60 Pretty Vegetarian Pasta Recipes

These vegetarian pasta recipes will turn your plate into a canvas. From stuffed ravioli to saucy noodles, they go well beyond basic pasta.

Vegetarian Pad Thai

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This is a simple pad thai loaded with crisp vegetables and zesty flavor. It’s quick, simple, and fresh-tasting. —Colleen Doucette, Truro, Nova Scotia

Greek Orzo Salad

This tart, refreshing salad is a big hit in my home. All the tasty toppings—including red onions, tomatoes, olives, feta cheese and a zesty dressing—give it extra interest. —Judy Roberts, Las Vegas, Nevada

Garden Harvest Spaghetti Squash

I was in the grocery store and spotted a perfectly ripe spaghetti squash. I knew I had to try it, so I cooked it according to the label. I topped it with my favorite vegetables for pasta, and it was an instant family favorite. —Veronica McCann, Columbus, Ohio

One-Pot Creamy Vegan Pasta

Here’s a creamy vegan pasta recipe with tons of fresh sauteed vegetables. The spicy tomato sauce with sweet sun-dried tomatoes is the highlight of this dish. It’s the perfect meal for when you just don’t feel like cooking. —Michelle Miller, Sunkissed Kitchen

One-Pot Enchilada Pasta

I love this cozy dish because it is ready in 30 minutes and is full of healthy ingredients—it has everything a busy weeknight meal calls for. —Nora Rušhev, Reitnau, Switzerland

Squash and Spinach Pierogi Casserole

This spinach pierogi casserole can be spiced to your liking. Once you've mastered the recipe, try using other savory pierogi in place of the potato and cheese version. —Susan Skrtich, Hamilton, Ontario

Rice Noodle Salad

This rice noodle salad is easy, sweet, spicy, nutty and light. Many friends request this for get-togethers, and our family enjoys it at least once a month for dinner. —Krista Frank, Rhododendron, Oregon

Southwest Corn Salad

I first saw this Southwest corn salad recipe in the Omaha paper a few years ago. It's ideal for family get-togethers of all kinds. Hearty enough to serve during winter, this salad always brings back memories of summer picnics! —Joanna Lonnecker, Omaha, Nebraska

Easy Vegetable Lasagna

Bursting with garden favorites, this lasagna is a vegetable lover's dream. The pasta layers are generously stuffed with roasted zucchini, mushrooms, peppers and onion in homemade tomato sauce. —Susanne Ebersol, Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania

Skillet Mac & Cheese

This creamy mac and cheese is so simple it’s almost too easy! Kids always go for the rich cheese flavor, but I’ve never met an adult who didn’t love it just as much.
—Ann Bowers, Rockport, Texas. Hungry for more? Try our favorite vegan lasagna recipe.

Kale Pasta

I love kale and my husband hates it. But when I made this kale pasta recipe, it was so delicious, he asked for seconds! —Kimberly Hammond, Kingwood, Texas

Baked Feta Pasta

There's a reason this baked feta pasta recipe went viral on TikTok! It's simple to throw together and incredibly creamy and delicious. —Sarah Tramonte, Culinary Producer

Easy Chicken Alfredo

This dish's classic sauce is almost as simple as opening a jar but tastes so much better. The easy chicken Alfredo recipe can be on the table in less than 30 minutes. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Penne All'Arrabiata

Pasta all'arrabiata, a classic Italian recipe, is my comfort food be it summer or winter. My kids and I love sprinkling pangrattato (fried bread crumbs) on top of the arrabiata sauce. —Smitha Haridasan, Ganapathy, India

Cherry Tomato Pasta with Avocado Sauce

Heart-healthy avocado makes this pasta dish feel indulgent without being overly rich. The flavorful sauce is so luscious, you’ll think there is cream hiding in there. It’s guilt-free and dairy-free, but with a texture and consistency that’s similar to traditional cream-based sauces. —Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland

Summer Zucchini Pasta

I'm always experimenting when my garden is cranking out zucchini and summer squash. This simple and healthy pasta dish is one of my latest wins. It's meatless, but you can add shredded chicken or grilled salmon for a heartier dish. —Beth Berlin, Oak Creek, Wisconsin

Cranberry Ricotta Gnocchi with Brown Butter Sauce

To make light and airy gnocchi, work quickly and handle the dough as little as possible. You'll be pleased with the resulting pillowy dumplings. —Sally Sibthorpe, Shelby Township, Michigan

Homemade Fettuccine Alfredo

This easy Alfredo sauce is creamy, comforting and coats fettuccine noodles in fine fashion. This recipe is wonderful as is, but sometimes I like to add sliced fresh mushrooms and black olives that have been sautéed in butter and garlic. —Jo Gray, Park City, Montana

Hummus Pasta Salad

Adding the dressing while the pasta is still warm allows the pasta to absorb some of the dressing. It's a hearty side dish but could be a nice meatless main dish as well. —Michelle Morrow, Newmarket, New Hampshire

Italian Spaghetti Salad

This attractive, fresh-tasting Italian spaghetti salad recipe can conveniently be prepared the night before. It makes enough for a crowd! —Lucia Johnson, Massena, New York

Ravioli with Creamy Squash Sauce

Store-bought ravioli speeds assembly of this cozy, restaurant-quality dish that tastes so good your family won't notice it's meatless. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Italian Pasta Salad

This zesty Italian pasta salad recipe combines vegetables and pasta in a creamy dressing. Refreshing and filling, this change-of-pace salad is perfect as a side dish. It's always popular at a potluck. —Tina Dierking, Skowhegan, Maine

Ravioli Casserole

The whole family will love the fun, cheesy flavor of this ravioli casserole. It's like lasagna—without all the fuss! Timesaving ingredients such as prepared spaghetti sauce and frozen ravioli make it a cinch to fix. Children can help you assemble this one. —Mary Ann Rothert, Austin, Texas

Greek Pasta Salad

Chock-full of tomato, red and green pepper, and tricolor spirals, this full-flavored Greek pasta salad is as attractive as it is delicious. I add feta cheese and black olives to the medley before coating it with a speedy homemade dressing. —Dawna Waggoner, Minong, Wisconsin

Pasta with Fresh Vegetables

Looking for a recipe with summer flavor? This delicious vegetable pasta dish is so easy to prepare and a great way to use up your garden-fresh veggies. It’s also hearty and nutritious but still lower in fat and calories! —Laurie Couture, Swanton, Vermont

Over-the-Top Baked Ziti

I adapted a ziti recipe to remove ingredients my kids did not like, such as ground beef. The revised recipe was a success not only with my family but at potlucks too. It's so versatile: You can use jarred sauce, double or triple the recipe, and even freeze it. —Kimberley Pitman, Smyrna, Delaware Field Editor

Edamame and Soba Noodle Bowl

Toothsome soba noodles are made from buckwheat flour. —Matthew Hass, Franklin, Wisconsin

Slow-Cooker Veggie Lasagna

This veggie-licious alternative to traditional lasagna makes use of slow-cooker convenience. I suggest using chunky spaghetti sauce. —Laura Davister, Little Suamico, Wisconsin

Ranch Pasta

I came up with this ranch pasta after making recipes for a bridal shower. It was party day and I needed to take some shortcuts! Everyone loves the simple Parmesan ranch white sauce, and it's easy to throw in veggies you have on hand. —Merry Graham, Newhall, California

Four-Cheese Stuffed Shells

More cheese, please! You’ll get your fill from saucy jumbo pasta shells loaded with four kinds—ricotta, Asiago, mozzarella and cottage cheese. Do the prep work, and then freeze according to the recipe directions to have a ready-to-bake meal. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen. Next, try this vegan stuffed shells recipe.

Quick Macaroni Salad

You can't go wrong with this time-tested winner. Here it is pared down for two.—Carma Blosser, Livermore, Colorado

Spinach and Cheese Lasagna Rolls

These Italian-inspired roll-ups are fast and fun to make. They may look elegant but are also very kid-friendly. —Cindy Romberg, Mississauga, Ontario

Cheese Manicotti

Cheese manicotti was the first meal I cooked for my husband, and all these years later, he still enjoys it! —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas

Ricotta, Tomato & Corn Pasta

I love to make healthy meals with produce from my latest farmers market trip. This pasta takes just 30 minutes from pantry to dinner table. You can easily make it a meat entree by adding cooked, shredded chicken. —Jerilyn Korver, Bellflower, California

Zucchini Roll-Ups

We love lasagna, but these zucchini roll-ups are a little healthier and a lot quicker! Using zucchini "pasta" also makes the dish gluten free and grain free. To make zucchini strips, use a box grater or mandoline to get even slices. —Courtney Stultz, Weir, Kansas

Vegetable Pad Thai

Classic flavors of Thailand abound in this fragrant and flavorful dish featuring peanuts, tofu and noodles. New to tofu? It gives the entree its satisfying protein, for a delicious way to introduce it to your diet. —Sara Landry, Brookline, Massachusetts

Creamy Avocado Manicotti

I am always looking for creative ways to make vegetarian dinners a little different. I grow my own basil, and avocados are a versatile favorite, so this recipe is a fantastic way to make manicotti that's a little unusual. —Jennifer Coduto, Kent, Ohio

Cauliflower Alfredo

My family loves this quick and healthy cauliflower Alfredo sauce on any kind of pasta. —Shelly Bevington, Hermiston, Oregon

Decadent Spinach-Stuffed Shells

I created this comforting stuffed shells dish to serve on Christmas Eve, but it’s so good we enjoy it all year long. It can easily be assembled and frozen to bake at a later date. If you have any leftover cheese mixture, it can be served as a dip, either cold or spooned into ramekins and baked until browned. If you don’t like roasted red peppers, feel free to substitute chopped sun-dried tomatoes in the filling and any other pasta sauce. —Crystal Schlueter, Northglenn, CO

Creamy Pasta Primavera

This pasta dish is a wonderful blend of crisp, colorful vegetables and a creamy Parmesan cheese sauce. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon

Penne with Veggies and Black Beans

Chock-full of zucchini, tomatoes, sweet pepper and carrots, this hearty pasta dish puts your garden harvest to good use. For variety, I sometimes add one-half cup of salsa or one-half cup of thickened teriyaki sauce. —Vickie Spoerle, Indianapolis, Indiana

Nutty Cheese Tortellini

I like to plant Italian flat-leaf parsley in a long terra-cotta planter so I always have some on hand. It adds bright, fresh flavor to this pasta dish. —Barbara Penatzer, Vestal, New York

Makeover Creamy Mac & Cheese

Macaroni and cheese just may be king of the comfort foods. This sensational version is bubbling with creamy goodness—but is lighter on calories. —April Taylor, Holcomb, Kansas. If you’re trying to cut back on your dairy consumption, this vegan mac and cheese is the perfect recipe.

Wagon Wheel Pasta Salad

Summertime gatherings aren't complete without a refreshing pasta salad. This tasty version features a mayonnaise and picante dressing. It may become one of your favorite side dishes for tacos, too! —Kathryn Donahey, Oil City, Pennsylvania

All-Veggie Lasagna

People often tell me you can't call something "lasagna" if it doesn't have meat. Then they try my zucchini lasagna and ask for the recipe. —Kim Bender, Aurora, Colorado

Tortellini with Tomato Spinach Cream Sauce

I enjoy all things pasta, and tortellini is my favorite. The flavor of this dish is amazing. Even my husband, who hates pasta of any kind, loves it! It's a great recipe for non-spinach fans to try, too. —Jenny Dubinsky, Inwood, West Virginia

Olive and Red Pepper Linguine

With 16 grandchildren, I find that someone is always hungry. This is a quick dish to fix. I sometimes serve garlic bread alongside it for an easy meatless meal. —Betty Carpenter, Hookstown, Pennsylvania

Homemade Meatless Spaghetti Sauce

When my tomatoes ripen, the first things I make are BLTs and this homemade spaghetti sauce. —Sondra Bergy, Lowell, Michigan

Sweet Potato Tortellini with Hazelnut Sauce

Using wonton wrappers instead of fresh pasta dough makes homemade tortellini easy to prepare. For more formal dinners, this makes an impressive vegetarian entree. —Charlene Chambers, Ormond Beach, Florida

Avocado & Artichoke Pasta Salad

A squeeze of lime, a sprinkle of cilantro and a little avocado make this a creamy and zingy pasta salad. —Carrie Farias, Oak Ridge, New Jersey

One-Pan Tuscan Ravioli

Sometimes I use chickpeas instead of cannellini beans, grated Asiago or Provolone instead of Parmesan, and all zucchini if I don’t have eggplant. Very flexible! —Sonya Labbe, West Hollywood, California

Pepper Ricotta Primavera

Garlic, peppers and herbs top creamy ricotta cheese in this meatless skillet meal you can make in just 20 minutes. —Janet Boulger, Botwood, Newfoundland and Labrador

Vermicelli Pasta Salad

I started making this salad because it's loaded with peppers, my husband's favorite. Don't be surprised when there are no leftovers to take home after the family reunion, picnic or church potluck. —Janie Colle, Hutchinson, Kansas

Greek Salad Ravioli

Turn the fresh flavors of a Greek salad into a warm dish for cold winter nights. I like to make a large batch, freeze it, then simply drop ravioli into simmering water for dinner in five minutes! —Carla Mendres, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Chard & White Bean Pasta

I love to prepare dishes without gluten or dairy products, and this recipe meets the criteria when you use gluten-free pasta. It's proof you can use delicious, healthy products to create a crowd-pleasing meal. It's also soy-free, nut-free and vegetarian. —Amie Valpone, New York, New York

Garden Vegetable Gnocchi

When we go meatless, we toss gnocchi (my husband's favorite) with veggies and a dab of pesto. I use zucchini in this, too. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah

Bow Tie & Spinach Salad

With pasta salad, it’s easy to change up ingredients. We like to add grilled chicken and pine nuts, and sometimes we substitute black beans for the garbanzo beans. —Julie Kirkpatrick, Billings, Montana

Carolyn Lewis
Carolyn Lewis is a young writer & digital media professional who grew up in Milwaukee. She loves to read graphic novels, write poetry about nature and cook Thai food while listening to podcasts. She has always been a storyteller and animal lover, thus, she has a hamster named Hamlet.