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!!
Made it tonight and it was honestly better than I expected. I had to sub walnuts for pine nuts, but the texture still came out creamy after adding the olive oil slowly.
I’m not convinced it’ll taste like “real” pesto if you swap walnuts for pine nuts… but if it’s creamy after olive oil, that part makes sense. Did you toast the walnuts too or just use them raw? Also, I always do extra lemon 😅
Glad you tried it! Pine nuts can be pricey—walnuts work surprisingly well in pesto. Adding the olive oil slowly is totally the key for that creamy texture 👌
Yum!!! 🍝