Quick and easy one pot creamy spinach pasta recipe, made on stovetop, loaded with creamy ricotta cheese sauce. This 30 minute meal requires simple ingredients.
Weeknight meals become so easy with pasta recipes like this. In fact, I have many great options for quick meals, including this Bacon Pasta (One Pot) or even these Sesame Noodles (One Pot).
Table of contents
Key ingredients
- Pasta- I like to use spaghetti or alfredo.
- Oil- Used for sauteing and added flavor.
- Garlic- Fresh is best and make sure it is finely minced.
- Ginger- Use fresh because it has a different potency and consistency.
- Milk- If you use whole you will get the maximum creaminess.
- Ricotta cheese- Be sure it is full fat for best results.
- Spices and seasonings- Salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning is all you need for this dish.
- Spinach- Using frozen is easiest, but make sure you drain the excess liquid.
Variations
- Add shrimp- Mix in 1 cup cooked shrimps into the pasta.
- Use mushrooms- Mix in 1 cup sauted mushrooms of your choice in this pasta. It will be similar to my Creamy Mushroom Pasta (One Pot).
- Bacon version- Top off with cooked bacon crumbles at the very end, prior to serving.
- Sausage option- Mix in 1 cup cooked sausage.
- Add artichokes- Mix in 1 cup cooked artichokes.
- Make a pesto version- Mix in ¼ cup pesto sauce.
- Bring in tomato flavor- When you mix in 1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half.
- Add chicken- Mix in 1 cup cooked chicken cubes or shredded chicken into the pasta. I like to use Rotisserie Chicken.
- Use heavy cream- Instead of milk for the most creamy option. You can also add cream cheese.
- Vegan option- Replace dairy products with your favorite vegan options to fit your lifestyle and needs.
Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from One Pot Recipes
How do you make spinach pasta?
- Boil- Pasta and keep aside.
- Heat oil- And saute ginger and garlic in the same pot.
- Add in- Ricotta cheese, milk, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning and cook until thick.
- Mix in- Drained, frozen spinach.
- Toss- Boiled pasta in this sauce.
- Garnish- With parmesan cheese and enjoy.
What to serve with creamy pasta?
- Soups- Such as Roasted Red Pepper Soup (One Pot) or Tomato Basil Soup Recipe (One Pot)
- Salads- Like this Easy Kale Salad (One Bowl) or Pumpkin Salad (One Bowl).
- Roasted vegetables- Including these Oven Roasted Vegetables (One Pan), Oven Roasted Carrots (One Pan), and Oven Roasted Broccoli (One Pan)
Tips and techniques
- Use full fat milk- And ricotta cheese for maximum creaminess.
- Fresh spinach can be used- But frozen is so much easier.
- Frozen spinach must be thawed- And excess liquid must be drained to prevent the sauce from becoming too thin.
- Italian seasoning can be adjusted- Based on your preference.
- If the sauce is too thick- Then thin it by adding some milk.
- If the sauce is too thin- Then thicken it by cooking it (without lid) for longer so as to reduce the liquid.
Recipe FAQs
That depends on the ingredients you are using. You can use low fat ricotta cheese, low fat milk and whole grain pasta to make this meal healthier.
No, you will use frozen spinach but make sure to drain it to remove excess water.
Cream cheese or ricotta cheese that is full fat brings in the maximum creaminess.
Storage
- Make ahead- This can be made up to 2-3 days in advance if kept in a sealed container in the fridge. Then simply reheat and serve.
- Refrigerate- In an airtight container for up to 2-3 days.
- Freeze- I don't recommend freezing this, because the dairy in this dish makes it separate when thawing.
- Reheat- In the microwave or over the stovetop. I like to add a little broth or water since the pasta gets thicker as it cools and sits.
More One Pot Pasta Recipes
- Thai Peanut Noodles (One Pot)
- One Pot Italian Sausage Pasta
- One Pot Mac and Cheese Recipe
- Creamy Avocado Pasta (One Pot)
- Buffalo Chicken Pasta (One Pot)
Recipe
One Pot Spinach Pasta Recipe
Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from One Pot Recipes
Ingredients
- ½ pound Spaghetti Or alfredo pasta
- 2 tablespoon Oil
- 2 tablespoon Garlic Finely minced
- 1 teaspoon Ginger Finely minced
- ½ cup Milk Whole or 2%
- 1 cup Ricotta cheese Full fat
- Salt To taste
- Pepper To taste
- 1-2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ pound Spinach Frozen but drained of excess liquid
Instructions
- Boil spaghetti as per box instructions. Drain and keep aside.
- In the same nonstick pot, heat oil over medium high heat.
- Add garlic and ginger and saute for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add milk, ricotta cheese and mix.
- Add salt, pepper, Italian seasoning and mix again.
- Lower the heat and let this cheese sauce cook until sauce thickens to your desired consistency.
- Add the spinach to this ricotta cheese sauce and mix.
- Turn off the heat and add the cooked pasta and toss to fully coat it.
- If the sauce looks too thick, add some more milk to thin it out. Enjoy!
Nutrition
An automated tool is used to calculate the nutritional information. As such, I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information provided for any recipe on this site.
Adrianna Lin says
This recipe is was quick and simple! Thanks for sharing!