Description
A simple and flavorful pasta dish with a creamy sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh spinach, perfect for quick weeknight meals or entertaining.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces uncooked pasta (rigatoni, penne, or fettuccine)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ½ tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup dry white wine (or chicken broth)
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained if oil-packed
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- ⅓ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach, packed
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente according to package directions. Reserve about ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the flour and garlic, stirring constantly for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Whisk in the white wine (or broth), Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and Italian seasoning. Let it simmer and reduce by half, which should take about 3 minutes.
- Stir in the sun-dried tomatoes and heavy cream, allowing the sauce to bubble gently for 5 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Sprinkle in the parmesan cheese and stir until melted. Add the spinach and let it wilt into the sauce, stirring occasionally.
- Add the drained pasta to the skillet, tossing everything together until evenly coated. If the sauce is too thick, add a small amount of reserved pasta water until the desired consistency is reached.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper as needed. Serve immediately with extra parmesan on top.
Notes
Use reserved pasta water to thin the sauce. Warm the cream before adding to avoid cooling the sauce. Can add cooked chicken or shrimp for extra protein.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: Creamy Pasta, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Quick Dinner, Italian Recipe, Weeknight Meal