If you think vegetarian pasta night means just a boring bowl of spaghetti and jarred marinara, have we got a shock for you. If you think that pasta can only be as good as the meat that accompanies it, think again: we have 80 (!!) recipes here that prove otherwise. We’ve got everything from standbys like our best-ever penne alla vodka and mac & cheese (classic ≠ boring) to wilder flavor bombs like our one-pan spinach-artichoke gnocchi or our creamy Tuscan orzo. Trust us, they’re all so satisfying, even your meat-loving friends won’t be able to resist grabbing seconds.

Whether you’re doing a meatless Monday or a lifelong vegetarian, these vegetarian pasta dishes have more than a little something for everyone. And a lot of the time, that something is lots and lots of CHEESE. While we’re diehard fans of baked feta pasta, we don’t think you should stop there. Our one-pan cheesy broccoli-cheddar orzo, our brie spaghetti, our queso mac & cheese, and our stuffed shells are chock full of the good stuff.

Speaking of, it’s not just about cheese. We’re adding extra protein, umami, texture, spice, color, and more to these recipes using ingredients like mushrooms, cottage cheese, olives, breadcrumbs, chipotles in adobo… the list goes on! Check out our dirty martini pasta, our mushroom piccata pasta, our green spaghetti (or espagueti verde), or our cheesy kale orzo with herbed breadcrumbs to see what we mean. They’re all the proof you need that vegetarian recipes aren’t about what’s not in them, and more about all the opportunities for creative add-ins.When you change your perspective like that, the sky’s really the limit!

Can’t get enough of vegetarian food? Check out all of our top vegetarian dinner recipes, our best vegetarian appetizers, and all our favorite tofu recipes too.

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