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

Trending Videos

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.

01of 12

Cheesy Baked Gnocchi with Kale

View Recipe

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.

02of 12

Meatless Lasagna Pie

View Recipe

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

03of 12

Butternut Squash Bake

View Recipe

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.

04of 12

Orecchiette with Creamed Corn, Tomatoes, and Arugula

View Recipe

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.

05of 12

Roasted Vegetable Lasagna

View Recipe

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).

06of 12

Lemon-Basil Pasta

View Recipe

12 Vegetarian Pasta Recipes That Satisfy (7)

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

Smoky Mushroom Stroganoff

View Recipe

12 Vegetarian Pasta Recipes That Satisfy (8)

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

08of 12

Cauliflower Gnocchi

View Recipe

12 Vegetarian Pasta Recipes That Satisfy (9)

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.

09of 12

Cheesy Shell-Stuffed Shells

View Recipe

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

10of 12

Fettuccine Alfredo with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Veggies

View Recipe

12 Vegetarian Pasta Recipes That Satisfy (11)

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.

11of 12

Vegetable-Polenta Lasagna

View Recipe

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.

12of 12

Butternut Squash Lasagna

View Recipe

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.

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Tell us why!

12 Vegetarian Pasta Recipes That Satisfy (2024)

FAQs

What vegetables bulk up pasta? ›

1–6. Veggies
  1. Broccoli. Broccoli is a nutritious and versatile vegetable that makes a great addition to any pasta dish. ...
  2. Mushrooms. Mushrooms can bring a creamy taste and texture to pasta dishes, along with a host of health benefits. ...
  3. Peas. ...
  4. Spinach. ...
  5. Tomatoes. ...
  6. Asparagus.
Apr 11, 2022

What is the secret of making pasta? ›

Shilpa explains that making fresh pasta all comes down to knowing one ratio of flour to water, specifically two parts flour to one part water by weight. For you bread heads out there, yes, that means 50% hydration, or 100 grams of flour to 50 grams of water.

How to make basic pasta good? ›

The Easy Secrets to Way Better Pasta
  1. Make sure your cooking water is salty like the sea, and almost as plentiful. ...
  2. Check the package's cooking time, but don't put too much faith in it. ...
  3. Reserve a little pasta water. ...
  4. Never, ever rinse. ...
  5. Finish your pasta in its sauce.
Apr 16, 2017

What vegetables are good in pasta? ›

Fresh veggies: Zucchini, yellow squash, carrots, bell peppers, red onion, and grape tomatoes. Flavor-makers: Garlic, dried oregano, fresh thyme, salt, and pepper, and fresh lemon zest. Pasta: A short pasta is best for making sure everything is bite-sized.

What can I add to pasta to make it more filling? ›

Add in Dark Leafy Greens

Wilted greens are nutrition superstars that taste delicious with pasta. My favourites are spinach, kale and rapini. Make a pasta primavera or try vegan pesto and add in spinach, peas and broccoli.

Is eating pasta with vegetables healthy? ›

Absolutely! Research shows that eating pasta is associated with higher intakes of total vegetables and red vegetables in particular – think tomatoes. One reason for this is that pasta is the perfect vehicle for adding healthier vegetables into your diet.

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 not to do when making pasta? ›

Cooking pasta: 5 mistakes
  1. Toss the pasta when the water is cold. This is probably the most common and also the most serious mistake you can make in cooking pasta. ...
  2. Using the wrong measure of salt. ...
  3. Cooking pasta in a small pot. ...
  4. Overcooking the pasta. ...
  5. Drain the pasta too much.
Sep 14, 2023

What is the best flour for pasta? ›

Semolina flour is good for pasta because it's a hard variety of wheat and has a high protein content. Both of these properties give more structure to pasta which provides that elusive 'al dente' quality to fresh pastas.

How to make pasta for idiots? ›

Pasta Cooking for Dummies
  1. #1 Salted water. 10:100:1000. ...
  2. #2 Boiling water. Add the pasta to the water once it's boiling, not before. ...
  3. #3 No oil, never rinse. Please, just no. ...
  4. #4 Test for doneness. The sauce shall always wait for the pasta, never the other way round. ...
  5. #5 Reserve cooking water.
Sep 8, 2020

How to make pasta at home better? ›

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. Olive oil or butter and herbs. Adding a fat to the pasta makes it taste better if you're poor and need something.

What can I add to plain pasta for Flavour? ›

Olive oil or butter and herbs. Adding a fat to the pasta makes it taste better if you're poor and need something. I also add oregano and/or basil. Butter, eggs, and cheese.

What are 10 types of pasta? ›

10 Types of Pasta With The Matching Sauce
  • Penne. Coming from the Italian word “pens”, penne pasta is small cylindrical-shaped pasta cut at an angle. ...
  • Farfalle. Commonly known as bow ties, Farfalle, which means butterfly, is a favorite among children. ...
  • Spaghetti. ...
  • Fusilli. ...
  • Shells. ...
  • Fettucine. ...
  • Linguine. ...
  • Angel Hair.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Aracelis Kilback

Last Updated:

Views: 5747

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (44 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Aracelis Kilback

Birthday: 1994-11-22

Address: Apt. 895 30151 Green Plain, Lake Mariela, RI 98141

Phone: +5992291857476

Job: Legal Officer

Hobby: LARPing, role-playing games, Slacklining, Reading, Inline skating, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Dance

Introduction: My name is Aracelis Kilback, I am a nice, gentle, agreeable, joyous, attractive, combative, gifted person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.