Pasta bake recipes are perfect to make ahead and this creamy spinach artichoke pasta bake is delicious as a vegetarian dinner.
How to make spinach artichoke pasta bake
Saute onions and garlic in butter over medium high heat until soft and translucent. Add chopped spinach then cook until wilted. Pour in the cream (heavy or whipping cream), sour cream and cornstarch mixed with milk. Allow to simmer for 5 minute then add the chopped artichokes, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
Cook pasta (fusilli, penne pasta, rigatoni or ziti) in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Add cooked pasta and stir to coat the pasta. Transfer the pasta to a baking dish and top with grated mozzarella cheese. Place in the oven and allow to bake until golden brown and bubbling. Remove from the oven and allow to stand for 5 minutes before serving.
How long to bake pasta
If using pre-cooked noodles, pasta bake needs to bake for approximately 20-25 minutes until golden brown and hot throughout. If using raw noodles or pasta, bake for 30-45 minutes until the pasta is cooked through.
Can you freeze pasta bake
Pasta bake freezes really well. Assemble pasta bake in foil containers (they freeze perfectly and can go from freezer to oven) then cover with a layer of parchment paper and wrap well with foil. Freeze for up to 4 months and bake directly from frozen until golden brown and bubbling.
Pasta bake recipes
- Pizza pasta bake
- Classic baked mac and cheese
- Creamy mushroom pasta bake
- Easy cheese and tomato pasta bake
Spinach artichoke pasta bake
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves crushed
- 400 g (+- 1 lb) baby spinach roughly chopped
- 1 cup heavy or whipping cream
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 cup milk mixed with 1 tbsp cornstarch
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 150 g (5oz) artichoke hearts (in oil) drained and quartered
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 500 g (+- 1 lb) pasta (fusilli, penne, ziti or rigatoni)
- 1 cup grated mozzarella
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 180°C/350°F.
- Saute onion and garlic in butter in a large frying pan or skillet until soft and translucent.
- Add spinach and allow to wilt. Season with salt and pepper.
- Pour the cream, sour cream and milk and cornstarch mixture into the pan and allow to simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes.
- Add the artichokes, Parmesan and lemon juice then simmer for another 5 minutes. Season to taste.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil then cook the pasta until almost al dente (approximately 10 minutes). The pasta will continue cooking in the oven.
- Drain the pasta (reserving 1 cup of water) and mix with the spinach sauce. Add a few tablespoons of pasta cooking water and mix well.
- Transfer the pasta to a baking dish and top with the mozzarella cheese.
- Place in the oven until golden brown and bubbling.
- Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
This recipe is a regular in our home and is a constant recommendation to friends and family! Every time I ask for dinner requests from my husband this is what he asks for. We actually make it with turmeric rotini noodles and a whole two jars of quartered artichoke hearts for some added nutritional value.
Thank you for you comment Ellis. I am so happy you love this recipe.
I did make the following changes- omitted heavy cream and used almond milk with cornstarch and added the half cup sour cream and half cup plain Greek yogurt for the cream base. Was delicious!! Thanks for posting!!
Can I use frozen spinach?
Absolutely!
Thanks! I tried it & it was a huge hit. Will definitely make this again.
So happy to hear that. 🙂
how long does it take to bake in the oven?
Approximately 15 minutes.
Is there something I can substitute for the cream to make it a bit healthier?
You could use milk and then thicken with a cornstarch slurry (cornstarch and water mixed together). Just be sure to cook out the flouriness from the sauce until it thickens.
The recipe does not state what size of baking dish this requires…?
9×13 inch will be perfect. (22x33cm)
Have you ever considered adding chicken? If I were to add, would you suggest adding after the chicken is cooked or adding to the dish raw?
I would add some cooked chicken breast cubes before baking.
Ever thought about adding mushrooms to this? I am thinking about adding them.
I’m sure that will be delicious!
It looks like you left off amount of parmesan and lemon
Amended the recipe, thanks!