Once I figured out that my spinach pesto was just as good as my classic basil version, I knew I had to find an easy way to turn it into a quick dinner and sure enough this 3-ingredient spinach pesto pasta became an instant staple in our house.
As a busy mom of three, I try to keep it simple in the kitchen, so knowing my kids love pesto dishes, I had a feeling this was going to be another recipe win. The first time I made it, I held my breath, wondering if they’d notice the swap. No complaints, just clean plates. Recipe test complete!
Cook your favorite pasta, stir in a generous scoop of pesto, and use a little reserved pasta water to create the perfect silky sauce. That’s it. And if your kids spy the spinach on the counter and boycott you, switch it up and try making it with my 5-minute basil pesto. Either way, this is one of those dinners you’ll want to keep on repeat!
Jump to:
Ingredients
- Spinach Pesto: Make it homemade and keep it in the fridge or freezer for when you need a quick meal. I like to store it in 4 oz mason jars or souper cube trays so I can always grab just the right amount. You can also swap any other type of pesto you have on hand.
- Pasta: I use the pot sized spaghetti (basically spaghetti noodles broken in half for you), but any long twirly pasta shape you like will work. Think fettuccine, bucatini, or linguine as options.
- Pasta Water: Scoop a cup out of the pot right before you drain the noodles. I always like to retain more than I’ll likely need, just in case.
Remember that the pasta water is your friend in this spinach pesto pasta dish (and lots of other pasta recipes as well). You'll want to use that starchy water to help thin out the pesto so that it becomes a silky sauce that coats the pasta well.
Step by step instructions
Cook your pasta per the boxed directions.
Retain the pasta water before draining.
Add the pasta back into the pot and then add the pesto on top.
Add your pasta water and stir or toss it all together.
Pop it into a serving bowl or just stand over the pot with a fork...your call😉. Either way, enjoy your delicious 15-minute dinner!
Easy Additions
- Make it creamy: Use my creamy pesto pasta recipe for a quick and easy twist on this recipe. Simply swap the basil pesto for spinach and enjoy.
- Add veggies: You can easily up the veggie ante. Stir in any green veggie you like. Spinach can be stirred right in at the end, the heat of the pasta will wilt it, or add any cooked vegetable that you have on hand. Broccoli, kale, asparagus, peas, are all great options.
- Extra lemony: Zest a lemon and stir the zest and juice into the pasta as you mix in the pesto for an extra zing. Or drizzle with a little lemon butter for an added lemony richness.
- Add a protein: Pesto salmon or lemon butter salmon are both great choices for adding on top of the pasta or flaking into the dish before serving.
Storing and reheating leftovers
To store leftovers: Simply pop the pesto pasta into an airtight container and put in the fridge. The leftovers will last for up to 5 days. I do not suggest freezing this dish.
To reheat: Add a splash of water or a little butter to the container and lightly cover, then reheat in the microwave at 30 second intervals. You want the cheese to get warm and melty again without the pasta becoming rubbery.
Did you try this recipe and and love it? 😍 Let me know by leaving a comment below or 5 ⭐ rating!
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More easy pasta dishes you'll love!
📖 Recipe
3-Ingredient Spinach Pesto Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 cup spinach pesto
- 16 oz spaghetti noodles (or any long noodle shape you like)
- 1 cup reserved pasta cooking water (you will not likely use the whole cup)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions, being sure to salt your pasta water. When the pasta is done cooking, reserve a cup of pasta water and drain.
- Add the drained pasta water back into the pot and then add the spinach pesto on top. Add ½ cup of the pasta water and toss to combine until the noodles are totally covered, adding additional pasta water if desired.
- Sprinkle with a little extra grated parmesan cheese if desired and enjoy!
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