Creamy Garlic Mushroom Pasta is a delightful dish combining mushrooms, onions, roasted garlic, cream cheese, and fresh baby spinach with your choice of pasta. It’s a dish that speaks to the simplicity of ingredients yet delivers a complex and satisfying flavor. Ideal for a cozy dinner or to impress at a special gathering, this pasta is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
- Rich and Flavorful: The mushrooms, onions, and cream cheese create a rich and creamy experience, while the garlic adds a depth of flavor.
- Versatile: This recipe can be easily modified. Add different herbs, spices, or vegetables to suit your taste.
- Simple Yet Sophisticated: Easy to prepare, this dish has a depth of flavor that belies its simplicity.
- Comforting: Perfect for a relaxing evening, this dish is like a warm hug in a bowl.
Deep Dive into Ingredients:
- Pasta: Your canvas. From the robustness of penne to the delicacy of spaghetti, each type offers a different texture and surface for the sauce.
- Mushrooms: They bring an umami-rich, meaty texture. Portobellos offer a robust flavor, while button mushrooms give a milder taste.
- Onions: Add a sweet and savory dimension, enhancing the overall richness of the dish.
- Fresh Baby Spinach: Not just for color, spinach adds a subtle, earthy flavor and is packed with nutrients.
- Whole Garlic Bulb: Roasting transforms garlic into a sweet, less pungent version of itself, adding a complex layer to the dish.
- Cream Cheese: Essential for achieving the desired creamy texture of the dish. Opt for a variety known for maintaining its smooth and creamy consistency even after baking.
- Olive Oil & Seasonings: Quality olive oil can elevate the dish, and the right balance of salt and pepper can highlight the main ingredients.
Cooking Tips for Perfection:
- Quality Matters: Fresh, high-quality ingredients make a significant difference. Choose fresh mushrooms, onions, and a good quality cream cheese.
- Roasting Garlic: Don’t rush this step. Roasted garlic should be golden and soft for the best flavor.
- Pasta Cook Time: Aim for al dente. Overcooked pasta can become mushy and won’t hold the sauce well.
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Roasting: Season and roast the mushrooms, onions, and garlic with olive oil. This step is crucial for flavor development.
- Pasta Preparation: Cook the pasta alongside the roasting. Remember, al dente is your goal.
- Combining Flavors: Blend the soft, roasted garlic into the mushroom and onion mixture. This creates the creamy, flavor-packed heart of the dish.
- Final Assembly: Mix the pasta, mushrooms, onions, garlic, and spinach. The heat from the pasta will gently wilt the spinach.
- Plating and Garnishing: Serve with a garnish of fresh herbs or a sprinkle of pepper. Presentation elevates the eating experience.
Additional Tips:
- Leftovers: This pasta reheats well, making it perfect for meal prep.
- Sauce Consistency: Adjust the creaminess with pasta water or more cream cheese as needed.
- Herb Choices: Basil, parsley, or thyme each offer a unique twist to the dish.
Vegetable Variations: Try adding sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, or artichokes.
Creamy Garlic Mushroom Pasta
A simple yet delicious vegetarian dish, this pasta combines the earthy flavors of roasted mushrooms and garlic with creamy cheese and fresh spinach. It’s a quick and cost-effective meal, ideal as a main course, and perfect for those who love Italian-inspired cuisine. Suitable for meal prep with easy adaptability for vegan diets, it’s a healthy, comforting choice for any dinner occasion.
Equipment
- Oven
- Baking sheet
- pot for boiling pasta
- Mixing bowl
- garlic press optional
- kitchen knife.
- Cutting board
- aluminum foil
Ingredients
- 14 oz Mushrooms or 400g, sliced
- 1-2 Onions depending on size and preference
- 2 tbsp Fresh Thyme: 2 tablespoons
- Salt to taste
- Black Pepper to taste
- Olive Oil as needed
- 7 oz Cream Cheese or 200g
- 1 Whole Garlic Bulb top cut off to expose cloves
- 14 oz Pasta or 400g
- 7 oz Baby Spinach: 200g or 200g
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 180°C (356°F).
Prepare Mushrooms and Onions:
- Place the sliced mushrooms and onions on a baking sheet.
- Sprinkle with thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Drizzle with olive oil and toss to coat evenly.
Add Cream Cheese and Garlic:
- Dot the cream cheese around the mushrooms onions.
- Place the whole garlic bulb, cut side up, on the baking sheet.
- Drizzle the garlic with a bit of olive oil.
Bake:
- Cover the baking sheet with aluminium foil.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes, until the garlic is soft and the mushrooms and onions are tender.
Cook the Pasta:
- While the mushrooms, onions, and garlic are baking, cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Ensure it's ready when the mushrooms and onions are done.
Combine Everything:
- After baking, squeeze the roasted garlic cloves into a bowl and mash them.
- Add the garlic, baby spinach, and cooked pasta to the baking sheet with mushrooms and onions.
- Toss everything well to combine.
Serve and Enjoy:
- Serve the warm dish and enjoy each delicious bite!
Video
Notes
The dish can be customized with additional vegetables or herbs.
Leftovers store well and can be reheated, making it great for meal prep.
Roasting the garlic is key for a mellow, sweet flavor – don’t skip this step!
Leftovers store well and can be reheated, making it great for meal prep.
Roasting the garlic is key for a mellow, sweet flavor – don’t skip this step!
Loved it! Used garlic cream cheese and it was delicious!
This was very good but sadly my garlic didn’t roast properly with the other items. I had to roast it separately. I put it in for the full 40 minutes too
Excellent combo of flavors. Super easy instructions. It’s a keeper!
I’m in the middle of making this for a second time. As others have said, it doesn’t cook through with the instructions given. I don’t know what the solution is just yet, but so far, turning up the temperature had limited success. I’m now trying to bake it without foil and I’ll add moisture after if required. Also, there’s no physical way to add 200g of spinach. I weighed 100g and it’s more than I need. I’m so confused by this recipe, but I will perfect it for myself because I like the result when it’s tinkered with.