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    Home » Italian food

    Spinach Pesto Pasta

    Published: Sep 23, 2021 · Modified: Sep 20, 2022 by Diana Reis · This post may contain affiliate links

    ↓ Jump to Recipe

    This family friendly pasta is filled with light, bright flavor and a touch of cream. Ready in just 15 minutes, this dish is comforting pasta with a healthy twist.

    Close up pasta tossed in spinach pesto sauce

    Spinach Pesto Pasta is a very simple dish that packs a punch. Most of us are familiar with pesto as being a basil sauce first and foremost. Pesto, however, refers more generally to Italian pureed sauces.

    This recipe blends spinach and basil with lemon juice, parmesan, garlic and olive oil. For this recipe, I made the pesto without pine nuts and added a touch of cream for an extra silky texture.

    Serve this spinach pesto sauce over long noodles like spaghetti or linguine. Add a green salad with this easy Italian Salad Dressing for delicious meal in minutes.

    Contents hide
    Make Creamy Spinach Pesto Pasta, because...
    Ingredients
    Instructions
    FAQs
    Tips for Success
    Related Recipes
    📖 Recipe
    Creamy Spinach Pesto Pasta

    Make Creamy Spinach Pesto Pasta, because...

    This recipe comes together in about 15 minutes, which makes it perfect for busy weeknights.

    The raw baby spinach adds lovely sweetness and is a super easy way to pump up the veggies at your family table. 

    The thick creamy pesto sauce clings to the spaghetti making every bite delicious.

    Ingredients

    creamy spinach pesto pasta ingredients

    Baby Spinach- The immature spinach leaves are very mild and tender. They are perfect for a pesto that is not truly cooked, only warmed. The sweet leaves do not need heat to be super tasty.

    Instructions

    Step 1

    • Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Cook one pound of spaghetti according to package instructions. Reserve ¼ cup pasta water. 
    • In a food processor, blend baby spinach, basil leaves, lemon juice, parmesan cheese, and olive oil until you have a smooth pesto.
    process 1- blend spinach pesto ingredients

    Step 2

    • In a large skillet, warm spinach basil pesto  with cream and ¼ cup of pasta water. Season with salt and pepper as needed. Do not bring to a simmer. Pesto isn’t meant to be cooked.
    process 2- spinach pesto with cream in pan

    Step 3

    • Toss cooked spaghetti in spinach pasta sauce.
    • Sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan and serve.
    Process 3- spaghetti tossed in creamy spinach sauce pan

    FAQs

    How long can I store Spinach Pesto in the fridge?

    Keep spinach pesto in a food storage container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The lemon juice keeps the puree from turning brown.

    Can I store Spinach Pesto in the Freezer?

    Spinach pesto sauce can be stored in a food storage container in the freezer for up to 6 months.

    Tips for Success

    Salt the pasta water, and the water should be really salty. I’ve always been told it should be as salty as the sea.

    Reserve the pasta water. The starch from the water helps the sauce cling to the spaghetti. The salt from the water adds flavor.

    Creamy pesto sauce isn't cooked. Just warm it up so that you aren’t pouring cold sauce over the pasta and cooling off the dish. 

    Make a double batch and freeze half for another day when you haven’t been shopping.

    If you don’t have cream you can substitute these items.

    • ¼ Cup of Cream Cheese plus a little extra pasta water.
    • 2 Tablespoon butter and 2 Tablespoons Milk
    Close up finished creamy spinach pesto pasta

    Related Recipes

    • Genovese Pesto Sauce
    • Wilted Spinach Salad with Bacon Dressing
    • 15 Minutes Pasta with Creamy Tomato Sauce
    • Pork Ragu in the Slow Cooker

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    📖 Recipe

    creamy spinach pasta feature

    Creamy Spinach Pesto Pasta

    This family friendly pasta is filled with light, bright flavor and a touch of cream. Ready in just 15 minutes, this dish is comforting pasta with a healthy twist.
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dinner, Main Course
    Cuisine: Italian, Mediterranean
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6 People
    Calories: 520kcal
    Author: Diana Reis

    Equipment

    • Food Processor
    • Large Pot

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb Spaghetti
    • 6 Cups Baby Spinach loosely packed cups
    • 2 Cups Basil Leaves loosely packed cups
    • 2-3 Clove Garlic
    • 1 Lemon juice only
    • ½ Cup Parmesan grated
    • ½ Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
    • ¼ Cup Heavy Cream
    • Salt and Pepper

    Instructions

    • Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Cook one pound of spaghetti according to package instructions. Reserve ¼ cup pasta water.
    • In a food processor, blend baby spinach, basil leaves, lemon juice, parmesan cheese, and olive oil until you have a smooth pesto.
    • In a large skillet, warm spinach basil pesto with cream and ¼ cup of pasta water. Season with salt and pepper as needed. Do not bring to a simmer. Pesto isn’t meant to be cooked.
    • Toss cooked spaghetti in spinach pasta sauce.
    • Sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan and serve.

    Notes

    How long can I store Spinach Basil Pesto in the fridge?
    You can keep spinach pesto in a food storage container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The lemon juice will keep the puree from turning brown. 
    Can I store Spinach Basil Pesto in the Freezer?
    Spinach pesto sauce can be stored in a food storage container in the freezer for up to 6 months.
    Tips for success
    • Salting the pasta water is important, and the water should be really salty. I’ve always been told it should be as salty as the sea.
    • Reserve the pasta water. The starch from the water helps the sauce cling to the spaghetti. The salt from the water adds flavor.
    • Creamy pesto sauce should not be cooked. Just warm it up so that you aren’t pouring cold sauce over the pasta and cooling off the dish. 
    • Make a double batch and freeze half for another day when you haven’t been shopping.
    • If you don’t have cream you can substitute these items.
      • ¼ Cup of Cream Cheese plus a little extra pasta water.
      • 2 Tablespoon butter and 2 Tablespoons Milk
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 520kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 167mg | Potassium: 400mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 3450IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 170mg | Iron: 2mg
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    Comments

      5 from 7 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Heather Perine says

      September 24, 2021 at 9:29 pm

      5 stars
      So tasty! And loved that it was ready so quick! Thank you 🙂 definitely will make again.

      Reply
    2. Seema Sriram says

      September 24, 2021 at 9:43 pm

      5 stars
      I love everything that is green. To me that is the best colour. I love how your pasta looks, so creamy and delicious.

      Reply
    3. Colleen says

      September 24, 2021 at 9:57 pm

      5 stars
      Using spinach is a great idea! We love pesto so I definitely want to make this.

      Reply
    4. Mahy says

      September 24, 2021 at 10:04 pm

      5 stars
      Fantastic pasta recipe to try over the weekend. And I love pesto a lot. So yum!

      Reply
    5. Alison says

      September 24, 2021 at 11:25 pm

      5 stars
      Pesto is one of my favorite pasta sauces! It’s so refreshing! Made this for dinner and it was filling and super easy!

      Reply
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    I’m passionate about the family dinner table. Connecting with each other at the end of the day over a good meal creates strong family bonds and healthy long-lasting relationships. I want to help families and friends build those relationships.

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