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Creamy Mushroom and Spinach Pasta is an easy vegetarian pasta dish. Hearty mushrooms and whole wheat pasta make it a filling main dish without any meat. Ready in less than 30 minutes!

Cooked spinach and mushroom pasta in a skillet with Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top
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Danae from Recipe Runner here and I have the perfect pasta dish for you. The recipe is a vegetarian one, but the mushrooms make it hearty enough so that you won’t miss the meat. Instead of using boring white button mushrooms, I went with shiitakes. I love the texture of the shiitakes and the smoky, woody flavor they add to the pasta. If you can’t find shiitakes I recommend using creminis or a blend of different varieties of mushrooms.

The creaminess in this pasta dish comes from half and half, which is lighter than heavy creamy but still creates the rich creamy flavor. Freshly grated Parmesan cheese ties all the flavors together while adding a wonderful saltiness.

This pasta is easy enough to make on a weeknight, but elegant enough to serve for a special dinner. Enjoy!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Except the pasta, everything cooks in one pan to make clean up easier on busy weeknights. 
  • You can choose whatever pasta you enjoy in this recipe. 
  • This recipe is 100% vegetarian but is still hearty and satisfying due to the bold flavor and texture of the mushrooms. 
  • All ingredients are simple and can be found in your local grocery store making it budget-friendly and easy for anyone to make. 
  • This recipe can easily be adapted to fit a gluten-free lifestyle. 
  • It can be made in large batches which are perfect for meal prep or to serve at a dinner gathering.
ingredients for spinach mushroom pasta on white tabletop

Ingredients You Need

  • Whole Wheat Pasta – You can use farfalle, rotini, fettuccine, spaghetti, or any pasta you enjoy in this recipe. 
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil – You’ll need some olive oil to saute the garlic, shallots, and mushrooms to help cook down and release their flavors. 
  • Shiitake or Cremini Mushrooms – Mushrooms are the star of this dish and add a hearty texture and flavor. I like using shiitake or cremini, but feel free to use a mix of your favorite mushrooms.  
  • Shallots & Garlic – Infuses aromatic garlic and mild onion flavor throughout the pasta dish. 
  • Baby Spinach – Gives the dish color and additional nutrition.
  • Salt & Pepper – Helps balance all the flavors in creamy mushroom pasta. 
  • White Wine or Broth – Helps give this pasta dish a bold flavor when deglazing the pan. 
  • Half & Half – Gives the pasta a creamy texture and light creamy sauce. 
  • Parmesan Cheese – Adds a salty bite and a bold parmesan flavor. 
  • Fresh Parsley – Used for garnish, parsley adds freshness and a pop of green color. 
cooking ingredients for mushroom and spinach pasta in pan

How to Make Mushroom Pasta with Spinach

Step 1. Cook the pasta.

Step 2. Saute the shallots, garlic, mushrooms, salt and pepper with olive oil.

Step 3: Add in the spinach and sauté until it wilts.

Step 4. Deglaze the pan by adding in the wine or broth.

Step 5. Remove from heat and stir in the pasta, half and half, parmesan cheese, and parsley until everything is combined.

a wooden spoon scooping out spinach and mushroom pasta

Expert Tips

  • Make sure your pasta is fully drained before adding to the pan to be mixed in with the sauce. Any excess water may keep the sauce from becoming creamy. 
  • Different varieties of pasta absorb sauce in different ways, so you may need more or less cream and parmesan to create the desired amount of creamy sauce.
  • It’s important not to crowd the pan when cooking your mushrooms, garlic, and shallots to keep them from steaming and becoming soggy. Make sure you’re using a large pan or skillet that has enough room for everything to saute properly.

Variations

  • To make this mushroom and spinach pasta gluten free, use your favorite gluten free pasta variety. Be sure to check any labels on seasonings for gluten-containing ingredients. 
  • Add even more nutrition by wilting down your favorite leafy greens such as kale, collard greens, or even beet greens. 
  • If you can’t find cremini or shiitake mushrooms feel free to use a variety of button mushrooms, white mushrooms, or portobello mushrooms which can easily be found at any grocery store.
  • For a great buttery flavor, saute the mushrooms, garlic, and shallots in butter or a mix of butter and olive oil. 
a bowl of creamy mushroom and spinach pasta

FAQs

Can I use dried mushrooms in this recipe?

Yes! Just make sure they are fully hydrating according to the directions on the package before using.

What is alternative to half and half to make this recipe creamy?

If you can’t use half and half to make the creamy sauce, try using sour cream, cream cheese or even plain coconut cream for a vegan pasta dish. You may have to add additional stock to create the perfect creamy sauce base and flavor. Note: these variations have not been tested in this recipe. 

Does this taste like Olive Garden creamy mushroom pasta?

We think it tastes better! In this recipe you’ll make a creamy mushroom pasta from scratch using homemade ingredients that you can control making it a healthier version of this classic restaurant favorite. 

More Easy Pasta Dinners

Did you try this Mushroom and Spinach Pasta recipe? Leave a recipe rating and review below.

a wooden spoon scooping out spinach and mushroom pasta
4.58 from 14 votes

Creamy Mushroom and Spinach Pasta

An elegant vegetarian dish made with simple ingredients!
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
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Ingredients 

  • 3/4 pound whole wheat farfalle or pasta of choice, use gluten-free to make this recipe gluten-free
  • 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 10 ounces sliced shiitake mushrooms or creminis
  • 1/2 cup chopped shallots
  • 2 cloves minced garlic
  • 3 cups baby spinach
  • Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
  • 1/4 cup white wine or low sodium vegetable broth
  • 1/2 cup half and half
  • 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons chopped flat leaf parsley

Instructions 

  • Cook the pasta according to package instructions.
  • Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  • When the skillet is hot add in the shallots, garlic, mushrooms, salt and pepper and sauté until the mushrooms are tender, about 5 minutes.
  • Add in the spinach and sauté until it wilts, about 3 minutes.
  • Add in the wine and cook 2 minutes or until liquid evaporates, stirring occasionally.
  • Remove from the heat and stir in the pasta, half and half, parmesan cheese and parsley until everything is combined.
  • Taste for seasoning and top with more parsley before serving.

Notes

SUBSTITUTIONS
  • Mushrooms: You can substitute with any type of button mushrooms – baby bella are another great choice. 
  • Half and Half: You can substitute with heavy cream. 
 
STORAGE
  • Storing: Store this pasta in your fridge in an airtight container for 3-4 days. 
  • Freezing: Although the texture of the mushrooms will change a bit after thawing, this pasta can be frozen in a freezer-safe bag or airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating and serving. 
  • Reheating: Pasta will continue absorbing sauces and flavors as it sits. This means the sauce may not be as creamy or thick when reheating. For best results, reheat in a skillet over medium heat while adding vegetable stock and/or cream to help bring the sauce back together until warmed through and desired texture is reached.

Nutrition

Calories: 298kcal, Carbohydrates: 48g, Protein: 13g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 13mg, Sodium: 163mg, Potassium: 397mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 1655IU, Vitamin C: 6.5mg, Calcium: 161mg, Iron: 2.8mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @spoonfulflavor or tag #spoonfulflavor!

This recipe was originally published by Danae at Recipe Runner in 2017. It was updated with new process photos, tips and variations in April 2021.

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4.58 from 14 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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17 Comments

  1. I liked the recipe however it wasn’t flavorful enough for me. I added in cream cheese, more salt, pepper, grated Parmesan, and some italian seasoning. I also sprinkled with crushed red pepper. It was very good and a nice comfort food on a cool fall evening.   

  2. I didn’t like the sauce; it had very little flavor. Needed more than just salt and pepper. It needed real seasonings!! I ended up adding garlic salt, roasted garlic seasonings, 4oz of cream cheese, and way more Parmesan cheese. It was delicious after that!!!

    1. Sorry to hear that you didn’t enjoy this dish. It should still have plenty of flavor with the onions, garlic, cheese and vegetable broth. However, I’m glad to hear you were able to adapt to fit your needs. Thanks for your feedback!

    1. I haven’t tried almond milk in this recipe and it might not thicken up as much as half and half. However, the amount of milk in the recipe is small, so it should work okay. Enjoy!

  3. My husband made this dish for us after a long, busy day and it what just the right thing! It was hearty and comforting but not overly heavy. The flavor was spot on perfect!

  4. Yum! I didn’t have any half and half and it was still delicious! I used a frozen kale and spinach blend that worked really well. I was looking for a recipe to enliven whole wheat pasta and this was a great find! The finishing drizzle of olive oil really kicked it up.

  5. I made this and it came out very tasty after I added some seasoning. It definitely needed more seasoning; more salt for sure. I also seasoned with garlic powder, paprika and all-purpose seasoning. It needed a lot of seasoning. There’s an awful lot of pasta in this dish. Also, the ratio between pasta and vegetable quantity is disproportionate. 12 ounces of pasta increases up to 24 ounces when its cooked, that’s 1 1/2 pounds of pasta. Not a problem. I LOVE PASTA. I can eat pasta 7 days a week and on the 8th day, eat some more. While the pasta increases, the mushrooms and spinach decrease significantly. Even 3 cups of spinach (which is a mere 90 grams), after cooking, is barely nothing. Next time I make this I will double the mushrooms and use about a pound of spinach.

    1. Half and half is a combination of milk and heavy cream. So use 1/4 cup heavy cream and 1/4 cup milk if you can’t find half and half.

  6. Hi,
    Just finished eating your recipe for creamy mushroom & spinach pasta. Delicios !!!  Thank you so much for cheering up this cold February day with your cheerful Californian blog ! Great,
    Dee