Published · Modified · by Alexis Joseph, MS, RD · 17 Comments
This 20-Minute Vegan Pasta with a simple tomato basil cream sauce and spinach will be your new go-to healthy weeknight dinner recipe! Made with just 6 ingredients, you’ll love this foolproof, hearty pasta meal. It’s absolutely packed with flavor plus 14g plant protein per serving.

We love a good vegan pasta recipe around here! I make my Vegan Lasagna, Vegan Butternut Squash Pasta and Vegan Spinach and Artichoke Pasta on the regular.
Eating super yummy food that pleases the belly and soul doesn’t have to require a bunch of ingredients and doesn’t have to be expensive. You guys know I’m the bargain queen!

Today’s plant-powered Creamy Vegan Tomato Basil Pasta requires six simple ingredients and is packed not only with the most fab flavor, but also veggies to boot!
If you’ve been following me for a while, you may recognize that this recipe is a spin-off of my Spaghetti Squash with Vegan Tomato Basil Cream Sauce from 2015.
Quite a popular one! This is one of those hearty and healthy meals that the whole family will be heart eyes for. Hooray for eating your veggies!

Now let’s talk sauce. All you do for the yummiest, creamiest, tangiest tomato basil cream sauce is blend the dairy-free cream cheese, a can of fire roasted tomatoes (don’t drain!), a pinch of salt, water, and fresh basil.
Combine that velvety smooth greatness with 100% whole grain penne and bada boom–dinner for 4 is on the table in under thirty minutes! Now that’s what I’m talking about. Pssst: if you follow a gluten-free diet, you can totally use brown rice quinoa penne.

Cheers to a new year that’s not laced with unrealistic expectations but rather more meaningful intention into personalized baby steps that’ll make you feel happy and healthy long term. We begin with pasta!!
Creamy Vegan Pasta
5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star
5 from 5 reviews
Author: Alexis Joseph
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 12 mins
Total Time: 20 mins
Yield: 5 servings 1x
Category: Main Meal
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Italian
Diet: Vegan
Description
This 20-Minute Vegan Pasta with a simple tomato basil cream sauce and spinach will be your new go-to healthy weeknight dinner recipe! Made with just 6 ingredients, you’ll love this foolproof, hearty pasta meal. It’s absolutely packed with flavor plus 14g plant protein per serving.
- 16oz short cut pasta (penne, rotini, bowtie, etc)
- 14.5oz can fire roasted tomatoes (do not drain)
- ½ cup vegan cream cheese
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, packed (plus more for garnish)
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- 3 cups spinach, chopped
Instructions
- Cook pasta in a large pot of salted water according to package directions.
- Meanwhile, place cream cheese, tomatoes basil, and salt in a blender. Blend until smooth.
- Heat a large skillet coated with cooking spray over medium low heat. Add spinach and sauté for a couple minutes, or until wilted. Add drained pasta and sauce and stir until heated through. Serve hot garnished with extra basil and red pepper flakes!
About Alexis Joseph, MS, RD
Oh HEY there! I’m Alexis Joseph, food writer, blogger, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), new mama, and co-founder of local restaurant group, Alchemy. I use my passion for cooking and wellness as fuel to help others ignite a more freeing and happy relationship with food. Learn more about Alexis!
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