Spinach pesto pasta is a refreshing take on the traditional basil pesto. With its vibrant green color and rich, earthy flavor, it’s a perfect dish for any season. The creamy, garlicky pesto sauce is made by blending fresh spinach with nuts, garlic, Parmesan, and olive oil, creating a smooth and fragrant topping for pasta. Whether served on a busy weeknight or as part of a dinner party, this dish is sure to please anyone craving a healthy and flavorful meal.
The star of this dish is the spinach pesto. Spinach, being milder than basil, gives the pesto a slightly sweeter and more subtle flavor, making it a great choice for those who want something a little different. The addition of garlic and Parmesan gives the sauce depth, while the olive oil provides richness and helps create a smooth texture. Some recipes add pine nuts or walnuts for extra crunch, while others use almonds for a more affordable option.
The pesto is easy to make, too. Simply blend the ingredients together until smooth, and it’s ready to be tossed with your favorite pasta. From spaghetti and linguine to fusilli or penne, any type of pasta can be paired with spinach pesto. The pesto coats each piece of pasta perfectly, creating a deliciously fragrant dish that’s simple yet satisfying.
What makes this pasta even more appealing is its versatility. You can add extra vegetables like roasted cherry tomatoes, zucchini, or bell peppers for added color and nutrition. For a protein boost, grilled chicken, shrimp, or even chickpeas make great additions. The pesto also works as a spread for sandwiches or as a dip for fresh bread, making it a handy recipe to have in your rotation.
Spinach pesto pasta is quick, easy, and full of flavor. It’s a great way to incorporate more greens into your meals while keeping things light and delicious.
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh spinach leaves washed and dried
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese grated
- 1/4 cup pine nuts toasted
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
- 8 ounces pasta such as spaghetti or linguine
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a food processor, combine the spinach, parmesan cheese, pine nuts, and garlic. Pulse until roughly chopped.
- With the processor running, gradually add olive oil until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Add lemon juice, salt, and black pepper to taste. Pulse a few times to mix.
- Toss the cooked pasta with the spinach pesto until well coated. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Nutrition
Easy recipe, but I replaced pine nuts with walnuts, not as good tho.
Yum! I love pesto! 👌🏼
Meh. Thought it would be better. Just pasta with green stuff.
It’s literally just spinach and pasta… not impressed. Maybe a sauce with meat woulda been better?
I thought it was pretty good! The flavors are fresh and different. Have you tried adding some toasted bread crumbs on top for crunch?
This was super quick to make! I loved how fresh it tasted. Will definitely make again!
This was amazing! So fresh and tasty! I’ll make it again for sure!
Quick and easy! Perfect for weeknight dinners!!
Spinach should be cooked first, right? I feel like it can taste weird raw.
I didn’t really like it. The spinach taste was too strong. Not for me.
I loved it! Spinach is healthy, and it gives a unique flavor. Maybe try adding less next time?
Incredible! I added some chicken, and it was delish 😍
Can I use frozen spinach? That’s all I have..
I don’t know, the spinach tasted weird to me. Maybe I used too much? 🤷♂️
This recipe is absolutely amazing! The pesto is so fresh and flavorful, and it was easy to make. My family loved it!
Is pesto supposed to be thick? Mine turned into soup. Followed instructions exact!
Wow, who knew spinach could be this good?! I’m making this again, for sure!
Right? I was shocked too! Spinach is usually blah, but this sauce is a game changer!
Quick & easy! I added some chicken for protein. Didn’t have pine nuts, so I used walnuts instead. Still yum!
That sounds great! Chicken is a smart addition. Walnuts work too!
How did adding chicken change the taste? I thought pesto should be veggie-only? 🤔
I used cashews instead of pine nuts… is that allowed? It was still good!
Of course it’s allowed! Cashews make it creamy and tasty too. I love being creative with recipes!
But that’s not authentic pesto! Pine nuts are kinda important… Aren’t they?
Really easy and quick to make! I added some chicken to mine, came out great! Thnx for this recipe.
So glad to hear you liked it! Adding chicken sounds delicious! 😋
First time making pesto! My food processor broken so I mixed it by hand. It was hard but still taste good!!
Yum!!! 🍝
Yum! Super delish! My new fav! 😍
This was fantastic! I loved how fresh it tasted, and the lemon juice added a nice zing. Will definitely make again.
Yum!!!! <3
This looks amazing! Can’t wait to try it! 😊
Pasta agan? Why not try somthin new? Just saying!
Too many greens for my taste. Made my pasta taste like a salad… not sure I’d make it again.
I totally get where you’re coming from! Spinach can be pretty overpowering. Maybe try less spinach next time? 🤔
Not sure why u expected it to taste like anything else with that much greens. Pesto is green! 😂
Pasta is nice but y’all should try it with basil and walnuts instead of spinach and pine nuts. Way better!
Too much garlic!! I love garlic but this was overwhelming. 😩
Too garlicky? I didn’t think it was enough! Just add more pasta! 😂
I thought the garlic was perfect! Maybe use less next time? 😄
Yum! The pesto was really easy to make. But I think I prefer basil over spinach overall.
This recipe was soooo good! I loved the flavor of the pesto with the spaghetti. Will definitely make it again!
I don’t think spinach should be in pasta! Seems weird to me. But hey, whatever floats your boat.
Spinach is actually really good in pasta! It adds flavor and nutrients. Give it a try! 🌱
This is amazing! So simple and delicious. I added some grilled chicken for protein.
Spinach? Ugh. Is that even flavor? My kids didn’t like it, so we won’t be doing this one again.
I actually love spinach! This pesto sounds delicious. Give it another try, maybe blend it with some other flavors?
Your kids might have not liked it, but it’s super healthy! Maybe try making it with less spinach next time?
Spinach? Is that the same as arugula? My wife says yes but I don’t trust her haha. Anyway, the pasta was alright.
I didn’t have pine nuts, used walnuts instead. Still tasty! Just don’t know if it’s a true pesto… lol
Walnuts also make a nice twist! It’s still gonna be yummy. Pesto is just a sauce, right?
meh
Not bad, but my pesto came out too thick. I added some more olive oil. Still tasted nice!
A bit too garlicky for my taste! Maybe I’ll cut down on the garlic next time.
Super quick! But my kids said it looked like ‘swamp pasta.’ 😂 They ate it though!
Kids are honest! 😂 Swamp pasta sounds fun, but I bet it was tasty! My kids loved it too!
Absolutely delicious! I made this for dinner and my family loved it. Will make again!
That’s awesome to hear! I love this recipe too. It’s so quick and easy! Just like mom used to make!
Looks good but I tried it and it was too oily for my taste. Maybe less olive oil next time?
Just made this for dinner and it was a big hit with the family! Can’t believe how flavorful it is.
I dunno, it’s kinda bland. I expected more flavor from such expensive cheese and nuts. Maybe add more garlic next time?
This recipe is confusing. What if I don’t have a food processor? Can I blend it in a jar or smth? Help??
Pasta and spinach? Sounds weird. Didn’t really like it. 😕
This is fantastic! I never knew spinach could taste this good! My kids loved it too!
I’m so glad to hear that your kids enjoyed it! Spinach really is a superfood! 🌟
Yum! I added some chicken to mine for protein, turned out great! Thanks for sharing!
This was soooo delicious! My family loved it! 😊
Honestly, I don’t think the lemon juice adds anything. Next time I’m leaving it out!
This was amazing! The kids loved it and it was so easy to make. Will definitely make again!
10/10, would recommend! I added a sprinkle of red pepper flakes, gave it a nice kick!
So easy and quick! Made it for dinner last night. Thanks for sharing!
Just ok, I expected something different. Maybe more cheese would help? 🤔
Lemon juice in pasta? Sounds wrong. I didn’t even add it and it was fine.
Too much spinach for me. I thought it was pasta with pesto, not spinach mush. 🤢
I don’t know, tasted kinda weird to me. Maybe I did something wrong? 🤷♂️
Maybe you added too much garlic or not enough oil? It’s a pretty simple recipe, but it’s easy to mess up the flavors.
I thought it tasted great! The lemon juice really makes it pop. Don’t give up, just try it again!
Pasta is just pasta, but honestly this pesto is out of this world! I like it way better than normal pesto.
I don’t know about you all, but the flavor was kinda bland. Maybe I did something wrong?
I added some chicken and it made it so much better! Great recipe overall!
I’m glad you liked it! Chicken is a great addition for some protein. Did you cook the chicken separately or mix it in with the pasta?