Creamy Spinach Garlic Noodles (Printable)

Tender egg noodles enveloped in rich garlicky cream with fresh spinach. Comforting, flavorful, and simple to prepare.

# What You'll Need:

→ Noodles

01 - 12 oz wide egg noodles

→ Vegetables

02 - 6 oz fresh baby spinach
03 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped

→ Dairy

05 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
06 - 1 cup heavy cream
07 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
08 - 1/4 cup whole milk

→ Seasonings

09 - 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
10 - 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
11 - 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg (optional)
12 - 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

# Preparation Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook egg noodles according to package directions until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
02 - Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add spinach to the skillet and cook, stirring, until wilted, approximately 2 minutes.
04 - Pour in heavy cream and milk; stir to combine. Bring to a gentle simmer.
05 - Reduce heat to low. Add Parmesan cheese, salt, black pepper, and nutmeg if using. Stir until cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.
06 - Add drained noodles to the skillet. Toss to coat, adding reserved pasta water a splash at a time until the sauce clings to the noodles and reaches desired creaminess.
07 - Sprinkle with red pepper flakes if desired. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve immediately, topped with extra Parmesan if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together in half an hour with ingredients you probably already have.
  • The creamy garlic sauce is rich enough to feel like comfort food but light enough you wont feel weighed down.
  • You can toss in whatever protein or greens are in your fridge and it still works beautifully.
02 -
  • Dont skip reserving the pasta water, it has starch that helps the sauce cling instead of sliding off the noodles.
  • Add the garlic after the onion softens or it will burn and turn bitter before everything else is ready.
  • Use freshly grated Parmesan instead of pre-shredded, it melts smoother and tastes so much better.
03 -
  • Cook your noodles one minute less than the package says, theyll finish cooking in the sauce and soak up more flavor.
  • Grate your own Parmesan fresh, the pre-shredded stuff has anti-caking agents that make the sauce grainy.
  • If the sauce gets too thick, a tablespoon of pasta water at a time will bring it back to life without diluting the flavor.
Return