15+ Veggie-Loaded Pasta Recipes
If there’s one thing I can count on when it comes to a fast, easy, filling dinner it’s pasta! A pantry staple in almost everyone’s kitchen, pasta is a cinch to cook, easy to keep on hand, and a perfect vehicle to bump up your veggies! And, with the wide variety of pasta options these days, you can readily find some pretty tasty gluten-free pastas. These veggie-loaded pasta recipes are easy on the wallet, make tasty leftovers, and there is something for everyone!
Why do I love pasta dishes so much? Let me count the ways…as in…versatility! This list of my favorite veggie-loaded pasta recipes has you covered for any and all occasions. From casual fare, such as cold pasta salads, baked pasta dishes, and mac ‘n cheese, to fancier dishes (think Creamy Leek and Mushroom Pasta) I have recipes for any night of the week. Even better? Virtually all of them come together in less time than it takes to order takeout.
If you’re anything like me, you want a big payoff for your time in the kitchen. If I’m going to heat up the stove, I want to be able to feed an army without much fuss. Pasta is almost universally loved in one form or another—making it THE go-to when easing into your veggie-loaded journey.
Looking for veggie-filled sauce recipes to pair with your pasta? Check out my Easy Veggie Pasta Sauce, Crockpot Tomato Sauce, Pumpkin Pasta Sauce, Creamy Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce, and Roasted Red Pepper Sauce. And be sure to make some of these savory sauces to freeze and have at the ready whenever dinner needs to be on the table pronto!
Veggie-Loaded Pasta Recipes
15-Minute Cucumber Tomato Pasta Salad
This Cucumber Tomato Pasta Salad is light, refreshing, and packed with flavor! Made with crisp cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, al dente pasta, and all tied together with a quick, brightly-flavored dressing. Done in just 15 minutes, this pasta salad is perfect as a light lunch or veggie-loaded side to any meal.
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30-Minute Shrimp Asparagus Pasta with Lemon and Garlic
A healthy shrimp asparagus pasta made with garlic, lemon, Parmesan cheese, and fresh basil tossed for an easy, healthy weeknight dinner. Ready in about 30 minutes, including prep.
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15-Minute Creamy Pasta with Peas
This Pasta with Peas is so easy to make in just 15 minutes and is the perfect weeknight dinner! Full of protein from Greek yogurt and peas, this simple pasta dish has a delicious creamy sauce, a touch of brightness from lemon, and is super flavorful from shallots, garlic, and Parmesan cheese. This is truly a perfect vegetarian dinner recipe!
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Quick + Easy Creamy Beet Pasta
Made with just 8 ingredients, this gorgeous Creamy Beet Pasta is a delicious and out-of-the-box way to add veggies to the table. The stunning and delicious pink sauce is made with blended cooked beets, cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, and garlic. Toss it with your favorite pasta, as this veggie-loaded recipe is done as soon as your noodles are cooked and is perfect for those busy weeknight dinners.
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Homemade Hamburger Helper (with added veggies!)
With 100+ 5-star reviews, this Homemade Hamburger Helper is family-friendly comfort food that makes for the perfect weeknight dinner. It’s made in one pot, ready in about 40 minutes (from start to finish), and has all the creamy, cheesy, ground-beef-and-pasta goodness that made the classic box so lovable…but with carrots, spinach, and fresh onions worked right in. Basically, nostalgic veggie-loaded comfort food.
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Spinach Chickpea Baked Feta Pasta
This is my twist on the infamous TikTok baked feta pasta. This EASY dinner recipe is super delicious, creamy, and flavorful. The addition of cooked chickpeas gives this dish a punch of protein + spinach for some green goodness make this simple meal extra good!
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15-Minute Creamy Leek and Mushroom Pasta
Done cooking in about 15 minutes and full of amazing flavors, this Creamy Leek and Mushroom Pasta is going to be a new favorite! Vegetarian and easily gluten free, enjoy this veggie-loaded pasta as a satisfying main dish or as a delicious side!
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Easy Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese (stovetop)
This Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese is going to get veggies in at mealtime in a whole new way! Super simple to make, family-friendly, and delicious!
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Lemon Parmesan Brussels Sprout Pasta
This Lemon Parmesan Brussels Sprout Pasta is quick to make in under 30 minutes and is made with shredded Brussels sprouts, shallots, lemon zest, lemon juice, and grated parmesan cheese. Simple, flavorful, and fast…the perfect easy, healthy dinner.
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No-Boil Creamy Vegetable Pasta Bake
This creamy vegetable pasta bake is easy and delicious! No need to boil the pasta! Just dump everything into the baking dish, cover, and bake. Minimal prep and done baking in about 45 minutes, this vegetarian dinner is filling and easy to make gluten free.
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One-Pot Creamy Broccoli Pasta
Done in just 20 minutes (start to finish), this Creamy Broccoli Pasta is an amazing one-pot pasta. Cooked, bite-size broccoli is tossed in a simple cheesy pasta sauce made of cream cheese, cheddar cheese and parm. Enjoy this veggie-loaded pasta as main meal or as a pasta side dish!
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Creamy Baked Spinach Artichoke Pasta (with cottage cheese)
So easy and delicious, this spinach artichoke pasta bake is a lick-your-plate-clean kind of dinner packs in spinach, canned artichoke hearts, and your favorite pasta. Cottage cheese adds a little boost of extra power while keeping the dish completely meatless, and the whole thing bakes up into a creamy, cozy dinner in about 35 minutes (start to finish).
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One-Pot Cheesy Butternut Squash Pasta
This One-Pot Cheesy Butternut Squash Pasta recipe is made with lots of amazing squash and even some spinach! Perfectly cheesy and cooked up in one pot, this cozy veggie-loaded dinner is done and on the table in under 30 minutes!
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Hearty Lentil Pasta Sauce with Mushrooms
This hearty lentil pasta sauce combines lentils, finely chopped mushrooms and your favorite pasta sauce into an easy vegetarian dinner that's packed with flavor, fiber, and familiar comfort. Done in 30 minutes, it is freezer-friendly, budget-friendly, perfect for busy weeknights, and even wins over many mushroom-iffy eaters.
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15-Minute Spinach Mac and Cheese
This Spinach Mac and Cheese is a great way to get veggies into a classic family favorite! Easy to make with frozen or fresh spinach, perfectly cheesy, and done in about 15 minutes!
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15+ Veggie-Loaded Pasta Recipes: Creamy Pasta with Peas
This Pasta with Peas is so easy to make in just 15 minutes and is the perfect weeknight dinner! Full of protein from Greek yogurt and peas, this simple pasta dish has a delicious creamy sauce, a touch of brightness from lemon, and is super flavorful from shallots, garlic, and Parmesan cheese. This is truly a perfect vegetarian dinner recipe!
Ingredients
- 1 pound pasta, I like to use medium or small shaped pasta
- 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, or addition olive oil
- ¾ cup finely chopped shallot or onion
- 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups frozen peas, divided
- 1 cup vegetable broth, or water
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt, or sour cream
- ¼ cup grated vegetarian Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- ¼ cup snipped chives, or other fresh herbs such as mint, basil, or parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions. Save 1 cup of cooking water before draining.
- In a large sauté pan or Dutch oven, heat oil and butter over medium-high heat. Add the shallot/onions and sauté until lightly golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Stir in garlic and sauté for another minute to soften.
- Add in 3 cups of peas and the vegetable broth. Allow the peas to simmer gently until the liquid in the pan has reduced by half, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Stir in the salt, lemon zest, lemon juice, and pepper. Using a potato masher or large fork, smash the peas in the pan to release some of their starch (which will help form the creamy sauce). Once the peas are fully mashed, stir in the remaining cup of whole peas.
- Once the peas are heated through, stir in the yogurt and Parmesan cheese.
- Add the cooked pasta to the pea sauce and stir to coat. Stir in about ½ cup of the reserved pasta water to make the sauce even more creamy. If the sauce still seems dry and isn’t coating the pasta, add more of the pasta water as needed. Taste the pasta and add more seasoning as needed.
- To serve, sprinkle the pasta with the chives and additional grated Parmesan. The pasta is also great garnished with a drizzle of olive oil, more lemon zest, and cracked black pepper.
Calories: 479kcal, Carbohydrates: 75g, Protein: 19g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 15mg, Sodium: 479mg, Potassium: 454mg, Fiber: 9g, Sugar: 9g, Vitamin A: 905IU, Vitamin C: 42mg, Calcium: 109mg, Iron: 3mg
Nutritional information provided here is only an estimate shared for convenience and as a courtesy. Information will vary based on ingredients + brands used to create the recipe.