Going meat-free a few nights a week is a great way to eat a bit lighter on the planet, and pasta makes it easy — it’s cheap, filling, and endlessly adaptable for fussy little eaters. Whether you want something creamy, cheesy, or packed with veggies, there’s a recipe here for every kind of family dinner.
Here are 10 tempting vegetarian pasta recipes perfect for family dinner:
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#1. Creamy Mushroom and Spinach Orzo
This one-pot pasta recipe for Creamy Mushroom and Spinach Orzo from Recipe Tin Eats uses frozen spinach, mushrooms and a handful of pantry staples.
It’s a great one for getting dinner on the table in just over 20 minutes. If your kids are fussy about mushrooms, just chop them extra finely so they blend into the sauce.
Image courtesy of Recipe Tin Eats
You might also enjoy reading 9 Simple Pasta Recipes for the Kids to Prepare in No Time
#2. Tomato and Basil Pasta
This is one of the simplest recipes to rustle up, using ingredients you probably already have in the store cupboard. If you need a quick and easy pasta sauce, this Tomato & Basil Sauce takes less than 30 minutes to cook and is guaranteed to go down well with kids.
You can make the sauce ahead of time, and it freezes well too. Just change up the pasta shape each time you serve it — penne is a firm favourite in our house.
#3. Lemon Ricotta Pasta with Peas
This Lemon Ricotta Pasta with Peas recipe from The Food Charlatan is so easy and ready in 30 minutes.
The cheesy sauce is made by blending ricotta with peas and lemon. Top it with Parmesan and some extra fresh peas, and you have a hearty vegetarian dinner the whole family will love.
Image courtesy of The Food Charlatan
You might also enjoy reading 11 of the Best Vegetarian Recipes for a Meatless Monday
#4. Ravioli Pasta and Tomato Salad with Basil
This Ravioli Pasta and Tomato Salad with Basil recipe is even better if you make it ahead of time, giving the flavours a chance to blend together. Feel free to vary the ingredients to suit your family’s tastes.
If you don’t think the kids will go for them, leave out the artichokes, olives and capers altogether — it will still taste great with just tomatoes and basil.
#5. Courgette Pasta with Lemon and Capers
This recipe for Courgette Pasta with Lemon and Capers has been a regular in our house for years. It’s super easy, meat-free, and quick enough to make on a busy weeknight.
#6. Pasta with Chickpeas (Pasta e Ceci)
This Pasta with Chickpeas (Pasta e Ceci) recipe is a real budget-friendly family dinner, adapted from Jamie’s Italy by Jamie Oliver. To make it go even further, swap tinned chickpeas for dried ones — just soak them overnight, then cook for about 2 hours, or until tender.
#7. Macaroni and Cheese
This recipe for Easy Peasy Macaroni Cheesey (as we call it in our house) is adapted from Lisa Faulkner’s cookbook From My Mother to My Daughter.
It includes leek and Worcester sauce for extra flavour, plus a crunchy breadcrumb topping.
#8. Mushroom Pasta
Stuck for inspiration when you look in the fridge? This mushroom pasta dish from Hellmanns uses the most basic ingredients you probably already have lying around in the fridge or cupboard.
Image courtesy of Hellmanns
#9. One Pot Lemon Pasta
This vegan recipe for One Pot Lemon Pasta from VNutrition is so easy to make and ready in about 15 minutes.
Leeks, peas, spinach and chickpeas round out this healthy, filling meal.
Image courtesy of VNutrition
You might also enjoy watching How to Cook a Complete One Pot Pasta Dish in Only 9 Minutes
#10. Pasta with Pesto
This has to be one of the simplest vegetarian pasta recipes to throw together for family dinner — a bit of a cheat, but the kids love it! You’ll need some pesto, either homemade or shop-bought.
Cook your pasta, saving half a cup of the pasta water before draining. Stir the pasta and pesto together, adding a splash of that reserved water to loosen the sauce. Grate over some parmesan or pecorino, and dinner is ready in under 15 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these recipes suitable for fussy eaters?
Most of these recipes are easy to adapt. Chop vegetables extra small, leave out ingredients like olives or capers, or serve sauces on the side so everyone can build their own bowl.
Can I make any of these ahead of time?
Yes — several of these recipes, such as the tomato and basil sauce and the ravioli and tomato salad, actually taste better made ahead and can be stored in the fridge for a day or two, or frozen.
Are these recipes budget-friendly?
Many of them, like the pasta with chickpeas and the tomato and basil pasta, use simple store-cupboard ingredients, making them an affordable option for family dinners.
How can I add extra vegetables to these dishes?
Most of these recipes are flexible — try stirring in extra spinach, peas, or grated courgette to boost the veg content without changing the overall dish too much.
Related Articles
- 9 Simple Pasta Recipes for the Kids to Prepare in No Time
- 11 of the Best Vegetarian Recipes for a Meatless Monday
- How to Cook a Complete One Pot Pasta Dish in Only 9 Minutes
- Quick and Easy Pesto Recipe
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