Sun-dried Tomato & Spinach Spaghetti
Hands down, this Sun-dried Tomato and Spinach Spaghetti is my absolute favorite pasta dish. It is made with sun-dried tomatoes and fresh spinach, cooked in a decadent cream sauce and served over spaghetti. If that isn’t love at first bite, then I don’t know what is! I love everything about it. It is a breeze to cook, making it the ultimate weeknight meal that your whole family will love.
It has sadly been a couple of weeks that I have posted a new recipe here. Between the end of the school year activities and family coming to visit us, it has definitely been a very busy summer kickoff here in our household! But I have many new recipes that I can’t wait to share with you all, with this one being a perfect pasta dish for the summer time.
This dish requires less than 10 simple ingredients and comes together in about 20 minutes or less, with minimal clean up. I’m sold and I’m willing to bet that you will be too!
What ingredients will I need to make this Sun-dried Tomato & Spinach Spaghetti?
- Spaghetti – Thin or thick, totally your preference! My family and I prefer thicker spaghetti.
- Sun-dried Tomatoes – Purchase a small jar, which can typically be found in the Italian section at your local grocery market. I usually get the julienne cut sun-dried tomatoes but if you cannot find them, you can get the regular tomatoes and simply cut them into your desired sized pieces.
- Spinach – Fresh is best for this recipe, however, in a pinch you could probably use frozen spinach but keep in mind that it may make the dish watery. In this case, be sure to squeeze all of the excess liquid out of the cooked frozen spinach before putting it in your sauce.
- Basil – Genovese or sweet basil is best in this dish but if you do not have any on hand it is totally fine to use dried basil.
- Garlic – Adding fresh garlic to this dish brings a sweet and nutty flavor and just enhances the overall flavor of the dish.
- Heavy cream – This very important ingredient makes the dish nice and creamy.
- Parmesan cheese – Let’s face it, life would be incomplete without cheese of any kind, especially in this dish. Grated Parmesan is best, as it melts into the sauce better than shredded.
- Red Pepper Flakes – This gives the dish a much needed added spicy kick!
Can I use a different kind of pasta?
Absolutely! This recipe will be good with many different types of pasta, such as:
- linguine
- penne pasta
- tortellini
- rigatoni
- bucatini
- vermicelli
- orzo
- gnocchi
- any type of spaghetti- make it healthier and use a whole wheat spaghetti
Can I add protein?
Yes, yes, yes you can!
- Add some strips of grilled chicken to this pasta dish for added protein.
- Grilled or pan-fried shrimp would also be a delicious addition.
How to make the Sun-dried Tomato & Spinach Spaghetti:
In a large pot, heat water to a boil. Add spaghetti and continue boiling until cooked to al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Reserve about 1 cup of pasta water and set aside.
While the spaghetti is cooking, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes in a deep skillet, on low to medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for about 1 minute. Add the sun-dried tomatoes and cook for another 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
Stir in the heavy cream, crushed red pepper flakes and the fresh basil. Cook on low until the mixture begins to bubble, about 3-5 minutes. Next, add the Parmesan cheese and salt and pepper. Add the spinach and slowly stir in pasta water. Continue to cook until spinach is wilted and all of the ingredients are well combined.
Add the cooked spaghetti to the sauce and mix well until combined. Garnish with fresh basil and serve immediately!
*NOTE: Instead of pasta water, feel free to use chicken broth or vegetable broth. I choose to use pasta water because it helps the sauce cling to the pasta better. Plus, it is one less pantry ingredient needed to make this dish! But if you have the broth in your pantry and need to use it up, by all means, toss it in your dish.
Do you love this Sun-dried Tomato & Spinach Spaghetti recipe? Check out these other pasta recipes that you will love!