The US is the second-most nation that consumes pasta — right under Italy, of course! There are many reasons why, other than the fact that pasta is delicious. Pasta is easy to make, feeds a whole family (or two!), and there are many run pasta varieties to spice things up (literally).
Pesto pasta is one of our personal favorites, especially this spinach pesto pasta with bacon. Here’s how to make it!
How to Serve Pasta With Vegetables
We all know the classic advice: eat five servings of vegetables a day. But seriously, do we really eat all those veggies? And what about kids?
If you don’t eat enough veggies or if your child refuses to eat greens, then don’t feel bad. But there are ways to sneak them into your meals, especially if you’re eating pasta. If you have no luck serving a spinach salad on the side, mix the spinach into your recipe — which is what we did here!
The Benefits of Spinach Pesto Pasta
First, everyone loves this recipe! Even our picky toddler loves it (and he’s a tough critic). It’s not only delicious but healthy and guilt-free (especially if you use whole grain or veggie pasta).
While you can add veggies to any pasta dish, the spinach blends in well with the pesto. You just blend it with the other ingredients and your picky toddler or spinach-hating relatives won’t even be able to taste it.
Common Questions When Making Pesto
This recipe calls for homemade pesto. Yes — homemade. No reaching for the store-bought stuff. Does that make you shudder? Don’t worry, pesto is easier to make than you think. But it’s normal to have a few questions.
How do you make pesto? Just put all of the ingredients in the blender and BOOM! Pesto is made.
Do you cook pesto? Pesto has the best flavor when it’s fresh. We don’t recommend cooking it. Even heating it a little bit in the microwave can reduce the flavor.
Why does my pesto taste bitter? Olive oil becomes emulsified in the blender, so a slight bitter taste is normal. If you don’t like the taste, add some salt or sugar to the mix.
Ingredients
The ingredients for this spinach pesto pasta is very simple:
- ½ cup of olive oil (can use more or less, depending on your preference)
- Pasta of choice (one package or how much you need)
- ¼ cup of fresh basil leaves
- ¼ cup fresh parsley
- 2 cups of spinach
- 3 minced garlic cloves
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ cup pine nuts (you can toast them if you want)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ tablespoon lemon zest
- Other Ingredients:
- Bacon (our recommendation!)
- Chicken
- Shrimp
- Prosciutto
You can also substitute mushrooms for meat if you want a vegan option.
Directions
Cook pasta according to package instructions (we recommend al dente). Cook any add-ins, such as bacon, mushrooms, or other proteins, separately. Toast the pine nuts separately, if desired.
Add the spinach, basil, garlic, olive oil, parsley, pine nuts, cheese, lemon, salt, and pepper in a food processor. Combine until well blended. Serve over pasta and add in your protein or mushrooms. Leave tongs out and let your family help themselves!
Spinach pesto sauce will last for up to two weeks in the refrigerator.
Discover More Recipes!
Are you trying to find ways to sneak in a daily serving of veggies? This spinach pesto pasta is a healthy recipe your family will love!
Head over to our recipes section for more dinner inspiration!
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