Tomato Mushroom Pasta

WRITER BYCassie

POSTEDMarch 12, 2020

This Tomato Mushroom Pasta is total comfort food! Using simple ingredients, this vegetarian pasta will be on the table in around 40 minutes. A deliciously quick and easy weeknight dinner.

finished dish in a bowl covered in basil.

Everyone loves a creamy pasta dish and this Tomato Mushroom Pasta does not disappoint! It is pure comfort food.

This dish comes together so quickly and is absolutely delicious. It's a vegetarian spin on my Bacon and Mushroom Pasta recipe and would be perfect for Meatless Monday or a cosy date night in.

The tomato sauce for this pasta is homemade, and once you realise how easy it is to put together you'll never look at a jar of pasta sauce again!

Why you'll love this recipe...

A delicious meatless pasta
Quick and easy
Homemade pasta sauce

WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO MAKE THIS PASTA

ingredients laid on top of a wooden serving board.

Here's what you'll need to make this pasta (full measurements listed in the printable recipe card below)...

Olive Oil
Brown / Yellow Onion
Garlic
Mushrooms
Tomato Paste
Tinned Diced Tomatoes
Italian Herbs
Red Chilli Flakes / Crushed Red Pepper
Salt & Pepper
Heavy Cream / Cooking Cream
Penne Pasta
Parmesan (to serve)

HOW TO MAKE TOMATO MUSHROOM PASTA - STEP BY STEP

TO MAKE THE TOMATO SAUCE

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a saucepan on medium heat, then add ½ onion and garlic and sauté until softened. Add diced tomatoes, tomato paste, Italian herbs, chilli flakes, salt and pepper, and mix well to combine. Reduce heat and allow to simmer for 15 minutes.

tomato sauce in saucepan

TO MAKE THE PENNE

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add penne pasta and a pinch of salt and cook until just shy of al dente. Drain pasta, reserving ½ a cup of the pasta cooking water.

penne pasta in a saucepan of water.

PUT IT ALL TOGETHER

Approximately 5 minutes before the penne pasta has cooked heat the remaining oil in a large frying pan on medium heat. Add remaining onion and sauté until softened. Add mushrooms to the pan and sauté until cooked and tender.

mushrooms and onion sautéing in a frying pan.

Pour prepared tomato sauce into the frying pan, as well heavy cream and reserved pasta water.

tomato sauce and cream in a frying pan.

Drain the penne pasta and quickly add it to the frying pan too. Stir to combine, then cook, tossing regularly, until the sauce thickens and coats the pasta, approx. 1-2 minutes.

penne and tomato sauce in a frying pan.

Serve with a sprinkling of parmesan cheese on top.

TIPS FOR MAKING THIS PASTA

Salt your pasta water once it's boiling - Salting the water adds flavour to the water, which is absorbed by the food. As a general rule of thumb use 1 tablespoon salt to 1 pound / 500 grams of pasta.
Save some pasta water - Reserve half a mug of pasta water just before draining.
Mix cooked pasta, pasta water and sauce ASAP - Don't let your pasta sit too long after you drain it or it will stick together. Drain it and throw it immediately into the sauce with your pasta water. This means you'll start sautéing the onion and mushrooms approximately 5 minutes before the pasta is completely cooked.
Use whatever mushrooms you enjoy - white (cup or mushroom), cremini / swiss brown. I like the combination of grated and sliced as it gives it a meatier / bulkier feel.
Will give 2 generous servings, but could easily be separated into 3 if you are serving sides etc.

finished dish in a bowl.

MAKE IT A COMPLETE MEAL

Serve your pasta with something simple like some crusty bread for dipping up leftover sauce. You could even pair it with a delicious starter like this Easy Bruschetta or Air Fryer Garlic Bread.