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Whether you’re a vegetarian, or you like to enjoy the occasional meatless recipe, all of these vegetarian pasta recipes are sure to leave you feeling satisfied!

More Collections: Easy Pasta Recipes, Healthy Pasta Recipes, Penne Pasta Recipes

Collage of multiple vegetarian pasta recipes.

Meatless, Filling, & Flavorful!

I won’t claim to be vegetarian (I love me a good pasta filled with chicken or Italian sausage!), but sometimes I do crave a pasta dish that’s a little lighter.

Other times, I just don’t have meat on hand or don’t have time to cook it, which is why these meatless pasta recipes come in handy!

For those of you who regularly eat a vegetarian diet, I think you’ll enjoy these pasta recipes as well! I have both hot pasta dishes as well as cold pasta salads.

Most of these are packed with other delicious vegetables and cheeses that make them flavorful and filling!

Fettuccine Alfredo, a vegetarian pasta recipe, on a white plate.

Tips for Vegetarian Pasta dishes

Before we get to the recipe lists, I wanted to share some pasta alternatives.

First off, you can substitute one pasta shape with another.  Spaghetti, angel hair, linguine, and fettuccine are all similar and can be substituted for one another.

Penne, bow tie, wagon wheel, shell, rigatoni, fusilli, ziti can often be used interchangeably as well. 

Second, you can use pasta alternatives. One of my favorites is Spaghetti Squash. You can also use: 

  • Spiralized Vegetables- steamed or cooked to soften them
  • Eggplant Lasagna Noodles
  • Cabbage Noodles
  • Tofu Noodles
  • Seaweed Pasta
  • Zucchini Noodles
  • Gluten-free pasta
Washed and cut Brussels sprouts and carrots on a counter.

Adding Veggies

Adding vegetables and herbs to the pasta will provide needed nutrients as well as add extra flavor and texture to the dish.

You can add vegetables to both warm pasta dishes as well as cold pasta salads. 

  • Veggie pairings: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, mushrooms, peas, spinach, tomatoes, asparagus, carrots, zucchini, onions, green and red peppers, and kalamata olives.
  • Herbs and spices like basil, oregano rosemary, garlic, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes.

Each of these vegetarian pasta recipes has more tips, tricks, and storage info.


Best Vegetarian Pasta Recipes

Each of these easy vegetarian pasta recipes is naturally meatless, however, they are still plenty filling! Not to mention they’re flavorful and often packed with delicious vegetables. You won’t even notice they don’t have any meat!

Garlic Butter Pasta

Simply dressed garlic butter pasta is filled with veggies and sprinkled with parmesan. It’s straightforward and so flavorful!

1 Garlic Butter Pasta Recipe

Main Course Garlic Butter Pasta Recipe
Total Time: 30 minutes
5 from 11 votes
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Baked Ravioli

Easy cheesy baked ravioli – a quick, simple and delicious dinner recipe that the whole family loves! It’s so cheesy and so tasty!

2 Baked Ravioli Recipe

Main Course Baked Ravioli Recipe
Total Time: 21 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 43 votes
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Crock Pot Mac And Cheese

Everyone loves a good slow cooker recipe, and this crock pot mac and cheese is so simple, cheesy and delicious. With loads of cheese, butter, and sour cream it’s hard not to love this creamy macaroni and cheese recipe.

3 Crock Pot Mac and Cheese Recipe

Main Course Crock Pot Mac and Cheese Recipe
Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes

Recipe Video

4.99 from 273 votes
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Stuffed Shells

Stuffed shells is simple, cheesy and bakes in only 30 minutes. It’s a perfect busy weeknight meal the entire family will love!

4 Stuffed Shells Recipe

Main Course Stuffed Shells Recipe
Total Time: 45 minutes
4.86 from 7 votes
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Pasta Primavera

A tried and true dinner recipe! Delicious pasta full of vegetables like zucchini, squash, bell peppers, and tomatoes. 

5 Pasta Primavera Recipe

Main Course Pasta Primavera Recipe
Total Time: 35 minutes
5 from 16 votes
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White Sauce Recipe

Super simple and delicious white sauce pasta recipe packed with flavor. This dish is perfect by itself or you can add chicken too!

6 White Sauce Recipe

Main Course White Sauce Recipe
Total Time: 15 minutes

Recipe Video

4.98 from 852 votes
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Spinach Lasagna Rolls

Everything you love about a lasagna, but EASIER! With a delicious spinach and three-cheese mixture rolled up in lasagna noodles and smothered in marinara sauce, what’s not to love?!

7 Spinach Lasagna Rolls Recipe

Main Course Spinach Lasagna Rolls Recipe
Total Time: 45 minutes

Recipe Video

4.91 from 11 votes
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homemade Mac And Cheese

This is the cheesiest, CREAMIEST homemade mac and cheese you’ll ever make! The whole family will definitely approve!

8 Mac and Cheese Recipe

Main Course Mac and Cheese Recipe
Total Time: 40 minutes

Recipe Video

4.99 from 167 votes
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Lemon Asparagus Pasta

This lemon asparagus pasta is so simple, yet packed with amazing flavor! Made from penne pasta, mixed with asparagus, and covered in a cheesy sauce with just a hint of lemon.

9 Lemon Asparagus Pasta Recipe

Main Course Lemon Asparagus Pasta Recipe
Total Time: 25 minutes
4.79 from 14 votes
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Baked Spaghetti Squash

Learn how to perfectly cook spaghetti squash every time with this fabulous recipe! Tender strands of spaghetti squash mixed with cheese, tomatoes, and a little bit of basil, both healthy and delicious!

10 Baked Spaghetti Squash Recipe

Main Course Baked Spaghetti Squash Recipe
Total Time: 40 minutes
5 from 5 votes
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vegetarian Pasta Salad Recipes

Pasta salads are always great side dishes, and these are especially light and fresh. Enjoy them as a side, or as a nice lunch.

Greek Pasta Salad

This delicious Greek pasta salad is filled with rotini pasta, tomatoes, cucumber, olives, and feta cheese and is covered in a tasty Greek dressing! It’s our new go-to pasta salad and is perfectly light and refreshing.

11 Greek Pasta Salad Recipe

Salad Greek Pasta Salad Recipe
Total Time: 20 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 10 votes
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Mozzarella Pasta Salad

Easy & fresh mozzarella pasta salad is light, delicious and flavorful. This simply dressed salad is a new favorite!!

12 Mozzarella Pasta Salad Recipe

Salad Mozzarella Pasta Salad Recipe
Total Time: 15 minutes
5 from 11 votes
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Spinach And Tortellini Salad

This cold tortellini salad is the ultimate side dish for bbq and potlucks! With tortellini, spinach, tomatoes, olives, and parmesan tossed in Italian dressing, this tortellini spinach salad is packed with all the best flavors!

13 Spinach Tortellini Salad Recipe

Salad Spinach Tortellini Salad Recipe
Total Time: 20 minutes
4.89 from 27 votes
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Greek Orzo Salad

Orzo Salad is a Greek pasta salad loaded with Orzo, veggies, and feta topped with a Greek dressing. It’s a perfect side dish or light lunch entree!

14 Greek Orzo Salad Recipe

Main Course, Salad Greek Orzo Salad Recipe
Total Time: 20 minutes
5 from 15 votes
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Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad

Caprese pesto pasta salad is a light dish with a bold flavor, making it perfect for potlucks, parties, BBQ’s, and get togethers!

15 Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad recipe

Salad Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad recipe
Total Time: 15 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 1 vote
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Taco Pasta Salad

Delicious taco pasta salad filled with beans, corn, tomatoes, avocado and more!!

16 Taco Pasta Salad Recipe

Salad Taco Pasta Salad Recipe
Total Time: 15 minutes
5 from 7 votes
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make it meatless

These recipes have chicken, beef, or pork listed in the ingredient list, but can easily be left out or replaced with a meat substitute to make these into delicious vegetarian pasta recipes.

I’m not a vegetarian so I don’t know what products are the best out there. I imagine those who are vegetarians already know, so go ahead and use your favorite substitutes!

Pasta Carbonara

A creamy, delicious and flavorful pasta dish filled with cream cheese, parmesan, garlic and bacon. For only having a few ingredients, this pasta carbonara has big flavor!

17 Pasta Carbonara Recipe

Main Course Pasta Carbonara Recipe
Total Time: 25 minutes
4.73 from 18 votes
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Pasta Salad Recipe

Easy pasta salad with Italian dressing takes minutes to make. It’s a classic side dish, perfect for BBQs, picnics, or any night of the week!

18 Pasta Salad Recipe

Side Dish Pasta Salad Recipe
Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 246 votes
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Layered Pasta Salad

A dish that is appealing to both your taste buds and your eyes! This beautiful layered pasta salad is filled with your favorite ingredients including pasta, chicken, peas, lettuce, celery, and more.

19 Layered Pasta Salad Recipe

Salad, Side Dish Layered Pasta Salad Recipe
Total Time: 13 minutes
5 from 10 votes
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Easy Spaghetti Recipe

This easy spaghetti recipe is kid-friendly and is made with a delicious homemade spaghetti sauce making it the perfect family dinner recipe!

20 Spaghetti Recipe

Main Course Spaghetti Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 350 votes
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Macaroni Salad

A simple, creamy macaroni salad loaded with pasta, peas and ham. It’s perfect for parties, family dinners, and potlucks!

21 Macaroni Salad Recipe

Salad, Side Dish Macaroni Salad Recipe
Total Time: 20 minutes

Recipe Video

4.98 from 106 votes
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Bruschetta Chicken Pasta

Easy and flavorful bruschetta chicken pasta is a hot pasta dish filled with all the flavors of classic bruschetta—chicken, tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella.

22 Bruschetta Chicken Pasta Recipe

Main Course Bruschetta Chicken Pasta Recipe
Total Time: 25 minutes
5 from 5 votes
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Chili Spaghetti

Flavorful chili spaghetti is a midwestern twist on a classic bowl of chili. It is hearty with just the right amount of spice!!

23 Chili Spaghetti Recipe

Main Course, Soup Chili Spaghetti Recipe
Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
4.98 from 45 votes
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Chinese Pasta Salad

Chinese pasta salad is filled with lettuce, pasta noodles, chicken, fried wontons, and more, all tossed in a delicious homemade dressing.

24 Chinese Pasta Salad Recipe

Appetizer, Salad Chinese Pasta Salad Recipe
Total Time: 6 minutes
5 from 11 votes
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Baked Spaghetti

Cheesy baked spaghetti – a simple, delicious, dinner recipe filled with hamburger, sausage, cheese and more! Everyone will love this dinner recipe!

25 Baked Spaghetti Recipe

Main Course Baked Spaghetti Recipe
Total Time: 40 minutes

Recipe Video

5 from 23 votes
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Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta

A copycat version of Cheesecake Factory’s Sun-Dried Tomato Fettuccine recipe. This flavorful and creamy dish is filled with chunks of chicken, garlic, whipping cream, spinach and sweet sun-dried tomatoes. It’s not only delicious but is a great way to change up the classic fettuccine recipe.

26 Sun Dried Tomato Pasta Recipe

Main Course Sun Dried Tomato Pasta Recipe
Total Time: 25 minutes
4.59 from 12 votes
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Chicken Pesto Pasta

This chicken pesto pasta is very flavorful and simple dinner idea that is sure to please. It’s filled with bow-tie pasta, chunks of chicken, cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic and pesto making it a new go-to meal recipe. 

27 Pesto Pasta recipe

Main Course Pesto Pasta recipe
Total Time: 15 minutes
4.92 from 12 votes
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Crockpot Lasagna

Classic lasagna made in the slow cooker! This delicious crock pot recipe has all the layers of noodles, cheese, sauce and meat that everyone loves but made more simply.

28 Crockpot Lasagna Recipe

Main Course Crockpot Lasagna Recipe
Total Time: 4 hours 55 minutes

Recipe Video

4.92 from 12 votes
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Delicious Vegetarian Pasta Dishes

We hope you’ll enjoy trying some of the delicious vegetarian Pasta Recipes listed above. With so many fantastic options to choose from you’re sure to find some new meatless favorites on this list!

More Collections: Healthy Dinner Ideas, Healthy Soup Recipes, Healthy Side Dishes

About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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6 Comments

  1. LOL I love your Make it Meatless section. My kids love pasta and often pick it out leaving the meat behind. Ive already tried the pasta primavera and cant wait to work through the rest of the recipes.

  2. We have made so many of these recipes! We haven’t come across any that we didn’t like. Always easy to make & taste wonderful!