Description
This Creamy Parmesan Spinach Mushroom Pasta is a rich and comforting Italian-inspired main course, featuring tender fettuccine tossed in a luscious cream sauce with sautéed mushrooms, fresh baby spinach, and savory Parmesan cheese. Perfect for a vegetarian dinner, this dish combines simple ingredients to create a decadent yet easy-to-make meal that can be ready in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz fettuccine or pasta of choice
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 oz cremini or white mushrooms, sliced
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water (as needed)
Garnish
- Chopped parsley
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the fettuccine according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water, then drain and set pasta aside.
- Sauté garlic and mushrooms: In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the olive oil and butter until melted. Add the minced garlic and sliced mushrooms, sautéing for 5–7 minutes until the mushrooms are tender and nicely browned.
- Add spinach: Stir in the baby spinach and cook for 1–2 minutes until wilted, incorporating the greens into the mushroom mixture.
- Make the creamy sauce: Lower the heat and pour in the heavy cream. Stir gently as you add the grated Parmesan cheese, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Let the sauce simmer until it thickens slightly, about 2-3 minutes.
- Toss pasta in sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss well to coat the noodles in the creamy sauce. Gradually add reserved pasta water a little at a time to adjust the sauce to your desired consistency.
- Serve: Plate the creamy spinach and mushroom pasta immediately. Garnish with chopped parsley and extra Parmesan cheese, if desired. Enjoy warm.
Notes
- For added protein, stir in grilled chicken or shrimp before serving.
- Use half-and-half instead of heavy cream for a lighter sauce.
- This dish is best served fresh, as the cream sauce thickens when it cools and stands.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 360mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
