40+ Delicious Meatless Pasta Recipes
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These meatless pasta recipes will change your dinner forever! Whether you’re vegetarian or fancy a quick meatless meal, make the most of seasonal vegetables, cheese, or canned beans with these yummy meat-free pasta dishes!
You’ll be spoilt for choice.
Delicious meat-free meals are what I cook for my family every day and what I share here on The Clever Meal. Recipes that bring delicious family dishes to the table, saving you time and money.
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I’ve already published these vegan pasta recipes, vegetarian appetizers and over 40 meatless meals, and today is time for pasta.
Here, we’ve gathered my best meatless pasta recipes that will inspire you for midweek meals without meat.
From quick pasta recipes that are creamy and irresistible to pasta dishes loaded with juicy summer veggies. From one-pot pasta packed with plant-based protein to a legendary cacio e pepe recipe. Seriously, you have to try at least one of these recipes.
Bookmark this page for your meatless Monday, and please let me know your favorite in the comments below. : )
Enjoy!
Meatless pasta recipes
Lemon ricotta pasta
This gorgeous lemon ricotta pasta comes together quickly and tastes incredible. Trust me, this is one those meatless pasta recipes tha you'll be making again and again.
Tomato Basil Pasta
You'll love the classic combination of pasta with cherry tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, garlic and fresh basil. It's a marriage made in heaven, perfect for slurp-worthy spaghetti ready in 15 minutes!
Zucchini Pasta Salad
Roasted sweet zucchini and pasta are tossed with soft goat cheese and zesty lemon garlic dressing in this scrumptious pasta salad. It’s flavour loaded, super fresh and amazingly delicious.
Cream cheese pasta
A fabulous cream cheese pasta ready in 10 minutes, anyone? This is the perfect quick meatless meal that combines pasta, cream cheese, garlic and a touch of olive oil. It's embarrassingly easy to make, and it turns your plain pasta dish into a terrific family meal in no time.
White Bean Pasta
This wonderful one-pot pasta packed with fluffy white beans and veggies is everything you want in a pasta dish: filling, packed with fresh ingredients and protein. It makes a no-fuss meatless main meal or side dish ready in 15 minutes. Serve with crusty bread or focaccia, you’ll have everyone asking for seconds.
Fried Spaghetti and Scrambled Eggs
Another ridiculously easy and economical pasta recipe that tastes delicious. There are absolutely zero fancy things going on here, but the satisfying fried spaghetti coated in creamy scrambled eggs makes the combo of flavors and textures yummy and perfect for a quick family meal.
Creamy Pesto Pasta
Another stupidly simple recipe that doesn't use any meat: creamy pesto pasta. It’s just the perfect meal for those busy weeknights when you want something that’s both satisfying and simple to make. It’s also versatile, economical and sure to leave everyone licking their plates clean!
Creamy Spaghetti (1-pot recipe)
This one-pot creamy spaghetti requires basic ingredients and it's ready in 15 minutes. It's a delicious meal that is absolutely perfect for crazy busy weeknights.
Asparagus Pasta
This is a fabulous spring pasta dish filled with seasonal asparagus, peas and bright lemon. It's easy, quick to make and ful of delicious fresh flavos.
Leek Pasta
This leek pasta is scrumptious, juicy, and full of flavor. It's perfect for enjoying seasonal leeks.
Bucatini cacio e pepe
This luscious, dreamy bucatini cacio e pepe is an authentic Italian recipe that uses only 3 ingredients but packes BIG flavor. All you need is pasta, starchy pasta water, loads of freshly ground black pepper and pecorino cheese for this silky meat-free pasta ready in no time.
Pasta Fazool (pasta fagioli recipe)
This amazing pasta fazool is a must in every Italian family and it has been one of my staples for as long as I can remember. A simple, hearty, affordable meatless meal that is nourishing, full of protein, and easy to prepare in just one pot!
Spinach Feta Pasta
For an easy meatless dish that’s fuss free and flavorful, you have to check out this pasta with spinach and feta! It's a breeze to whip in a skillet with just 6 ingredients, and it tastes amazing.
Healthy Spaghetti
This vibrant green pasta combines a bunch of super healthy ingredients to make a wholesome and delicious family meal. The wholewheat spaghetti with peas are tossed in a bold pesto sauce made with avocado, fresh green leaves and bright lemon.
Lemon Caper Pasta
This lemon caper pasta is full of Mediterranean flavor. The chewy pasta is dressed with a light and fresh sauce made with lemon, briny capers, garlic, parmesan and herbs. You need just a handful of ingredients to whip up this delightful meatless dinner!
Sun-dried tomato pasta
This scrumptious sun-dried tomato pasta is a creative take on the Italian “red pesto” (known as “pesto rosso”). It combines creamy ricotta, intensely-flavored sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil. How dreamy creamy is that?
Spinach Spaghetti with garlic crumbs
Easy to make and packed with flavor, this spaghetti recipe with spinach, crispy crumbs and touch of red pepper flakes will quickly become a family favorite!
Pappardelle Pasta with Peas
I love pappardelle, these wide pasta ribbons go perfectly with the creamy parmesan sauce and the bright peas. It’s luscious, satisfying yet full of fresh flavor. A quick pasta dish it’s sure to satisfy the belly and the eyes!
White Wine Pasta
Only 15 minutes and a few minimal ingredients stand between you and a bowl full of luscious white wine pasta that is fresh, flavorful, and versatile. A no-frills weeknight meatlessrecipe that pairs well with add-ins such as olives, capers, roasted tomatoes, mushrooms... and more!
Arugula Pasta
If you’re like me, you always have a bag of arugula salad in the fridge. It’s convenient, super versatile, and easy to turn into an amazing arugula pasta sauce that packs flavor, nutrients and makes a faboulous pasta dish ready in no time.
Spinach Mushroom Pasta
In this recipe your pasta is tossed with garlicky mushrooms, spinach, and parmesan cheese. A wonderful combination of flavors sure to please any mushroom lover.
Creamy Spinach Tomato Pasta
Meet one of my comforting meatless meal that is a breeze to make and tastes so luxurious. In this scrumptious recipe, I combine silky tomato passata with cream cheese, parmesan and spinach – everyone’s favorite veggie – to make a meal that is perfect for when you want comfort food, but can’t be bothered to spend time in the kitchen.
Lemon Garlic Pasta
With this simple recipe it’s a breeze to turn butter, garlic, parmesan, lemons and some pasta cooking water into a lemon garlic butter sauce that nicely coats your spaghetti.
Easy Baked Penne
This easy, breezy baked penne pasta with melted mozzarella and tomato sauce is a delicious and filling dish you never get tired of. It’s simple, economical and definitely a crowd-pleaser.
Spinach Pesto Pasta
This delicious spinach pesto pasta is sure to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters and it’s ready in 15 minutes. And it’s great to get your daily leafy greens without even realising it!
Tomato Pasta Sauce with Cream cheese
This is a pretty basic tomato cream sauce, very straightforward to make yet super yummy. The meatless sauce itself calls for minimal ingredients that you’re likely to have on hand already, but the magic of this recipe is in how each of these ingredients together create a rich pasta sauce that is amazing.
Creamy Broccoli Pasta (1-Pot)
In this recipe the pasta is combined with velvelty cheese, soft broccoli, garlic and lemon juice. A savory and succulent weekinght pasta ready in less than 20 minutes. Yum!
Mushroom Ricotta Pasta
The flavors from garlic, ricotta, parmesan, and butter is the perfect complement to the earthiness of mushrooms and make a terrific pasta dish that is rich and satisfyng, absolutely perfect for your Meatless Monday.
Pasta with Spinach, easy & quick!
This simple pasta with spinach sauce is fast, easy and delicious. It's savory, creamy, with hints of nutmeg, and packed with delicious bright spinach. This is one of our favorite meatless pasta recipes.
Pasta Napoletana
In this easy Italian recipe the canned tomatoes are cooked in olive oil and diced onion. Sautéing onions brings out their sweetness making a delicious flavor base for the tomato sauce. Finally, pasta is tossed with the Napoletana sauce, lots of fresh basil and served with grated parmesan cheese. YUM.
Pasta with Cannellini Beans (1 pot)
What about a pot full of pasta with cannellini beans that is economical, full of plant-based protein and flavor? Seriously, this is the perfect meatless family meal.
Pasta with artichokes
This super easy pasta with artichokes uses canned artichoke hearts and a creamy parmesan sauce. It’s simple, ready in less than 15 minutes, and utterly luxurious!
Carbonara with Mushrooms (meatless)
This scrumptious carbonara with mushrooms is rich, indulgent, and has beautiful depth of flavour. This meatless version swaps bacon, pancetta and the Italian guanciale (cured pork) for hearty mushrooms, believe me… it won’t disappoint!
Pasta with Tomatoes and Zucchini
This quick pasta with tomatoes and zucchini is bursting with flavor, juicy, and packed with fresh vegetables. It makes a terrific vegan family meal ready in 30 minutes! A wonderful way to turn this summer’s star produce into a lovely meatless dinner.
One-pot Mac and Cheese
This easy mac and cheese is a huge crowd pleaser that is cozy, satisfying, and customizable with your favorite vegetables. Easy as can be, and totally delicious!
Creamy Penne Pasta Recipe
Another delicious meatless family meal that uses 6 ingredients and it’s on the table in no time. Thanks to the lemon juice and zest, not only is the pasta sauce quick to make, but it’s also fresh, tangy, and full of flavor.
Penne Arrabbiata, easy & quick!
All you need is a handful of inexpensive cupboard essentials and 20 minutes of prep time for a simple, juicy, delicious pasta dish. The rich tomato sauce is cooked in olive oil with garlic and plenty of chili flakes. It sounds easy, but it packs a complex depth of flavor.
Pasta with Olives
This pasta with olives is nother terrific idea to make a quick pasta dish that’s totally delicious with just a handful of basic ingredients. All you need is a few pantry staples and fresh lemon zest!
Pasta with Tomatoes and Spinach
Again fresh veggies such as fresh spinach and cherry tomatoes for this pasta recipe that is delicious, juicy, garlicky and makes a great meatless meal. Finish the dish by adding pasta, parmesan, and toss until nicely combined and juicy.
Pasta with Black Beans {Bolognese Style}
This scrumptious pasta with black beans uses everyday ingredients and turns your canned black beans into a terrific vegan bolognese sauce. It’s packed with protein, flavors, and sure to be a hit.
One-Pot Tomato basil Pasta with Ricotta
This easy one-pot tomato basil pasta recipe with ricotta requires only one pot and minimal effort. Add the fresh basil at the end of cooking to preserve its beautiful aroma, and finally complete with ricotta and grated parmesan cheese to take it over the top!
Garlic mushroom pasta
Everyone needs a good garlic mushroom pasta recipe in their life! The smell of the garlic, the intensely flavored gravy released from the mushrooms, the savory parmesan cheese, and the aromatic parsley, this combination is sure to please everyone. And you won't miss the meat!
Pumpkin Pasta
Easy and ready to serve in no time, this creamy pumpkin pasta uses convenient pumpking puree and makes a delicious fall meal that the whole family will love.
For more vegetarian pasta recipes…
Don’t forget to check out my one-pot pasta recipes, spaghetti sauce recipes perfect for your noodles, or pasta recipes with the most delicious creamy sauces.
Loved these meatless pasta recipes?
If you enjoyed this collection of recipes, you might be interested in more roundups that use up specific ingredients!
Here are a few ideas:
- Arugula recipes
- 13 quick pasta ideas
- Artichoke recipes
- 15 Mozzarella recipes
- 35 Italian appetizers
- 17+ olive recipes
Lastly, I hope you and your family will enjoy these pasta recipes, and if you have any questions, let me know by leaving a comment. I would love to hear from you and get your feedback!
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40+ Meatless Pasta Recipes
Ingredients
Pasta
- 8 oz (220 grams) Penne (or similar pasta shape)
Spinach and feta sauce
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced or sliced
- ¼ teaspoon chilli flakes, or more to taste
- 10 oz (300 grams) spinach, washed*
- 7 oz (200 grams) block of feta
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, or more to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of water to the boil, add salt and pasta, and cook until al dente according to the package instructions. Reserve about ½ cup of hot pasta water prior to draining the pasta.
- Cook the spinach: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in the garlic and chili flakes, and cook until fragrant (about 60 seconds). Add the spinach, a handful at a time, stirring until wilted (it takes a few minutes).
- Add the feta cheese: Using your hands, break the block of feta into crumbles and add it to the skillet. Turn the heat off.
- Assemble: Drain and add the pasta to the skillet along with the lemon juice and ¼ cup of the reserved pasta cooking water. Toss until well combined and coated, taste, and ensure you're happy with the overall flavor (you might need more salt or lemon juice).
- Serve: Serve immediately with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, chili flakes for extra heat, and freshly grated parmesan cheese if desired. Enjoy!