Description
This One-Pot Creamy Pesto Pasta is a quick, plant-based meal that’s rich, comforting, and full of flavor. Made in just 20 minutes using simple pantry staples, it's a vegan dish that combines creamy sauce and herby pesto in one easy cleanup.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, diced
3 ½ cups vegetable broth
12 oz pasta (penne or fusilli)
1 cup unsweetened plant-based milk (oat, almond, or soy)
⅓ cup vegan pesto
3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Salt and black pepper, to taste
2 cups baby spinach
½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)
Fresh basil, for garnish
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large, deep skillet or pot over medium heat.
- Add garlic and onion, sauté for 2–3 minutes until softened and fragrant.
- Pour in the vegetable broth and add the dry pasta. Stir and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer for 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente and most of the liquid is absorbed.
- Stir in the plant-based milk, vegan pesto, nutritional yeast, and lemon juice. Cook for 2–3 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Season with salt and black pepper. Fold in baby spinach and cherry tomatoes, cooking for another 1–2 minutes until the spinach wilts.
- Remove from heat and garnish with fresh basil before serving.
Notes
Use gluten-free pasta to make this dish gluten-free.
Store-bought vegan pesto works well—just check for dairy-free labeling.
Add cashew butter or blended cashews to make it even creamier.
Stir in canned white beans or grilled tofu for extra protein.
Customize with other veggies like zucchini, mushrooms, or peas.
Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days and reheated with a splash of plant-based milk or water.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: One-Pot
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
