Quick Marinara Pasta Spinach

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz dried spaghetti or penne

02 - Salt, as needed for pasta water

→ Sauce

03 - 2 tbsp olive oil

04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced

05 - 24 oz jar marinara sauce

06 - 5 oz fresh baby spinach

07 - ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

08 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ To Serve

09 - ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving

10 - Fresh basil leaves (optional)

# Cooking Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water and drain.

02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.

03 - Pour in marinara sauce and bring to a gentle simmer. Add red pepper flakes if desired.

04 - Stir in fresh spinach and cook, stirring frequently, until wilted, about 2 to 3 minutes.

05 - Add drained pasta to sauce and toss to coat evenly. Adjust sauce consistency with reserved pasta water if needed.

06 - Stir in grated Parmesan cheese and season with freshly ground black pepper.

07 - Plate immediately, garnishing with extra Parmesan and fresh basil leaves if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -

It comes together in twenty minutes, which means dinner on your terms, not the takeout menu's.
The spinach hides in plain sight, making this one of the easiest ways to sneak greens into a meal without anyone noticing.
It's the kind of dish that tastes intentional even though you're basically just heating and tossing things together.

02 -

Don't skip reserving the pasta water—that starch is magic for bringing everything together into a silky sauce instead of a chunky mess.
Fresh spinach wilts so fast that you need to be ready; step away for a moment too long and you'll wonder where all that vibrant green went.
The quality of your marinara sauce makes a real difference; this isn't the place to grab the cheapest jar on the shelf.

03 -