Creamy Feta Spinach Pasta (Printable)

Luscious pasta with crumbled feta and spinach in a tangy, creamy sauce. A satisfying Mediterranean main dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 14 oz dried pasta (penne, fusilli, or spaghetti)

→ Dairy

02 - 7 oz feta cheese, crumbled

→ Vegetables

03 - 5 oz baby spinach, washed
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Pantry

05 - 3 tablespoons olive oil
06 - 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
07 - 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes, optional
08 - Salt to taste

→ Garnish

09 - Zest of 1 lemon
10 - Fresh basil or parsley, chopped

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta in a colander.
02 - While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add the spinach to the skillet and cook, stirring frequently, until wilted, approximately 2 minutes.
04 - Add the hot, drained pasta to the skillet with the spinach. Sprinkle in the crumbled feta cheese.
05 - Pour in approximately 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water. Toss everything together vigorously until the feta melts slightly and forms a creamy sauce, adding additional pasta water as needed to achieve desired consistency.
06 - Season with black pepper, chili flakes if using, and salt to taste.
07 - Serve immediately, garnished with lemon zest and fresh herbs if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The pasta water trick creates restaurant quality creaminess without any heavy cream
  • Everything comes together in one skillet in under 30 minutes
  • Its the kind of dish that impresses dinner guests but feels casual enough for solo eating
02 -
  • The pasta water is the secret ingredient that transforms crumbled feta into a silky sauce
  • You really must reserve the pasta water before draining, otherwise the sauce will not emulsify properly
  • Feta brands vary wildly in saltiness, so always taste before adding more salt
03 -
  • Let the pasta cool slightly before adding the spinach so it wilts instead of wilting instantly
  • If the sauce breaks, whisk in another splash of cold pasta water and toss vigorously
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