Fall is arguably the best time of year to eat (and dress, organize, and redecorate). With such beautiful produce bursting with fall colors, comfort is the key flavor, while the dishes are mouth-watering and hearty. Whether it’s the simplicity of preparation or its endless versatility (or both), pasta is always a great way to welcome the cold weather. To give you a little inspiration and get your cooking wheels rolling, we’ve rounded up our favorite fall pasta recipes to keep you warm, cozy, and satisfied all season long.
Featured image by Suruchi Avasthi.
20 Fall Pasta Recipes That Define Fall Comfort
In addition to fall soups and comforting bakes, fall pasta recipes shape the season we look forward to celebrating all year long. In the midst of apple picking and decorating our homes, the weeknight ritual of fall pasta recipes is also a dinner party staple that we happily give up on the sunny days of summer.
Are you ready for something delicious? Get ready for the silky, soothing pleasure of pasta. With the following dishes, we’re ready to celebrate the cold weather with the most undeniable deliciousness. Now, let’s dive into the best fall pasta recipes, fork first.
Vegan Tofu Mushroom Sauce
Why we love it: If you thought traditional, comfort-oriented fall pasta recipes couldn’t be plant-based, this recipe will make you think again. Mushrooms and tofu combine to create the perfect meaty (but better!) pasta sauce. It’s hearty, warm, and just what you want on a cold fall night.
Hero ingredients: This recipe makes tofu sexy again.
Pumpkin Gnocchi
Why we love it: Gnocchi fit in with our favorite fall flavors. While pumpkin may seem…well, a little untraditional except for anything sweet, this recipe proves that pumpkin deserves a place in your savory dishes. This truly is the perfect choice for fall – the sweetness of pumpkin combines with warm, comforting spices to create a bowl of comforting goodness.
Hero ingredients: Fried sage pairs well with any root vegetable.
dumpling soup
Why we love it: This bright fall soup and pasta hybrid takes the rich flavors of your choice of tortellini and pairs them with vegetables and herbs to create a hearty and comforting soup. Adding beans and bell peppers creates a creamy, protein-rich broth.
Hero ingredients: Fire-roasted tomatoes take this soup to the next level.
One Pot Parmesan Cheese Orzo
Why we love it: If you’re looking for a simple dish with hearty ingredients this fall, this Cheesy Orzo recipe features asparagus, zucchini, peas, and kale. Cooking in just one pot makes cleanup easy and creates rich, nutritious meals. Yes, while many of these ingredients taste best in the spring, buying them frozen ensures you still get plenty of flavor.
Hero ingredients: Zucchini is a beautiful vegetable that can be added to any fall dish.
Tikka Masala Pasta
Why we love it: This dish combines two of my favorite things – creamy pasta with the delicious flavors of Indian cuisine. This tikka masala pasta is a rich twist on the beloved vodka pasta, perfect for a cold night.
Hero ingredients: Shredded Parmesan cheese provides a rich and bright contrast to this pasta.
Vegan spaghetti and meatballs
Why we love it: When the weekend rolls around, I crave a carb-heavy, comforting pasta meal like vegan meatballs and spaghetti. If you’re looking for a delicious plant-based alternative to traditional meatballs, these meatballs combine mushrooms, beans, and herbs with a crispy crust that pairs perfectly with your favorite pasta.
Hero ingredients: Panko breadcrumbs help these meatballs bind while maintaining a fluffy texture.
Ratatouille Style Roasted Vegetable Pasta
Why we love it: This classic French dish is the perfect recipe for when you’re craving the comforts of fall but the summer temperatures aren’t over yet. (Hello, all of September.) It makes the most of late-summer veggies like eggplant and zucchini, while also incorporating the comfort of parmesan pasta. Plus, it’s a sheet pan meal, easing the kitchen-to-table transition.
Hero ingredients: The macaroni holds the chunks of vegetables perfectly.
Winter Vegetable Lasagna
Why we love it: If you’re too scared to make your own pasta, here’s the secret to building your confidence. Turns out, making your own lasagna is Weyer Easier than it looks. Of course, it’s the perfect vehicle for buttery sauces and hearty vegetable fillings.
Hero ingredients: Nutmeg heats up a rich, creamy white sauce.
Lasagna with shiitake mushrooms, kale and jammy leeks
Why we love it: This vegetable pasta is packed with irresistible smoky flavor and complemented by umami-rich mushrooms. Finish with a spicy bite of garlic. Second? Two thirds? Yes please.
Hero ingredients: I have two words for it: jammy leeks.
Gemelli with Türkiye sausage and broccoli
Why we love it: The rich flavors of turkey sausage, broccoli, and tomatoes make this deceptively simple dinner a choice that always impresses. Drizzling olive oil over it before serving only improves the final fruity result.
Hero ingredients: Chopped broccoli provides visual interest while balancing the hearty texture of the turkey.
Miso Tomato Pasta
Why we love it: I know, I know: While baby tomatoes are at their best in July, I still crave the juicy flavor they provide in any dish year-round. To deal with post-summer tomatoes, I opt for recipes that cook them until they’re caramelized and sweet. Slow roasting the tomatoes with olive oil and garlic is the key to getting the best flavor in this hearty and easy pasta dish.
Hero ingredients: While I just waxed poetic about tomatoes, the prize is miso. It’s the secret sauce ingredient that gives this five-ingredient pasta its rich flavor.
Creamy Vegan Pasta with Tomatoes and Basil
Why we love it: Creamy and Vegetarian? Don’t worry, I was skeptical too. Until I twirled the fork and popped the silky spool of bucatini into my mouth. Plant-based perfection. The key is to make a creamy pecan sauce that combines soaked nuts with a few key ingredients to make it packed with rich flavor. It’s all done in 20 minutes and tastes like you’ve been cooking it all day.
Hero ingredients: The hollow bucatini absorbs the creamy sauce perfectly. The result is every bite packed with flavor.
Penne with Brussels Sprouts and Kale Pesto
Why we love it: We’re quick to share our love for Brussels sprouts with the masses, and we’d be remiss if we didn’t include this vegetable in our roundup of fall pasta recipes. Sautéed in a bit of extra-virgin olive oil and topped with red pepper flakes and rosemary, the sprouts shine in this deceptively simple dish.
Hero ingredients: A tablespoon of nutritional yeast will give your pesto a plant-based, cheesy flavor. It’s hard not to get invested in it before it’s stirred into your pasta.
Butternut Squash, Spinach and Goat Cheese Pasta
Why we love it: When the temperatures drop and all your cravings point toward hearty, exciting meatless entrees, this Butternut Squash Pasta is your answer. The fresh and colorful vegetables blend perfectly with the wonderful brown cream sauce. Plus, the easy-to-prepare ingredient mix (if you buy peeled and chopped butternut squash) is perfect for anyone looking to build confidence in the kitchen.
Hero ingredients: Goat cheese crumbles bring a tangy, salty flavor while letting the other ingredients shine.
Vegan Bolognese Pasta
Why we love it: Convinced that bolognese sauce is only for open-air weekend gourmet pursuits? This recipe is suddenly the opposite. This version is a vegetarian take on the classic Bolognese sauce, relying on diced shallots, carrots, celery and mushrooms to mimic the traditional texture.
hero ingredient:Mushroom = MVP. They give the sauce a rich texture and richness, and when simmered with tomatoes and some seasonings, the result is an impressive plant-based alternative.
Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta with Bacon and Crispy Sage
Why we love it: Bold statement, but I will be craving this dish every night from now until spring. Using only a few ingredients, this pasta perfectly captures the flavors of fall. (Ready in less than an hour!) Oh, and if you can think of a better way than sticking your fork into a plate of delicious spiralized butternut squash pasta, let us know.
Hero ingredients: Roasting butternut squash creates a complex, nutty flavor—complete with this fall-flavored dish.
Brown Creamy Pumpkin Pasta with Fried Sage and Manchego
Why we love it: Filled with honey-sweetened roasted pumpkin chunks, this comforting pasta makes the most of a fall staple. It’s both filling and light, combining all the flavors of fall into one delightful dish.
Hero ingredients: Manchego’s sweet, caramel flavor is a cheese lover’s dream.
Pasta with pesto sauce
Why we love it: If you haven’t tried cooking long linguini in a verdant, fresh sauce, now is the time to start. While this recipe may not be an immediate sensation, I find that a few weeks into the season I’m ready to mix things up with lighter and brighter recipes. This pasta has all the vitamins and nutrients I need.
Hero ingredients: We’re calling it now: Green pasta is the new green smoothie. A little grated parmesan keeps it from tasting too also Ethical.
One Pot Garlic Mushroom Pasta with Sausage and Arugula
Why we love it: The ratio of simplicity to wow factor in this recipe is unbeatable. Bonus: This recipe works just as well if it’s vegetarian. Just swap out the sausage for any hearty vegetable. Camille recommends using roasted red peppers, green olives, or drained and chopped artichoke hearts. You’re welcome to experiment with whatever ingredients your heart (and appetite) desires.
Hero ingredients: While the tangy, spicy flavor of arugula may put off adventurous eaters, here the leafy green is woven into the cheesy, garlicky flavor of the pasta. This is a great show that everyone will enjoy.
Spicy Pesto Pasta with Vodka
Why we love it: Like clockwork, the early fall chill signals to the body that it’s time to swap out summer salads for creamy, soul-satisfying dishes, and this recipe fills those gaps beautifully. It’s a crowd-pleaser and a must-make if you’re cooking for the family or inviting friends over for a mid-week meal. Creamy and comforting, it’s ready in just 35 minutes.
Hero ingredients: The sauce calls for lots of cream, and with the addition of vodka and parm, it’s almost a nap-worthy dish. But the basil pesto tones down the richness of the cream, and the end result is perfectly balanced while still feeling incredibly indulgent.
