Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta

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Simple wins once more! I’m on day 6 of an 8 day work week, so which means two issues: I’m drained and I’m hungry. Fast skillet pasta dishes like this Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta are good for such an event. They require just a few substances, prepare dinner up tremendous quick, and go away me feeling full and glad! 🙂

Anyway, tomorrow is Monday (once more) and the week will probably be lengthy, so I hope this recipe helps make time for supper a little bit sooner, simpler, and extra gratifying for you this week! Take pleasure in!

Initially posted 7-28-2013, up to date 5-21-2020.

Overhead view of a bowl of creamy tomato and spinach pasta, with a black fork in the side

What to Serve with Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta

This Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta recipe is type of a meal by itself, however you might need to add a aspect dish, like crusty Garlic Bread, No Knead Focaccia Rolls, or a light-weight Easy Aspect Salad. You can even beef up the recipe by including some Garlic Herb Baked Hen Breasts, or browning some Italian sausage within the skillet at first, earlier than the onion and garlic.

Can I Substitute the Cream Cheese?

This model of Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta makes use of only a contact of cream cheese and Parmesan to make a daily tomato sauce ultra-rich and creamy. Should you’re not into cream cheese, you would additionally add a splash (1/4 cup or so) of half and half or heavy cream to attain an analogous impact.

Can I Use a Totally different Pasta?

I used common pasta, however complete wheat would truly be fairly good on this and would add some further fiber and vitamins to make it a extra nicely rounded meal. You can even swap out the form for an additional brief pasta, like bowtie pasta or rotini.

Can I Use Frozen Spinach?

I used to be fortunate sufficient to get spinach on sale for $0.99 per bag (rating!), but when contemporary spinach is simply out of your worth vary, you possibly can add about 8oz. frozen spinach that has been thawed and squeezed of its extra moisture. This is able to even be actually good with sliced mushrooms. Simply prepare dinner the mushrooms together with the onions and garlic at first. Or, hey, you would all the time do a plain creamy tomato sauce. Nothin’ improper with that!

Simpler than a field meal, this creamy tomato and spinach pasta can also be extra flavorful and scrumptious. 100% actual substances. Excellent for busy weeknights!

1/2 lb. penne pasta ($0.75)
1 yellow onion ($0.28)
2 cloves garlic ($0.16)
1 Tbsp olive oil ($0.16)
1 15oz. can diced tomatoes ($0.59)
1/2 tsp dried oregano ($0.05)
1/2 tsp dried basil ($0.05)
1 pinch crushed pink pepper (optionally available) ($0.02)
1/2 tsp salt ($0.02)
freshly cracked black pepper to style ($0.03)
2 Tbsp tomato paste ($0.08)
2 oz. cream cheese ($0.20)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan ($0.31)
4 oz. contemporary spinach ($0.65)

Carry a big pot of water to a boil over excessive warmth. Add the pasta and proceed to boil till tender (7-10 minutes). Drain the pasta in a colander.
Whereas the pasta is cooking, put together the creamy tomato sauce. Cube the onion and mince the garlic. Add the onion, garlic, and olive oil to a big skillet and sauté over medium warmth till the onions are tender and translucent (3-5 minutes).
Add the diced tomatoes (with juices), oregano, basil, crushed pink pepper, salt, and a few freshly cracked pepper to the skillet. Stir to mix. Add the tomato paste and a 1/2 cup of water to the skillet and stir till the tomato paste has blended into the sauce.
Flip the warmth right down to low. Reduce the cream cheese into just a few items after which add them to the skillet with the tomato sauce. Use a whisk to stir the sauce till the cream cheese has absolutely melted and the sauce is creamy. Add the Parmesan to the skillet and stir till it’s melted into the sauce.
Add the contemporary spinach to the skillet and gently stir it into the sauce till it has wilted (2-3 minutes). Add the pasta and stir till it’s nicely coated within the creamy tomato sauce. Style and modify the salt and pepper as wanted. Serve heat.

See how we calculate recipe prices right here.

Serving: 1servingEnergy: 309.43kcalCarbohydrates: 54.15gProtein: 11.53gFats: 5.75gSodium: 348.9mgFiber: 5.75g

Learn our full diet disclaimer right here.

Love this dish? Attempt our Spinach Tortellini Skillet!

Close up side view of a bowl of creamy tomato and spinach pasta

Find out how to Make Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta – Step by Step Images

Carry a pot of water to a boil. As soon as boiling, add 8oz. penne pasta. Boil the pasta till tender, then drain in a colander. You’ll put together the creamy tomato sauce whereas the pasta is cooking.

Diced onion and minced garlic in a skillet

Cube one onion and mince two cloves of garlic. Add them to a big skillet with 1 Tbsp olive oil. Sauté over medium warmth for 3-5 minutes, or till the onion is tender and translucent.

Diced tomatoes being poured into the skillet, with basil, oregano, and pepper.

Add ½ tsp dried basil, ½ tsp dried oregano, 1/2 tsp salt, a pinch of crushed pink pepper, some freshly cracked pepper, and one 15oz. can diced tomatoes (with juices) to the skillet and stir to mix.

Tomato paste and water added to the skillet

Additionally, add 2 Tbsp tomato paste and ½ cup water to the skillet. This can assist make the sauce thicker and with a extra tomatoey punch. Proceed to stir and prepare dinner over medium warmth till the tomato paste has been blended into the sauce.

cream cheese chunks added to the skillet

Flip the warmth right down to low. Reduce 2 oz. cream cheese into chunks and add it to the skillet. Stir or whisk the sauce till the cream cheese has melted into the sauce. It’ll look a little bit clumpy at first, however the cream cheese will ultimately soften and the sauce will easy out.