Name: This Quick 4-Ingredient Pasta Is the Weeknight Dinner I Keep Coming Back To
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: Salt and freshly ground black pepper; 12 ounces (3/4 of a standard package) short pasta (such as fusilli corti bucati, orecchiette, cavatelli, or small shells); 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; 2 pints cherry tomatoes (about 4 cups); 6 medium cloves garlic, thinly sliced; 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional; 1 (5-ounce) container baby spinach; Grated parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast, for serving, optional

Ingredients

4 serv.

Salt and freshly ground black pepper
12 ounces (3/4 of a standard package) short pasta (such as fusilli corti bucati, orecchiette, cavatelli, or small shells)
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 pints cherry tomatoes (about 4 cups)
6 medium cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
1 (5-ounce) container baby spinach
Grated parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast, for serving, optional

Instructions

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1 Bring a medium pot of water to a boil over high heat. Salt the boiling water generously and cook the pasta until it is just short of al dente according to the package directions (it will finish cooking in the sauce). Scoop out 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water right before draining the pasta.
2 While the water is coming up to a boil, in a large high-sided skillet, combine the oil, tomatoes, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cover tightly with a lid and place over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes have burst and released their juices, about 10 minutes.
3 Using the back of a wooden spoon, lightly smash the tomatoes to help them collapse. Then, add the garlic, red pepper flakes (if using), and lots of freshly ground black pepper. Cook, uncovered and stirring often, until the sauce thickens slightly, about 2 minutes. Add the spinach and stir until most of it is wilted, about 1 minute.
4 Add the hot drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce, along with the reserved pasta cooking water. Stir to combine and cook just until the pasta is al dente and lightly coated in sauce, about 2 more minutes. Serve the pasta immediately, sprinkled with parmesan or nutritional yeast, if desired. Love the recipe? Leave us stars and a comment below!