Creamy Artichoke Pasta Bake (Printer-Friendly)

Creamy casserole with pasta, artichoke hearts, spinach, and Parmesan cream sauce. Ready in 50 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz short pasta such as penne, rigatoni, or fusilli

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 can (14 oz) artichoke hearts, drained and quartered
03 - 4 oz fresh baby spinach
04 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Sauce

06 - 1 cup heavy cream
07 - 1/2 cup whole milk
08 - 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for topping
09 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
10 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
11 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
12 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
13 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

→ Topping

14 - 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
15 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a large baking dish with approximately 2-quart capacity.
02 - Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté chopped onion for 3 minutes until softened, then add minced garlic and cook for 1 additional minute.
04 - Add spinach to the skillet and cook until wilted, approximately 2 minutes. Stir in quartered artichoke hearts and cook for another 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
05 - In a saucepan, heat heavy cream and milk over medium-low heat. Stir in grated Parmesan, Italian herbs, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Cook while stirring until cheese melts and sauce becomes smooth, approximately 3 minutes.
06 - In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, sautéed vegetables, and cream sauce. Mix thoroughly, then transfer mixture to the prepared baking dish.
07 - In a small bowl, combine breadcrumbs with melted butter. Sprinkle mixture evenly over the casserole. Top with additional Parmesan if desired.
08 - Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until golden and bubbling. Allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It tastes like you spent hours on it, but you'll be sitting down to eat in under an hour.
  • The golden breadcrumb topping adds a satisfying crunch that contrasts beautifully with the creamy interior.
  • Leftovers reheat surprisingly well, making it perfect for meal prep or next-day lunches.
  • Even picky eaters who claim they don't like artichokes have cleaned their plates when I've served this.
02 -
  • Don't skip draining the artichokes well, excess liquid will make your sauce thin and runny instead of creamy.
  • Undercook the pasta by a minute or two, it continues cooking in the oven and you want it tender, not mushy.
  • If your sauce looks too thick, add a splash of pasta water or milk before baking to loosen it up.
03 -
  • Toast your breadcrumbs lightly in a dry skillet before mixing with butter for an extra layer of nutty flavor.
  • Use a mix of Parmesan and Gruyère for a more complex, slightly sweet cheese flavor that elevates the whole dish.
  • Let the casserole rest those five minutes, it really does make slicing and serving so much neater.
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