I love this easy vegetable spaghetti recipe! It tastes incredible and is loaded with over 1 ½ pounds of vegetables. This vegetarian pasta is so good that I could honestly eat it every day.
I absolutely love this vegetarian pasta sauce because it’s 100% from scratch, so you know exactly what’s going into the pan. Seriously, my whole family devours it (even my young son)! I’m constantly coming back to it, especially when I need a simple weeknight dinner.
And the best part is that you can throw in whatever veggies are hanging in your fridge. It’s a great way to use up those odds and ends in the veggie drawer. For more veggie-forward pasta recipes, I love this easy vegetable lasagna, this vegetable pasta bake, or if you wanted a low-carb option, try my zucchini noodles pasta!
Key Ingredients
- Pasta: I used spaghetti in our photos and video, but any shape of pasta will do. You can even substitute your favorite gluten-free or whole-grain pasta if you’d like to. Or, for something different, you can use the sauce and make veggie lasagna roll ups, which use lasagna noodles!
- Vegetables: I add over 1 ½ pounds of veggies to this pasta recipe and love a combination of zucchini, yellow squash, jarred roasted red peppers, and spinach. Other veggies work, like peas, corn, cauliflower, and cabbage.
- Onion, garlic, and tomato paste: These provide our base flavor for the vegetable pasta sauce.
- Canned whole tomatoes: I love canned whole tomatoes for this recipe. After adding them to the pot, I crush them with a spoon so they turn into a chunky sauce. Crushed tomatoes are also an option. You can also use blanched, peeled fresh tomatoes (tips for peeling fresh tomatoes are found in this recipe for red pasta sauce).
- Basil: I love fresh basil in this sauce, but other herbs work, too (parsley and mint add a different flavor but are excellent).
- Mushroom powder: Okay, now this one is optional, but for the best, most flavorful veggie pasta, I highly recommend using homemade mushroom powder. It adds a rich umami flavor to the sauce and is our secret weapon when making meatless recipes. I also use it when making mushroom pasta and spaghetti with meat sauce. You can also buy it from specialty food stores, spice shops, and online.
How to Make Veggie Spaghetti
My family loves this veggie spaghetti (even my little one). We’ll make it from scratch, but don’t worry, it’s easy and quick!
First, you’ll make the vegetable sauce. Cook your onions in olive oil until soft, then stir in the garlic, spices, and tomato paste. The tomato paste will turn from bright red to burnt orange, and that’s when you’ll toss in all your delicious veggies.
Next, add a large can of tomatoes and use a wooden spoon to break them into a chunky sauce. Add a good pinch of salt and, if you have it, some mushroom powder (highly recommended). Then, let your sauce simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.
While the sauce simmers, you can cook your pasta. When the pasta is cooked, your sauce should be ready, and you can toss in some spinach, fresh basil, and the cooked pasta. I love serving this veggie spaghetti with a generous amount of parmesan cheese, but you can use a more vegetarian-friendly cheese or nutritional yeast instead.
Easy Veggie Spaghetti
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PREP
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We love this quick and easy vegetable pasta with over 1 ½ pounds of vegetables and a simple tomato sauce made completely from scratch. For vegan spaghetti, skip the cheese and serve with some nutritional yeast sprinkled on top. You can make the sauce up to 4 days in advance.
Makes 4 to 6 servings (makes 6 cups of sauce)
Watch Us Make the Recipe
You Will Need
12 ounces (340g) spaghetti or pasta of choice
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup (140g) chopped onion
2 medium zucchini, chopped
2 medium yellow squash, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced, about 1 tablespoon
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 (28oz) can whole peeled tomatoes
One (12oz) jar roasted red peppers, drained and cut into 1/2-inch pieces, about 1 cup
2 to 3 teaspoons mushroom powder, optional
5 cups (226g) spinach leaves
Handful of fresh basil leaves, plus more for serving
Salt and fresh ground black pepper
Parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast for serving
Directions
- Make Vegetable Pasta Sauce
1Heat the olive oil in a wide skillet with sides over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 3 to 5 minutes.
2Add the zucchini, yellow squash, garlic, oregano, red pepper flakes, and a generous pinch of salt, then cook, stirring occasionally, until softened but still with some crunch, 5 to 8 minutes.
3Stir in the tomato paste and cook another minute.
4Add the roasted red peppers, tomatoes, and mushroom powder. Bring to a low simmer and cook until the liquid has thickened and reduced by half, about 10 minutes. As the sauce cooks, use a spoon to break the whole tomatoes into smaller pieces for a chunky sauce.
- Make Veggie Pasta
1While the sauce simmers, bring a large pot of salted water to the boil then cook pasta according to package directions.
2Take the sauce off of the heat, and then stir in the spinach and basil. Taste then adjust with additional salt if needed.
3Toss in the cooked pasta, and then leave for a minute so that the pasta absorbs some of the sauce and the spinach wilts. Toss again, and then serve with parmesan or nutritional yeast sprinkled on top.
Adam and Joanne’s Tips
- Storing: Leftover veggie spaghetti lasts in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can also make the sauce and store it in the refrigerator for 4 days before tossing it with the pasta. Freeze the sauce for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating and tossing with freshly cooked pasta.
- Salting to taste: Tomato sauces usually need quite a bit of salt. If you taste the sauce and the flavor does not pop, it probably needs more salt. I use between 1 and 1 ½ teaspoons of fine sea salt when making this vegetable tomato sauce.
- Mushroom powder: I love it and highly recommend adding it to your spice cabinet! It adds a rich umami flavor to the sauce (and other dishes). Here is our homemade mushroom powder recipe, or you can buy it (I’ve seen it in specialty stores, spice shops, and online).
- Substitutes for mushroom powder: Try a dash of soy sauce or fish sauce, or chop mushrooms and add them to the pan along with the onions.
- The nutrition facts provided below are estimates.
Nutrition Per Serving
Serving Size
1/6 of the recipe (2 ounces pasta)
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Calories
372
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Total Fat
11.4g
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Saturated Fat
1.6g
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Cholesterol
0mg
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Sodium
798.2mg
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Carbohydrate
56.9g
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Dietary Fiber
8.9g
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Total Sugars
7g
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Protein
14.5g
We’re Adam and Joanne, a couple passionate about cooking and sharing delicious, reliable recipes since 2009. Our goal? To inspire you to get in the kitchen and confidently cook fresh and flavorful meals.More About Us
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