For the pasta: Any type of pasta would work for this recipe. I used linguine, but any other long or short pasta would also work. To make the Italian green pasta sauce: Gather fresh baby spinach, parmesan cheese, garlic, kosher salt, black pepper, lemon juice, and olive oil.
How to Make Green Pasta Sauce?
I think we can all agree that homemade healthy pasta sauce is always the better option compared to its store-bought version. Fresh, flavorful, and ready in less than 30 minutes, this spinach-based pasta sauce will leave your taste buds wanting more. Here’s how to make it:
Pasta: I prefer green linguine, but feel free to use your pasta of choice. You can make green fettuccine pasta, a green spaghetti sauce, or green pasta noodles. If you’re following a gluten-free diet, you can use chickpea pasta or your favorite gluten-free pasta instead. For best results, follow the package directions for cooking the pasta. If you’d like a carb-free option, try these tasty Zucchini Noodles. Cream cheese: For an extra rich green creamy pasta, add two ounces of room-temperature cream cheese into the food processor with the rest of the ingredients. Vegan green pasta sauce: You can substitute an equal amount of nutritional yeast for the parmesan cheese for a vegan pasta sauce! Its cheesy, umami flavor is a great substitute for parmesan and pairs well with the earthy flavor of your fresh greens. Just keep in mind that you may need to add more salt to your vegan sauce for pasta if you’re using nutritional yeast. Frozen spinach: If you don’t have fresh spinach on hand, you can substitute frozen spinach for this healthy pasta sauce. Make sure to thaw and squeeze out any excess juices and liquid before sauteing it. Kale sauce: Kale is a great substitute for this spinach garlic pasta sauce. However, I recommend blanching your kale (for about five minutes in the boiling pasta water) before sauteing it with the rest of the ingredients. Since kale leaves tend to be heartier than spinach leaves, blanching them first will shorten the sauteing time. Optional mix-ins: For an Italian green sauce for pasta (aka pasta verde), you can substitute a cup of your greens for a cup of fresh herbs like oregano, parsley, or fresh basil leaves. Toppings: Toppings are a great way to customize your green noodle pasta to your liking. Toss in a handful of toasted pine nuts for a delicious crunch, just as we did in my Catalan Style Spinach recipe, or sprinkle your spinach parmesan pasta sauce with some red pepper flakes for a kick of spice.
Make ahead: You can make this creamy spinach pasta sauce up to two days in advance as part of your meal prep. If you’d like to make the sauce before cooking your pasta, you can substitute vegetable stock or water for the pasta water used in the recipe. Be sure to keep it in the fridge in an airtight container. Store: To store, let the pasta with green sauce come to room temperature before placing it in an airtight container. It will keep in the fridge for 2-3 days. Reheat: Reheat the sauce on the stovetop over low heat until warm. You can also reheat it in the microwave at 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval until warm. For both methods, you may need to add a little water to keep the sauce from drying out.
Vegetarian meals: Need a salad to pair with your new favorite pasta? This pasta with spinach sauce pairs perfectly with any salad, including Kale Brussels Sprout Salad, Classic Caesar Salad, Lemon Arugula Salad, or Sauteed Asparagus and Mushrooms side dish! Meat options: Craving some extra protein or meat with your pasta? Green pasta with chicken is a classic pairing, so I recommend serving this super green pasta as a side dish for my Greek Yogurt Chicken or Bone-In Chicken Breasts for a complete meal. To switch up your protein source, try pairing it with my Baked Turkey Breast Tenderloin or Marinated Shrimp Skewers for a flavorful spread.
Other Pasta Recipes You Might Like
If you love this easy healthy pasta sauce and are looking for more healthy pasta sauce recipes, we have plenty of other tasty dishes you will love! Browse the links below for inspiration:
Baked Spinach and Artichoke Pasta Greek Yogurt Pasta Sauce Pasta Bolognese Recipe Eggplant Pomodoro Pasta Tomato and Basil Sauce Recipe
If you try this Green Pasta Sauce recipe or any other recipe on Foolproof Living, please take a minute to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. And if you took some pictures, be sure to share them on Instagram using #foolproofeats so I can share them on my stories.
