Creamy Spinach Cheese Pasta (Printable)

Oven-baked pasta featuring tender spinach, creamy cheese sauce, and melted cheese topping.

# Ingredient List:

→ Pasta

01 - 10.5 oz penne or rigatoni

→ Vegetables

02 - 7 oz fresh spinach, washed and roughly chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 small onion, finely chopped

→ Cheese & Dairy

05 - 1 cup whole milk
06 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
07 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
08 - 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
09 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
10 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
11 - 3.5 oz ricotta cheese
12 - Salt, to taste
13 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
14 - Pinch of ground nutmeg

→ Topping

15 - 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
16 - 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

# Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a medium baking dish.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta 2 minutes less than package instructions for al dente. Drain and set aside.
03 - Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until soft, about 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute.
04 - Sprinkle the flour into the skillet and stir continuously for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in the milk and cream, bringing the mixture to a simmer. Cook, stirring constantly until thickened, approximately 3 to 4 minutes.
05 - Add shredded mozzarella, grated Parmesan, ricotta, salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg to the sauce. Stir until all the cheese melts and the sauce is smooth.
06 - Stir in the fresh spinach and cook until just wilted, about 1 to 2 minutes.
07 - Mix the drained pasta with the cheese sauce thoroughly and transfer the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
08 - Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan evenly over the top. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, until golden and bubbling.
09 - Allow the dish to rest for 5 minutes before serving to set.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like restaurant comfort food but comes together in under an hour with everyday ingredients.
  • The spinach hides beautifully in the creamy sauce, so even spinach skeptics come back for seconds.
  • It bakes while you set the table, meaning less standing time and more time with your family.
02 -
  • Undercook your pasta by those two minutes or it becomes mushy in the oven heat, a mistake that costs you the whole dish's texture.
  • Whisk the milk in slowly and keep stirring to prevent lumps, even if it feels like it takes forever—rushing this step ruins the creamy foundation.
  • Let it rest after baking so the sauce redistributes and firms up enough to serve in proper portions instead of slipping all over the plate.
03 -
  • Grate your own cheese from blocks instead of buying pre-shredded, which melts into graininess and ruins the sauce texture completely.
  • Taste the sauce before pasta goes in so you can adjust seasoning now instead of discovering it needs salt after everything's mixed and baked.

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