The BEST Creamy Mushroom Pasta

By Alexandra Caspero on February 28, 2016

The BEST creamy mushroom pasta! Made with a secret ingredient, this pasta is packed with savory umami flavor and ready in just 20 minutes! Save this for weeknight dinners. 

This post is sponsored by Pacific Foods, celebrating their nutritious and earthy Organic Mushroom Broth. It’s the secret weapon in this flavor-packed pasta!

I’m so excited to share this pasta with you. It’s so simple, packed with savory umami flavor, fresh herbs and thick bucatini noodles. In other words, I don’t need to go on and on with how much you are going to love this, just make it. Then, come back so we can profess our love of pasta together.

I’m a pretty good vegetarian: I love all the must-have items for mimicking a rich and meaty texture. Tofu and tempeh get equal love in my book, along with eggplant, lentils and of course- mushrooms. Sautéing these beautiful babies in a little bit of garlic and olive oil then tossing them with hot pasta is total perfection. I have to actively try and not to eat all of the mushrooms in the pan as they are cooking.

As Julia Child once famously said, don’t crowd the mushrooms. It’s an important tip and one that I often repeat in my head when I’m cooking mushrooms. The key to getting that crispy outside is heating the olive oil, adding the mushrooms in a single layer and then letting them sit. A few minutes untouched will created the most beautiful crust. Flip and repeat.

The BEST creamy mushroom pasta! Made with a secret ingredient, this pasta is packed with savory umami flavor and ready in just 20 minutes! Save this for weeknight dinners. | www.delishknowledge.comThe BEST creamy mushroom pasta! Made with a secret ingredient, this pasta is packed with savory umami flavor and ready in just 20 minutes! Save this for weeknight dinners. | www.delishknowledge.com

 

 

The Best Creamy Mushroom Pasta

The other trick to this mushroom pasta is cooking the pasta in rich mushroom broth. Honestly, you almost don’t even need anything else. The pasta is completely seasoned by the mushroom broth, without having to add any extra salt or seasonings. So, enjoy it like is (especially with a little bit of melted goat cheese or parm) or make it the way I do here, with crispy sautéed mushrooms and lots of parsley. For the best tasting pasta, I used Organic Mushroom Broth from Pacific Foods. Savory mushrooms, garlic and sea salt combine to make the most incredibly flavored broth. It’s my secret weapon in this pasta and mushroom risotto.

While it may be sacrilegious to cook your pasta in just 4 cups of cooking water, it does work. Less liquid also means your pasta cooking time is cut in half; no more waiting 15 minutes for a large pot of water to come to a boil. In fact, you don’t even have to bring the broth to a boil if you’re in a rush, as shown in this Food Network video.

You can use a large skillet or pot to cook the pasta in, but make sure you stir the pasta often once it’s in the pan. Since you aren’t using a lot of water for the pasta to swim in, you need to make sure to stir often so the strands don’t stick to one another.

The BEST creamy mushroom pasta! Made with a secret ingredient, this pasta is packed with savory umami flavor and ready in just 20 minutes! Save this for weeknight dinners. | www.delishknowledge.com

If 2015 was the year of bone broth, 2016 should be the year of mushroom broth. A nutrient-rich, vegetarian alternative to the Paleo trend that’s about to have a major moment.  Of course, mushroom broth is nothing new, but I’m glad to see it’s getting the recognition it deserves. It’s an inexpensive, plant-based way to add extra earthiness and depth to any dish.

Mushroom lovers, stand up! This weeknight pasta dish is for you.

The BEST creamy mushroom pasta! Made with a secret ingredient, this pasta is packed with savory umami flavor and ready in just 20 minutes! Save this for weeknight dinners. | www.delishknowledge.com

If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, and tag your Instagram photos with #delishknowledge . I absolutely love seeing your creations. Happy cooking! 

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The BEST creamy mushroom pasta! Made with a secret ingredient, this pasta is packed with savory umami flavor and ready in just 20 minutes! Save this for weeknight dinners. | www.delishknowledge.com

The BEST Creamy Mushroom Pasta

  • Author: Alex Caspero
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 12 minutes
  • Total Time: 22 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: dinner, vegetarian, healthy, mushrooms, pasta, italian
  • Method: Stove top
  • Cuisine: Italian

Description

The BEST creamy mushroom pasta! Made with a secret ingredient, this vegetarian pasta is packed with savory umami flavor and ready in just 20 minutes! Save this for weeknight dinners.


  • Author: Alex Caspero
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 12 minutes
  • Total Time: 22 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: dinner, vegetarian, healthy, mushrooms, pasta, italian
  • Method: Stove top
  • Cuisine: Italian
  • Author: Alex Caspero
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 12 minutes
  • Total Time: 22 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: dinner, vegetarian, healthy, mushrooms, pasta, italian
  • Method: Stove top
  • Cuisine: Italian
Scale

Ingredients

  • 4 cups [url:1]Pacific Foods Organic Mushroom Broth[/url], divided
  • 12 ounces whole wheat spaghetti, bucatini or other long noodle
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 10 ounces mushrooms, thinly sliced
  • 1/41/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (depending on how much spice you want)
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream (can omit for dairy-free version)
  • 1/2 cup parsley
  • Parmesan cheese, for topping

Instructions

  1. Place 3 3/4 cups mushroom broth plus 1/2 cup water in a large pot over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Add the noodles, gently letting them soften into the liquid, then reduce heat to medium. Cook, stirring often until noodles are al dente and liquid is absorbed, about 10 minutes depending on pasta brand.
  2. While the pasta is cooking, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil and garlic and cook, stirring often, for 30 seconds or so until garlic is just golden, taking care not to burn.
  3. Add the mushrooms in a single layer and let sit for a minute or two so mushrooms can brown. Gently stir, then allow them to sit again to create a golden crust. Once mushrooms are tender, add in the remaining 1/4 cup mushroom broth and crushed red pepper flakes. Let cook until broth is completely absorbed.
  4. Whisk in the balsamic vinegar and heavy cream, if using. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground pepper, as desired.
  5. Add in the parsley and cooked pasta. Toss together until mushrooms and pasta are combined.
  6. Serve, garnish with parmesan cheese, if desired.

did you make this?

Tag @delishknowledge on Instagram and hashtag it #delishknowledge

More healthy, weeknight pasta recipes:

Vegan Coconut Curry Noodle Bowls! 2 servings of vegetables in every bowl! Linguini & Vegetables simmered in a coconut red curry sauce. Ready in less than 30 minutes! | www.delishknowledge.com
Vegan Coconut Curry Noodles
One Pot Vegetable Pasta! Throw everything in a pot and you are done! Loaded with vegetables like peas, spinach and mushrooms. | www.delishknowledge.com
One Pot Vegetable Pasta
30 minute meal! Rainbow Soba Noodles with Creamy Peanut Sauce! This healthy recipe is soooo good! #vegan | www.delishknowledge.com
Rainbow Peanut Soba Noodles
Collard Green Pasta! Shredded collards tossed with hot pasta, garlic, olive oil, red pepper flakes and seasoned bread crumbs. Dinner is ready in just 20 minutes! Vegan | www.delishknowledge.com
Collard Green Pasta
The BEST weeknight pasta! You've gotta try this vegetarian pasta. Spicy vegetable marinara over dreamfields pasta. | www.delishknowledge.com
Spicy Penne

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This post was sponsored by Pacific Foods. As always, words and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that I love and that make DK possible. 

The BEST creamy mushroom pasta! Made with a secret ingredient, this pasta is packed with savory umami flavor and ready in just 20 minutes! Save this for weeknight dinners. | www.delishknowledge.com

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Meet Alex Caspero

Alex Caspero is a Registered Dietitian, New York Times Bestselling Plant-Based Chef and mom of two. She aims to cut through the nutrition noise by providing real-life, nourishing tips for body and mind. Learn more about Alex.

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    1. Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness
      February 29, 2016 AT 5:55 pm

      What an amazing pasta!

      1. Alex @ DelishKnowledge
        March 1, 2016 AT 5:49 pm

        Thanks Taylor!

      2. Alex @ DelishKnowledge
        March 1, 2016 AT 5:49 pm

        Thanks Taylor!

    2. Lisa @ Healthy Nibbles & Bits
      February 29, 2016 AT 8:15 am

      I bet that the mushroom broth gives off an amazing flavor! LOVE it!

      1. Alex @ DelishKnowledge
        March 1, 2016 AT 5:50 pm

        It does! I wasn’t sure how much it would change the pasta, but it’s SO awesome. The plain pasta even without the sauce was really delicious.

      2. Alex @ DelishKnowledge
        March 1, 2016 AT 5:50 pm

        It does! I wasn’t sure how much it would change the pasta, but it’s SO awesome. The plain pasta even without the sauce was really delicious.

    3. Jessica DeGore RD
      February 29, 2016 AT 7:16 am

      I’m totally on board for the year of the mushroom broth (bone broth is overrated). I’ve never cooked pasta in anything but water… I need to try this recipe to experiment more! When does your cookbook come out!?

    4. Jessica DeGore RD
      February 29, 2016 AT 7:16 am

      I’m totally on board for the year of the mushroom broth (bone broth is overrated). I’ve never cooked pasta in anything but water… I need to try this recipe to experiment more! When does your cookbook come out!?

      1. Alex @ DelishKnowledge
        March 1, 2016 AT 5:51 pm

        Yes, bone broth is so overrated! I’m on board for the mushroom broth trend 🙂 You have to try this. I didn’t think it was going to change the flavor that much, but I LOVED the way it tasted! Cookbook (Fresh Italian Cooking) will be out this Fall 🙂

      2. Alex @ DelishKnowledge
        March 1, 2016 AT 5:51 pm

        Yes, bone broth is so overrated! I’m on board for the mushroom broth trend 🙂 You have to try this. I didn’t think it was going to change the flavor that much, but I LOVED the way it tasted! Cookbook (Fresh Italian Cooking) will be out this Fall 🙂