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Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta with Spinach

Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 lb. pasta
  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 small onion chopped
  • 2 cloves of garlic diced
  • 1 can diced petite tomatoes
  • 1 1/2 tsp. dried basil
  • 3/4 tsp. dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes optional
  • 1/2 tsp. pepper more depending on your liking
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1 Tbsp. tomato paste
  • 2 oz. cream cheese
  • 1/4 C. grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 1/2 C. spinach more or less depending on your liking, remember it wilts down a lot

NOTE: 1/2 pound of pasta is usually half of 1 box, so if you want 8 servings use the whole box and double everything else!

Instructions

  1. 1. Fill your pasta pot with water, add salt and let it reach a boil. Add pasta, stir occasionally. Cook until al dente (still has some "bite" to it, it will continue to cook out of the water, so you don't want to over cook it). Drain pasta.
  2. 2. While pasta is cooking, place a large sauce pan over medium heat with olive oil.
  3. 3. When hot, add onions and garlic to sauce pan. Stir occasionally and cook for about 4 minutes.
  4. 4. Add diced tomatoes (including juice from can), basil, oregano, pepper flakes, pepper and salt. Stir.
  5. 5. Add tomato paste and stir again. Reduce to medium-low heat.
  6. 6. Add cream cheese and stir until evenly combined.
  7. 7. Add Parmesan cheese and stir until melted.
  8. 8. Add spinach and fold in until wilted.
  9. 9. Add pasta and stir well.
  10. 10. Serve with a little sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and freshly chopped basil on top!