Description
A creamy and flavorful Italian-American pasta dish featuring spaghetti tossed in a rich sun-dried tomato cream sauce with fresh spinach. This easy stovetop recipe combines aromatic garlic, tangy sun-dried tomatoes, and a touch of heat from red pepper flakes, finished with Parmesan cheese for a delightful weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 ounces spaghetti
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 cup reserved pasta water
- 2 cups fresh spinach
Instructions
- Cook the Spaghetti: Prepare the spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta water for later use.
- Sauté Garlic: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Add Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Stir in the chopped sun-dried tomatoes and cook for 2 additional minutes to release their flavor into the oil.
- Create the Cream Sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and stir to combine, bringing the mixture to a gentle simmer.
- Season and Thicken: Add Parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes, salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Stir continuously until the sauce thickens slightly and becomes creamy.
- Wilt the Spinach: Add the fresh spinach to the sauce and cook until wilted and tender, about 1-2 minutes.
- Toss Pasta and Finish: Add the drained spaghetti and reserved pasta water to the skillet. Toss everything together until the pasta is evenly coated with the creamy sauce and the consistency is perfect.
- Serve: Plate immediately and garnish with additional Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- Use sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil for the best flavor.
- For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for the heavy cream.
- Add grilled chicken or shrimp to increase protein content.
