Description
This pasta is the kind of thing you throw together on a Tuesday when the fridge has some sun-dried tomatoes and a bag of spinach that needs using up. Everything cooks in one pot — penne, garlic, cream, Parmesan — and the starch from the pasta thickens the sauce as it simmers. Twenty-five minutes, one pot, and a dinner that tastes like you spent an hour on it.
Ingredients
Units
- 12 ounces penne pasta
- 6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes (oil-packed), drained and sliced
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3 cups fresh baby spinach
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the garlic slices and cook 1 minute until golden and fragrant. Add the sun-dried tomatoes and stir 30 seconds.
- Pour in the chicken broth and milk. Add the penne and stir to submerge the pasta.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce to a steady simmer. Cook uncovered, stirring every 2 to 3 minutes, for 12 to 14 minutes until the pasta is al dente and the liquid has reduced by more than half.
- Reduce heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream, spinach, Parmesan, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir until the spinach wilts and the sauce is creamy, about 2 minutes.
- Taste and adjust seasoning. The sauce will thicken as it sits, so serve it slightly saucier than you want it.
- Top with fresh basil and extra Parmesan.
Notes
- Stirring every couple of minutes prevents the pasta from sticking to the bottom and ensures even cooking in the one-pot method.
- The sauce thickens significantly as it cools — if reheating leftovers, add a splash of milk to bring it back.
- Oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes have better flavor and texture than the dry-packed kind for this recipe.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 740
- Fat: 22
- Carbohydrates: 58
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 18
- Cholesterol: 65