30-Minute Creamy Tomato Pasta with Spinach
A velvety tomato pasta sauce with fresh spinach—ready in 30 minutes and loved by kids who prefer mild, comforting flavors over spicy or complex dishes. This Italian-inspired kid-friendly recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs spaghetti, olive oil, heavy cream for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 310 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 8 oz spaghetti
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1/2 cup fresh spinach
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 tsp dried basil
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil; add 8 oz spaghetti and cook 8-10 minutes until al dente, then drain and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
- Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, then add 1 cup marinara sauce and 1/2 cup heavy cream; stir to combine and simmer 5 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
- Step 3: Stir in 1/2 cup fresh spinach until wilted and tender (about 1 minute), then add drained spaghetti, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, and 1/2 tsp dried basil; toss until pasta is evenly coated.
- Step 4: If sauce is too thick, add 2-3 tablespoons reserved pasta water while tossing until creamy and glossy.
- Step 5: Cook 1 more minute until heated through and sauce coats the pasta evenly, then serve immediately.








