Creamy Vegan Mushroom & Spinach Pasta
Rich, dairy-free pasta with earthy mushrooms and wilted spinach, finished with a velvety cashew cream sauce. This vegetarian-inspired pasta (vegan) ready in about 40 minutes pairs (spaghetti or fettuccine) pasta, sliced cremini mushrooms, fresh spinach for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 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.
Ingredients
- 12 oz (spaghetti or fettuccine) pasta
- 8 oz, sliced cremini mushrooms
- 4 cups fresh spinach
- 1/2 cup, soaked for 2 hours raw cashews
- 3 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 2, minced garlic cloves
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water for 8-10 minutes until al dente; reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining.
- Step 2: While pasta cooks, blend soaked cashews, coconut milk, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, salt, and pepper until completely smooth (2-3 minutes).
- Step 3: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté mushrooms and garlic for 5-6 minutes until mushrooms release liquid and turn golden.
- Step 4: Add spinach to skillet and cook until wilted (2-3 minutes). Pour in cashew cream sauce and simmer for 3 minutes until thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Step 5: Toss drained pasta into sauce, adding reserved pasta water 1 tbsp at a time until creamy. Serve immediately.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Creamy Vegan Mushroom & Spinach Pasta take to make?
Total time is about 40 minutes (20 min prep + 20 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 Vegan Mushroom & Spinach 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 sliced cremini mushrooms from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Creamy Vegan Mushroom & Spinach 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 Vegan Mushroom & Spinach Pasta for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). 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 Vegan Mushroom & Spinach 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
- ★★★★★
My partner, who's usually picky, absolutely loved this.
- ★★★☆☆
Not bad. Would need significant modifications to make it a regular.
