One-Pot Creamy Garlic Pasta with Spinach
A simple pasta dish with a rich garlic cream sauce and fresh spinach, ready in 30 minutes. This Italian-inspired one-pot recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs spaghetti, olive oil, garlic for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 2, 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
- 4 cloves, minced garlic
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup, grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups, fresh spinach
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp (optional) red pepper flakes
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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 for 8-10 minutes until al dente, then drain and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
- Step 2: While pasta cooks, heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 4 cloves minced garlic and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (if using), sautéing for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Step 3: Add the drained spaghetti to the skillet along with 1/2 cup heavy cream, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 2 cups fresh spinach, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Toss vigorously for 1 minute until the cheese melts and sauce thickens, adding reserved pasta water as needed to reach desired consistency.
