Smooth & Creamy Artichoke Sauce Pasta Recipe You’ll Adore

Creamy pasta with artichoke sauce bursts with Mediterranean flavors that dance across your palate.

Tender strands of pasta blend seamlessly with a velvety artichoke sauce that whispers of Italian coastal traditions.

Each forkful promises a delightful culinary adventure packed with rich, subtle undertones.

The sauce brings a luxurious depth that elevates simple ingredients into something extraordinary.

Garlic and herbs weave their magic through the silky texture, creating a dish that feels both comforting and sophisticated.

Weeknight dinners or special gatherings become memorable moments with this elegant recipe.

Prepare to savor every single bite of this irresistible pasta masterpiece.

When & How to Serve Artichoke Pasta

• Elegant Dinner Party Centerpiece: Serve this creamy artichoke pasta on a large white platter, garnished with fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese for a stunning visual presentation that will impress guests.
• Rustic Italian Lunch Companion: Pair the dish with a crisp arugula salad dressed in lemon vinaigrette and some crusty ciabatta bread to soak up the delicious artichoke sauce.
• Quick Weeknight Meal Transformation: Top the pasta with grilled chicken or sautéed shrimp to add protein and create a more substantial meal in just minutes, perfect for busy families looking for a satisfying dinner solution.
• Mediterranean-Inspired Side Dish: Offer this pasta as a delightful accompaniment to roasted salmon or grilled vegetables, allowing the artichoke sauce to complement other Mediterranean-style proteins with its rich, creamy texture.

Storage Tips for Leftover Artichoke Sauce Pasta

• Quick Refrigeration Strategy: Store leftover pasta in an airtight container and refrigerate within 2 hours of cooking to maintain freshness and prevent bacterial growth.
• Smart Reheating Technique: Gently warm pasta in a skillet with a splash of reserved pasta water or olive oil to restore moisture and prevent dryness, stirring occasionally for even heating.
• Freezing Wisdom: Freeze sauce separately from pasta in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months, allowing flexible meal preparation and reducing waste.
• Ingredient Shelf Life: Keep unopened artichoke jars in a cool, dark pantry for 12-18 months, and transfer opened jars to the refrigerator, consuming within 7-10 days for optimal flavor and quality.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Calories: 570 kcal

Servings: 4

Gather These for Pasta with Artichoke Sauce

• Pasta: Choose a short, ridged pasta like penne or rigatoni that catches the creamy artichoke sauce perfectly, ensuring each bite is deliciously coated.

• Artichoke Hearts: Select tender, jarred or canned artichoke hearts packed in water for a clean, bright flavor that transforms the entire dish.
• Garlic: Fresh garlic cloves provide a robust, aromatic foundation that complements the delicate artichoke notes.
• Olive Oil: Extra virgin olive oil adds a luxurious, smooth undertone and helps build a rich sauce base.
• Salt: High-quality sea salt or kosher salt elevates and balances the overall taste profile.
• Black Pepper: Freshly ground black pepper introduces a subtle, warming heat to the sauce.

• Pasta Water: Starchy pasta water acts as a magical emulsifier, helping to create a silky, cohesive sauce that clings beautifully to the pasta.

Must-Have Tools for a Saucy Artichoke Pasta Night

• Large pot: Essential for boiling pasta with plenty of space and depth.
• Colander: Perfect for draining pasta after cooking.
• Measuring cup: Helps measure and reserve the precise amount of pasta water.
• Wooden spoon or tongs: Great for stirring pasta and moving it between pot and colander.
• Sharp knife: Useful for prepping ingredients if needed.

Pasta with Artichoke Sauce: The Cooking Process

• Boil Water and Prep Pasta

Fill a big pot with water, add a pinch of salt, and bring to a rolling boil. Slide your pasta into the bubbling water and cook until it’s perfectly tender with a slight bite.

• Capture Cooking Liquid

Before draining the pasta, scoop out some of the starchy cooking water. This liquid gold will help create a silky, clingy sauce later.

• Drain and Set Aside

Carefully pour the pasta into a colander, letting the water flow away. Let the pasta rest momentarily while you prepare the sauce.

• Create Artichoke Magic

In a pan, warm some olive oil and gently sauté minced garlic until it becomes fragrant. Add chopped artichoke hearts and let them dance in the pan, soaking up the aromatic flavors.

• Blend Sauce Ingredients

Pour in cream or broth, stirring to combine with the artichokes. Let the mixture simmer and reduce slightly, creating a luscious, velvety sauce.

• Combine Pasta and Sauce

Toss the drained pasta into the artichoke sauce, using the reserved cooking water to help everything meld together beautifully. Stir until each pasta strand is gloriously coated.

• Final Flourish

Sprinkle with fresh herbs or grated cheese if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy your delightful artichoke pasta creation.

Add-Ins & Customizations for This Creamy Pasta

• Creamy Artichoke Magic: Blend some parmesan cheese into the sauce for extra richness and depth of flavor.
• Gluten-Free Friendly: Swap traditional pasta with gluten-free varieties like chickpea or rice pasta to make the dish celiac-friendly.
• Make-Ahead Convenience: Prepare the artichoke sauce up to two days in advance and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for quick weeknight meals.
• Vegan Twist: Replace dairy cream with coconut milk or cashew cream and use nutritional yeast instead of parmesan to create a plant-based version of this delicious pasta dish.
• Herb Boost: Sprinkle fresh chopped basil, parsley, or thyme on top just before serving to add a bright, aromatic element that elevates the entire dish.

Silky Pasta With Artichoke Sauce

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4.7 from 12 reviews

• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Creamy pasta with artichoke sauce brings Mediterranean flavors to dinner tables. Hearty ingredients combine for a simple yet elegant Italian-inspired meal you’ll savor with each delightful bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 12 oz (340 g) pasta (spaghetti, fettuccine, or penne)
• 1 can (14 oz) or jar (1216 oz) artichoke hearts (drained and roughly chopped)
• ½ cup heavy cream (or Greek yogurt for a lighter version)
• ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 2 tbsps olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• ½ cup vegetable or chicken broth (or pasta water for extra silkiness)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice (for brightness)
• ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
• ¼ cup fresh parsley or basil, chopped (for garnish)
• Salted water (for boiling the pasta)

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Instructions

1. Pot Preparation: Fill a large pot with water, generously season with salt, and heat to a vigorous boil over high flame.
2. Pasta Cooking: Introduce pasta into rapidly boiling water, intermittently stirring to prevent clumping, and cook until achieving an al dente texture with a subtle resistance when tasted.
3. Liquid Preservation: Prior to straining, extract a half cup of starchy pasta water, which will serve as a critical emulsification agent for the sauce’s smoothness.
4. Pasta Handling: Drain pasta thoroughly in a colander, allowing complete water removal, and temporarily reserve for sauce integration.
5. Artichoke Sauce Creation: In a separate skillet, sauté minced garlic and shallots until translucent, then introduce quartered artichoke hearts, allowing them to caramelize slightly.
6. Sauce Enhancement: Deglaze the pan with white wine, incorporating heavy cream, grated parmesan, and reserved pasta water, stirring continuously to create a silky, cohesive sauce.
7. Final Assembly: Gently fold cooked pasta into the artichoke cream sauce, ensuring each strand is luxuriously coated, and finish with fresh chopped parsley, cracked black pepper, and a final dusting of parmesan.

Notes

• Select Optimal Pot Size: Choose a wide, deep pot to allow pasta ample space for even cooking and prevent clumping.
• Master Salting Technique: Add enough salt to make the water taste like seawater, ensuring pasta absorbs flavor during cooking.
• Preserve Starchy Liquid: Reserve pasta water before draining, as its starchy composition helps create a silky, cohesive sauce with better binding properties.
• Check Pasta Doneness: Test pasta texture by tasting – it should have a slight firmness (al dente) to maintain optimal texture and prevent mushiness.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Boiling
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 450
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 500 mg
• Fat: 22 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 50 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 15 g
• Cholesterol: 45 mg