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    Home » Recipes » 30 Minutes Or Less

    Garlic Butter Pasta & Sautéed Spinach

    by Mindy Boyd · Published: Apr 28, 2024 · Updated: Dec 10, 2024

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    ⏲️ 20 minutes mins
    Jump to Recipe

    You are going to love this simple pasta dish because it is perfect for a quick and easy weeknight dinner. All you need is a handful of ingredients to make this easy spinach pasta recipe that is a great meatless meal or healthy and easy side dish. 

    This versatile dish features tender pasta and fresh spinach tossed in an easy sauce made with milk, garlic and a generous amount of Parmesan cheese. 

    A large skillet filled with the finished Easy Garlic Butter Pasta and Sautéed Spinach.

    Why you’ll love this easy pasta dish

    • It’s such an easy recipe with hardly any prep!
    • Cooks quickly, you can have this on the table in about 20 minutes. 
    • You’ve got options – use whatever pasta and leafy greens you have on-hand.
    Jump to:
    • Why you’ll love this easy pasta dish
    • Ingredient Notes
    • How to make pasta with sauteed spinach
    • Tips
    • Substitutions and additions
    • Is sauteed spinach healthy?
    • Storage and reheating
    • Garlic Butter Pasta & Sautéed Spinach
    • More quick and easy pasta dishes…
    One serving of Easy Garlic Butter Pasta and Sautéed Spinach on a white plate, there is a small bowl of parmesan cheese and salt and pepper shakers near it.

    Ingredients

    See recipe card for exact amounts and full recipe. 

    All of the ingredients measure out to make the Easy Garlic Butter Pasta and Sautéed Spinach Recipe.

    Ingredient Notes

    pasta – we chose to use rotini but you can use literally any type you have, just cook it as specified on the package. 

    spinach – I use fresh baby spinach, any fresh spinach will work. 

    Parmesan cheese – this is one cheese that we buy the block and shred ourselves. You can use pre-shredded cheese. 

    butter – we use regular unsalted butter, if using salted butter you may want to reduce the amount of additional salt that is added. 

    milk – I use milk to make this because we only use a small amount so I wanted to use something we always have on hand. 

    garlic – for convenience we almost always use the pre-chopped garlic that comes in a jar, fresh garlic is also good. 

    seasoning – we season this simply with salt and black pepper.

    One serving of pasta and part of the pan with the remaining pasta.

    How to make pasta with sauteed spinach

    1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat, drop the pasta and cook al dente according to the package directions, reducing the heat if necessary so it doesn’t boil over. See note below about when to do this based on what type of pasta you use. 
    2. While the pasta cooks melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat, add the spinach and cook until the spinach wilts, about 3-4 minutes, add the garlic and cook for a minute or two.
    3. Add the milk, cheese, salt and pepper and cook until the cheese melts. Add the cooked pasta and stir to combine. Serve immediately.
    A collage of four images, the spinach before and after being wilted and the sauce without and with the pasta in it.

    Tips

    • The spinach tends to clump together so I always separate it before serving. 
    • When you start cooking the spinach depends greatly on what type of pasta you are using. If you are using pasta with a very short cook time, such as angel hair pasta, you will need to start when you put the water on. But if you are using a pasta that takes about 10 minutes to cook you will need to wait until you drop the pasta. You can keep the spinach sauce warm by leaving it on the stove over low to medium-low heat if it gets done before the pasta.
    Very close up of part of the skillet so the pasta and spinach is visible.

    Substitutions and additions

    • Spaghetti or any short cut regular pasta or whole wheat pasta are all good options. 
    • Olive oil can be substituted or you could use a combination of butter and olive oil. Plant based butter will also work in this recipe.
    • Don’t have fresh garlic? No problem, you can use garlic powder instead. One-half teaspoon equals about 2 garlic cloves. 
    • Instead of milk heavy cream or half and half can be used for thicker sauce. You may need to increase the amount a little bit.
    • Other leafy green such as collard greens, Swiss chard, or kale can be used instead of spinach, just sauté them until they are wilted. They will have a similar cook time to the spinach but may take a couple of minutes longer. 
    • For a little heat add a little crushed red pepper flakes, how much depends on personal preference. 
    •  Fresh lemon juice and or lemon zest can be added, maybe about a tablespoon. 
    • To make this extra creamy about 2 ounces of cream cheese can be added. Just add it when adding the milk and make sure it is completely melted before proceeding. 
    Half of the skillet with Easy Garlic Butter Pasta and Sautéed Spinach in it.

    Is sauteed spinach healthy?

    Sautéing spinach is a popular way to prepare it, and it retains many of its nutritional benefits while also adding flavor. Adding vitamin rich leafy greens like spinach to your diet is always a good idea. Cooked spinach contains more riboflavin and vitamins A, K and B-6 than raw spinach. Plus important carotenoids, such as beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, become more absorbable in cooked spinach.

    Spinach is a super food that has no fat, is low in calories, has more than 40 vitamins and nutrients, and has many health benefits to include:

    • anti-inflammatory
    • may reduce cancer risk
    • boosts bone health
    • may lower blood pressure
    • promotes healthy skin and hair
    • promotes healthy eye-sight
    • may lower glucose levels
    One serving of pasta with sauteed spinach on a white plate, the pasta has been sprinkled with parmesan cheese.

    Storage and reheating

    Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat individual servings in the microwave. It can be reheated on the stove top, add a splash of water or milk for best results. The pasta will most likely break apart as you stir it while reheating on the stove. 

    The entire dish that has been cooked in the skillet, the recipe title is in text at the top.

    Did you love this recipe?

    We would love it if you’d leave a comment and ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review below!

    One serving of Easy Garlic Butter Pasta and Sautéed Spinach on a white plate.

    Garlic Butter Pasta & Sautéed Spinach

    Mindy Boyd
    Make a mouthwatering garlic butter pasta and sautéed spinach recipe. This easy and flavorful dish is sure to impress your family and friends.
    No ratings yet
    Print – Email Required Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 servings

    Ingredients
      

    • 8 oz pasta
    • 3 tbsp butter
    • 5 oz baby spinach
    • 2 tsp chopped garlic
    • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
    • 1/4 cup milk
    • 1/4 tsp salt
    • 1/8 tsp black pepper
    Get Recipe Ingredients

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    Instructions
     

    • Cook pasta al dente according to package directions. See note below about when to do this based on what type of pasta you use. 
      8 oz pasta
    • While the pasta cooks melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat, add spinach and cook until wilted, about 3-4 minutes, add garlic and cook for a minute or two.
      3 tbsp butter, 5 oz baby spinach, 2 tsp chopped garlic
    • Add milk, cheese, salt and pepper and cook until the cheese melts. Add cooked pasta and stir to combine.
      1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, 1/4 cup milk, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp black pepper
    • Serve immediately.

    Notes

    It is helpful to know that 8 ounces of pasta is about 2 cups + a heaping 1/4 cup. 
    The spinach tends to clump together so I always separate it before serving. 
    When to start cooking the spinach depends greatly on what type of pasta you are using. If you are using pasta with a very short cook time, such as angel hair pasta, you will need to start when you put the water on. But if you are using a pasta that takes about 10 minutes to cook you will need to wait until you drop the pasta. You can keep the spinach sauce warm by leaving it on the stove over low to medium-low heat if it gets done before the pasta. 
    Did you make this recipe? We would love it if you would leave us a comment and ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review below!
     
    Nutritional information is approximate. 
     
    See tips, notes, and suggestions in the post above.
     
    Bookmark this page to find it quickly when you are ready to make this recipe!

    Nutrition Facts

    Calories: 354kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 451mg | Potassium: 368mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 3708IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 219mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was with a comment below.

    More quick and easy pasta dishes…

    Tortellii alla Panna

    Tortellini is tossed in a simple and delicious creamy Parmesan sauce. 

    A serving of pasta in the foreground and a skillet of pasta in the background.

    Lemon Pasta with Peas & Ricotta

    An easy 30 minute dish perfect for Meatless Monday.

    Half a plate with a serving of cheeseburger macaroni is visible in this shot.

    Copycat Cheeseburger Macaroni

    Our version is made with real ingredients that you can actually pronounce.

    Close up view of the middle of the skillet with the finished hamburger helper in it.

    Copycat Cheesy Italian Shells

    This is an easy dinner the whole family will love and it is an especially big hit with little kids and teenagers.

    One serving of pasta on the top and part of the skillet is visible on the bottom, the recipe title in in text in the middle.
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    Hi, I’m Mindy! Whether I’m cooking for friends and family or sharing recipes with you, I love feeding people. And it doesn’t have to be complicated! Here, you’ll find quick and easy recipes that don’t require a long list of ingredients or take too much time.

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