If you forced me to choose one food to eat for the rest of my life, it would be pasta. It’s the food that keeps on giving, and the dinner I can always get behind. I grew up on buttered noodles, always have red sauce in my fridge, and I think my heart skips a beat when I see pasta alla vodka on a menu. And currently? I’m in a pretty serious relationship with vegetarian pasta recipes that satisfy all of my carb cravings while also sneaking in some greens.
20 Vegetarian Pasta Recipes You’ll Want for Dinner Tonight
My current go-to, lazy-girl dinner is bucatini (elite) topped with good store-bought pasta sauce, heated up with some spinach mixed in. It may not be glamorous, but it’s a quick and yummy meal that never fails me. But when I have a bit more time on my hands, I turn to one of these vegetarian pasta recipes. Each and every one of these recipes has earned a spot on this list by being vegetarian (obviously), simple to make (most under 30 minutes), and indisputably delicious (major crowd pleasers).
Go ahead and boil a pot of water now, because these vegetarian pasta recipes are on the menu tonight, tomorrow, and all week long.
Roasted Red Pepper Caprese Pasta Salad
This Caprese-inspired pasta salad is summer in a bowl—bright, briny, and just substantial enough to be a full meal. Sun-dried tomatoes and fresh arugula take it from classic to genuinely craveable.
Simple Zucchini Pasta
Caramelized zucchini, fragrant herbs, zesty lemon, and nutty parmesan make this one of those simple pasta recipes that’s somehow greater than the sum of its parts. Make it once and it’s in the rotation forever.
Burst Tomato Pasta
Three kinds of tomatoes go into this sauce, and the result is the most luxurious, deeply flavored bowl of pasta you’ll make all summer. Five ingredients, one pan, zero complaints.
Lemon Ricotta Pasta
The secret to the silkiest pasta sauce you’ve ever tasted? Zucchini—yep! Bright, creamy, and packed with flavor, this one redefines what a weeknight pasta can be.
Sun Dried Tomato Caper Pasta
Tangy capers and rich sun-dried tomatoes come together in a sauce so good you’ll want to eat it straight from the pan. (Speaking from experience here.) This is the pasta you make when you’re officially over cooking—and it still manages to impress.
Ratatouille-Style Roasted Vegetable Pasta
Born from a happy ratatouille accident, this end-of-summer pasta slow-cooks eggplant, zucchini, and bell peppers into an almost stew-like sauce that’s equal parts cozy and vibrant. The best of late-summer produce, in one bowl.
Blistered Broccolini Pasta with Garlic, Lemon & Toasted Breadcrumbs
Tons of garlic, bright lemon, and crispy homemade breadcrumbs turn a simple weeknight pasta into something worth writing home about. The broccolini gets beautifully blistered, adding just enough bite to keep every forkful interesting.
Pasta Salad With Feta & Lemon-Tahini Dressing
Creamy tahini, bright lemon, and salty feta come together in a dressing that elevates this pasta salad well beyond the ordinary. Make it ahead, serve it cold, and watch it disappear.
Miso Tomato Pasta
A surprising spoonful of miso transforms peak-season tomatoes into a silky, deeply savory sauce that tastes way more complex than it has any right to. This is the late-summer fridge clean-out dinner that became a permanent staple.
Green Sauce Pasta
An entire serving of greens you won’t even notice? Brilliant. This is the pasta you make when you want something healthy but indulgent.
Mushroom and White Bean Vegan Meatballs
Mushrooms and cannellini beans come together into vegan meatballs that are hearty, satisfying, and genuinely delicious, piled over a bowl of spaghetti. Meatless Monday never looked this good.
Summer Pasta Salad
Fresh basil, chives, and arugula straight from the garden make this colorful pasta salad the ultimate eat-the-rainbow summer dinner. It comes together quickly and holds up beautifully, making it ideal for meal prep or a backyard gathering.
Spaghetti alla Nerano
This Stanley Tucci-inspired pasta is proof that zucchini, cheese, and good olive oil are all you need for a transcendent dinner. Simple, elegant, and unmistakably Italian.
Spicy Pesto Pasta Alla Vodka
Tieghan Gerard’s classic pasta alla vodka is the recipe you’ll make for every occasion, from a quiet Tuesday night to a dinner party that needs to impress. Rich, creamy, and completely unforgettable.
Lemony Pasta Carbonara with Peas & Zucchini
Bright lemon, sweet peas, and tender zucchini give this carbonara a fresh, spring-forward twist that makes it feel as fitting for an elegant dinner party as it does for a weeknight at home.
Pumpkin Gnocchi
Pillowy gnocchi meets cozy fall flavors in a dish that’s equal parts comforting and impressive. The kind of recipe that makes autumn feel worth the wait.
Cheesy Pesto Gnocchi Bake
Introducing: all the creamy pesto comfort you could want on a cold night. The spinach sneaks in your greens so seamlessly you’ll forget it’s there.
One Pot Parmesan Orzo
Loads of spring vegetables and enough parmesan to make you feel like you’re eating mac and cheese (but better). This is comfort food that actually earns the moniker.
Vegan Tofu and Mushroom Bolognese
Crumbled mushrooms and tofu slow-cook into a rich, deeply satisfying sauce that gives traditional bolognese a serious run for its money. It’s the cozy fall dinner that will convert even the most committed carnivores at your table.
Pumpkin Ravioli with Sage & Brown Butter
There’s not much to say about this dish, except: you’ll be surprised by how luxurious it tastes—and how wildly simple it is to make.