Recipes and Food > Pasta and Pizza Recipes

Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta

Name: Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta
Prep time: 25 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 1/2 lb. Penne pasta; 1 Yellow onion; 2 cloves Garlic; 1 tbsp. Olive oil; 1 (15-oz) can Canned diced tomatoes; 1/2 tsp. Dried basil; 1 pinch Crushed red pepper flakes; 1/2 tsp. Dried oregano; to taste Black pepper; 1/2 tsp. Salt; 2 tbsp. Tomato paste; 2 oz. Cream cheese; 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese; 4 oz. Spinach

Vegetarian

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This creamy pasta recipe is the perfect meal to have at the end of an exhausting day. It's super simple and easy to prepare and is full of wonderful flavors. It will leave you feeling full and happy. Add garlic bread or focaccia rolls to the side to make this dish even tastier.

Prep Time 25 minutes

Serves: 4

Difficulty Level: Low

Ingredients for Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta:

Penne pasta - 1/2 lb.

Yellow onion - 1 (diced)

Garlic - 2 cloves (minced)

Olive oil - 1 tbsp.

Canned diced tomatoes - 1 (15-oz) can

Dried basil - 1/2 tsp.

Crushed red pepper flakes - 1 pinch

Dried oregano - 1/2 tsp.

Black pepper - to taste

Salt - 1/2 tsp.

Tomato paste - 2 tbsp.

Cream cheese - 2 oz.

Parmesan cheese - 1/4 cup (grated)

Spinach - 4 oz.

Method of preparing the Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta:

Cook the pasta in salted water, save 1/2 cup of the water, and drain. In a large skillet, add the onion, garlic, and olive oil over medium heat for 3-5 minutes. Make sure the onions are soft and translucent.
Add the diced tomatoes (with juices), along with basil, crushed red pepper, oregano, freshly cracked pepper, and salt to the skillet. Stir properly. Add the tomato paste and a 1/2 cup of water to the skillet. Keep stirring until the tomato paste has mixed into the sauce.
Now turn the heat down to low and cut the cream cheese into a few pieces. Add them to the skillet with the tomato sauce. Keep stirring the sauce with a whisk until the cream cheese has melted and the sauce is creamy. Add the Parmesan cheese to the skillet. Stir properly until it is melted into the sauce.
Now, add the fresh spinach to the skillet and gently stir it for 2-3 minutes into the sauce. Add the pasta and stir well. Make sure it is well coated in the creamy tomato sauce. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper if needed. Serve warm.

Chef's Tip:

you can substitute the cream cheese with 1/4 cup of half and half or heavy cream to make a regular tomato sauce ultra-rich and creamy.