Penne with Sun-Dried Tomato and Spinach in Garlic Cream Sauce

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.

Al dente penne pasta enveloped in a rich garlic cream sauce featuring sun-dried tomatoes and fresh spinach for a satisfying vegetarian dinner. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 25 minutes, pairs penne pasta, olive oil, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 550 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 550 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. 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 reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
  2. Step 2: While pasta cooks, heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
  3. Step 3: Stir in 1/3 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes and cook for 2 minutes to release flavor.
  4. Step 4: Add 4 cups roughly chopped fresh spinach and cook until wilted, about 2-3 minutes.
  5. Step 5: Pour in 1 cup heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Stir in 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes if using. Cook for 3-4 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
  6. Step 6: Add drained penne pasta to the skillet and toss to coat. If sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water 2 tbsp at a time until desired consistency is reached.
  7. Step 7: Serve hot with extra Parmesan if desired.

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