Brian Boitano's Artichoke and Spinach Pasta

Delight your taste buds with Brian Boitano's Artichoke and Spinach Pasta, a creamy, flavor-packed dish that’s as easy to prepare as it is impressive to serve. This recipe combines tender pasta with a luscious, velvety sauce made from heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and a hint of lemon zest for brightness. The star ingredients—artichoke hearts and fresh spinach—add a touch of freshness and elegance, perfectly balanced by the aromatic garlic sautéed in olive oil and butter. With a prep time of just 15 minutes and customizable spice from optional red pepper flakes, this dish is perfect for busy weeknights or a cozy dinner party. Serve it garnished with fresh parsley for a vibrant finish and watch this restaurant-quality pasta become a household favorite. Tags: creamy pasta recipe, artichoke pasta, spinach pasta, easy dinner recipes.

Nutriscore Rating: 64/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:20 mins

Total Time:35 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 12 ounces pasta (penne or fettuccine)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 5 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
• 14 ounces artichoke hearts, drained and quartered
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 0.25 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)

Directions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta and set aside.

Step 2

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and butter over medium heat until melted and shimmering.

Step 3

Add the minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for about 1 minute, or until fragrant.

Step 4

Stir in the chopped spinach and cook for 2-3 minutes until wilted.

Step 5

Add the artichoke hearts to the skillet and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring gently to combine.

Step 6

Pour in the heavy cream and bring it to a gentle simmer. Stir in the Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce thickens slightly, about 3-4 minutes.

Step 7

Add the lemon zest, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using). Stir well to combine.

Step 8

Toss the cooked pasta into the skillet, using reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce and evenly coat the pasta.

Step 9

Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley if desired. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1442.0g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2408.2

Total Fat 160.0g	0%
Saturated Fat 82.0g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3.4g
Cholesterol 385.8mg	0%
Sodium 5426.5mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 165.8g	0%
Dietary Fiber 35.8g	0%
Total Sugars 7.2g
Protein 73.7g	0%

Vitamin D 4.5IU	0%
Calcium 1342.3mg	0%
Iron 13.3mg	0%
Potassium 3101.8mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 60.1%

Protein: 12.3%

Carbs: 27.7%