Creamy Vegan Spinach Artichoke Pasta (1 Pot!)

by Posted on

Fork picking up a bite of creamy vegan spinach artichoke pasta

Pasta with all the creamy comfort of spinach artichoke dip? Sign us up! This comforting, veggie-filled dish comes together with simple methods and just 10 ingredients. It’s a weeknight dream! 

Bonus? This crowd-pleasing recipe is vegan, optionally gluten-free, and packed with vitamins and minerals (C, K, folate, iron, potassium, and more!). Let’s make pasta!

Cashews, pasta, olive oil, lemon, shallot, salt, pepper, garlic, nutritional yeast, baby spinach, artichoke hearts, and water

This creamy pasta party kicks off with cooking your favorite pasta and (quickly!) soaking cashews to soften them and ensure a more neutral flavor.

While you wait, there’s time to chop the shallot, garlic, and artichoke hearts and then blend up the cashews with lemon, salt, and nutritional yeast to create a “cheesy,” creamy sauce.

Sautéing shallot, garlic, artichoke hearts, and spinach in a Dutch oven

When your pasta is done cooking, you can use your now-empty pasta pot (yay, fewer dishes!) to sauté the shallot, garlic, artichoke hearts, and spinach. This enhances their sweetness and removes some moisture for best flavor!

Finish it off by adding your cooked pasta and the creamy cashew sauce, and stir it all up. And for an extra delicious final touch, garnish with vegan parmesan cheese and spicy red pepper flakes. Dinner is served!

Pot of vegan spinach and artichoke dip pasta

We hope you LOVE this spinach artichoke dip pasta! It’s:

Creamy
Saucy
Garlicky
Veggie-packed
Easy to make
& SO delicious!

With 17 grams of protein per serving, it’s a comforting, plant-based meal all on its own! It would also pair well with roasted asparagus or Brussels sprouts, or grilled chicken or shrimp if not vegan/vegetarian.

More Weeknight Pasta Recipes

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo @minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!

Up close shot of a bite of pasta

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Servings 4 (Servings)

Course Entrée or Side

Cuisine Gluten-Free (optional), Italian-Inspired, Vegan

Freezer Friendly No

Does it keep? 3-4 Days

US Customary – Metric

SAUCE

  • 3/4 cup raw cashews, soaked
  • 3/4 cup water (or reserved pasta water from cooking pasta)
  • 1 Tbsp lemon juice
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1 Tbsp nutritional yeast (optional)

PASTA

  • 8-10 oz. dry pasta (gluten-free as needed // we like Jovial penne // or a legume-based pasta like Banza for more protein)
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 3/4 cup diced shallot (2 medium shallots yield ~3/4 cup or 105 g // or sub red onion)
  • 4 medium cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (14 oz.) can artichoke hearts in water, drained, finely chopped
  • 1 (5 oz.) package baby spinach (5 oz. yields ~7-8 cups)
  • 1 healthy pinch each sea salt and black pepper

FOR SERVING optional

  • SOAK CASHEWS: Add cashews to a heatproof bowl and cover with hot water by at least 1-2 inches. Soak for ~20 minutes.

  • PASTA: Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, add the pasta and cook according to package instructions.

  • While pasta is cooking and cashews are soaking, chop the shallot, garlic, and artichoke hearts. Set aside.

  • SAUCE: Drain the cashews and add them to a high-speed blender (or small blender) with all remaining sauce ingredients: water, lemon juice, salt, and nutritional yeast (optional). Blend until smooth and creamy — about 1 minute.
  • Heat the olive oil in a large pot, Dutch oven, or large rimmed skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the chopped shallot and garlic. Sauté for 1-2 minutes, then lower the heat to medium-low and sauté for 2-3 minutes more or until slightly caramelized.

  • Increase the heat to medium and add the chopped artichoke hearts and cook for 3-4 minutes to remove some of the liquid. Add the spinach and a healthy pinch each of salt and pepper and sauté for ~2-3 minutes, stirring frequently to wilt the spinach. If your spinach doesn’t all fit in the pan at once, simply add some, let it wilt, then add more. Keep going in this way until it’s all added. It’s okay if it doesn’t all go in at the same time.

  • Turn off the heat and add the sauce and cooked pasta and toss to combine. You can add a little water if you desire a saucier, thinner consistency.

  • Enjoy warm garnished with vegan parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes (both optional).

  • Best when fresh, but leftovers will keep in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Not freezer friendly.

Serving: 1 serving Calories: 449 Carbohydrates: 67.7 g Protein: 17 g Fat: 16.2 g Saturated Fat: 2.7 g Polyunsaturated Fat: 3.1 g Monounsaturated Fat: 8.5 g Trans Fat: 0 g Cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 523 mg Potassium: 992 mg Fiber: 13.4 g Sugar: 6.3 g Vitamin A: 556 IU Vitamin C: 22 mg Calcium: 98 mg Iron: 5.6 mg

Published by Staff Reporter