Festus Style Creamy Mushroom and Spinach Pasta

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-08-02 · Updated 2026-08-02

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

A comforting pasta dish featuring sautéed mushrooms and spinach in a lightly creamy garlic sauce. This Italian pasta recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 30 minutes, pairs penne pasta, olive oil, and white button mushrooms, sliced for a weeknight-friendly dinner. Each serving lands at about 480 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 "Build a week of meals around this recipe" 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.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 20 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 480 cal/serving

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Ingredients

12 oz penne pasta
3 tbsp olive oil
8 oz white button mushrooms, sliced
4 cups fresh spinach leaves
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

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Instructions

Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 12 oz penne pasta and cook for 10-12 minutes until al dente, then drain and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
Step 2: In a large skillet, heat 3 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add 8 oz sliced white button mushrooms and sauté for 5 minutes until they release moisture and start to turn golden.
Step 3: Add 4 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, then stir in 4 cups fresh spinach leaves and cook for 2-3 minutes until wilted.
Step 4: Pour in 1 cup heavy cream, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, simmering gently for 3 minutes until the sauce thickens and slightly coats the back of a spoon.
Step 5: Toss the drained pasta into the skillet with the sauce and 1/2 cup reserved pasta water; mix in 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese until melted and combined. Serve immediately.