Spinach Mushroom Pasta Recipe
A creamy and delicious Spinach Mushroom Pasta made with sautéed mushrooms, fresh spinach, and a rich Parmesan cream sauce. This easy-to-make pasta dish combines tender penne or your favorite pasta with savory garlic and a velvety sauce, perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner.
- Author: Luna
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing and Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Pasta
- 8 oz pasta (penne, fettuccine, or your favorite)
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 8 oz mushrooms, sliced (baby bella or white)
- 3–4 cups fresh spinach
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings & Extras
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (plus extra for topping)
- ½ cup reserved pasta water (as needed)
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Before draining, reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water to help loosen the sauce later.
- Sauté Mushrooms: In a large skillet, heat olive oil or butter over medium heat. Add the sliced mushrooms and cook for 6–7 minutes until they are golden brown and tender, stirring occasionally.
- Add Garlic & Spinach: Stir in the minced garlic along with salt and black pepper. Add the fresh spinach and cook for 2–3 minutes until the spinach wilts and reduces in volume.
- Make Sauce: Pour in the heavy cream or half-and-half and stir to combine. Add the grated Parmesan cheese and let the mixture simmer gently for 2–3 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly and becomes creamy.
- Combine Pasta: Add the cooked pasta directly into the skillet with the sauce. Toss well to coat all the pasta evenly. If the sauce is too thick, gradually add the reserved pasta water until you reach the desired consistency.
- Serve: Garnish with extra grated Parmesan cheese and serve immediately while warm.
Notes
- You can use any pasta shape you prefer, such as penne, fettuccine, or spaghetti.
- For a lighter option, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or a plant-based cream.
- To make it vegan, replace butter with olive oil and use vegan Parmesan cheese.
- Reserved pasta water helps to loosen and bind the sauce, so don’t skip this step.
- Add chili flakes for a spicy kick, if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg
Keywords: Spinach mushroom pasta, creamy pasta recipe, vegetarian pasta, easy weeknight dinner, Italian pasta dish