This insanely delicious creamy tomato spinach pasta is simple to make, tastes great, and is the perfect dinner for busy weeknights. As I am the one who handle all the garden and household chores the dinners I make during summer are usually quick ones that take an hour or less. And also that use ingredients which I have on hand. There are days and times for fancy recipes with fancy ingredients, but there’s nothing like a simple meal with simple ingredients that tastes fancy. And this Creamy Tomato Spinach Pasta is exactly the kind of recipe that checks all the boxes from taste to ease of making.
Click 👉 video to see the recipe in action.
The recipe consists of penne pasta, cherry tomatoes, spinach, and mascarpone cheese. I used mascarpone because I had this in the fridge leftover from the lemon strawberry cake roll I made a few weeks ago. If you don’t have mascarpone you can use cream cheese instead. This is the best thing about this recipe, it is so easy to customize. If you’re not a fan of cherry tomatoes you can even substitute a jar of store bought pasta sauce. Not loving penne pasta? Use spaghetti or linguine instead. Need to make it spicier? Add a little crushed red pepper.
In-case you forgot mother’s day is today. Fear not! Treat her to this easy to make fabulous pasta dinner to show your love and appreciation. What mom wouldn’t love a homemade meal on her special day?? I got a video to help you make this with ease- check it out here!
An easy and delicious meal for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
- 12-5 oz (2 1/4 cup) cherry tomatoes, cut into half
- 8 oz penne pasta
- 6 cups baby spinach
- 1/2 cup -3/4 cup mascarpone cheese (or cream cheese, the regular Philadelphia tub is fine)
- 3-4 chopped garlic cloves
- 1/3 cup chopped onion
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 2 tbsp oil
- Salted pasta water about 1/4 cup
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add salt and cook pasta as directed. Drain the pasta in a colander.
- While waiting for the pasta to cook, heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat.
- When hot, add onions and garlic. Sauté until light brown.
- Add the cherry tomatoes. Cook until tomatoes started to burst.
- Then add the fresh spinach and cook until wilted. Season with salt, black pepper and nutmeg.
- Reduce to medium-low heat.
- Add mascarpone and stir until the sauce is creamy.
- Add the pasta and stir until it is well coated in the creamy tomato spinach sauce. Add pasta water as required.
- Taste and adjust the salt and pepper as needed. If you like it spicy add red pepper flakes.
- Serve warm.
Sharing this creamy pasta to Kahakai Kitchen’s Souper Sunday linky.
angiesrecipes
Such a comforting and delicious pasta dish! I definitely will go for mascarpone…my favourite!
Raymund
That looks really delicious! You can never go wrong with pasta and lots of cheese
Judee
Balvinder,
I am drooling just looking at your photos of this delicious recipe. Yum!
Laura
Love a simple and delicious pasta dish like this, Balvinder! My fam loves creamy pasta like nothing else, and I’m pretty sure these are all ingredients I have. on hand just about every day. Thanks for the easy recipe!
John / Kitchen Riffs
I’ll never, ever turn down pasta — love the stuff! This looks like a wonderful combo of ingredients — lot of nice flavor here. Thanks!
Aarthi
This looks delicious and perfect for any day meal. Love creamy penne pasta with vegetables, and mascarpone cheese sounds yum!
bread&salt
Looks very hearty and healthy!
Kelly | Foodtasia
So dreamy and full of flavor! A wonderful dish!
Easyfoodsmith
Delicious and perfect to enjoy in this weather.
sherry
so do you use gluten free pasta in this dish?
Balvinder
Yes Sherry. Everything I cook and post is gluten free even if it doesn’t sometimes say in ingredients.
Tarnjit Hemer
Thanks for that delicious recipe Balvinder. I would never have thought to use mascarpone cheese or cream cheese in pasta. That’s innovative. Your post is beautifully written.
Deb in Hawauu
Aloha, thank you for stopping by my blog and for linking up at Souper (Soup, Salad & Sammie) Sundays at Kahakai Kitchen. I will include your dish in the roundup, maybe as “you could eat it cool as a pasta sala” to fit it in one of the three categories of dishes I highlight. Can you fix the link on your post to note it is Kahakai Kitchen’s Souper Sundays link up please? I am not sure who this is? “Ruth Reichy’s linky party Souper Sunday”
Mahalo!
Deb
Kahakai Kitchen
Balvinder
My pleasure!
Now, even I am wondering from where did I get the name Ruth Reichy. May be its the auto correct and I didn’t check it. Sorry about that. Fixed it now.
And, thank you for including it in the roundup.
2pots2cook
this simple, easy, budget friendly and tasty week dinner checks all the boxes at our household as well. Thank you Balvinder !
Liberty Belle
Looks good!
evi erlinda
Looks so yummy. Cherry tomatoes and baby spinach in pasta are my favorite.