20 Creamy Vegetarian Pasta Recipes
If you’re craving a bowl of creamy, comforting, luxurious pasta, you’re in the right place! There’s nothing we love more here, and these recipes showcase lots of different ways to make creamy pasta with or without dairy cream.
I love, love, LOVE creamy pasta recipes. They are unbeatable for cozy nights in on the couch and special occasions at the dinner table. The best part is, it is easy to make a delicious creamy pasta at home on a budget! You really don’t need a lot.
I have recipes here for classic creamy pasta sauces with dairy cream, as well as some which use mascarpone, some which rely on cooking water starch, and some which are entirely dairy free! So there is something here for everyone.
Epic Pasta Recipes with Cream:
Dairy cream is the obvious ticket to a decadent creamy pasta! All of these recipes call for dairy cream, usually in conjunction with cheese and/or butter.
Parma Rosa One Pot Pasta
A delicious and simple one pot pasta with a parma rosa sauce from scratch. This comes together quickly with fresh ingredients and minimal effort – the pasta cooks in the same pot as the sauce! Everyone loves a creamy tomato pasta sauce so this is an easy win for dinner time.
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Spaghetti with Crispy Chickpeas
Creamy tomato spaghetti gets an incredible upgrade with the addition of crispy pan fried herby chickpeas! You'll love the contrast of the sweet cherry tomato cream sauce against the smoky, herby chickpeas in this vegetarian pasta dinner, a similar effect to toasted breadcrumbs but with protein!
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Creamy Cavolo Nero Pasta
This simple pasta dinner is creamy and nourishing, packed with hearty cavolo nero (aka Tuscan kale, black kale). Easy to make and adaptable, a bowl of cavolo nero pasta may become your favorite way to eat your greens.
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One Pot Tortellini with Mushrooms
The best creamy mushroom tortellini recipe for busy weeknights! Everything cooks in one pan for minimal washing up, while a few key ingredients transform this from basic to restaurant level. It's super flexible to fit what is in your fridge and can be made budget friendly too.
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Truffle Cheese Pasta
If you're wondering what to do with a block of truffle cheese, this pasta recipe might just be the answer. It's a restaurant quality meal made at home on a budget (if you have a source of inexpensive truffle cheese). This is totally adaptable to different types of cheese, different methods of adding truffle flavor, and different mix-ins… so it can be the perfect date night or dinner party recipe for you!
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Yellow Tomato Sauce
This recipe for yellow or golden tomato sauce is a must-have for your summer! It is easy to make, relatively quick to cook, chunky and rustic, bursting with basil, and absolutely delicious. Make it creamy or keep it more pure, the choice is yours. It's perfect as a spaghetti sauce or pasta sauce, or with any other meal where tomato sauce is needed!
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Cheesy Parsnip Pasta
A creamy smoked cheese pasta with honey roasted parsnips and crispy sage! This is a flavorful, decadent and delicious winter pasta that can be made on a budget.
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Creamy Tomato Pasta Sauce with Capers
A deliciously creamy tomato sauce with the addition of capers for extra depth of flavor! This vegetarian sauce is an umami lovers dream and comes together in just 30 minutes for an easy weeknight dinner.
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Vegetarian Tortellini, Kale & Lentil Soup
A creamy and deliciously spiced vegetarian tortellini soup that you can make a meal out of! Cheese tortellini, fresh kale and hearty green lentils combine in a creamy, flavor-packed broth. Make it your own with the addition of your favorite toppings and add-ins.
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Pasta alla Vodka with Blue Cheese
A decadent twist on the classic pasta alla vodka sauce. Combining this rich classic tomato sauce with blue cheese adds a whole new dimension of flavour. Save this one for date night!
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Mascarpone pasta – another level of creamy
What’s creamier than cream? Mascarpone! Technically a cream cheese, the insanely high fat content of this stuff yields the creamiest of creamy sauces.
Mascarpone Mac & Cheese
Mascarpone is a superstar ingredient for macaroni and cheese, allowing you to make a lusciously thick and creamy sauce without a roux. This is the easiest one pot stovetop mac and cheese recipe I've ever made, and so tasty and adaptable.
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Creamy Red Pepper Pesto Pasta
Homemade roasted red pepper pesto is the star of the show in this creamy yet vibrant pasta dinner! It has a beautiful creamy texture and can be enjoyed plain or with added veggies or protein. This is the perfect thing to make with a surplus of sweet red peppers and will suit a variety of pasta shapes!
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One Pot Pasta with Tomato & Mascarpone Sauce
A quick and easy one pot pasta packed with nutritious greens and a thick, luxurious tomato & mascarpone sauce. Excellent midweek dinner!
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One Pot Pastas can be creamy in a different way
The starchiness from cooking pasta in it’s own sauce can give a very creamy result even if you aren’t adding any cream, just due to the starchiness. It’s a good call when you want the creamy vibes in a lighter way.
One Pot Pasta with Cheesy Lentil Sauce
An easy one pot vegetarian pasta dinner that the whole family will love! The protein packed cheesy tomato lentil sauce is thick, creamy and comforting. There is minimal chopping, everything cooks in one pan, and it’s on the table in 20 minutes.
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Lentil Pasta Bake with Tortiglioni (No Boil)
A high protein vegetarian pasta bake that the whole family will love! Tortiglioni pasta and lentils are baked in a creamy tomato and mozzarella sauce, then topped with a mixed herb crumb. No boiling required, everything cooks together in one dish for minimal effort and cleanup!
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One Pot Angel Hair Pomodoro
An easy one pot pasta with fresh baby, cherry or grape tomatoes! Angel hair pasta is quick to cook, making it the perfect choice for a one pot pasta. It cooks in the tomato juices for amazing flavor. You'll love the simplicity of this recipe and the fact that it's endlessly customizable.
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Blue Brie Macaroni & Cheese
A quick and easy stovetop mac and cheese recipe, using blue brie (cambozola), which makes a creamy, deliciously flavorful sauce. This is a fantastic vegetarian recipe, just 20 minutes and 6 ingredients, and such a treat for fancy cheese lovers!
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Vegan Creamy Pastas:
You can make amazing dairy free creamy pastas too, without using commercial cream replacements. My favorite approaches are cashew cream (for a more dairy-like imitation) and avocado (which is amazing for pestos and herby sauces).
Creamy Vegan Mushroom Pasta
A dreamy, creamy vegan mushroom pasta. You won't believe there is no dairy in this amazing cashew cream sauce which is packed with flavors and could rival any alfredo or carbonara sauce. This dish can be on the table in under 30 minutes so it's easy enough for a weeknight but special enough for date night.
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Kale & Avocado Pesto Pasta
This quick, easy kale avocado pesto pasta is a deliciously simple recipe, with a creamy texture and tons of flavor. A super healthy but comforting vegetarian and vegan pasta dinner!
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Spaghetti Genovese with Potatoes, Green Beans & Avocado Sauce
My vegan version of Spaghetti alla Genovese (pasta with potatoes and green beans) uses an avocado pesto sauce for a deliciously creamy finish.
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