Speedy Spinach Pesto Pasta is a quick and easy 15 minute dinner idea. Spinach and walnut pesto is tossed simply with a little gluten-free pasta, fresh garden tomatoes and topped with crumbled bacon. Serve it up with an easy tomato cucumber salad for a complete family meal. 
Speedy Spinach Pesto Pasta!
Lets say that again, faster. Speedy Spinach Pesto Pasta - Faster..! It's a tongue twister for sure. This Italian pasta recipe is packed with flavors like our quick and easy one pot shrimp and sausage pasta recipe. It's sure to be one of your family's pasta favorites too.
15 Minute Dinner to the Rescue
Just as fast as you can say Speedy Spinach Pesto Pasta 15 times, you can have made and on your dinner table in 15 minutes. Seriously simple to make and easy on the wallet. In addition, it can be made with mostly all pantry ingredients. You have to love that! If you are looking for other speedy pasta recipes be sure to try our 15 minute Farfalle Aglio e Olio with Breadcrumbs or one pot chicken cacciatore pasta.
Frugal Dining
We had a serious old Mothers cupboard syndrome this week here at Healthy World Cuisine and had to make dinner just using what I had around. Be sure to check out our 17 Pantry Recipes for Emergency Preparedness to help inspire you to make dinner on just what you have on hand.
We always have dried pasta in our house and I always have a little gluten-free pasta on hand for me. So Mama Mia, while the carb watcher was out-of-town we had a pasta feast!
We served this easy speedy spinach pesto pasta with a nice tossed salad and a delicious red. We only used the food processor and one pot. Clean up was a snap.
Recipe Exchanges and Dietary Needs
You can easily make this dish dairy free. Hold the parmesan cheese. Instead add a little dried red pepper flakes or even a little drizzle of fresh lemon juice or zest for a pop of flavor. If you also want to make this dish vegan, then also hold the bacon crumbles.
This recipe is highly adaptable and you can add any protein or veggies you want to this dish. After all, this is a pantry dish so use what you have on hand.
Clean out the Freezer
I used frozen spinach because fresh is no longer in season. Having frozen spinach in the freezer makes preparing speedy spinach pesto pasta or spinach ravioli a breeze. Feel free to add in quick cooking veggies like zucchini or even throw in a little leftover roasted chicken.
Bacon Thieves!
The only issue with this recipe is cooking the bacon first. Just like in our kimchi pasta, it leaves you vulnerable for 15 minutes. You are going to have watch those bacon crumbles like a hawk. If your family comes into the kitchen before the dish is complete, BEWARE! If your family does not get to it first, then our furry friend has been known to get some real height with his jumps.
Wishing all of you a super week!
More Quick and Easy Dinner Recipes
Farfalle Aglio e Olio with Breadcrumbs
Low Carb Shrimp and Sausage Skillet
Lemon Herb Baked Red Rainbow Trout
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Speedy Spinach Pesto Pasta
Ingredients
- 6 slices bacon cooked until crispy, drained and crumbled (hold if going vegan)
- 14 oz spaghetti
(I used gluten free corn and Quinoa mix) - 1 cup walnuts
(if you toast them first...so good but not required) - 2 cloves garlic
peeled - 1.5 cups spinach (unthawed frozen spinach and all the water squeezed out)
- ¼ cup olive oil
(or can use a little water to thin if trying to reduce fat) - salt and pepper
to taste - ½ cup parmesan cheese
(leave out if going dairy free or vegan) reserve a little extra if you want to garnish with a little extra on the finished dish - 1 tomatoes
chopped fresh (optional- garnish) - dried red pepper flakes optional - as desired
Instructions
- Fry bacon until crispy, drain and and crumble. Set Aside. If going vegan you can skip this step and go straight to step 2.
- Bring pasta to boil in a large pot with lots of salted water and cook per pasta directions or until aldente.
- In the meantime, place walnuts in food processor and grind until fine. Add the garlic, spinach, olive oil, salt, pepper and parmesan cheese (if not dairy-free or vegan), salt and pepper to taste and process until smooth.
- Drain pasta (but reserve about 1 cup of pasta water). Add the spinach pesto to the pan with a little bit about ¼ cup- ⅓ cup of pasta water to thin the pesto and make it creamy. Toss well.
- Serve onto 4 plates, top with a little fresh chopped tomatoes, crumbled bacon and a parmesan cheese if not vegan or dairy free. I like a little dried red pepper flakes on top of mine for a little kick.
- Enjoy pasta with a side salad and a nice glass of red wine.
Dana says
This looks wonderful
HWC Magazine says
Thanks Dana! Sometimes dinner has to be fast or it is just not going to happen. Spinach pesto pasta is one of our go to recipes for busy days.