Vegetarian Pasta Dishes

sl-Pasta Shells with Spring Vegetables Image

Photo: Alison Miksch; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

For a meatless dinner that still utilizes milk, eggs, and cheese, these versatile and satisfying pasta dishes are the way to go. These main course meals successfully satisfy hearty appetites with a well rounded array of flavors and ingredients and with prep times suited to fit into your busy week.

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Pesto Pasta Salad with Tomatoes and Mozzarella

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Pesto Pasta Salad with Tomatoes and Mozzarella Recipe

This bright and fresh Caprese-inspired pasta toss is the ultimate summer main for a busy weeknight, outdoor picnic, or lunch on the go. With just two steps, it couldn't be easier.

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Spaghetti with Spinach-Avocado Sauce

Photo: Jennifer Causey Styling: Lindsey Lower

Spaghetti with Spinach-Avocado Sauce Recipe

Move over, pesto: You're not the only sauce worth going green for. Pureed avocado makes this dish positively irresistible. Garnish with extra basil leaves, if desired.

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Spaghetti with Pistachio-Mint Pesto and Spinach

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Spaghetti with Pistachio-Mint Pesto and Spinach Recipe
The pistachio-mint pesto gives a pop of flavor to this delicious vegetarian entree.

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Wild Mushroom Farfalle

Photo: Greg Dupree; Styling: Claire Spollen

Wild Mushroom Farfalle Recipe
You can substitute fresh parsley or thyme for the dill. A little starchy pasta cooking liquid helps to bind the delicate sauce.

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Squash Ribbon Pasta with Herb Cream Sauce

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Squash Ribbon Pasta with Herb Cream Sauce Recipe

Draining the hot cooked pasta over the squash ribbons softens the vegetables just enough to keep their fresh texture yet combine well with the pasta. Adding the red onion to the pasta in the last 2 minutes of cooking removes its harsh bite.

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Fresh Thai Noodle Bowl

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Fresh Thai Noodle Bowl Recipe
Our simple, speedy trick for creating deep and full-bodied flavor: infusing store-bought vegetable stock with sautéed fresh garlic and ginger.

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Green Bean Pasta Salad with Lemon-Thyme Vinaigrette

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell

Green Bean Pasta Salad with Lemon-Thyme Vinaigrette Recipe
Casarecce [cah-sah-RECH-ee] pasta looks similar to a scroll with the long sides curled inward toward the center.

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Creamy Mascarpone and Spinach Linguine

Photo: Whitney Ott; Styling: Claire Spollen

Creamy Mascarpone and Spinach Linguine Recipe

Low-fat cream cheese and silky mascarpone combine to make a dreamy sauce for this dish. Fresh lemon rind brightens up the flavor profile. Serve with green beans for a simple side to this delicious meal.

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Farfalle with Butternut Squash

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Claire Spollen

Farfalle with Butternut Squash Recipe

A tasty bow tie recipe makes for a quick and easy weeknight meal. Packed with protein and fiber in the form of walnuts and butternut squash, this heart-healthy pasta dish can be on your table in 20 minutes!

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Penne with Ricotta and Greens

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Penne with Ricotta and Greens Recipe

This saucy vegetarian pasta takes on a subtle peppery bite from the arugula and watercress, so feel free to leave out the red pepper if feeding heat-sensitive palates.

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Caramelized Cabbage with Whole-Wheat Penne and Provolone

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Caramelized Cabbage with Whole-Wheat Penne and Provolone Recipe

This pasta toss is inspired by a similar dish at Franny's restaurant in Brooklyn. The cabbage caramelizes in the pan and becomes just tender enough to bind with the pasta without losing its toothsomeness. Fresh red chile is a must for a pop of color and heat--don't skip it.

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Linguine with Gorgonzola, Potatoes, Green Beans, and Sage

Leo Gong

Linguine with Gorgonzola, Potatoes, Green Beans, and Sage Recipe
The elegant sauce practically creates itself when you pour the hot pasta and vegetables on top of gorgonzola cheese, butter, and sage mixture. This is an easy one-dish meal that's certainly worthy of dinner guests.

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Tabla Mediterranean Bistro Magical Egg Ravioli

Annabelle Breakey

Tabla Mediterranean Bistro Magical Egg Ravioli Recipe
There's nothing like the sense of culinary accomplishment that comes from making your own pasta. It's not hard at all, and the fresh taste can't be beat. Stuff the ravioli with a creamy mixture of chard greens, ricotta cheese and parmesan for a memorable bistro-style dish.

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Spring Pea Pasta with Ricotta and Herbs

Photo: Hector Sanchez Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Spring Pea Pasta with Ricotta and Herbs Recipe

Our one-pot primavera brings together seasonal favorites: fresh herbs, crunchy sugar snap peas, and sweet peas. Combining ricotta cheese with the salty water left over from boiling the pasta makes a super-easy, creamy sauce.

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Bucatini with Eggplant and Roasted Peppers

Randy Mayor; Cindy Manning Barr

Bucatini with Eggplant and Roasted Peppers Recipe
In authentic Sicilian style, this pasta doesn't have a thick heavy sauce that completely coats the pasta. Rather, the pasta is tossed lightly in olive oil and a mixture of roasted eggplant and bell pepper.

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Spinach-Black Bean Lasagna

Spinach-Black Bean Lasagna Recipe
Layer lasagna noodles with a cheesy spinach mixture, shredded Monterey Jack cheese, and a thick sauce made by combining mashed black beans with jarred pasta sauce. Black beans, cumin, and cilantro give this traditional Italian-style lasagna recipe a Tex-Mex flair.

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Pasta with White Beans, Greens, and Lemon

Randy Mayor

Pasta with White Beans, Greens, and Lemon Recipe
Pasta, beans and greens are a classic Mediterranean combination and perfect for an easy weeknight dinner. The pasta is orecchiette, a type of pasta shaped like "little ears" but you can substitute penne or rigatoni.

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Pappardelle with Lemon, Baby Artichokes, and Asparagus

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Melanie J. Clarke

Pappardelle with Lemon, Baby Artichokes, and Asparagus Recipe
Toss wide, flat pappardelle pasta with a simple mixture of steamed baby artichokes and asparagus. The fresh lemon juice and lemon rind perk up this colorful springtime dish with a splash of citrus.

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Sweet Pea Pasta Toss

Photo: Jennifer Causey Styling: Lindsey Ellis Beatty

Sweet Pea Pasta Toss Recipe

Ricotta salata is an Italian sheep's milk cheese with a salty finish. Feta, Parmesan, or goat cheese would be equally delicious.

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Farfalle with Creamy Wild Mushroom Sauce

Becky Luigart-Stayner; Jan Gautro

Farfalle with Creamy Wild Mushroom Sauce Recipe
The exotic mushrooms and ultra-creamy sauce make this bow-tied shaped pasta dish worthy of a special occasion. We recommend that you splurge on the premium Parmigiana-Reggiano cheese because this dish deserves it.

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Peanut-Noodle Salad

Peanut-Noodle Salad Recipe
Toss soba noodles (or angel hair pasta) in a spicy peanut sauce, then stir in cucumber, carrot and greens onions for an Asian-style main dish salad that can be served chilled or at room temperature.

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Caramelized Cabbage with Whole-Wheat Penne and Provolone

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Caramelized Cabbage with Whole-Wheat Penne and Provolone Recipe

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Pasta with Marinated Tomatoes and Feta

Photo: Christopher Testani; Styling: Alma Melendez

Pasta with Marinated Tomatoes and Feta Recipe
Combining cooked farfalle with an olive oil, garlic, and tomato sauce in the skillet gives this dish lots of flavor.

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Baked Rigatoni with Ricotta and Collard Greens

Jim Franco

Baked Rigatoni with Ricotta and Collard Greens Recipe
Nothing says "comfort" better than a baked pasta and cheese casserole. The addition of collard greens gives this one an extra home-style feel

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Spaghetti with Wilted Tomatoes and Burrata

Photo: Jen Causey; Styling: Rachael Burrow

Spaghetti with Wilted Tomatoes and Burrata Recipe
Enjoy this fresh pasta dish with halved cherry tomatoes as a great meal to share with friends and family.

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Stir-Fried Tofu and Broccoli Lo Mein

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Stir-Fried Tofu and Broccoli Lo Mein Recipe
This hearty dish features tofu, broccoli, and deliciously flavored lo mein noodles.

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Sesame Noodles

Photo: Ryan Benyi

Sesame Noodles Recipe
This Asian-inspired pasta salad features penne pasta and veggies coated in a homemade peanut sauce.

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Orzo with Ricotta and Broccoli Rabe

James Carrier

Orzo with Ricotta and Broccoli Rabe Recipe
Although orzo looks like rice, it's actually pasta and is often used in Mediterranean dishes such as this one-dish meal of pasta, ricotta cheese, olives and broccoli rabe. Broccoli rabe is a leafy green vegetable related to both the cabbage and turnip families. It's distinguished by 6- to 9-inch stalks and clusters of broccoli-like buds. It has a slightly bitter flavor and works well when combined with pasta and cheese.

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Spring Pea Pasta Salad

Spring Pea Pasta Salad Recipe
This pasta has plenty of green and plenty of soft cheese for a creamy texture.

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Easter Noodle Pudding (Pasteria)

Photo: David Malosh; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Easter Noodle Pudding (Pasteria) Recipe
Want an extra-crispy top? Toss crushed corn flakes with melted butter and scatter over the noodles before baking.

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Cheesy Pasta with Roasted Cauliflower

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Victoria Cox

Cheesy Pasta with Roasted Cauliflower Recipe
There's something about cheesy pasta that just hits the spot. With ricotta and parmesan, this dish definitely does not disappoint.

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33 Easy, Delicious Vegetarian Pasta Dishes

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Pesto Pasta Salad with Tomatoes and Mozzarella

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Spaghetti with Spinach-Avocado Sauce

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Spaghetti with Pistachio-Mint Pesto and Spinach

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Wild Mushroom Farfalle

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Squash Ribbon Pasta with Herb Cream Sauce

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Fresh Thai Noodle Bowl

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Green Bean Pasta Salad with Lemon-Thyme Vinaigrette

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Creamy Mascarpone and Spinach Linguine

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Farfalle with Butternut Squash

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Penne with Ricotta and Greens

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Caramelized Cabbage with Whole-Wheat Penne and Provolone

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Linguine with Gorgonzola, Potatoes, Green Beans, and Sage

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Tabla Mediterranean Bistro Magical Egg Ravioli

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Spring Pea Pasta with Ricotta and Herbs

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Bucatini with Eggplant and Roasted Peppers

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Spinach-Black Bean Lasagna

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Pasta with White Beans, Greens, and Lemon

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Pappardelle with Lemon, Baby Artichokes, and Asparagus

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Sweet Pea Pasta Toss

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Farfalle with Creamy Wild Mushroom Sauce

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Peanut-Noodle Salad

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Caramelized Cabbage with Whole-Wheat Penne and Provolone

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Pasta with Marinated Tomatoes and Feta

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Baked Rigatoni with Ricotta and Collard Greens

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Spaghetti with Wilted Tomatoes and Burrata

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Stir-Fried Tofu and Broccoli Lo Mein

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