Want an easy dinner with little cleanup? This One Pot Zucchini Mushroom Pasta is full of veggies and a great weeknight dinner!
When I’m busy during the week, I want meals that are quick and easy. Something with little clean-up. One-pot and one-pan meals tend to be my jam!
This one pot pasta dish was SO good. It’s full of nutritious ingredients and has a light creamy sauce without using any heavy cream. And it also makes a ton, a great way to save money with leftovers!
The pasta cooks right in with the water, absorbing it all so there’s no need to drain.
Scroll down to get to the recipe card for this mushroom zucchini pasta. Or keep reading for extra tips and tricks!
Save time with pre-cut vegetables
Listen. I know that a lot of times, we’re trying to save money on food. And pre-cut vegetables are normally WAY too expensive for everyday use.
However: if buying pre-sliced mushrooms and zucchini means you actually eat healthy foods, then I say it’s worth it. You cut the cooking time down significantly because you’re not chopping for 10 minutes.
It’s not for everybody! But if you get overwhelmed easily, then sometimes it’s worth spending some extra money to help you save a couple of minutes AND energy.
Is this a vegetarian recipe?
Yes! This is a vegetarian pasta recipe. Mushrooms are high in protein and kind of have a meaty texture, making this a hearty pasta dish.
The only dairy product is the cheese; there’s no heavy cream or anything in here. So if you’re vegan, you can use a vegan cheese, or nutritional yeast or something similar. It’ll still make for a flavorful sauce!
Ingredients
Spaghetti
Zucchini
Mushrooms- I used white mushrooms, but feel free to use another type of mushroom.
Garlic
Thyme
Water
Salt and black pepper
Grated Parmesan cheese
Substitutions/Other additions
Meat: You can certainly add meat in here! I’d recommend using already-cooked meat, like chicken sausage.
Other vegetables: Peas would be a good addition to this as well.
Pasta: You may be able to use another type of pasta besides spaghetti. Possibly even gluten-free options like chickpea pasta and brown rice pasta. I haven’t used these, so the only thing to watch for is the amount of water you use. You might need more or less.
Broth: Instead of water, you can add vegetable broth or chicken broth to give this more flavor!
How to make
In a large pot, heat the olive oil on medium high heat. Add the mushrooms, zucchini, and garlic, and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring often.
Combine spaghetti, water, salt, pepper, and thyme in the same pot.
Bring to a boil and let simmer for 8-10 minutes, until the water is absorbed and the pasta is fully cooked.
Stir in the Parmesan cheese and divide pasta into 6 bowls. Serve with your favorite sides.
How to store
Once the recipe has cooled to room temperature, store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. It’ll stay fresh for up to 5 days.
To reheat, you can use the microwave in 30-second increments. Since there’s not a lot of sauce, you can add a splash of water to break up the noodles.
What to serve with this
This one pot zucchini mushroom pasta is almost a complete meal! If you’re looking for something extra, here are some popular sides:
- Side salad
- Bread and butter- I love my homemade dinner rolls!
- Steamed vegetables
Favorite pasta recipes
Looking for some other healthy recipes? Here are my favorites!
One Pot Zucchini and Mushroom Pasta
Want an easy dinner with little cleanup? This One Pot Zucchini Mushroom Pasta is full of veggies and a great weeknight dinner!
Ingredients
- 12 ounces spaghetti noodles, uncooked
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 zucchini, sliced and cut into quarters
- 1 pound white mushrooms, sliced
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 4 cups water
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan
Instructions
- In a large pot, heat the olive oil on medium heat. Add the mushrooms, zucchini, and garlic, and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring often.
- Add the spaghetti, water, salt, pepper, and thyme.
- Bring to a boil and let simmer for 8-10 minutes, until the water is absorbed and the pasta is fully cooked.
- Stir in the Parmesan cheese and divide into 6 bowls. Serve with your favorite sides.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 287Total Fat: 7.5gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 10.6mgSodium: 243mgCarbohydrates: 45gFiber: 3gSugar: 4gProtein: 14g
Jaime is a Nutrition Coach through the ISSA and professional writer. She has 4 years experience coaching and 9 years experience in writing. She enjoys cooking easy meals, running, and learning more about food.
Jaime specializes in helping women with ADHD learn to meal plan and cook healthier meals without getting overwhelmed.