Quick Creamy Vegetable Pasta with Tomato

Do you need a quick and easy pasta recipe so you can get dinner on the table before you pass out on the couch or put the kids to bed?

This creamy vegetable pasta, as well as my simple Pasta Al Pesto, will do the trick!

Made with kitchen staple ingredients, 4 basic vegetables and canned tomatoes, this comforting pasta is simple to make and full of flavor.

🍲 Why You Will Love This Recipe

• Quick and easy to make.

• Cooks in one skillet.

• Great weekday dinner for the family.

• Creamy and soft.

• Made with staple kitchen ingredients

Add this recipe to your weekly rotation as a quick go-to meal for those busier days. It's warm, comforting and absolutely delicious.

A basic pasta dish doesn't have to be lackluster. Including some healthy vegetables, canned tomatoes, spice and veggie broth will add texture and flavor.

It's made in one skillet, yes, even the pasta is cooked in the skillet by allowing it to gently boil in the vegetable broth until it's al dente!

🍞 Serving Suggestions

This veggie pasta is a satisfying meal alone but served with garlic bread, even tastier!

Any variety of toasted bread will work here though such as toasted slices of baguette, crostini or a quick garlic flatbread.

You can even top the toast with pesto or a bruschetta style topping.

📋 Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

• Onion - use either red or brown onion. I find the red/purple variety adds more flavor.

• Carrot - substitute with more zucchini or yellow squash, parsnip or pumpkin.

• Zucchini - substitute with more carrots or yellow squash, eggplant, sweet potato or pumpkin.

• Bell pepper - is also known as capsicum. Substitute with broccoli, cauliflower or green beans.

• Canned diced tomatoes - substitute with canned crushed tomatoes.

• Tomato paste - substitute with ketchup/tomato sauce or passata sauce/strained tomatoes using the same quantity.

• Curry powder - although only ½ teaspoon is used, it adds a substantial amount of delicious flavor and a hint of spice. Leave it out if preferred.

• Rotini - is also known as spiral pasta. Substitute with fusilli, penne or any short-shaped pasta you have on hand.

• Vegetable broth - is also known as vegetable stock. Can be substituted with beef or chicken broth/stock.

🔪 Step By Step Instructions (with photos)

There is a full and detailed recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Step one: In a large deep skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add diced onion and sauté for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. 

Step two: Add all chopped vegetables and sauté for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step three: Pour in canned tomatoes, tomato paste, curry powder and season with salt and pepper to taste. Mix through the veggies until combined. 

Step four: Add pasta and stir through veggies. 

Step five: Pour in vegetable broth, cover with lid and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally.

Step six: Once boiling, reduce heat to medium until you have a gentle boil. Continue to gently boil for 7-8 minutes with the lid on and remove it to stir occasionally, until pasta is al dente (tender yet slightly firm to the tooth).

Step seven: Serve immediately with shaved parmesan cheese or your favorite cheese on top. Enjoy!

💭 Expert Tips

• Chop the vegetables small so they don't take too long to cook.

• Bubble and cook the pasta with the lid on your pan to make it cook faster.

• Don't vigorously mix the pasta as it's bubbling in the broth, only stir occasionally to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan. If you over-mix your pasta, it can break up and turn mushy.

• Having said that, do stir with your slotted turner occasionally to avoid it sticking.

• Cook pasta to al dente, there will still be some liquid remaining, depending on what type of pasta you choose and that's ok, it will be extra creamy!

⏲️ Storage Instructions

Store leftovers in an airtight container, refrigerated, for 3-4 days.

Re-heat leftovers in a skillet with extra vegetable broth over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally until it's heated through. Keep in mind the pasta won't be as fresh or firm as when it's first cooked. Expect a slightly mushy texture as you re-heat. It's still delicious though!

Alternatively, reheat leftovers in the microwave with some extra broth until heated through. The extra broth is to get it moist and creamy again. Mix it through the pasta with your fork or a spatula.

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