One-Pot Cheesy Vegetable Pasta with Spinach and Peas

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

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 developed and reviewed.

A comforting one-pot pasta dish with tender spinach, sweet peas, and melty cheese, perfect for a quick wholesome meal. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 25 minutes, pairs penne pasta, fresh spinach, frozen peas for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 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.

Prep: 5 min Cook: 20 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 420 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium heat. Add 3 cloves minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
  2. Step 2: Add 12 oz penne pasta to the skillet along with 4 cups vegetable broth, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes. Stir well and bring to a boil over high heat.
  3. Step 3: Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
  4. Step 4: After 10 minutes, stir in 4 cups fresh spinach and 1 cup frozen peas. Continue cooking for 3-4 minutes until spinach is wilted and peas are tender.
  5. Step 5: Stir in 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese and 1/4 cup heavy cream, cooking for another 2 minutes until the cheese melts and the sauce thickens slightly, coating the pasta evenly.

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