There’s nothing quite like a bowl of creamy Alfredo pasta to comfort you after a long day. This recipe brings together simple ingredients to create a rich and satisfying meal.
If you love creamy pasta but hate doing dishes, this one pot penne alfredo with spinach is about to become your new favorite recipe.
Not only does it cook in a single pot – yes, even the pasta! – you don’t even need to chop the garlic! And it’s rich, flavorful, and balanced enough for any night of the week.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
- One Pot Wonder: Less cleanup and more flavor – what’s not to love?
- Perfectly Balanced: Creamy alfredo sauce is decadent without being overwhelming.
- Fast and Easy: Ready in under 30 minutes and no chopping, making it ideal for busy weeknights.
- Lacto-Vegetarian Friendly: A meatless option that even non-vegetarians will enjoy.
Whether you’re serving it to family, guests, or just treating yourself, this dish is an easy way to bring restaurant-quality flavor to your kitchen. It doesn’t even need a side – dinner is done! This recipe is part of my easy delicious weeknight recipe category.
Ingredients
- Water
- Kosher Salt
- Dried Penne
- Whole Garlic Cloves
- Butter
- Heavy Cream
- Baby Spinach
- Grated Parmesan
Make It Easy
- Buy a 5 oz bag of baby spinach and dump the whole thing in – no measuring, no leftover half bag of spinach.
- Buy pre-peeled garlic and store it in your freezer. You’ll always have garlic ready to go without the time to peel and stinky fingers.
Method
The secret to this dish is starting with the perfect amount of water which means you don’t need to drain a thing – no colander required! The sauce is made in the pan with the cooked pasta, and spinach is added at the end and wilts beautifully into the warm, creamy sauce.
This true one pot meal feels indulgent without being too heavy.
Tips for Success:
- Use a deep skillet to ensure the pasta cooks evenly.
- Stir frequently to ensure the noodles cook evenly.
- Add the spinach right at the end for the perfect wilted texture.
Final Thoughts
Once you try this one pot penne alfredo with spinach, you’ll wonder how you ever made pasta another way. Get the full recipe below and let me know how it turns out!
One Pot Penne Alfredo with Spinach Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 Cup Water
- 1 tsp Kosher Salt
- 1 Pound Dried Penne or another pasta shape
- 4 Garlic Cloves whole
- 4 Tbs Butter
- 1 Cup Heavy Cream
- 5 oz Baby Spinach
- 3/4 Cup Grated Parmesan
Instructions
- Bring water and salt to a boil in a 12 inch skillet.
- Add butter, whole garlic cloves, and dried penne. Boil for 12-15 minutes, stirring frequently until pasta is cooked through. Most of the water will be absorbed by the pasta.
- Add the cream and parmesan and stir until a creamy sauce coats the penne.
- Add spinach to the skillet and toss with the pasta until wilted.
- Remove garlic cloves.
- Serve warm. Enjoy!
