This Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta is a comforting, flavorful dish that’s perfect for last-minute dinners. Made with simple ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen, it’s quick to prepare in less than 30 minutes. The dreamy creamy tomato sauce will have everyone asking for seconds!
Original post: September 2018 | Updated: January 2021 and February 2025
Why This Recipe Works
- I couldn’t feel more accomplished than I do when I manage to pull off a last-minute dinner like this tomato pasta recipe.
- It’s likely you already have the ingredients in your kitchen.
- This creamy tomato spinach pasta recipe is filling, comforting, flavorful, yet super easy to make.
- This pasta dish comes together with minimal effort, in less than 30 minutes from start to finish. It’s a dream for those busy weeknights!
- That creamy tomato sauce is so dreamy!
Recipe Ingredients
Pasta – I love using medium pasta shells for this recipe, but other small pasta shapes can be used such as rotini, bowtie or elbow macaroni. Use your favorite gluten free pasta to create a GF dish!
Olive oil – Any oil can be used as a replacement, such as avocado oil or canola oil.
Onion – Use a white or yellow onion.
Garlic – Fresh garlic cloves are preferred, but you can replace this ingredient with 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.
Spinach – Regular or baby spinach can be used. Measure by pulling 4 handfuls straight from the bag. Or a 10-oz. package of frozen spinach (thawed) can replace the fresh spinach in this recipe.
Diced tomatoes – Replacing one can of diced tomatoes with a 7-oz jar of chopped sun-dried tomatoes adds so much flavor. The canned tomatoes can also be replaced with chopped, fresh tomatoes such as roma tomatoes.
Marinara sauce – Replace the marinara sauce with spaghetti sauce or an extra can of diced tomatoes, if desired (if that’s all you have on hand).
Seasonings – Italian seasoning, paprika, salt and pepper make the perfect, simple seasoning combo.
Heavy cream or half and half – You can use heavy whipping cream, half and half, whole milk or any combination of these ingredients.
Cheese – Any type of white melty cheese works great, such as mozzarella, white cheddar or provolone.
Sour cream – Omit this ingredient entirely for a healthier dish, or replace with a low-fat variety.
Toppings – Delicious toppings include chopped Italian parsley, shredded Parmesan cheese, chopped fresh basil or freshly grated black pepper.
How To Make Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta
Step 1
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water.
Step 2
In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic and spinach. Cook for 3-4 minutes, or until spinach begins to wilt and the garlic and onions are fragrant.
Step 3
Add the tomatoes, marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring for 3 minutes. Add the heavy cream (or half and half), mozzarella and sour cream and cook until cheese has melted.
Step 4
Add the cooked pasta and cook for an additional 3 minutes, or until ingredients are completely warmed through. Serve immediately and top with Parmesan, if desired.
Easy Dinner Recipes
Recipe Notes
- Consider adding protein to the recipe by adding cooked ground beef, Italian sausage or shredded chicken. Tip: Pull meat from a rotisserie chicken!
- Want to add a hint of spice to the dish? Add red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper or chili flakes when adding the rest of the seasonings.
- Chopped bell peppers are a good addition to the dish if you’re looking for extra texture and color. Add them at the same time as the chopped onions.
Make Homemade Marinara Sauce
This marinara sauce recipe is delicious! Skip store-bought and make this perfect dipping sauce for bread sticks or to add to your next pasta dish. Made in just a few minutes, this will become your new favorite easy sauce.
How To Store Cooked Pasta
Once the pasta dish has cooled, store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat as needed!
Favorite Toppings For Pasta
- Freshly cracked pepper
- Parmesan cheese
- Herbs such as parsley or basil
- Finely chopped sundried tomatoes
- Extra cheese from whatever is used in recipe
How Long Does Sour Cream Last
How long does sour cream last? If you have a container staring at you from inside your refrigerator and you don’t know whether to toss or eat.. read on!
Marinara Sauce vs Pasta Sauce
Marinara and spaghetti sauce can be used interchangeably in this recipe, but here’s a great resource you want to read up on the differences between marinara and pasta sauce.
Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta Recipe
Ingredients
- 16 oz medium pasta shells
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 4 handfuls fresh spinach
- 2 cans diced tomatoes
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/2 cup heavy cream or half and half or whole milk
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese shredded or shaved, for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large saucepan filled halfway with water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic and spinach. Cook for 3-4 minutes, or until spinach begins to wilt and the garlic and onions are fragrant.
- Add the tomatoes, marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring for 3 minutes. Add the heavy cream (or half and half), mozzarella and sour cream and cook until cheese has melted.
- Add the cooked pasta and cook for an additional 3 minutes, or until ingredients are completely warmed through. Serve immediately and top with Parmesan, if desired.
Notes
- Consider adding protein to the recipe by adding cooked ground beef, Italian sausage or shredded chicken. Tip: Pull meat from a rotisserie chicken!
- Want to add a hint of spice to the dish? Add red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper or chili flakes when adding the rest of the seasonings.
- Chopped bell peppers are a good addition to the dish if you’re looking for extra texture and color. Add them at the same time as the chopped onions.
I made this as written, perfect, very much enjoyed by the family. This will be a regular now.
So glad you tried it and the family enjoyed it. Success!