Creamy Balsamic Mushroom Pasta

4 servings
1 hr 5 min

Creamy balsamic mushroom pasta with spinach is an easy vegetarian pasta recipe made with bowtie (farfalle) pasta, and buttery caramelized onions.


This creamy balsamic mushroom pasta is made with spinach and caramelized onions.


It’s creamy, cheesy and super flavorful.


Keep this creamy pasta vegetarian or add chicken or shrimp if that’s your jam.


The caramelized onions and mushrooms take a little bit of time so this dish may not be quick, but it’s easy and well worth the wait for those buttery, golden caramelized onions and almost crispy mushrooms.


After the onions and mushrooms are done, a quick balsamic cream sauce is made and everything gets tossed with the pasta, grated Parmesan cheese and fresh spinach.

Creamy Balsamic Mushroom Pasta
Recipe details
  • 4  servings
  • Prep time: 15 Minutes Cook time: 50 Minutes Total time: 1 hr 5 min
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Ingredients

  • 4 tbsp of butter, divided
  • 2 yellow onions, sliced thinly
  • 16 ounces mushrooms, sliced (see recipe notes)
  • salt, to taste
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 lb Farfalle pasta, or any type of pasta
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 cup heavy cream, or half & half
  • 2 cups spinach
  • ½ cup parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
  • Pepper, to taste
Instructions

Melt 3 tbsp butter over medium-low heat in large sauce pan. Add sliced onions, mushrooms, pinch of salt and sugar. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes, or until onions and mushrooms are golden brown and caramelized. (Once the onions and mushrooms are golden, I turn the heat to medium-high for 3-4 minutes to get them deeply browned and almost crispy)
Meanwhile, in a large pot of salted water, cook pasta according to package directions until "al dente", reserving 1 cup of the pasta water. Drain and set aside.
Once onions and mushrooms are caramelized, add thyme, garlic and balsamic vinegar. Stir and cook 4-5 minutes until balsamic is reduced to almost half.
Stir in cream, and simmer for 4-5 minutes.
Turn off heat. Add in cooked pasta, remaining 1 tablespoon of butter, spinach and parmesan cheese. Stir until spinach is wilted. Add ¼ cup of the reserved pasta water at a time, adding more if needed to achive a creamy consistency.
Serve immediately with extra Parmesan cheese if desired.
Tips
  • *Clean mushrooms with damp dish towel or paper towel to keep them as dry as possible. The dryer they are, the better they will caramelize.
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Comments
  • Sondra Daugherty Sondra Daugherty on Jul 05, 2021

    Made this recipe, but added diced chicken breast to the carmelization process! Awesome recipe! Whole family loved it!

  • Carol Ann McKenzie Carol Ann McKenzie on Dec 17, 2021

    Sounds great. What do I do with the 4th tbsp of butter?

    • Wine a Little Cook a Lot Wine a Little Cook a Lot on Dec 22, 2021

      Hi Carol, thanks for catching that! I've updated the recipe instructions, but you'll want to add the remaining tablespoon when you add the cooked pasta, spinach and cheese to the sauce.

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