Penne Rosa with Spinach and Parmesan

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-26 · Updated 2026-04-26

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 Italian-inspired pasta featuring penne tossed in a creamy tomato-cream sauce with fresh spinach and Parmesan cheese. This Italian-inspired noodle recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 30 minutes, pairs penne pasta, olive oil, garlic cloves, minced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. 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 "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: 10 min Cook: 20 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 480 cal/serving

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Ingredients

12 oz penne pasta
2 tbsp olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
14 oz canned crushed tomatoes
1/2 cup heavy cream
4 cups fresh baby spinach
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

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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. Drain and set aside.
Step 2: In a large skillet, heat 2 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
Step 3: Pour in 14 oz canned crushed tomatoes and simmer over medium-low heat for 8 minutes until slightly thickened.
Step 4: Stir in 1/2 cup heavy cream, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper, cooking for 2 more minutes until the sauce is creamy.
Step 5: Add 4 cups fresh baby spinach to the sauce, stirring until wilted, about 2 minutes.
Step 6: Toss the cooked penne into the sauce, then stir in 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese until melted and evenly distributed.
Step 7: Serve immediately, garnished with additional Parmesan if desired.