• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Cooking My Dreams
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Work with me
    • Portfolio
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Contact
  • Work with me
  • Subscribe!
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Vegetarian Recipes » 20 Best Vegetarian Pasta Recipes

    20 Best Vegetarian Pasta Recipes

    Published: Jan 17, 2021 · Modified: Sep 21, 2022 by Jessica Montanelli · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Sharing is caring!

    83 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • WhatsApp
    • Yummly
    • Email

    If you think of many traditional Italian pasta recipes, you may think they all contain meat, like Carbonara, Bolognese sauce, Lasagna, and so on. But what you may not know is that most peasant traditional recipes did not contain meat as it was too expensive at the time. So many Italian dishes from the tradition are actually vegetarian, like these vegetarian pasta recipes.

    Here therefore I decided to collect some of my favorite vegetarian pasta recipes that do not have any meat at all. Full of veggies, cheese, and pasta goodness. You will not miss the meat at all.

    Jump to:
    • 30 Minutes or Less
    • Oven-Baked Vegetarian Pasta
    • Fresh Handmade Pasta
    • More Vegetarian Recipes you might love

    30 Minutes or Less

    How satisfying it is when you can make a delicious dinner in half-hour or less. Even on the busiest days of the week, you know you can count on these easy vegetarian pasta recipes to bring to your family table.

    Creamy Eggplant Pasta

    overhead photo of black plate with pasta
    Pasta with Easy Creamy Eggplant Sauce
    A delicious flavorful pasta sauce packed with veggies but super creamy and made with just 5 ingredients.
    Total Time to make: 20 minutes minutes
    Check out this recipe

    A creamy pasta sauce made almost entirely from an eggplant? Yes, you read that right. A delicious flavorful pasta sauce packed with veggies but super creamy and velvety. It has only 5 ingredients, it’s super easy and it’s ready in just 20 minutes so it’s a perfect weekday meal!

    black dish with pasta in creamy sauce with a fork

    Pasta with Pesto, Green Beans and Potatoes

    overhead shot of a plateful of pasta with pesto, green beans and potatoes
    Pasta with Pesto, Green Beans and Potatoes
    With 1 pot and 30 minutes you can taste a very traditional Italian dish which will bring comfort food to another level. This easy recipe for pasta with basil pesto, green beans and potatoes will soon become your favorite dinner.
    Total Time to make: 30 minutes minutes
    Check out this recipe

    You haven’t tried the real Pasta with Pesto if you haven’t eaten this traditional version with potatoes and green beans. Pesto goes well with almost any ingredient, but nothing compares to this pairing. This is the traditional version from Liguria, where Pesto was born.

    overhead shot of a plateful of pasta with pesto, green beans and potatoes

    Pasta with Potatoes and Cheese

    view from above of black dish with pasta and potatoes
    "Pasta e Patate" - Pasta with Potatoes and Scamorza cheese
    A creamy cheesy sauce made of potatoes and lightly smoked Scamorza cheese. This one pot pasta dish is a perfect comforting and easy weeknight dinner.
    Total Time to make: 30 minutes minutes
    Check out this recipe

    Pasta e Patate it’s a traditional Italian recipe from the South of Italy. It can be made with only pasta and potatoes or with the addition of Provola cheese.

    black dish with pasta and potatoes and pasta on a fork

    Spaghetti with Eggplant and Mozzarella

    plate of spaghetti with tomato sauce and mozzarella
    Spaghetti with Eggplant and Mozzarella sauce
    A flavorful tomato and eggplant sauce with delicious melted mozzarella make this one of the best pasta comfort foods.
    Total Time to make: 30 minutes minutes
    Check out this recipe

    I discovered this dish casually, a really fortunate fortuity since it quickly became one of my favorite comfort foods. It’s actually a pretty simple recipe with just a few ingredients like tomatoes, eggplant, and mozzarella. But, as it often happens with simple recipes, it turns out to be bold and delicious.

    fork with tomato spaghetti and mozzarella

    Cavolo Nero Pesto with Burrata

    overhead shot with spaghetti with cavolo nero pesto and burrata
    Cavolo Nero Pesto with Burrata
    This easy and quick recipe is incredibly delicious and full of vitamins and minerals thanks to the superfood Cavolo Nero, or Tuscan Black Kale. A perfect weekday meal!
    Total Time to make: 15 minutes minutes
    Check out this recipe

    A dark green flavorful pesto made with Cavolo Nero, or Tuscan Kale, a winter super food with many health benefits which is very much used in Tuscan cuisine. A soft and creamy Burrata on top will make this pasta unforgettably delicious.

    overhead shot with spaghetti with cavolo nero pesto and burrata

    Creamy Mushroom Pasta

    Creamy Mushroom Pasta
    Creamy Mushroom Pasta
    A creamy flavorful pasta made with cremini mushrooms. A super easy and quick pasta meal.
    Total Time to make: 30 minutes minutes
    Check out this recipe

    Whenever I have Chestnut Champignon (or more commonly known as Cremini mushrooms) in my fridge, I have to make this mushroom pasta at least once! Mushrooms and cream are a heavenly pair and this pasta dish is so quick and easy to make that will soon become your favorite go-to meal!

    Creamy Mushroom Pasta

    Spaghetti with Garlic Oil and Roasted Cherry Tomatoes

    black plate with spaghetti and roasted cherry tomatoes
    Spaghetti with Aglio, Olio, Peperoncino and Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
    A classic Italian staple pasta dish with a delicious addition of oven roasted cherry tomatoes.
    Total Time to make: 25 minutes minutes
    Check out this recipe

    Some days I feel torn between wanting to cook something nice and not having the mental energy to do it. So I re-invented a classic: Spaghetti aglio, olio e peperoncino (garlic, oil and chili pepper spaghetti). This dish is a classic for a reason, it’s amazingly easy and stunningly delicious. Every time it blows my mind how can 3 simple basic ingredients when mixed and cooked together create such a deep and intense flavor.

    black plate with spaghetti and roasted cherry tomatoes

    Four Cheese Pasta

    four cheese pasta in a bowl on top of a towel.
    Four Cheese Pasta
    A creamy flavorful sauce made with 4 different cheeses. It's the Italian version of mac&cheese and can be made with any cheese you have available or like.
    Total Time to make: 25 minutes minutes
    Check out this recipe

    A creamy sauce with 4 different Italian kinds of cheese, in which the special guest star is always Gorgonzola. This is the Italian version of mac&cheese and it's so delicious! A staple comfort food for any day of the year.

    Four Cheese Pasta

    Oven-Baked Vegetarian Pasta

    Is there anything better than a piping hot dish coming out the oven with baked pasta in a pool of bubbling sauce covered by a crispy Parmesan crust? I don't think there is.

    These dishes remind me so much of Sunday lunch with the family when I was growing up. The moment when the big pasta bake dish was coming to the table making the whole house smell good.

    These vegetarian pasta bakes are the perfect comfort food for any season.

    French Onion Pasta Bake

    overhead dish with baked caramelized onion pasta bake with a spoon
    French Onion Pasta Bake
    A crispy golden cheese crust covers a creamy pasta with sweet and salty caramelized onions, with hints of thyme and sage.
    Total Time to make: 45 minutes minutes
    Check out this recipe

    The classic combination of cheese and onions as in the famous French Onion soup, but in a pasta bake form. Perfect for a Sunday dinner or Holiday feast. It’s completely vegetarian and absolutely delicious!

    baked french onion pasta bake on a table with sage leaves on top

    Mushrooms and Zucchini Pesto Pasta Bake

    terracotta cocotte with baked pasta and pasta on a fork
    Mushrooms and Zucchini Pesto Pasta Bake
    A creamy baked pasta dish filled with veggies and flavorful pesto with a crispy crust of grated cheese. This is a perfect vegetarian comfort food, Italian style!
    Total Time to make: 55 minutes minutes
    Check out this recipe

    A vegetarian pasta bake full of veggies and cheesy goodness. This pasta bake with mushrooms, zucchini, basil pesto, and melted cheese will be your new favorite comfort food.

    terracotta cocotte with baked pasta and pasta on a fork

    White Lasagna with Mushrooms and Zucchini

    Overhead picture of a vegetable white lasagna
    White Lasagna with Mushrooms and Zucchini
    A vegetarian white Lasagna with the flavorful combination of zucchini and wild mushrooms. This is the kind of comfort food everybody loves.
    Total Time to make: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes
    Check out this recipe

    Out of all the possible vegetable combinations with which you can make a vegetable Lasagna, this one has always been my favorite. Zucchini and mushrooms are a perfect pairing. They go perfectly with white sauce, with cheese, with pasta. Just perfect.

    Overhead picture of a vegetable white lasagna

    Spinach and Ricotta Cannelloni

    Spinach and Ricotta Cannelloni
    Classic Spinach and Ricotta Cannelloni
    Spinach and Ricotta Cannelloni with cheesy white sauce. A classic Italian dish.
    Total Time to make: 1 hour hour
    Check out this recipe

    There’s nothing better than bringing to the table a piping hot dish of freshly made Cannelloni. Making them at home is not difficult and it’s so satisfying. It’s the perfect dish for a Sunday family meal or for the Holiday table and I’m sure that everyone will love them.

    Spinach and Ricotta Cannelloni

    Lasagna with Artichokes and Mozzarella

    portion of artichoke lasagna on a plate
    Lasagna with Artichokes and Mozzarella
    Creamy cheesy Lasagna filled with sautèed artichoke hearts and melted mozzarella cheese. This is Italian style comfort food and one portion will not be enough!
    Total Time to make: 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes
    Check out this recipe

    There’s no way to get Lasagne wrong, no matter what filling you decide to choose.
    In my family, the classic Lasagna with Tuscan Ragù and Béchamel sauce was a must of almost every Sunday lunch. I like to twist the traditions a little bit so in the years I tried a different kind of Lasagna with all kinds of vegetables but I must say that by far this is my favorite one. I would eat the whole tray if I could!

    portion of artichoke lasagna on a plate

    Fresh Handmade Pasta

    When you have a free morning and want to spoil your family with fresh pasta, these recipes will be perfect. From Ravioli to Tortelli, to Pici or Cavatelli. Some are quite easy and quick to make, others are more laborious but still well worth it.

    If you want to know more, check this post on how to make fresh pasta without a pasta machine.

    These are some of my favorite vegetarian pasta recipes made with handmade fresh pasta.

    Wild Mushroom Ravioli

    fork holding half mushroom ravioli on a plate
    Wild Mushroom Ravioli
    A delicious Ricotta and wild mushroom filling and a creamy Parmigiano sauce make these ravioli one of the best fall dinners.
    Total Time to make: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes
    Check out this recipe

    Making fresh homemade ravioli is one of the most rewarding things you can make. These delicious Mushroom Ravioli with a filling of Ricotta and Wild Mushrooms served with a creamy Parmesan sauce, will surely be a hit on your table. They’re perfect for a weekend dinner or even a holiday feast with your family or friends.

    fork holding half mushroom ravioli on a plate

    Fresh Herbs and Ricotta Tortelloni

    plate of tortelli with fork holding half
    Fresh Herbs and Ricotta Tortelloni
    Fresh handmade Tortelloni pasta with a creamy filling of Ricotta cheese and fresh Mediterranean herbs. They're simply served with butter and Parmigiano, but every bite is full of flavor!
    Total Time to make: 1 hour hour
    Check out this recipe

    Beautiful handmade Tortelli or Tortelloni, filled with creamy aromatic Ricotta mixed with all the fresh herbs such as tarragon, sage, basil, lemon thyme, and chives. But you can use whatever fresh herbs you have available! A fantastic dish to impress friends and family.

    plate of tortelli with fork holding half

    Spelt Cavatelli with Broccoli Sauce

    overhead photo of a black plate with pasta and broccoli
    Spelt Pasta with Broccoli Sauce
    Delicious handmade spelt pasta with a creamy cheesy broccoli sauce which is super easy to make and with lesst than 5 ingredients.
    Total Time to make: 55 minutes minutes
    Check out this recipe

    Delicious handmade Cavatelli or Gnocchetti Sardi pasta made with spelt flour and served with a dreamy creamy cheesy Broccoli sauce. You can also use ready-made pasta and whip up this incredible dish in just 20 minutes!

    Pici Cacio e Pepe

    Pici Cacio e Pepe, cheese and black pepper pasta
    Pici Cacio e Pepe
    A creamy cheesy and peppery cacio e pepe with handmade rustic Tuscan Pici pasta.
    Total Time to make: 35 minutes minutes
    Check out this recipe

    Cacio e Pepe is one of the most representative dishes of Italian food, along with Carbonara and Lasagne. What they all have in common is that they only need 3 ingredients. Yes, only 3. But the most important thing that they have in common is that you need to do them just right. Follow the instructions and use the right ingredients, otherwise you end up with a completely different dish or a hot mess.

    black pepper with pici cacio e pepe pasta with a fork

    Trofie with Homemade Basil Pesto

    plate with trofie pasta in basil pesto sauce
    Trofie al Pesto
    Handmade trofie pasta and flavorful pesto made from scratch, just like the traditional recipe from Liguria.
    Total Time to make: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes
    Check out this recipe

    The best basil Pesto made from scratch pairs perfectly with this handmade pasta shape called Trofie. The pasta requires some time to make but the pesto is ready in just a few minutes! So try this recipe whenever you want to eat fresh delicious Pesto sauce with your pasta.

    plate with trofie pasta in basil pesto sauce

    Roasted Pumpkin Ravioli

    Pumpkin Ravioli
    Flavourful and spiced roasted Hokkaido pumpkin fills these delicious handmade ravioli pasta.
    Total Time to make: 55 minutes minutes
    Check out this recipe

    The best fall recipes are pumpkin recipes. Even better if they are pumpkin pasta recipes! A creamy roasted pumpkin filling make these ravioli the perfect cozy fall comfort food. If you love all the recipes with pumpkin, you have to try them!

    pumpkin ravioli on a plate

    Pappardelle with Wild Mushrooms

    two bowl with ribbon pasta and mushrooms
    Wild Mushroom Pappardelle
    Large ribbons of fresh pasta coated with flavorful wild mushrooms. Pappardelle ai Funghi is a classic Fall dish made in Italy and enjoyed by mushrooms lovers.
    Total Time to make: 45 minutes minutes
    Check out this recipe

    Large ribbons of fresh handmade egg pasta, served with flavorful sautéed wild mushrooms. The perfect fall pasta recipe.

    two bowl with ribbon pasta and mushrooms

    Have you tried one of these vegetarian pasta recipes and loved it? Then don't forget to comment and share this post with your friends and family!

    More Vegetarian Recipes you might love

    • whipped ricotta dip in a bowl next to bread and crackers
      Lemon Thyme Whipped Ricotta Dip
    • four cheese pasta in a bowl on top of a towel.
      Penne ai Quattro Formaggi (Four Cheese Pasta)
    • creamy garlic parmesan risotto on a plate next to a fork.
      Creamy Garlic Parmesan Risotto
    • 50+ Best Authentic Vegetarian Italian Recipes

    Browse all the Italian Vegetarian Recipes.

    « Mushroom and Ham Stuffed Shells
    Easy Mini Parmesan Flatbread »

    Sharing is caring!

    83 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • WhatsApp
    • Yummly
    • Email

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Jessica! Born and raised in Siena, Tuscany, I've been immersed in the rich traditions of Italian cuisine my entire life. Through my food blog, I hope to share a slice of Tuscan warmth and the genuine flavors that have been a part of my journey since childhood.

    More about me →

    • jess.cookingmydreams
    • Cooking my Dreams
    • jess.cookingmydreams

    Popular Recipes

    • overhead plate with salmon ravioli in cream sauce
      Ricotta and Smoked Salmon Ravioli
    • black pepper with pici cacio e pepe pasta with a fork
      Pici Cacio e Pepe (Tuscan Pasta with Creamy Cheese and Black Pepper Sauce)
    • baked spinach ricotta cannelloni in a cheesy white sauce.
      Classic Spinach and Ricotta Cannelloni
    • Classic Tuscan Lasagna (with Ragù and Béchamel)
    • stack of frozen mirepoix portions
      Soffritto (Mirepoix): What it is, how to use and how to freeze
    • overhead photo of black plate with pasta
      Pasta with Easy Creamy Eggplant Sauce

    Subscribe and get a Free E-Cookbook

    As Seen In

    Fall Recipes

    • 2 bowls of pumpkin sausage soup overhead
      Creamy Pumpkin Sausage Soup
    • overhead baking dish with gratin mushroom ham pasta bake
      Mushroom and Ham Stuffed Shells
    • penne alla boscaiola in a plate
      Penne alla Boscaiola (Mushroom and Bacon Pasta)
    • red wine venison stew in a terracotta pot
      Red Wine Venison Stew

    Follow me

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with me
    • Portfolio

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    83 shares