recipe Details

Timing & Servings: Prep Time: 15 minutes, Total Time: 15 minutes, Serves: 4 people.

Nutrition Profile: Low-Fat

Nutrition Facts (per serving): 395 Calories, 16g Fat, 50g Carbs, 23g Protein

Ingredients You’ll Need

Chickpea pasta: You’ll need 12 ounces of uncooked tube-shaped chickpea pasta, which is about 3 1/2 cups. Banza brand works perfectly here and gives you extra protein! The tube shape holds onto that creamy sauce beautifully.

Garlic: One clove thinly sliced will give you about 1 teaspoon. Fresh garlic makes such a difference in flavor, and slicing it thin means it cooks quickly and evenly.

Shallots: You’ll want 2 tablespoons thinly sliced. Shallots are milder than onions and add such a lovely, sweet flavor to the dish.

Mascarpone cheese: 3 1/4 ounces of this creamy Italian cheese is what makes this pasta so incredibly rich. It melts like a dream and creates the most amazing sauce!

Baby spinach: 4 ounces of fresh baby spinach wilts down perfectly. It adds beautiful color and sneaks in some healthy greens that even kids will love.

Kosher salt: 1 teaspoon helps bring out all the flavors. You can adjust this to your taste preferences.

Black pepper: 1/2 teaspoon adds just the right amount of warmth and spice to balance the creamy sauce.

How to Make Creamy Spinach Pasta

Step 1: Cook your pasta according to the package directions, but skip adding salt to the water. Before you drain it, save 1 cup of that starchy cooking water – you’ll need it for the sauce!

Step 2: Transfer your hot pasta to a large bowl. Add the garlic, shallot, mascarpone, spinach, salt, pepper, and 1/2 cup of that reserved cooking water. Stir everything together for about 1 1/2 minutes until the cheese melts and creates a creamy sauce. If it seems too thick, add more cooking water bit by bit until it’s just right.

Step 3: Divide the pasta among 4 bowls. Sprinkle with fresh lemon zest and a pinch of crushed red pepper if you’re feeling spicy. Serve right away while it’s nice and hot!

Easy and Quick Creamy Spinach Pasta Version

Want to make this even faster? You can use pre-sliced garlic and shallots from the store! Just grab about 1 teaspoon of minced garlic and 2 tablespoons of pre-sliced shallots. You can also use frozen spinach – just thaw 1/2 cup and squeeze out the extra water. This saves you a few minutes of prep time and still tastes amazing!

Serving Ideas

This creamy pasta is pretty much a complete meal all by itself! The chickpea pasta gives you protein while the spinach adds your veggies. If you want to add a little something extra, try some warm garlic bread or a simple green salad with lemon vinaigrette. A glass of crisp white wine doesn’t hurt either!

Storage

Store any leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days in a covered container. To reheat, add a splash of milk or water and warm it gently in the microwave for 30-60 seconds. You can also reheat it on the stove over low heat, stirring frequently until warmed through.

Substitutions

No chickpea pasta? Regular pasta works great too! You can swap the mascarpone for cream cheese if that’s what you have on hand. Fresh spinach can be replaced with frozen – just thaw it first and squeeze out the water. Yellow onion can stand in for shallots, and lime zest works if you’re out of lemons.

Pro Tips

Save that pasta water: The starchy water is key to making the sauce silky smooth. Don’t skip this step!
Work fast: Add everything while the pasta is still hot so the mascarpone melts easily.
Fresh zest is best: Use a microplane grater for the finest, most flavorful lemon zest.
Taste and adjust: Add more salt, pepper, or lemon zest to make it perfect for your family.

FAQs

Can I make this ahead of time?

This pasta is definitely best served fresh since the sauce can thicken up as it sits. But if you need to make it ahead, just add a little extra pasta water or milk when reheating to loosen it back up!

What if I can’t find mascarpone cheese?

No worries! You can use cream cheese instead – just let it come to room temperature first so it mixes in easier. Heavy cream with a bit of parmesan also works in a pinch.

Is this recipe really low-fat?

You bet! Compared to traditional creamy pasta dishes, this one is much lighter. The chickpea pasta adds protein without extra fat, and we’re using just enough mascarpone to get that creamy texture without going overboard.

Can I add other vegetables?

Sure! Cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, or roasted red peppers would be delicious additions. Just add them in step 2 with everything else.

I hope you and your family absolutely love this creamy spinach pasta! It’s become such a favorite in my house because it’s quick, healthy, and tastes like pure comfort food. Let me know how it turns out for you – I always love hearing about your cooking adventures!