20 Minute Spinach Ricotta Pasta

User Reviews

4.8

93 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    10 mins

  • Cook Time

    10 mins

  • Total Time

    20 mins

  • Servings

    4 people

  • Calories

    427 kcal

  • Course

    Main Course

  • Cuisine

    Italian

20 Minute Spinach Ricotta Pasta

A quick and easy cheesy pasta packed full of spinach!

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Ingredients

Servings
  • 1/2 lb Spaghetti or other pasta
  • 2 cups fresh baby spinach 2.5 oz
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese 8.5 oz
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese 2.5 oz
  • 3 tablespoons salted butter
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 3/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt + more for pasta water
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 3/4 cup reserved pasta water
  • fresh parsley for garnish
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Instructions

  1. Heat a large pot of salted water to high and bring it to a boil. Meanwhile, prep and gather everything needed for the rest of the recipe and collect it all in one place.
  2. Add pasta to boiling water and set a timer for 1 minute less than the cooking instructions state. For spaghetti, it's usually 10 mins, so set a time for 9 minutes.
  3. After 5 minutes has passed, heat a skillet over medium and add butter. Melt and then add garlic and saute for 1-2 minutes. Add spinach saute, stirring to coat all of the spinach in butter and wilt. Approximately 1-2 minutes.
  4. Just before the pasta is done, use a measuring cup to get 3/4 cup of pasta water and add it to the spinach. Drain pasta and add to skillet. Don't rinse your pasta! You need that starch on the pasta for the sauce to cling to it.
  5. Add the cheeses, herbs, salt, pepper, lemon zest and juice to the saute pan and stir well with the pasta, melting the cheese with the pasta water and coating the pasta with the sauce.
  6. Continue to stir and let pasta finish cooking in the sauce, stirring often to coat, approximately 1-2 minutes.
  7. Add fresh chopped parsley and serve!
Equipments used:

Notes

  • Storage
  • Storage
  • Fridge:  Store in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
  • Substitutions
  • Substitutions
  • Butter:  You can also use olive oil or your other neutral flavored favorite cooking oil. 
  • Pasta:  Use your favorites!  We love this with pretty much all kinds, just be sure to adjust your cooking time based on the pasta. If using fresh pasta, you only need about 2 minutes of boiling time before adding it to the skillet. 
  • Ricotta Cheese:  Not only ricotta cheese brands are the same and we find that Galbani brand makes one of the creamiest ricottas that melts the best into the creamiest sauce. If using fresh homemade ricotta your sauce won't melt and be as creamy as the store-bought and will be a little chunkier of the sauce, but still delicious!
  • Parmesan Cheese:  Use another hard nutty cheese like Romana or Asiago.
  • Lemon Zest and Juice:  You can of course use lemon juice concentrate, but if you're already zesting the lemon, might as well use the juice, right?  If you don't have a fresh lemon, But if you don't have fresh lemon at all, you can replace the 1/2 teaspoon of lemon zest with another 2 tablespoons of lemon juice. 
  • Spinach:  Use frozen spinach by thawing and draining as much as possible before adding it to the skillet. You can also use another dark leafy green like kale or arugula (for a pepper kick!). 
  • Add Veggies:  Feel free to add your favorite veggies, too!  Saute some onion with the garlic or add peas or zucchini.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Calories 427kcal (21%) Carbohydrates 47g (16%) Protein 20g (40%) Fat 18g (28%) Saturated Fat 11g (55%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 5g Trans Fat 0.2g Cholesterol 55mg (18%) Sodium 894mg (37%) Potassium 308mg (9%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 2g (4%) Vitamin A 1954IU (39%) Vitamin C 7mg (8%) Calcium 311mg (31%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 427 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories 427kcal 21%
Carbohydrates 47g 16%
Protein 20g 40%
Fat 18g 28%
Saturated Fat 11g 55%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 5g 25%
Trans Fat 0.2g 10%
Cholesterol 55mg 18%
Sodium 894mg 37%
Potassium 308mg 7%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 2g 4%
Vitamin A 1954IU 39%
Vitamin C 7mg 8%
Calcium 311mg 31%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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Overall Rating

4.8

93 reviews
Excellent

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