This easy green pasta sauce is made with Boursin cheese, fresh spinach a few other everyday ingredients. Not only is this easy cheesy pasta sauce recipe super flavorful but it packs tons of hidden nutrients from the spinach.
What is Green Pasta Sauce
Imagine a pasta sauce that's lusciously green, super cheesy and irresistibly creamy.
Now imagine a sauce that comes together in under 5 minutes in a food processor with minimal effort.
Sounds dreamy, right?!
This easy green pasta sauce marries the rich, tangy zest of Boursin cheese with the earthy, wholesome goodness of fresh spinach and basil, creating not only a vibrant green color but a delicious flavor that's unforgettable.
Along with a few simple ingredients, this sauce transforms any ordinary pasta dish into a vibrant, nutrient-packed feast.
It's the kind of recipe that kids will love because it looks cool while also being packed full of good stuff.
I love using spaghetti with this easy green sauce but you could absolutely use whatever kind of pasta you prefer.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Spinach - I do not recommend swapping the spinach out for another green but if you absolutely had to, you could try kale or escarole but it won't taste the same.
- Basil - Basil adds a pop of freshness and flavor - I do not recommend leaving it out or subbing it for something else.
- Heavy Cream - If you wanted to use whole milk or half and half, reduce the amount to 1 cup. You could also use unsweetened coconut mik.
- Boursin cheese - Boursin not only adds a cheesy element but it adds tons of seasoning, too. If you were to swap it for ricotta, goat cheese or even feta, you might want to add some additional seasonings.
- Parmesan - You could swap the parm for grana padano or pecorino.
- Garlic - I recommend fresh garlic as it's the best way to get flavor into your green pasta sauce.
- Salt - Kosher salt is best for this recipe - if you're using table salt, it will be much saltier than intended.
- Lemon - Fresh lemon juice adds so much flavor but you could use the shelf stable, packaged kind if you had to.
- Olive Oil - Any neutral oil will work just fine.
- Pasta - You can use whatever pasta shape you prefer - this recipe makes enough sauce for about ½ lb to 12oz of pasta.
How to make it Green Pasta Sauce
Making Green Pasta Sauce is way easier than you might think! Here's how you do it:
Prep Ingredients: Add all ingredients besides olive oil into a food process and puree until smooth and creamy. Drizzle in the olive oil slowly for the last minute or so.
Heat it up: Transfer mixture to a sauce pan over medium heat and let cook for 5 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the sauce is looser.
Toss it with Pasta: Cook your choice of pasta al dente then toss with the sauce - being sure to finish the pasta in the sauce to maximize flavor.
What goes with Green Pasta Sauce
This easy green pasta sauce goes well with so many dishes. Here are a few of my favorites:
- Caesar Salad without Anchovies
- Detroit Style Pepperoni Pizza Pie
- Shaved Carrot Salad with Cranberries & Feta
- Baked Goat Cheese Dip with Hot Honey Bacon & Dates
- Cheesy Ricotta Meatball Skillet
Frequently asked questions
What is green pasta made from?
Green pasta is typically with semolina wheat with pureed spinach or basil, infusing every strand with a whisper of earthiness and a burst of freshness. Just like this easy green pasta sauce, the color is from the fresh green leaves of spinach and basil.
What is green sauce called?
In the Italian culinary world, "pesto" is a a lush, green sauce that's as bold in flavor as it is in color. This delicious sauce is made from the finest basil leaves, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, and a clove of garlic and olive oil.
What are the benefits of green pasta?
Green pasta not only looks awesome but it tastes amazing, too! This easy sauce recipes offers a sneaky dose of vitamins and antioxidants with every bite. It's a deliciously clever way to give love both your body and your taste buds.
Save this recipe for later
If you don't want to forget about this recipe, there are a few things you can do!
- You can print the recipe card below!
- Tap that little heart icon over to the right...
- Or you can pin any image on this page to your pasta or spring pinterest boards.
And if you don't already, feel free to follow me on pinterest, instagram,youtube, facebook, and tiktok for tasty inspiration shared daily!
And if pinterest isn't really your thing, remember you can always scroll down to the bottom of this post and print the printable recipe card.
Recipe
Flavorful Green Pasta Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
Instructions
- Add all ingredients besides olive oil into a food processor and puree until smooth and creamy. Drizzle in the olive oil slowly for the last minute or so.
- Transfer mixture to a sauce pan over medium heat and let cook for 3 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the sauce is looser.
- Add cooked al dente pasta of choice to the sauce and let the pasta finish cooking in the sauce to absorb the flavor. Season with more salt and pepper to taste if needed.
Allie says
this is really yummy! it made wayyyy too much sauce for the suggested cooked pasta. i did 1 cup heavy cream and it was still too much sauce