Sun-Dried Tomato & Spinach PastaPhoto from Unsplash

 

This super simple version of one-pot pasta features fresh spinach and sun-dried tomatoes for a pop of flavor and color.

My mom was the kind of cook who, while completely capable of following a recipe or trying something new, typically stuck to the same 10 or so dinner recipes over the course of my childhood. As I got older I remember thinking “Doesn’t she get sick of making the same thing all the time? I’m kind of tired of eating it!”

I vowed that I would never make the same dinner every week when I was a mom. For the most part, I don’t make the same thing all of the time, because food blogging doesn’t allow for that.

I don’t think I fully appreciated how my mom must have felt making dinner for our family night after night, regardless of what her days were like. We always had a homemade meal that was both tasty and healthy.

I didn’t view my mom as someone who had bad days, or just didn’t feel like cooking, or was tired and wished someone else would (or could) just make dinner for a change. I totally think she must have felt those things often, and maybe that’s why our dinner routine was fairly simplified because I totally feel like that about half the nights cooking for my kids. I think my mom was just better than I am at not putting those feelings on display for the rest of the family.

I think it is good that my kids know that their mom is a person too, who has feelings, gets tired, and occasionally just doesn’t want to deal…but sometimes I definitely think I could let them see a little less of that person.

One-Pot Wonderful

So, this Sun-dried Tomato Spinach One Pot Pasta is perfect for nights that I just don’t want to deal with dinner. It is a fix it and forget it a recipe for the most part. It’s meatless, so I don’t have to worry about taking meat out to thaw. It’s the best kind of pantry meal – seriously, I always have pasta, milk, cheese, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes – if I haven’t planned ahead because it still looks like I kind of put some effort into dinner even though it took practically zero thought or time to make.

Fun Flavor Twists:

If you want to dress this recipe up a little more, it is a great base. Here are a few ideas:

  • Italian Sausage + Fresh Basil
  • Canned or Marinated Artichoke Hearts + Kalamata Olives + Fresh Oregano + Lemon Juice + Feta Garnish
  • Red Bell Peppers + Sauteed Mushrooms
  • Grilled Chicken Strips

 

  • Serves:4
  • Difficulty:Low
  • Prep:10 minutes
  • Type:Main Dishes
  • Total time:30 minutes

Print recipeIngredients

  • 1 Shallot, minced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1/4 cup chopped Sundried Tomatoes
  • 2 1/2 cups packed chopped fresh spinach
  • 8 ounces linguini, broken in half
  • 2 cups vegetable or chicken broth
  • 1 cup milk
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1/3 cup fresh grated parmesan, plus extra for serving

Directions

  1. In a large, deep skillet or a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the shallot and garlic and sauté for 2 minutes.
  2. Add the sun-dried tomatoes, fresh spinach, linguini, broth, and milk to the shallots and garlic. Stir to combine. Season, to your personal taste, with salt and pepper.
  3. Bring the liquid to a boil over medium heat. Then, reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring every few minutes, until the pasta is cooked al dente, about 10 – 15 minutes.
  4. Remove from heat. Add the parmesan, stir to combine, and serve sprinkled with additional parmesan.

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