12 Vegetarian Pasta Recipes That Satisfy (2024)

  • Recipes by Diet
  • Vegetarian

By

Brierley Horton, MS, RD

12 Vegetarian Pasta Recipes That Satisfy (1)

Brierley Horton, MS, RD

Brierley Horton is a registered dietitian nutritionist and experienced independent writer and editor with 15 years experience. She previously served as Food & Nutrition Director for Cooking Light magazine and was the Nutrition Editor at EatingWell magazine for nearly a decade.

Learn about BHG's Editorial Process

Updated on October 6, 2022

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Whether you're looking to change up your usual pasta dinner night or want a meatless pasta dish option, our vegetarian pasta recipes are the answer. Choose something Italian-inspired, with a creamy sauce, or a hearty pasta bake, each of these recipes comes highly-recommended by home cooks. Be sure to read the ingredient lists closely and seek out vegetarian versions of items like Parmesan cheese, broths, etc. that may be meatless but not necessarily vegetarian-friendly.

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Cheesy Baked Gnocchi with Kale

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12 Vegetarian Pasta Recipes That Satisfy (2)

Creamy, cheesy, and studded with good-for-you kale, this pasta bake recipe is a cozy dinner for vegetarians and flexitarians. We simplify the prep and call for premade gnocchi, and you could make it even easier by using washed, bagged, trimmed kale.

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Meatless Lasagna Pie

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Turn classic lasagna on its head with our mile-high layers of noodles, vegetables, and cheesy goodness. Look for vegetarian Parmesan, or choose another hard, aged vegetarian cheese to substitute. A springform pan helps this impressive vegetarian recipe keep its form.

Our Best Lasagna Recipes That Deliver Layers and Layers of Flavor

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Butternut Squash Bake

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12 Vegetarian Pasta Recipes That Satisfy (4)

If you love a vegetarian lasagna but want to shake it up a bit, this creamy pasta bake is for you. Mascarpone (a mild, soft, butter-like cheese), panko breadcrumbs, and butternut squash all come together to elevate this vegetarian pasta dinner.

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Orecchiette with Creamed Corn, Tomatoes, and Arugula

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12 Vegetarian Pasta Recipes That Satisfy (5)

Sweet corn, grape tomatoes, and arugula add bright flavor to this quick vegetarian pasta recipe. A creamy yet light sauce rounds out this easy pasta recipe. Look for a vegetarian-friendly Parmesan and skip the Pecorino Romano.

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Roasted Vegetable Lasagna

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12 Vegetarian Pasta Recipes That Satisfy (6)

Meat lovers won't miss the meat in this savory veggie-packed lasagna recipe—hello mushrooms, zucchini, and carrots! Plus, it's deliciously cheesy thanks to cottage cheese, mozzarella, and Parmesan (though be sure to seek out vegetarian-friendly cheeses).

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Lemon-Basil Pasta

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Sometimes pasta is synonymous with simple. And boy does this vegetarian pasta dinner recipe deliver! It calls for only five ingredients and the delicious sauce is just lemon, basil, and olive oil.

Delicious Instant Pot Vegetarian Recipes

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Smoky Mushroom Stroganoff

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Meaty mushrooms in an easy-to-make creamy sauce top egg noodles for a hearty vegetarian twist on a classic Italian favorite. This vegetarian pasta recipe is healthy and quick—and comes together in under 20 minutes.

Quick and Easy Vegetarian Dinners to Try Tonight

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Cauliflower Gnocchi

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This vegetarian pasta recipe not only capitalizes on the cauliflower trend, but also ups your veggie count thanks to a combination of potato and cauliflower in the gnocchi. To make sure this recipe is truly vegetarian, look for a vegetarian Parmesan cheese.

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Cheesy Shell-Stuffed Shells

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12 Vegetarian Pasta Recipes That Satisfy (10)

Forgo your regular mac and cheese for this over-the-top spin on the fan-favorite pasta dish. This creamy vegetarian pasta recipe stuffs cheesy mini shells inside jumbo shells and covers it in a creamy tomato-vodka sauce.

These Top Mac and Cheese Recipes Are Gooey Perfection

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Fettuccine Alfredo with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Veggies

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We took this classic creamy Italian vegetarian pasta recipe and cranked it up a notch. Adding Brussels sprouts, asparagus, broccoli, and sun-dried tomatoes make this Alfredo pasta dish anything but basic. Bonus: You can pull the impressive dish together in just 15 minutes.

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Vegetable-Polenta Lasagna

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12 Vegetarian Pasta Recipes That Satisfy (12)

This delicious vegetarian lasagna full of fresh and flavorful veggies has a twist: Instead of noodles, try using polenta, an Italian cornmeal commonly used in northern Italy.

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Butternut Squash Lasagna

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12 Vegetarian Pasta Recipes That Satisfy (13)

This creamy vegetarian pasta bake is a dinner recipe the whole family will love. Tender butternut squash joins deliciously with fresh rosemary, cream, and Parmesan cheese (a vegetarian one, of course)—and no-boil noodles keep prep time a little shorter.

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12 Vegetarian Pasta Recipes That Satisfy (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to good pasta? ›

Season the pasta water

After filling your pot with water, season generously with salt. Don't worry, it won't all soak into the pasta. It also won't bring your cooking water to a boil faster! Adding salt means more savory, flavorful results when the pasta is cooked.

What vegetables bulk up pasta? ›

Here's a variety of tasty vegetables you can load into your pasta for their flavor, fiber, and nutrients.
  1. Broccoli. Broccoli is a nutritious and versatile vegetable that makes a great addition to any pasta dish. ...
  2. Mushrooms. ...
  3. Peas. ...
  4. Spinach. ...
  5. Tomatoes. ...
  6. Asparagus.
Apr 11, 2022

How to make pasta extra tasty? ›

Here are five genius techniques for making creamy, delicious pasta—without loading up on heavy ingredients.
  1. Don't cook the pasta in advance. ...
  2. Finish cooking the pasta in the sauce. ...
  3. Save the pasta cooking water. ...
  4. Add the cheese at the end. ...
  5. Skip the dairy altogether.
Nov 16, 2017

What is Italy's number one pasta dish? ›

Carbonara. The Carbonara we know today is made by tossing spaghetti with guanciale (cured pork jowl), egg yolks, and Pecorino Romano cheese. Despite its simplicity, this dish remains one of Rome and the world's favourites.

What is the golden rule for pasta? ›

To be sure that your pasta is cooked correctly, it is enough to follow a few, simple rules. To begin with, you should keep in mind the right quantities. In Italy, the golden rule for cooking pasta is 1, 10, 100 or 1 liter of water, 10 grams of salt for every 100 grams of pasta.

What are 2 tips in making good pasta? ›

Use High-Quality Ingredients:Start with the best-quality pasta and fresh ingredients, including vegetables, herbs, and spices. Measure Pasta Accurately:Follow the recommended serving sizes for pasta to ensure a balanced dish. Boil Pasta in Salted Water:Use a large pot of well-salted boiling water to cook your pasta.

What to put on pasta when you have no sauce? ›

Simply melt butter and sprinkle in some garlic powder. Toss your spaghetti or favorite type of pasta in this delightful mixture to create a filling and appetizing meal.

What to mix with pasta? ›

Depending on how bare your cupboard is, I have done a few things.
  1. Boil with a garlic clove and salt. The garlic adds a bit of flavor and then I remove it, mash it and re-add it to the pasta.
  2. Olive oil or butter and herbs. ...
  3. Butter, eggs, and cheese. ...
  4. Fried eggs and cheese. ...
  5. Tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, garlic, herbs.
Nov 4, 2018

What are the 4 herbs most popular with pastas? ›

5 Wonderful Herbs To Complement Your Pasta:
  1. Oregano. The most common herb that can add life to Italian food is oregano. ...
  2. Sage. The strong, slightly bitter flavour of Sage keeps it from losing aroma while cooking. ...
  3. Basil. Another common sprig that gives a whole new taste to any dish is Basil. ...
  4. Thyme. ...
  5. Parsley.
Dec 16, 2019

What to put in pasta to make it taste better? ›

Fresh herbs

Consider pairing butter with lightly fried sage, or a high-quality extra virgin olive oil with basil, course sea salt, and crushed black pepper. In fact, adding fresh herbs is a top tip for perfect buttered noodles and should make its way into your easy, week-night recipe reserve.

How can I jazz up pasta? ›

Fresh or dried herbs will also add flavor to pasta dishes.

"I use a lot of parsley, either fresh or even dried," Montillo said. "Oregano, garlic powder, onion flakes, black pepper all work well in a variety of sauces."

What adds spice to pasta? ›

Top Spices for Tastier Pasta
  1. Tellicherry Black Pepper. 'Black pepper is a must for all Roman pasta dishes, such as Carbonara, Amatriciana, Cacio e Pepe, and Gricia. ...
  2. Cloves. 'I love cloves in long stewed meat and red wine ragout. ...
  3. Crushed Red Chiles. ...
  4. Sweet Curry Powder. ...
  5. Sumac.
Feb 15, 2022

What are the 4 main pasta dishes? ›

There are four classic Roman pasta dishes: cacio e pepe, carbonara, amatriciana, and alla gricia. Each one is a variation on the other — alla gricia is cacio e pepe plus guanciale, carbonara is gricia plus egg, and so on. These four dishes are famous in all of Italian cooking, not just in Rome.

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