Creamy One-Pot Pasta – Easy, Plant-Based, and Delicious

This creamy one-pot pasta recipe combines hearty whole wheat rotini with fresh veggies like Broccolini, mushrooms, and squash, all brought together with a tangy, creamy cashew-based sauce. It’s a satisfying meal that requires minimal cleanup—perfect for busy weeknights!

Why Make Creamy One-Pot Pasta?

This pasta dish is packed with flavor, featuring the richness of cashew butter, the tang of Dijon mustard, and the umami of nutritional yeast. It’s a healthier alternative to traditional creamy pastas and uses only one pot, making cleanup a breeze. Plus, it’s easily adaptable for gluten-free diets!

Ingredients

• 8 oz dry whole wheat rotini pasta

• 6 oz Broccolini, trimmed, halved, sliced 1.5 inches

• 1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth

• 8 oz fresh cremini mushrooms, quartered

• 1 medium zucchini, quarter slices

• 1 medium yellow squash, sliced in quarters

• 3/4 cup sliced red bell pepper

• 1/2 cup chopped onion

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1/4 cup cashew butter or tahini

• 3 tbsp nutritional yeast

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

• 2 tsp Dijon mustard

• Sea salt, fresh black pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Cook the Pasta: In a large pot, cook the rotini according to package directions. Reserve 1½ cups of pasta cooking water. Drain and set aside.

2. Cook the Veggies: In the same pot, cook the Broccolini with 1/4 cup of vegetable broth over medium-high heat for about 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms, zucchini, squash, bell pepper, onion, and garlic. Cook for 5 more minutes or until crisp-tender, stirring frequently.

3. Make the Sauce: In a bowl, whisk together the remaining 3/4 cup of broth, cashew butter, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, and Dijon mustard.

4. Combine: Add the rotini back to the pot with the sauce. Toss everything together, adding reserved pasta cooking water a little at a time until the sauce is creamy.

5. Serve: Return to heat to warm through, season with salt and black pepper, and serve!

Customizing Your Creamy One-Pot Pasta

• Make it gluten-free: Use gluten-free pasta like lentil, brown rice, or chickpea pasta.

• Add more protein: Stir in cooked chickpeas or tofu for an extra protein boost.

• Spice it up: Add red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.

Enjoy this creamy, satisfying plant-based pasta for a delicious and easy meal!