1-Start by heating 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 3 sliced garlic cloves and sauté them until they soften but don’t brown, which takes about 1-2 minutes to build a fragrant base for your sauce. This step ensures the garlic infuses the oil without becoming bitter, setting the foundation for the creamy spinach pasta.

2-Next, stir in 16 ounces of fresh baby spinach and cook until it’s fully wilted, usually 2-3 minutes, while seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. In another pot, cook 1 pound of spaghetti according to the package instructions, making sure to reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.

3-Once the spinach is ready, transfer the spinach and garlic mixture to a food processor or blender. Add 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese and half of the reserved pasta water, then puree until smooth. If needed, add more pasta water to reach your desired sauce consistency, creating that rich, creamy spinach pasta sauce everyone loves.

4-Return the sauce to the pan and mix in the par-cooked spaghetti, heating everything through while stirring. Add more reserved pasta water as necessary to coat the pasta evenly, then adjust seasonings and serve with extra grated cheese on top. This simple dinner spaghetti spinach recipe comes together in about 15 minutes, perfect for a quick family meal.