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Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta (vegan!)

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Placing down a bowl of vegan creamy butternut squash pasta.

Hey, pasta lovers! If you’re on the hunt for a cozy, creamy, and utterly delightful vegan pasta recipe, you’re in the right place. Our Butternut Squash Pasta is here to dazzle your taste buds and provide that warm hug you crave during chilly evenings. No dairy, no problem – let’s dive into the comforting world of plant-based pasta magic!

fork lifting butternut squash pasta out of a bowl.

What You’ll Need to Make Butternut Squash Pasta

Butternut Squash (with Skin): That’s right, no need to peel off the skin! It’s not only a time-saver but also adds a lovely nutty flavor and extra nutrients. Slice, roast, and blend.

A Whole Head of Garlic: Roasting garlic adds a caramelized, almost sweet flavor to the sauce. Plus, the aroma while it’s roasting is heavenly.

Shallots: These little gems provide a delicate oniony flavor that complements the butternut squash beautifully.

Raw Cashews: Creamy, dreamy, and oh-so-healthy. Cashews are the secret to that luscious, dairy-free creaminess.

Pasta of Your Choice: Feel free to pick your favorite pasta shape. Whether you’re into the classic spaghetti or something quirky like fusilli, it’s all about what makes you smile. I used this gluten-free spaghetti, and it was delicious!

close-up image of butternut squash pasta in a bowl.

Tips and Tricks

  • Roast ‘n’ Toast: Roasting the butternut squash and garlic is the superstar move here. The caramelization adds a depth of flavor that’s hard to resist. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and red pepper flakes , and pop ’em in the oven.
  • Add a Splash of Lemon: For an extra layer of flavor and a touch of freshness, consider adding a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to your creamy butternut squash sauce. The hint of citrus can brighten up the dish and provide a delightful contrast to the richness of the sauce. Just a little goes a long way, so start with a modest amount and adjust to your taste. It’s a simple twist that can elevate your pasta to a whole new level of deliciousness!
  • Season to Perfection: Don’t forget to season well with salt, pepper, and maybe a pinch of nutmeg for that extra warmth. Taste as you go to get it just right.
Easy and Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta
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Easy and Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta

0 from 0 votes
Recipe by Samantha Course: MainDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

15

minutes
Cooking time

45

minutes
Total time

1

hour 

If you’re on the hunt for a cozy, creamy, and utterly delightful vegan pasta recipe, you’re in the right place. Our Butternut Squash Pasta is here to dazzle your taste buds and provide that warm hug you crave during chilly evenings. No dairy, no problem – let’s dive into the comforting world of plant-based pasta magic!

Ingredients

  • 2-3 cups cubed butternut squash, skin left on or peeled off

  • 1 whole head garlic, peeled

  • 2 shallots, peeled and cut in half

  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

  • 1 pound pasta

  • 1 cup vegetable broth, or water

  • 1/2 cup raw cashews, unsalted

  • 2-3 fresh sage leaves

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 400° Fahrenheit.
  • On a large baking sheet, toss together the cubed butternut squash, peeled garlic cloves from one whole head of garlic, peeled and cut shallots, fresh thyme leaves, olive oil, salt, and red pepper flakes. Bake for 30 minutes, or until butternut squash is very soft.
  • Remove baking sheet from oven and let cool slightly. While the squash cools, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, add in a big pinch of salt and the pasta. Cook pasta according to package instructions.
  • Once butternut squash is slightly cool, add to a blender along with the vegetable broth, raw cashews, and sage. Blend until completely smooth.
  • Right before draining the pasta, reserve 1 cup of pasta water. Then, drain the pasta and return to the pot along with the butternut squash sauce. Add ¼ cup of pasta water at a time to the pasta to thin out the sauce, as needed.
  • Serve immediately with additional fresh herbs.

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30 Minutes or Less

Pasta with Caramelized Zucchini

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close-up overhead image of pasta with caramelized zucchini in a bowl with parsley and parmesan cheese on top.

Fresh, wholesome, and delicious pasta with caramelized zucchini! This super simple pasta recipe requires just a handful of ingredients – many of which you probably already have at home. Throw together this easy and healthy weeknight meal in 30 minutes!

fork and spoon lifting pasta with caramelized zucchini out of a bowl.

What You’ll Need to Make Pasta with Caramelized Zucchini

Olive Oil and Butter – The combination of both olive oil and butter are perfect for caramelizing the zucchini in this recipe. Olive oil prevents the zucchini from sticking to the pan, while butter gives it that irresistibly rich flavor.

Zucchini – Use as much or as little zucchini as you’d like in this recipe! Though remember, the zucchini will cook down a ton while cooking, so it’s better to start with more than you may think you need. Thinly slice your zucchini into about 1/8-inch thick rounds. The thinner you slice the zucchini, the faster it’ll cook and caramelize.

Pasta – I used gluten-free linguini for my pasta with caramelized zucchini, but any pasta will work!

overhead image of pasta with caramelized zucchini on a plate with a fork.

Tips and Tricks

  • Don’t forget to save some pasta water before straining! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve meant to save pasta water, but totally forgot when it came time to strain it. Reserved pasta water plays a crucial part in the sauce, so make sure you remember it!
  • Cook the zucchini to your liking. I loooove super soft and jammy zucchini, but if you want zucchini with a little more bite, cook it down for just 10-15 minutes. This light and healthy pasta recipe is super easy to customize!
close-up image of pasta with caramelized zucchini in a bowl.

Adjust This Recipe to Your Dietary Needs

Make it Gluten-Free: Simply use your favorite gluten-free pasta like I did!

Make it Vegan/Dairy-Free: Use your favorite non-dairy butter in this recipe, and leave off any cheese when serving.

Pasta with Caramelized Zucchini
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Pasta with Caramelized Zucchini

0 from 0 votes
Recipe by Samantha Course: Uncategorized
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

30

minutes
Cooking time

40

minutes
Total time

0

minutes

Fresh, wholesome, and delicious pasta with caramelized zucchini! This super simple pasta recipe requires just a handful of ingredients – many of which you probably already have at home. Throw together this easy and healthy weeknight meal in 30 minutes!

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil

  • 1 tablespoon butter

  • 1 yellow onion, diced

  • 3 medium zucchini, thinly sliced (about 1/8-inch thick)

  • salt, to taste

  • 5 garlic cloves, minced

  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1 pound pasta, uncooked

Directions

  • Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Once butter has melted, add in the onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes.
    • pasta with caramelized zucchini step 1
  • Add in the zucchini and a big pinch of salt, cook for 20 minutes, stirring every 2-3 minutes.
    • pasta with caramelized zucchini step 2
  • While zucchini cooks, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add in the pasta and cook according to package instructions. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water and drain pasta from remaining water.
  • Once zucchini is very soft and caramelized, add in the garlic and garlic powder. Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until garlic is fragrant.
    • pasta with caramelized zucchini step 4
  • Add the cooked pasta and ¼ cup of the reserved pasta water to the skillet with the zucchini. Stir everything together, and add more pasta water if pasta seems dry. Serve warm with fresh cracked black pepper.
    • pasta with caramelized zucchini step 5

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30 Minutes or Less

Avocado Pasta with Roasted Garlic and Tomatoes

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avocado pasta on a plate with a fork

Vibrantly green and irresistibly creamy avocado pasta, finished off with roasted garlic and tomatoes! Whip up this quick, easy, and healthy dinner recipe in under 20 minutes. Perfect when you’re short on time and/or craving something comforting and delicious.

close-up image of avocado pasta with roasted garlic and tomatoes on a plate

What You’ll Need To Make Avocado Pasta

Avocado – LOL, duh! Pick up two perfectly ripe avocados for this plant-based recipe. To know whether your avocados are ripe or not, give them a gentle squeeze. If the skin gives a tiny bit then they’re ready to eat! Though if your avocados feel hard as rocks, leave them out at room temperature for another day or two until ripe. I almost always buy a big bag of avocados while at the store, and use leftovers to make avocado toast in the morning – yum!

Fresh Herbs – Feel free to use any fresh herbs you’d like, or have on-hand! I used a combo of fresh basil and fresh parsley, which made for a perfectly fresh-tasting sauce. However, a bunch of fresh cilantro would taste equally as delicious.

Garlic – Plenty of garlic is necessary for this avocado pasta recipe! We pretty much use an entire garlic bulb between the roasted garlic and tomatoes, and the avocado sauce. When roasted, garlic releases intense flavor which is straight up heavenly. I could eat roasted garlic all by itself, it’s that good! Together with the tomatoes, olive oil, and a little bit of salt and pepper – the roasted garlic in this recipe is to-die-for.

overhead image of avocado pasta on two plate

Tips and Tricks

  • Use any pasta shape you’d like! I used bow-ties since they’re what I had, but shape truly makes no difference here. I can imagine this avocado pasta tastes just as delicious with spaghetti, penne, fusilli, elbows, etc.
  • Remember to reserve half a cup of pasta water! This pasta water will be added back into the pasta, after you’ve strained it, and added the avocado sauce in. The starches from the reserved water help your sauce latch onto the pasta.
  • Typically served hot, this pasta can also be served cold as an avocado pasta salad. For a cold pasta dish, cook up everything the same. Then, cover and leave to chill for about an hour before serving.

Adjust This Recipe To Your Dietary Needs

Make it Gluten-Free: This pasta is easily made gluten-free with the use of your favorite gluten-free pasta. Now my personal favorite gluten-free pasta is Jovial’s Brown Rice pasta, and is actually exactly what I used in the photos here!

Make it Paleo/Grain-Free: For a paleo pasta, simply use zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash in place of the pasta in this dinner recipe.

Avocado Pasta with Roasted Garlic and Tomatoes

0 from 0 votes
Recipe by Samantha Course: MainDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

15

minutes
Total time

20

minutes

Vibrantly green and irresistibly creamy avocado pasta, finished off with roasted garlic and tomatoes! Whip up this quick, easy, and healthy dinner recipe in under 20 minutes. Perfect when you’re short on time and/or craving something comforting and delicious.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound pasta, uncooked

  • For the roasted garlic and tomatoes:

  • 1 pint grape tomatoes

  • 6-8 garlic cloves, sliced

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • salt and black pepper, to taste

  • For the avocado sauce:

  • 2 ripe avocados, peeled and pits removed

  • 1/2 cup fresh basil, parsley, and/or cilantro

  • 1/4 cup olive oil

  • 2 garlic cloves

  • 1 lemon, juiced

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 400° Fahrenheit. Make the roasted garlic and tomatoes by placing tomatoes and sliced garlic on a baking sheet, then drizzling with olive oil and seasoning with salt and pepper. Roast for 15 minutes or until soft and very fragrant.
  • While garlic and tomatoes roast, cook pasta in a large pot of salted water until al dente and reserve ½ cup pasta water.
  • While pasta cooks, add all avocado sauce ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.
  • Once pasta is cooked, strain then add back into pot along with avocado sauce and reserved pasta water. Toss pasta in sauce before adding in roasted garlic and tomatoes, serve immediately.

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30 Minutes or Less

Creamy Mushroom Pasta (Vegan and Gluten-Free!)

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mushroom pasta on a plate

The easiest mushroom pasta – requiring only 7 ingredients and ready in under 20 minutes! Perfectly creamy and comforting, yet entirely vegan and gluten-free. Defying all odds with this easy, next-level-DELICIOUS mushroom pasta recipe!

overhead image of mushroom pasta on a plate with fresh sage on the side

What You’ll Need To Make Creamy Mushroom Pasta

Pasta – All pasta shapes and sizes are welcome here. I used my all-time favorite Jovial Brown Rice Gluten-Free Tagliatelle, but really any pasta will work. Spaghetti, penne, bow-ties, etc – anything and everything will taste delicious! And for a grain-free option, you can swap the pasta for zucchini noodles.

Butter – I used Myoko’s Cultured Vegan Butter in my mushroom pasta, but you can use any type of butter you’d like. Though if you’re like me and looking to keep this dinner recipe vegan or dairy-free, I highly recommend the Myoko’s butter. It’s made from simple, good-for-you ingredients, and tastes just like the real thing!

Mushrooms – I’m starting to feel like a broken record here, but again, any and all mushrooms will taste great in this dish! I picked up a mushroom variety pack from my local grocery store to keep things exciting.

Garlic – All my fellow garlic fiends, go ahead and add a few extra cloves! I love how well the garlic shines through in this super simple meal. It adds this savory, salty bite that’s seriously so good.

Shallot – Either a shallot or half of a small yellow onion will work. Whichever option you take, be sure to finely chop it before cooking. If left too large, it could get in the way of the carefully curated textures in this dish.

mushroom pasta being lifted off a plate with a fork

Tips and Tricks

  • Don’t forget to reserve pasta water! Pasta water has the perfect amount of starch in it, which will help to thicken the sauce. If forgotten, you can use either regular water or vegetable broth in its place, but risk a thin sauce that won’t lock in as much flavor.
  • Get started on the mushrooms as soon as the pasta starts cooking. The pasta will take anywhere from 7 to 12 minutes to cook, which is exactly the amount of time you’ll need to make the sauce. Therefore, time everything perfectly by having both components going at the same time!
  • This mushroom pasta is best served immediately after cooking! However, if you ever need to reheat pasta, add a little bit of broth or water to freshen it up. I recommend reheating this mushroom pasta over the stove with 1/4-1/2 cup of vegetable broth, stirring frequently until warm throughout!
overhead image of mushroom pasta on a plate with white wine on the side

Adjust This Recipe To Your Dietary Needs

Make it Vegan: Take my vegan option and use vegan butter instead of regular butter.

Make it Gluten-Free: For gluten-free mushroom pasta, simply use your favorite gluten-free pasta.

Paleo/Grain-Free Option: Make this a paleo pasta recipe by substituting the regular pasta with zucchini noodles, and the butter for olive oil, avocado oil, or ghee!

Creamy Mushroom Pasta (Vegan and Gluten-Free!)

0 from 0 votes
Recipe by Samantha Course: MainDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

15

minutes
Total time

20

minutes

The easiest mushroom pasta – requiring only 7 ingredients and ready in under 20 minutes! Perfectly creamy and comforting, yet entirely vegan and gluten-free. Defying all odds with this easy, next-level-DELICIOUS mushroom pasta recipe!

Ingredients

  • 1 pound pasta, uncooked

  • 4 tablespoons butter, separated (I used vegan butter)

  • 7 ounces mushrooms, sliced

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

  • 3 garlic cloves, minced

  • 1 shallot, finely chopped

Directions

  • Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente.
  • While pasta cooks, melt two tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms to skillet and cook until mushrooms are tender, about 5 minutes.
  • Sprinkle mushroom with salt and pepper, then add in garlic and shallots. Cook for about 2 minutes or until very fragrant.
  • Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain pasta and transfer to the skillet. Add in remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and about ½ cup of that reserved pasta water.
  • Reduce heat to low, and simmer until a nice sauce forms and coats the pasta. Continue adding remaining reserved pasta water if pasta begins to dry out. Remove from heat and serve immediately.

Recipe Video

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30 Minutes or Less

Easy & Creamy Taco Pasta

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Creamy Taco Pasta

Ready in under 30 minutes, this Creamy Taco Pasta recipe is packed with ground beef, pasta, taco seasoning, onion, garlic, chicken broth and cream cheese. A delicious weeknight meal that pairs perfectly with salad and homemade bread.

This Creamy Taco Pasta recipe is one of my favorite weeknight pasta dishes, and is sure to fulfill your taco cravings! The addition of cream cheese adds the perfect amount of creaminess to this dish and makes for a healthy balanced meal when paired with a fresh salad and avocado. Even better, you can have this creamy taco pasta on your table in under 30 minutes, making it the perfect pasta recipe for busy weeknights!

Main Ingredients Needed For This Taco Pasta Recipe

  • Ground Beef – You can also use turkey or chicken if you prefer!

  • Pasta – I used gluten-free.

  • Cream Cheese – I used non-dairy.

  • Taco Seasoning

  • Garlic Cloves

  • Onion

  • Chicken Broth

  • Olive Oil

Tips When Making Creamy Taco Pasta

  • Milk: You can use 2 additional cups of chicken broth in place of the milk if you’d like.
  • Pasta: I used Jovial Gluten-Free Brown Rice pasta, which yielded delicious results. Though feel free to use any pasta you have on hand. Small shells, elbow macaroni, mini penne pasta, or egg noodles work great.
  • Cream Cheese: I used Kite Hill Non-Dairy Cream Cheese and highly recommend!
  • Additions: Feel free to add some corn, avocados, or black beans to the pasta.
Easy & Creamy Taco Pasta
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Easy & Creamy Taco Pasta

5 from 1 vote
Recipe by Samantha Course: MainCuisine: MexicanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

10

minutes
Cooking time

15

minutes
Total time

25

minutes

Ready in under 30 minutes, this Creamy Taco Pasta recipe is packed with ground beef, pasta, taco seasoning, onion, garlic, chicken broth and cream cheese. A delicious weeknight meal that pairs perfectly with salad and homemade bread.

Ingredients

  • 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

  • 1 Onion (diced)

  • 1 Pound Ground Beef, Turkey or Chicken

  • 3 Garlic Cloves (minced)

  • 2 Tablespoons Tomato Paste

  • 1 Packet Taco Seasoning

  • 3 Cups Chicken Broth

  • 1 Cup Milk

  • 1 10-Ounce Can Diced Tomatoes (drained)

  • 12 Ounces Pasta (GF)

  • 1 Cup Cream Cheese

Directions

  • Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add in onion, ground beef, and a pinch of salt, cook until meat is no longer pink. Drain fat from pot before proceeding.
  • Add in garlic, cook for 1 minute before adding in tomato paste and taco seasoning. Sauté for about 3 minutes or until very fragrant.
  • Pour in chicken broth, milk, and drained diced tomatoes, then bring everything to a rolling boil.
  • Add in pasta, reduce heat so pot doesn’t boil over, and cook pasta uncovered according to box instructions (should take anywhere from 8-13 minutes).
  • Remove pasta from heat and stir in the cream cheese until melted, then serve warm.

Recipe Video

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