If you’re searching for a comforting, colorful weeknight dinner that tastes just as good as it looks, you’ll fall instantly in love with this Easy Tomato and Spinach Pasta Recipe. With a generous tumble of juicy grape tomatoes, bright fresh spinach, and a hint of garlic all tangled up in tender pasta, every forkful is proof that simple ingredients can create magic in your kitchen. The best part? It comes together quickly with just a handful of pantry staples, making it perfect for both busy evenings and relaxed weekends alike.

Easy Tomato and Spinach Pasta Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

You only need a short list of everyday ingredients to bring the Easy Tomato and Spinach Pasta Recipe together. Each one offers an essential splash of flavor, color, or heartiness, creating a deliciously balanced meal that you can whip up in no time.

Penne (1 lb): Penne is perfect for catching the luscious sauce, but any pasta shape you love will work just as well.
Olive oil (1/2 cup): Provides a rich, silky base for sautéing and brings everything together with a Mediterranean flair.
Crushed red pepper flakes (1/4 tsp, optional): Just a pinch adds a gentle heat, giving the pasta a subtle kick.
Grape tomatoes (2 pints): Their natural sweetness bursts open to create a quick and vibrant sauce.
Salt (1 tsp): Enhances and balances all the fresh, bright flavors in the dish.
Black pepper (1/2 tsp): Adds a grounding earthiness and a little extra warmth.
Garlic, thinly sliced (6 cloves): Infuses the sauce with aromatic depth and classic Italian charm.
White wine or chicken broth (1 cup): Deglazes the pan and brings a beautiful complexity to the sauce; use whichever you prefer or what you have on hand.
Fresh spinach (2 cups): Wilts into silky ribbons, adding color and healthy greens to your bowl.
Parmesan cheese (for serving, optional): Adds that final, irresistible finishing touch of salty, nutty goodness.

How to Make Easy Tomato and Spinach Pasta Recipe

Step 1: Prepare the Pasta

Start by bringing a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil over medium-high heat. This is your runway for perfectly cooked pasta; don’t forget the salt—it infuses the noodles with flavor right from the start and is truly the unsung hero of any pasta dish.

Step 2: Make the Tomato Sauce

While the water heats, pour the olive oil into a wide, roomy pan and warm it over medium heat. Add in the crushed red pepper flakes if you like a bit of heat, then tumble in the full pints of grape tomatoes along with salt and pepper. Stir them around every so often; soon you’ll notice their skins starting to wrinkle and juices bubbling, turning your kitchen wonderfully fragrant. After about 9–10 minutes, some tomatoes may stubbornly refuse to burst—gently press them with the back of a wooden spoon so all their goodness mingles into the sauce.

Step 3: Add Garlic and Wine

When the tomatoes are ready, stir in those thin slices of garlic and let them sizzle for a minute, until the aroma is irresistible. Pour in the white wine (or chicken broth, if you prefer a non-alcoholic version), give the sauce a hearty stir, bring it to a gentle boil, then lower the heat and let it simmer for about 5 minutes. The flavors meld together beautifully here, with the wine or broth lending a touch of complexity and brightness.

Step 4: Incorporate the Spinach

Now, toss in the fresh spinach. Stir it through the simmering sauce—it will wilt down in a minute or two, weaving brilliant green ribbons through the sweet tomatoes. This step is always a little magical as the pile of leaves transforms before your eyes.

Step 5: Cook the Pasta

As your sauce simmers, add the penne to the boiling water. Cook until just al dente, about 9–10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Before you drain, scoop out about half a cup of that glorious pasta water and keep it nearby. This will help bring the sauce and noodles together later, creating a beautifully glossy finish.

Step 6: Combine Pasta and Sauce

Turning the heat down to low, immediately toss your cooked pasta straight into the pan with the tomato and spinach sauce. Mix everything thoroughly until the noodles are well coated. If the sauce feels a bit thick, drizzle in a splash or two of the reserved pasta water; it works wonders to loosen things up and makes everything cling together deliciously. Taste and adjust the seasoning with a final dusting of salt or pepper if needed.

Step 7: Serve

Divide your Easy Tomato and Spinach Pasta Recipe among bowls, shower each with a flurry of freshly grated Parmesan (if you’re going the cheesy route), and serve piping hot. Take a moment to admire those bursts of red, the emerald-green spinach, and the irresistible aroma—it’s dinner time!

How to Serve Easy Tomato and Spinach Pasta Recipe

Garnishes

Nothing completes a bowl of this pasta like a generous snowcap of Parmesan cheese, a scattering of fresh basil leaves, or even a drizzle of good olive oil. For extra vibrancy, you can also add a pinch of crushed red pepper or a twist of cracked black pepper right before serving.

Side Dishes

The Easy Tomato and Spinach Pasta Recipe is hearty on its own, but it truly shines when paired with a crisp green salad dressed simply with olive oil and lemon, some roasted vegetables, or a basket of warm, crusty garlic bread to mop up every bit of sauce.

Creative Ways to Present

If you’re serving guests, try plating the pasta family-style in a large, shallow bowl sprinkled with parmesan shavings and a handful of cherry tomato halves on top. Or create pasta bowls for each person, tucking the noodles into nests, each finished with a swirl of sauce and a leaf of fresh basil for a restaurant-worthy look.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Any leftover Easy Tomato and Spinach Pasta Recipe keeps beautifully in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. The flavors deepen over time, making tomorrow’s lunch just as exciting as dinner was the night before.

Freezing

While you can freeze this pasta, the fresh spinach will lose a bit of its vibrancy when thawed. If you plan to freeze, try holding back the spinach and adding it fresh when you reheat, so you keep that beautiful pop of green. Freeze in single-serving portions for easy weeknight meals.

Reheating

To reheat, warm your leftovers gently in a skillet over low heat, adding a splash of water, broth, or extra olive oil to loosen the sauce. You can also microwave individual servings, stirring halfway through to make sure everything is evenly heated.

FAQs

Can I use a different type of pasta for the Easy Tomato and Spinach Pasta Recipe?

Absolutely! Penne is classic because its shape acts as a perfect vessel for this vibrant sauce, but feel free to swap in rigatoni, farfalle, spaghetti, or even gluten-free or whole-wheat alternatives—use your favorite and enjoy every bite.

Is there a non-alcoholic substitute for the white wine?

Yes, if you prefer to skip wine, chicken broth works beautifully in its place, and you can even use a splash of vegetable broth to keep it vegetarian without sacrificing any of the sauciness or flavor.

Can I add protein to this Easy Tomato and Spinach Pasta Recipe?

Definitely! This recipe welcomes some grilled chicken, sautéed shrimp, or even a handful of canned cannellini beans for a vegetarian protein boost. Simply toss your choice in with the pasta at the end to warm through.

How do I keep the tomatoes from getting soggy?

The secret is to cook the grape tomatoes just until they burst, maintaining their rich, sweet flavor and a bit of juicy texture. If you like more bite, avoid smashing all of them and leave a few whole for surprise pops in each forkful.

What else can I add to this recipe for variety?

Get creative! Try chopped sun-dried tomatoes, a handful of olives, sautéed mushrooms, or even some crumbled feta or goat cheese for a delicious twist on the classic Easy Tomato and Spinach Pasta Recipe.

Final Thoughts

This Easy Tomato and Spinach Pasta Recipe is one of those go-to meals that always feels comforting, energizing, and wonderfully homemade. Whether you’re making it for friends, family, or just treating yourself to a beautiful one-pot dinner, I hope you’ll find it as delightful and crave-worthy as I do—give it a try and savor every delicious, vibrant bite!