Recipe collection

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.

62editorially reviewed recipes
Tonnarelli cacio e pepe with black pepper in a pale handmade bowl↗
Lazio · Four ingredients

Cacio e Pepe

A peppery Roman pasta with a smooth Pecorino emulsion and zero clumps.

20 minModerateServes 4
Roast butternut and feta farfalle with sage on a pale ceramic plate↗
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.

45 minEasyServes 4
Spaghetti aglio e olio with sliced garlic chilli and parsley on a sunlit ceramic plate↗
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.

20 minEasyServes 4
Penne all arrabbiata in vivid tomato chilli sauce on a pale limestone table↗
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.

30 minEasyServes 4
Rigatoni alla Norma with aubergine tomato basil and ricotta salata in a rustic bowl↗
Sicily · Catania

Pasta alla Norma

Fried aubergine, tomato, basil and ricotta salata come together in one of Sicily’s defining pasta dishes.

55 minModerateServes 4
Spaghetti alla puttanesca with olives capers and tomato on a dark ceramic plate↗
Campania · bold pantry sauce

Spaghetti alla Puttanesca

Tomato, olives, capers and anchovies make a salty, lively sauce with no need for a long simmer.

30 minEasyServes 4
Trofie pasta with bright basil pesto green beans and potato in a handmade green bowl↗
Liguria · Genoa

Trofie al Pesto Genovese

Fresh basil pesto coats twisted trofie with potato and green beans in the Ligurian manner.

35 minModerateServes 4
Tagliatelle al ragu with slow cooked meat sauce and Parmesan on a warm timber table↗
Emilia-Romagna · Bologna

Tagliatelle al Ragù

A slow beef and pork ragù served with broad egg tagliatelle, where the pasta matters as much as the sauce.

180 minModerateServes 6
Rustic pasta e ceci with chickpeas rosemary and small pasta in a terracotta bowl↗
Central Italy · pasta and chickpeas

Pasta e Ceci

Chickpeas and small pasta share one rosemary-scented pot, landing somewhere between soup and sauce.

40 minEasyServes 4
Silky linguine al limone with lemon zest and Parmesan in a pale blue ceramic bowl↗
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.

25 minModerateServes 4
Creamy macaroni cheese with golden breadcrumbs in a modern ivory bowl↗
Stovetop cheese comfort

Creamy Macaroni Cheese

A smooth Cheddar sauce coats macaroni on the stove, with mustard and a crisp optional breadcrumb finish.

30 minEasyServes 6
Lentil and mushroom bolognese over tagliatelle on a sun washed stone table↗
Budget plant-based sauce

Lentil Bolognese

Brown lentils, mushrooms and tomato make a substantial ragù-style sauce with real depth and no imitation meat.

55 minEasyServes 6
Colourful braai fusilli pasta salad with charred peppers sweetcorn and herbs outdoors↗
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.

35 minEasyServes 8
Chakalaka inspired penne with beans peppers and carrot in a vibrant ceramic bowl↗
South African fusion

Chakalaka-Inspired Pasta

Chakalaka vegetables and penne meet in a spicy tomato sauce with beans for a cheerful, honest fusion dinner.

40 minEasyServes 6
Roasted Mediterranean vegetable rigatoni bake with mozzarella in a terracotta dish↗
Mediterranean vegetable tray

Roasted Vegetable Pasta Bake

Roasted aubergine, courgette and peppers bake with rigatoni, tomato and a modest mozzarella crust.

65 minEasyServes 6
Orecchiette with broccoli rabe anchovy crumbs and chilli in an ivory bowl↗
Puglia · bitter greens

Orecchiette alle Cime di Rapa

Orecchiette, broccoli rabe, anchovy, garlic and chilli create a Puglian bowl built on bitterness rather than sweetness.

35 minModerateServes 4
Thick pasta e fagioli with borlotti beans small pasta and rosemary in a rustic bowl↗
Italy · regional bean pot

Pasta e Fagioli

Borlotti beans, small pasta and rosemary meet in a thick, spoonable dish shared by several Italian regions.

50 minEasyServes 6
Spaghetti alla Nerano with fried baby marrow basil and grated aged cheese↗
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.

55 minModerateServes 4
Small tortellini in clear golden broth with Parmigiano in a refined white bowl↗
Emilia-Romagna · festive broth

Tortellini in Brodo

Tiny meat-filled tortellini float in clear, deeply flavoured broth in this patient special-occasion dish.

180 minModerateServes 6
Sicilian bucatini with sardines fennel raisins and toasted breadcrumbs↗
Sicily · fennel and sardines

Pasta con le Sarde

Sardines, wild fennel, raisins and saffron make one of Sicily's most distinctive sweet-savoury pasta dishes.

55 minModerateServes 4
Buckwheat pizzoccheri with cabbage potato melted cheese and sage in a stone bowl↗
Lombardy · Alpine buckwheat

Pizzoccheri della Valtellina

Buckwheat ribbons, potato, cabbage, butter and mountain cheese make a substantial pasta from the Valtellina valley.

55 minModerateServes 6
Creamy mushroom tagliatelle with browned mushrooms thyme and black pepper↗
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.

30 minEasyServes 4
Baked pasta shells filled with spinach ricotta tomato and golden mozzarella↗
Vegetarian family bake

Spinach and Ricotta Pasta Bake

Spinach and ricotta fill pasta shells under a bright tomato sauce and restrained mozzarella crust.

70 minModerateServes 6
Baked feta and burst cherry tomato pasta with spinach in a white roasting dish↗
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.

45 minEasyServes 6
Simple tomato basil spaghetti with glossy red sauce and torn basil leaves↗
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.

30 minEasyServes 4
Rigatoni in smooth roasted red pepper almond sauce with parsley↗
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.

40 minEasyServes 4
Golden butternut macaroni cheese with sage crumb in a shallow baking dish↗
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.

60 minEasyServes 8
Rigatoni alla Norcina with crumbled sausage Pecorino and black pepper↗
Umbria · Norcia sausage pasta

Pasta alla Norcina

Fresh sausage, white wine, garlic and Pecorino coat short pasta in a restrained Umbrian cream sauce with black pepper.

35 minModerateServes 4
Thick hand-rolled pici pasta in bright tomato and gentle garlic sauce↗
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.

75 minModerateServes 4
Gnocchi alla Sorrentina with tomato basil and bubbling mozzarella in terracotta↗
Campania · Baked gnocchi

Gnocchi alla Sorrentina

Potato gnocchi, tomato, basil, fiordilatte and Parmigiano bubble in a shallow dish until the cheese just bronzes.

50 minModerateServes 4
Bucatini with golden cauliflower raisins pine nuts and toasted breadcrumbs↗
Sicily · Palermo classic

Pasta con Broccoli Arriminati

Cauliflower, saffron, anchovy, raisins and pine nuts create Palermo's sweet-savoury sauce for bucatini.

50 minModerateServes 4
Rigatoni alla zozzona with tomato sausage guanciale and Pecorino↗
Lazio · Roman trattoria pasta

Pasta alla Zozzona

Sausage, guanciale, tomato, egg yolk and Pecorino combine in a deliberately abundant Roman rigatoni.

45 minModerateServes 4
Thick bigoli pasta coated with soft golden onion and anchovy sauce↗
Veneto · Onion and anchovy

Bigoli in Salsa

Slowly softened onion and anchovy cling to thick bigoli in a spare Venetian pasta traditionally associated with lean days.

45 minEasyServes 4
Broken ziti coated in slow cooked amber onion and beef Genovese sauce↗
Campania · Naples onion ragù

Ziti alla Genovese

Beef and a remarkable quantity of onion cook down into Naples' amber, tomato-light Genovese sauce for broken ziti.

230 minModerateServes 6
Golden curried macaroni salad with peppers peas and spring onion↗
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.

30 minEasyServes 8
Golden bobotie-inspired mince macaroni bake with turmeric custard top↗
South African-inspired fusion

Bobotie-Inspired Pasta Bake

Curried mince, apricot, turmeric custard and macaroni borrow bobotie's flavour logic for an honestly labelled pasta bake.

70 minModerateServes 8
Rigatoni with chunky aubergine brown lentil tomato ragu and parsley↗
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.

55 minEasyServes 6
Small pasta with chickpeas spinach tomato and lemon in a shallow bowl↗
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.

30 minEasyServes 4
Shell pasta with bright peas lemon mint and finely grated Parmesan↗
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.

20 minEasyServes 4
Fusilli with basil pesto baby marrow green beans and cherry tomatoes↗
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.

30 minEasyServes 4
One-pot fusilli with browned mushrooms spinach thyme and Parmesan↗
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.

30 minEasyServes 4
Tomato penne bake with browned mature Cheddar and oregano crumb↗
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.

50 minEasyServes 8
Pappardelle with browned mushrooms rich tomato sauce thyme and parsley↗
No-cream vegetable pasta

Mushroom Tomato Pasta

Deeply browned mushrooms and concentrated tomato give pappardelle a savoury vegetarian coating without cream.

35 minEasyServes 4
Farfalle salad with charred sweetcorn feta tomato spring onion and herbs↗
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.

30 minEasyServes 8
Tagliatelle with smoked salmon lemon creme fraiche dill and black pepper↗
Fast, elegant ribbons

Smoked Salmon Lemon Pasta

Tagliatelle, smoked salmon, lemon and dill come together in a fresh creme fraiche sauce without cooking the fish to dryness.

20 minEasyServes 4
Shell pasta bake with flaky white hake peas leeks and golden herb breadcrumbs↗
South African white-fish supper

Hake Pasta Bake

Flaky hake, leeks, peas and shell pasta bake in a mustard sauce beneath a crisp herb crumb.

55 minEasyServes 6
Linguine with browned mushrooms wilted spinach garlic and lemon↗
Light, savoury and meat-free

Mushroom and Spinach Pasta

Deeply browned mushrooms, wilted spinach and linguine in a lemony garlic emulsion without cream.

25 minEasyServes 4
Rigatoni in tomato sauce with creamy ricotta spoonfuls basil and black pepper↗
Soft cheese, bright tomato

Tomato and Ricotta Pasta

Concentrated tomato sauce and creamy ricotta coat rigatoni without turning the pan heavy or uniformly pink.

30 minEasyServes 4
Spaghetti with wilted baby spinach lemon zest Parmesan and black pepper↗
Twenty-minute green dinner

Lemon Spinach Pasta

Spaghetti, baby spinach, lemon and Parmesan become a fresh pantry meal through a quick pasta-water emulsion.

20 minEasyServes 4
Golden penne pasta bake with broccoli mature Cheddar sauce and mustard crumbs↗
Vegetable-forward family bake

Broccoli Cheese Pasta Bake

Broccoli and penne bake in a smooth mature Cheddar sauce under a crisp mustard crumb.

50 minEasyServes 6
Fusilli pasta salad with cucumber tomato olives feta red onion and oregano↗
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.

25 minEasyServes 8
Fusilli pesto pasta salad with green beans cherry tomatoes basil and pine nuts↗
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.

25 minEasyServes 8
Farfalle salad with kidney beans cannellini beans green beans peppers and herbs↗
Substantial pantry braai side

Three-Bean Pasta Salad

Farfalle, three beans, peppers and herbs make a bright, filling salad with a mustard vinaigrette.

30 minEasyServes 8
Spaghetti coated in concentrated tomato garlic sauce with parsley↗
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.

25 minEasyServes 4
Thick Italian pasta e lenticchie with ditalini brown lentils vegetables and parsley↗
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.

55 minEasyServes 4
Creamy pasta e patate with mixed short pasta potato cubes tomato and parsley↗
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.

45 minEasyServes 4
Neapolitan pasta e piselli with ditalini green peas Pecorino and black pepper↗
Naples · Pasta and peas

Pasta e Piselli

Ditalini and peas cook in one pot with onion and Pecorino until sweet, green and lightly creamy.

30 minEasyServes 4
Bari-style spaghetti all Assassina with charred crisp edges tomato and chilli↗
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.

35 minModerateServes 4
Curled gramigna pasta with crumbled sausage light tomato cream sauce and Parmesan↗
Emilia-Romagna · Sausage pasta

Gramigna alla Salsiccia

Curled gramigna and fresh sausage meet in a restrained cream and tomato sauce from Emilia-Romagna.

35 minEasyServes 4
Filled ravioli in brown butter with crisp sage Parmigiano and black pepper↗
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.

20 minModerateServes 4
Sicilian pasta alla carrettiera with spaghetti garlic parsley chilli and Pecorino↗
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.

20 minEasyServes 4
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