Lazio · Four ingredients
Cacio e Pepe
A peppery Roman pasta with a smooth Pecorino emulsion and zero clumps.
Vegetarian Pasta Recipes
Browse vegetable, tomato, cheese, bean and pesto pasta recipes, from quick pantry dinners to substantial baked favourites.
Vegetarian pasta needs more than removing the meat. These recipes build depth with properly browned vegetables, legumes, cheese, herbs and sauces matched to the shape.
53editorially reviewed recipes
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Compare the first options by total time, confidence level and the kind of dinner they make. The complete collection follows immediately below.
| Recipe | Total | Level | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cacio e Pepe | 20 min | Moderate | Under 20 minutes · Vegetarian |
| Roast Butternut & Feta Pasta | 45 min | Easy | Vegetarian · Family dinner |
| Spaghetti Aglio e Olio | 20 min | Easy | Vegetarian · Under 20 minutes |
| Penne all’Arrabbiata | 30 min | Easy | Vegetarian · Under 30 minutes |
| Pasta alla Norma | 55 min | Moderate | Vegetarian · Date night |
| Trofie al Pesto Genovese | 35 min | Moderate | Vegetarian · Family dinner |
| Pasta e Ceci | 40 min | Easy | Vegetarian · Budget |
| Pasta al Limone | 25 min | Moderate | Vegetarian · Under 30 minutes |
Meat-free South African favourite
Roast Butternut & Feta Pasta
Caramelised butternut, salty feta, sage and lemon make a generous vegetarian dinner without a heavy sauce.
Campania · pantry classic
Spaghetti Aglio e Olio
Garlic, olive oil, chilli and parsley coat spaghetti in a sauce that rewards calm heat and good timing.
Lazio · Roman heat
Penne all’Arrabbiata
A direct Roman tomato sauce with garlic and chilli, finished with parsley and enough heat to justify its name.
Sicily · Catania
Pasta alla Norma
Fried aubergine, tomato, basil and ricotta salata come together in one of Sicily’s defining pasta dishes.
Liguria · Genoa
Trofie al Pesto Genovese
Fresh basil pesto coats twisted trofie with potato and green beans in the Ligurian manner.
Central Italy · pasta and chickpeas
Pasta e Ceci
Chickpeas and small pasta share one rosemary-scented pot, landing somewhere between soup and sauce.
Campania · bright and silky
Pasta al Limone
Lemon zest, butter and Parmesan make a fragrant sauce that stays light when the emulsion is handled gently.
Stovetop cheese comfort
Creamy Macaroni Cheese
A smooth Cheddar sauce coats macaroni on the stove, with mustard and a crisp optional breadcrumb finish.
Budget plant-based sauce
Lentil Bolognese
Brown lentils, mushrooms and tomato make a substantial ragù-style sauce with real depth and no imitation meat.
South African outdoor table
Braai Pasta Salad
Fusilli, charred peppers, sweetcorn and a sharp yoghurt dressing make a braai side with more freshness than mayonnaise.
South African fusion
Chakalaka-Inspired Pasta
Chakalaka vegetables and penne meet in a spicy tomato sauce with beans for a cheerful, honest fusion dinner.
Mediterranean vegetable tray
Roasted Vegetable Pasta Bake
Roasted aubergine, courgette and peppers bake with rigatoni, tomato and a modest mozzarella crust.
Italy · regional bean pot
Pasta e Fagioli
Borlotti beans, small pasta and rosemary meet in a thick, spoonable dish shared by several Italian regions.
Campania · Sorrento peninsula
Spaghetti alla Nerano
Fried baby marrow and aged provolone melt into a silky Campanian sauce whose pale colour hides a demanding technique.
Lombardy · Alpine buckwheat
Pizzoccheri della Valtellina
Buckwheat ribbons, potato, cabbage, butter and mountain cheese make a substantial pasta from the Valtellina valley.
Meat-free weeknight pan
Creamy Mushroom Pasta
Deeply browned mushrooms, thyme and mustard give this cream sauce enough savoury weight to stand on its own.
Vegetarian family bake
Spinach and Ricotta Pasta Bake
Spinach and ricotta fill pasta shells under a bright tomato sauce and restrained mozzarella crust.
Modern global favourite
Baked Feta and Tomato Pasta
A block of feta roasts among cherry tomatoes before folding into pasta, spinach and lemon for a simple modern bake.
Modern everyday tomato sauce
Tomato and Basil Pasta
Ripe tomato, garlic and basil make a clean weeknight sauce whose quality depends on reduction rather than a crowded spice rack.
Modern vegetable sauce
Roasted Red Pepper Pasta
Charred red peppers, almonds and garlic blend into a smoky sauce finished with lemon and pasta water rather than cream.
Modern family vegetable bake
Butternut Macaroni Cheese
Roasted butternut folds into a mustard Cheddar sauce, adding colour and sweetness without pretending to replace the cheese.
Tuscany · Val di Chiana
Pici all'Aglione
Thick hand-rolled pici meet a gentle fresh-tomato sauce perfumed with aglione-style garlic and a little chilli.
Campania · Baked gnocchi
Gnocchi alla Sorrentina
Potato gnocchi, tomato, basil, fiordilatte and Parmigiano bubble in a shallow dish until the cheese just bronzes.
Braai-table favourite
South African Curried Pasta Salad
A tangy mild curry dressing, crisp peppers, peas and spring onion make this cold macaroni salad useful beside a braai, not sweet and soggy.
Substantial vegetarian sauce
Aubergine and Lentil Ragù
Deeply browned aubergine, brown lentils and tomato make a textured rigatoni ragù with no need for imitation mince.
One-pot pantry supper
Chickpea and Spinach Pasta
Chickpeas, spinach, tomato and small pasta cook into a spoonable, lemony dinner with enough broth to feel generous.
20-minute vegetarian dinner
Lemon and Pea Pasta
Peas, lemon, mint and Parmesan form a fresh green sauce for shells, with some peas crushed and others left whole.
Green summer pasta
Pesto Vegetable Pasta
Baby marrow, green beans and cherry tomatoes join fusilli and basil pesto in a quick dinner that keeps every vegetable distinct.
Vegetarian family bake
Roasted Vegetable Lasagne
Aubergine, peppers, baby marrow and spinach form distinct layers with tomato, béchamel and modest mozzarella.
Vegetarian one-pot dinner
One-Pot Mushroom and Spinach Pasta
Brown mushrooms first, then cook fusilli with stock, thyme and spinach for creaminess built from starch rather than cream.
Budget vegetarian bake
Tomato and Cheese Pasta Bake
Reduced tomato sauce, penne, mature Cheddar and crisp oregano crumbs make a straightforward bake that is generous without cream.
No-cream vegetable pasta
Mushroom Tomato Pasta
Deeply browned mushrooms and concentrated tomato give pappardelle a savoury vegetarian coating without cream.
Vegetarian tray-and-pot dinner
Roast Cauliflower Pasta with Chilli Crumbs
Dark-edged cauliflower, garlic, lemon and crisp chilli breadcrumbs make a robust orecchiette without a heavy sauce.
Fresh South African braai side
Sweetcorn and Feta Braai Pasta Salad
Charred sweetcorn, feta, tomato, spring onion and lime dress farfalle for a colourful make-ahead braai side.
Light, savoury and meat-free
Mushroom and Spinach Pasta
Deeply browned mushrooms, wilted spinach and linguine in a lemony garlic emulsion without cream.
Soft cheese, bright tomato
Tomato and Ricotta Pasta
Concentrated tomato sauce and creamy ricotta coat rigatoni without turning the pan heavy or uniformly pink.
Twenty-minute green dinner
Lemon Spinach Pasta
Spaghetti, baby spinach, lemon and Parmesan become a fresh pantry meal through a quick pasta-water emulsion.
Vegetable-forward family bake
Broccoli Cheese Pasta Bake
Broccoli and penne bake in a smooth mature Cheddar sauce under a crisp mustard crumb.
Fresh summer and braai side
Greek-Style Pasta Salad
Fusilli, cucumber, tomato, olives and feta meet a sharp oregano dressing that travels well when kept cool.
Green make-ahead side
Pesto Pasta Salad
Fusilli, green beans and tomatoes are coated in pesto loosened with lemon, not a heavy blanket of mayonnaise.
Substantial pantry braai side
Three-Bean Pasta Salad
Farfalle, three beans, peppers and herbs make a bright, filling salad with a mustard vinaigrette.
Simple pantry spaghetti
Tomato Garlic Pasta
Spaghetti, tomato and gently golden garlic make a focused weeknight sauce with no meat, cream or hidden cooking time.
Southern Italy · Pasta and lentils
Pasta e Lenticchie
Small pasta cooks with lentils, vegetables and olive oil into a thick, spoonable dish rather than a sauce ladled over noodles.
Southern Italy · Pasta and potatoes
Pasta e Patate
Potato cubes and mixed short pasta cook together until starch creates a creamy, sustaining dish without cream.
Naples · Pasta and peas
Pasta e Piselli
Ditalini and peas cook in one pot with onion and Pecorino until sweet, green and lightly creamy.
Bari · Toasted, fiery spaghetti
Spaghetti all’Assassina
Spaghetti cooks risotto-style in a frying pan with tomato and chilli until parts become dark, crisp and intensely savoury.
Northern Italian simplicity
Ravioli with Butter and Sage
Filled ravioli are coated in nutty brown butter, crisp sage and Parmigiano with careful timing that protects every parcel.
Sicily · Garlic, chilli and Pecorino
Pasta alla Carrettiera
Spaghetti meets raw garlic, parsley, chilli, Pecorino and olive oil in a bold Sicilian pantry sauce mixed away from direct heat.
Stovetop anti-waste lunch
Crispy Leftover Pasta Frittata
Cold plain pasta, eggs, Cheddar and herbs become a crisp-edged skillet frittata with a tender centre and no oven required.
Bright South African braai side
Peppadew and Feta Pasta Salad
Sweet piquanté peppers, feta, cucumber and parsley dress fusilli in a sharp lemon vinaigrette that travels better than a heavy mayonnaise salad.
Colourful make-ahead braai side
Beetroot and Feta Pasta Salad
Roasted beetroot, feta, rocket and toasted seeds turn farfalle into an earthy, sharp pasta salad with no mayonnaise.
Budget pantry dinner
Tomato and Butter Bean Pasta
Butter beans, concentrated tomato and rosemary make a substantial rigatoni with pantry ingredients and no need for meat or cream.
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