Creamy Mushroom & Nutritional Yeast Pasta
A rich, velvety vegan pasta sauce made with mushrooms, garlic, and nutritional yeast—ready in 20 minutes with pantry staples. This italian-inspired pasta (vegan) ready in about 20 minutes pairs pasta, cremini mushrooms, olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 520 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 8 oz pasta
- 8 oz cremini mushrooms
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic
- 3 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente (8-10 minutes), reserving 1 cup pasta water before draining.
- Step 2: While pasta cooks, slice mushrooms into 1/4-inch pieces and mince garlic. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, add mushrooms and sauté for 6-7 minutes until golden brown and tender.
- Step 3: Stir in garlic, thyme, and nutritional yeast; cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Gradually whisk in vegetable broth and lemon juice, then simmer for 3-4 minutes until sauce thickens slightly. Add drained pasta and 1/2 cup reserved pasta water, tossing until sauce coats the strands and becomes glossy.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Creamy Mushroom & Nutritional Yeast Pasta take to make?
Total time is about 20 minutes (5 min prep + 15 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Creamy Mushroom & Nutritional Yeast Pasta?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep pasta from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Creamy Mushroom & Nutritional Yeast Pasta?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Creamy Mushroom & Nutritional Yeast Pasta for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 2 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 2). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
Is Creamy Mushroom & Nutritional Yeast Pasta vegan?
Yes — this recipe is tagged vegan based on its ingredient list. Always cross-check labels for packaged ingredients (sauces, broths, condiments) since formulations vary by brand.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
Used frozen vegetables instead of fresh and honestly couldn't tell the difference.
- ★★★★★
Doubled the garlic (as one does) and it was amazing.
- ★★★★☆
My family liked it. I personally would prefer more depth of flavor.
