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Spinach goat cheese pasta is an easy weeknight dinner recipe. Tender penne pasta is tossed with creamy homemade vegetarian pasta sauce, made from spinach and goat cheese. Served with grilled chicken or not, this comfort food dinner comes together in less than 30 minutes!
It’s time for a confession. I am one of those moms who hides healthy ingredients in her children’s food, and I am not ashamed. A few people have openly told me that I am not teaching my children good eating habits by doing this. But you know, those people probably never tried to feed a picky eater. I hide a little and offer a little. There is a delicate balance that needs to be maintained when feeding a child, and I respect that.
So the other day, I was craving 3 things with a ferocity that rivals a bear attacking honey. I really, really wanted some pasta, healthy greens, and goat cheese. From the time I woke up, my thoughts were bordering on obsession. While sitting at work and while running errands, I put the easy dinner recipe together.
There was just one problem with my spinach goat cheese pasta recipe.
I knew my oldest son would pitch a fit about eating it. No worries for me – I have no fear. However, I was not in the mood for his “20 questions about what is in the food” fun time. So while he was at swimming practice, I made this quick homemade pasta sauce. This way, I was able to get rid of the evidence before he got home. ????
Talk about nutrient packed, this is a wholesome dinner! I use a mix of legume-based pasta and whole wheat pasta. My green of choice: spinach. This meal is filling and satisfies my need for goat cheese, greens and pasta, all on one plate. Knowing that he loves grilled chicken, that was added as well.
Feeling confident, I plated his dinner. He just looks at me like I am an idiot and says,
” OK, Mom…I know there must be something in here that I don’t like..what is it”?
I smiled and assured him that there was no trick, promising that he would like it. Plus, I made his favorite dessert. Not only did he like it, he asked for more.
So, I guess it goes without saying that this creamy spinach goat cheese pasta is a kid-friendly meal, even for picky eaters!
Total Servings 6 servings
Creamy goat cheese, cream cheese, baby spinach, and seasonings are combined to create this rich, satisfying homemade pasta sauce.
10 minPrep (inc. refrigeration & rest time)
15 minCook Time
25 minTotal Time
Ingredients
- Kosher salt
- 1 pound penne pasta, or pasta shape of your choice
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 ounces Chevre goat cheese or other soft goat cheese of your choice
- 1 ounce reduced-fat cream cheese
- black pepper
- 6 ounces fresh baby spinach
- reserved pasta water (to thin sauce)
- fresh grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions and reserve 1 cup of the cooking water.
- Meanwhile, in a food processor, mince the garlic and salt. Add the cheeses and pulse a few times. Then add 3/4 of the spinach leaves and pulse until smooth. At this point, you may want to add a little of the pasta water to thin your sauce.
- Add sauce to the drained pasta and toss to coat.
- Serve warm, with or without meat of your choice.
More delicious, easy pasta dinner recipes:
Asian Peanut Sauce Pasta Bowls {30 Minute Meal}
One-Pan Cheesy Sausage Skillet
This recipe originally appeared in this post. Updated photos are always nice. ????
