Creamy Spinach Fettuccine Alfredo (Printable)

Velvety Parmesan sauce coats fettuccine with fresh spinach for a comforting Italian-American dish.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 14 oz fettuccine

→ Alfredo Sauce

02 - 4 tbsp unsalted butter
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 cup heavy cream
05 - 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
06 - 2 oz cream cheese, cubed
07 - 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
08 - Pinch of ground nutmeg (optional)
09 - Salt, to taste

→ Spinach

10 - 5 oz fresh baby spinach, washed and dried

→ Garnish

11 - Extra grated Parmesan cheese
12 - Chopped fresh parsley

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook fettuccine until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta.
02 - Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant without browning.
03 - Reduce heat to low. Stir in heavy cream and cream cheese, whisking until cream cheese is fully melted and mixture is smooth.
04 - Add grated Parmesan, black pepper, and nutmeg if using. Stir continuously until cheese is melted and sauce is creamy. Adjust salt to taste.
05 - Add fresh spinach to the sauce and cook, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes until just wilted.
06 - Toss cooked fettuccine with the sauce, adding reserved pasta water as needed to loosen and evenly coat the pasta.
07 - Plate immediately and garnish with extra grated Parmesan and chopped parsley.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • It's ready in 30 minutes, which means weeknight dinner doesn't have to feel rushed or disappointed.
  • The cream cheese keeps the sauce from breaking, so even if you're not a confident cook, it feels forgiving.
  • Fresh spinach turns something indulgent into something that doesn't make you feel quite so guilty.
02 -
  • Low heat is everything; if your sauce looks like it's bubbling hard, it will break and separate, and no amount of stirring will bring it back.
  • That reserved pasta water is liquid gold for loosening the sauce without watering it down; it has starch that helps everything cling together beautifully.
03 -
  • Warm your serving bowl before plating by running it under hot water; this keeps the pasta and sauce hot all the way to the table.
  • Have everything prepped and measured before you start cooking; this sauce moves fast once it gets going, and there's no time to hunt for ingredients.
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