Asiago Pasta

Asiago Pasta is a mouth-watering pasta dish that features tender spaghetti noodles and a rich, velvety sauce made with grated Asiago cheese, garlic, and Italian seasoning. Fresh spinach adds a pop of color and a touch of healthiness to this comforting and easy-to-make pasta meal. If this sounds good to you, give my Cheesy Spinach Dip Chicken Pasta a try, too!

Ingredients & Substitutions

Pasta: I used spaghetti noodles in the recipe. You could use any kind of pasta you have on hand, or make your own homemade shaped pasta! Be sure to reserve about a cup of pasta water after you drain the noodles.

Red Pepper Flakes: Don’t be intimidated by the red pepper flakes; they do not make the dish too spicy. In fact, I add a few more to my plateful of noodles. However, you could leave them out if preferred.

Cheese: Asiago cheese is cheese made from cow’s milk in the northeastern region of Italy. Its flavor can vary depending on how long it has been aged. The longer the cheese has aged, the stronger its sweet, nutty flavor. If you don’t have asiago cheese, you could substitute grana padano, freshly grated parmesan cheese, manchego cheese, pecorino romano, gruyere, or even cheddar cheese.

Spinach: I prefer fresh spinach to add to the dish. However, you could use frozen spinach that has been thawed and squeezed of excess liquid. Or, try other vegetables like broccoli, bell peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, or tomatoes.

Reserve the Pasta Water!

There are a few pasta recipes I have that recommend reserving pasta water for the sauce (Vodka Sauce and Spicy Gnocchi Bread Bowl). But, is it important? Yes! The pasta water is added to the cheese sauce and cooked noodles. The starch from the pasta water also helps bind the sauce and pasta together rather than simply coating the noodles. This gives you a full-flavored taste in every bite!

What Meats Pair Well with Asiago Pasta?

This delicious Asiago pasta dish is perfect for those following a vegetarian lifestyle, but for those who want to add more protein, there are several options to choose from. Pair the pasta with your choice of meats including chicken, prosciutto, pancetta, sausage, beef, or ham. Seafood lovers can also add shrimp or scallops to take their Asiago pasta dish to the next level. Your personal preference and desired flavor profile will dictate the perfect meat or seafood addition to make this Asiago pasta recipe truly your own.

How to Store Asiago Pasta

If you have any leftovers, don’t let them go to waste. Store the leftover pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. When ready to enjoy, add the pasta to a saucepan with a small amount of water. Cover and heat over low heat until warm. Alternatively, you could microwave the pasta in a microwave-safe dish, covered, in 30-second intervals until heated through.