Creamy Mushroom Pasta with Fresh Thyme

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

Al dente pasta tossed in a sauce of sautéed mushrooms, garlic, cream, and fresh thyme for a comforting vegetarian meal. This Italian-inspired summer cookout recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 30 minutes, pairs penne pasta, unsalted butter, garlic cloves, minced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 560 calories and feeds 4, 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.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 20 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 560 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add 12 oz penne pasta and cook for 11 minutes until al dente, then drain and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
  2. Step 2: While pasta cooks, melt 3 tbsp unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Step 3: Add 12 oz sliced cremini mushrooms and sauté for 6-7 minutes until mushrooms release moisture and edges turn golden brown.
  4. Step 4: Stir in 3/4 cup heavy cream and 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves, simmering for 3 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
  5. Step 5: Add the drained pasta to the skillet with sauce along with 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Toss vigorously, adding reserved pasta water a few tablespoons at a time if needed to loosen the sauce.
  6. Step 6: Garnish with 2 tbsp chopped parsley and serve immediately.

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