The new year is just around the corner and we’re working on some of our resolutions early. We’ve kept this Creamy Spinach and Tomato Pasta pretty guilt free with our whole grain noodles and fresh vegetables.
Trade out the cream cheese for light or low fat and you’ve got yourself a healthy and filling meal that can be thrown together in just 25 minutes.
how to make creamy spinach and tomato pasta
Step 1: Cook noodles according to directions on package. We like using penne noodles for this recipe, but you could use bow tie, macaroni, or really any that you have.
Step 2: While noodles are cooking, heat olive oil over medium heat on the stove.
Step 3: Add onion and garlic and saute until onions are tender (about 5 minutes). You will know they are done when they begin to go a little clear.
Step 4: Add tomato paste and water and stir until combined.
Step 5: Add cream cheese and diced tomatoes.
Step 6: The cream cheese works best if you break it up before adding it in. Stir until all combined and creamy.
Step 7: Turn stove top to low heat, add noodles and stir until coated.
Step 8: Add spinach and stir until spinach begins to wilt (about 3 minutes).
Step 9: Top with parmesan cheese and enjoy.
Looking for healthier alternatives?
Cream cheese doesn’t have the best nutritional value, but we have a few alternative ideas you could use.
We recommend using Greek yogurt as an alternative ingredient. It won’t taste exactly the same, and it won’t be as thick of a texture. It will however make your pasta creamy, and it will have a similar taste.
You could also use a low fat or fat free cottage cheese. It will have little bumps in the pasta, but I personally like the texture. If you have family members that don’t love the texture of cottage cheese, we recommend using Greek yogurt.
If you use either Greek yogurt or cottage cheese, we recommend using a cup of either one, for this particular recipe.
could i add meat to this?
You most definitely could. We recommend adding ground turkey or ground beef to this recipe.
Cook the meat in a separate pan or with the onions, then add it to the other cooked pasta and ingredients for best results and taste.
We also recommend washing and draining the grease from either meat you choose.
We have never tried this recipe with chicken, but if you decide to do chicken, we recommend using chicken tenders for a more juicy meat, rather than a chicken breast that can get a little dry.
did you know we have a youtube channel?
We have hundreds of simple and delicious recipes, your family will love. Each recipe is tried and true, so you can be sure your picky eaters will like it.
Watch how to make our favorite side dish that goes perfect with this pasta. It’s our famous, Easy Cheesy Breadsticks. Watch here:
looking for more pasta recipes?
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The Best Creamy Pasta Salad
Easy Caprese Pasta Bake
Instant Pot Cream Cheese Chicken Pasta
Hawaiian Pasta Skillet
Creamy Sausage and Tomato Pasta
Creamy Spinach and Tomato Pasta Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 ounces whole wheat penne pasta
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ onion, diced
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 6 ounces tomato paste, 1 can
- 1¼ cups water
- 8 ounces fat free cream cheese, 1 package, cut into cubes
- 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes, 1 can
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 cups baby spinach
- ⅛ cup Parmesan cheese
Equipment
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to directions on package.
- While pasta is cooking, heat olive oil over medium heat.
- Add onion and garlic and sauté until onions are tender, about 5 minutes.
- Add tomato paste and water then stir until combined.
- Add cream cheese and diced tomatoes, salt, and pepper.
- Turn stove top to low heat, add noodles and stir until coated.
- Add spinach and stir until spinach begins to wilt, about 3 minutes.
- Top with Parmesan cheese.
Notes
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave a review or a question in the comment section below the post.Be sure to not miss another recipe!
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I never leave comments, but I had to for this. This was SOO good! I’ve already eaten all the leftovers from last night. My three year old even asked for seconds- that alone makes this dish a winner! I’m definitely adding it to my regular meal rotation!
The directions don’t indicate when to add the salt and pepper so I missed it, and my dish was very bland as a result. I assume it should be added with the tomato paste and water, maybe?
Thanks for catching that. We have updated the recipe post.