Description
A creamy and flavorful Spinach Artichoke Pasta combining tender pasta with a rich sauce made from cream cheese, garlic, and parmesan, enhanced by fresh spinach and artichoke hearts. Perfect for a comforting and quick weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 ounces uncooked pasta
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 medium onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup chicken or vegetable broth
- 8 ounces cream cheese (1 block Philadelphia), softened
- 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
- 3 cups packed fresh baby spinach
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Soften Cream Cheese: Ensure the cream cheese is very soft before starting. Microwave it for 30 seconds if it hasn’t been left out to soften naturally.
- Cook Pasta: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta al dente following package directions. Reserve about a cup of the pasta water before draining.
- Sauté Onions: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add chopped onion and sauté for 4-5 minutes until softened.
- Add Garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Melt Cream Cheese: Reduce heat to medium, then add broth, softened cream cheese, and Italian seasoning. Stir continuously until the cream cheese mostly melts, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add Vegetables: Remove skillet from heat. Add artichoke hearts and fresh spinach along with a few tablespoons of the reserved pasta water. Toss everything together, adding more pasta water gradually to thin the sauce and wilt the spinach.
- Incorporate Parmesan: Stir grated parmesan cheese into the sauce until well combined.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss to coat evenly with the sauce. Add a splash more pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
- Season and Serve: Season generously with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately while warm.
Notes
- Using fresh baby spinach provides a tender texture and fresh flavor.
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency perfectly.
- Microwaving the cream cheese helps it melt smoothly into the sauce.
- Italian seasoning adds an herby depth but can be adjusted to your preference.
- To keep it vegetarian, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
