Easy Artichoke Pasta with Spinach and Lemon

Make an easy show-stopping artichoke pasta in about 20 minutes with nothing but pantry staples and a bag of spinach. This pasta with chargrilled marinated artichokes and lots of lemons is bright and fresh and only takes 20 minutes. Add in some fresh peas and greens to make this vegetarian pasta extra special!  

I’m not making any claims to authentic Italian cooking, here. What I am laying claim to, is a lemony pasta dinner bursting with peas and spinach that comes together in minutes and makes you reach for seconds… and thirds all the time. 

Easy Artichoke Pasta
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Cooking the perfect pasta

• Boil your pasta according to the package directions. But here are a few tips for perfect pasta: Start with rapidly boiling water. You need enough water in the pan to ensure that when you add your pasta, it doesn’t slow down the water from boiling. And for goodness sake make sure that water is well salted!
• Drain off your pasta, but be sure to save a few tablespoons of the water. Saving this will ensure that you end up with a silky sauce at the end because the starch in the water and the proteins in the cheese come together for silky smooth perfection.
• Set your pasta aside and in a skillet, heat the olive oil. Add the marinated artichokes and some pine nuts and some fresh peas. Heat until the artichokes are hot and starting to turn golden and crispy on the edges and the pine nuts are toasted. The peas only take a minute or 2 to cook.
• Stir in the cheese and pasta, add the water and let it all melt. Add giant handfuls of spinach and let it wilt from the heat of the pan.

Lemon Artichoke pasta sauce

This sauce is a light olive oil based sauce made silky with melted parmesan and a dash of the pasta cooking water. But it’s worth knowing a couple of tips and tricks to make sure that you get the perfect pasta sauce.

1. Be sure to reserve some of the pasta cooking water. A quarter cup will do. 
2. Heat the olive oil in a skillet and add the drained chargrilled artichokes.
3. Let them gently cook until the artichokes are just starting to turn golden. Add the pine nuts and peas. If you add the pine nuts too early they’ll burn and turn bitter. Golden and toasty is what you’re looking for.
4. Slowly add the pasta water and lemon juice while whisking the sauce to create an emulsion. If you are adding some cream, this would be the time to do that.
5. Once the sauce is hot add the cheese to ensure it melts quickly and turns silky. Toss the hot pasta and some spinach with the sauce and serve with lots of fresh greens and extra cheese.

Artichoke Pasta Variations

You can absolutely change this recipe up for so many different variations to keep it exciting and seasonal.

1. Switch the spinach for kale.
2. Add a touch of cream to the sauce to give it more richness.
3. Replace the pinenuts with chopped walnuts.
4. Use vegetable broth to cook the noodles and turn this into a one-pot pasta.
5. Add grilled chicken or turkey for extra protein.

More Easy Pasta Recipes

• Easy One Pan Tomato Pasta
• Healthy Creamy Mushroom Pasta
• Summer Bolognese Pasta

Tools used to make this Artichoke Pasta

1. Marinated Artichoke Hearts
2. Skillet for Sauce
3. Tongs for Pasta

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5 from 2 votes

Easy Artichoke Pasta with Peas and Lemon

This artichoke pasta is so easy and quick. Use chargrilled marinated artichokes and dried penne to get this lemon-y artichoke pasta on the table in minutes. It's the perfect pantry pasta dinner.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time10 mins

Total Time20 mins

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: Artichoke pasta, easy dinner, Pantry pasta, Quick pasta recipes

Servings: 4 Servings

Calories: 590kcal

Author: Debs Thompson

Ingredients

• 1 pound penne pasta gluten free if required
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic
• juice and zest of 1 lemon
• 2 cups baby spinach
• 6 ounce jar of grilled marinated artichokes
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
• 2 Tbsp pine nuts
• 1 tsp red chilli flakes

Instructions

• Heat the olive oil in a sauce pan and add the garlic, pine nuts artichokes and juice and zest of 1 lemon. Cook all the ingredients until the pine nuts are starting to brown and the artichokes are heated through and starting to turn golden on the edges.
• Meanwhile boil a large pan of salted water. Add the pasta and cook according to the package directions. Once cooked drain the pasta and add it to the pan with the artichokes and garlic.
• Stir in the cheese and let melt. Add the spinach and toss the pasta until the spinach is wilted.
• Drizzle with some olive oil and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

Notes

Note 1. Ensure that your pasta water is well salted and is at a rolling boil before adding the pasta.

Note 2. Use a few tablespoons of the pasta water to add to the finished dish to create a silky sauce.

Note 3. This can be served hot for dinner, or makes the perfect pasta salad.

Note 4. Add extra protein with a chicken breast or some tofu.