Easy Garlic Spinach Spaghetti
A comforting, delicious, and ridiculously easy spaghetti dish with garlic and spinach, perfect for busy weeknights. Ready in under 20 minutes!
Equipment
- Large pot For cooking pasta
- Large skillet For wilting spinach and combining ingredients
- Colander For draining pasta
Ingredients
Hauptzutaten
- 8 ounces spaghetti Classic pasta perfect for soaking up flavors
- 2 tablespoons olive oil Good quality extra virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic Thinly sliced
- 6 cups fresh spinach Wilt down a lot, packed
- 0.5 teaspoon red pepper flakes Optional, for gentle warmth
- salt and black pepper To taste
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese For serving
- Lemon wedges For serving
Instructions
- Cook spaghetti in a big pot of salted boiling water according to package directions until al dente.8 ounces spaghetti
- While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add thinly sliced garlic and cook until fragrant and just starting to turn golden (about 1 minute), being careful not to burn.8 ounces spaghetti
- Add spinach and optional red pepper flakes to the skillet. Stir until spinach wilts down (about 2-3 minutes).8 ounces spaghetti
- Drain spaghetti, reserving about ½ cup of pasta water. Add drained spaghetti to the skillet with the spinach and garlic.8 ounces spaghetti
- Toss everything to combine. If the pasta seems dry, add a splash of reserved pasta water to create a light sauce. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.8 ounces spaghetti
- Serve immediately, topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and a lemon wedge on the side.8 ounces spaghetti
Notes
This recipe is adaptable. Feel free to add protein like chicken or shrimp, other vegetables like cherry tomatoes, or a sprinkle of toasted pine nuts or fresh herbs like basil or parsley. For extra brightness, add lemon zest with the pasta water. Always taste and adjust seasoning at the end, keeping in mind the saltiness of Parmesan.