Vegetarian Cheesy Ground Meat Pasta

Indulge in the ultimate comfort food makeover with this Vegetarian Cheesy Ground Meat Pasta, a creamy, hearty dish that’s packed with bold flavors and a satisfying meat-free twist. Featuring tender penne pasta coated in a rich tomato cream sauce, this recipe showcases the perfect balance of savory vegetarian ground meat substitute and a luscious blend of melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Aromatic garlic, sautéed onions, and Italian herbs add depth, while a touch of red pepper flakes brings just the right kick. Ready in under 40 minutes, this quick and easy vegetarian pasta is a weeknight winner and an excellent choice for meatless meals. Garnished with fresh basil, it’s a vibrant, crowd-pleasing dish that everyone at the table will love!

Nutriscore Rating: 67/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:25 mins

Total Time:40 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 12 oz Penne pasta
• 2 tbsp Olive oil
• 1 medium Onion, diced
• 3 large Garlic cloves, minced
• 12 oz Vegetarian ground meat substitute
• 1 tsp Salt
• 0.5 tsp Black pepper
• 0.25 tsp Red pepper flakes
• 14 oz Crushed tomatoes
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 cup Heavy cream
• 1.5 cups Mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 0.25 cup Fresh basil, chopped

Directions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the penne pasta, and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

Step 2

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes.

Step 3

Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute until fragrant.

Step 4

Add the vegetarian ground meat substitute to the skillet, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until browned, about 5-7 minutes.

Step 5

Season the mixture with salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes.

Step 6

Pour in the crushed tomatoes and sprinkle in the Italian seasoning. Stir to combine and let the mixture simmer for 5 minutes.

Step 7

Reduce the heat to low and gently stir in the heavy cream. Allow the sauce to warm through for 2-3 minutes.

Step 8

Add the shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese to the sauce, stirring until the cheeses have completely melted and the sauce is creamy.

Step 9

Toss the cooked penne pasta into the sauce, mixing until well-coated.

Step 10

Garnish with chopped fresh basil and serve hot.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1736.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3611.5

Total Fat 180.2g	0%
Saturated Fat 83.1g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.7g
Cholesterol 412mg	0%
Sodium 5579.1mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 320.9g	0%
Dietary Fiber 31.6g	0%
Total Sugars 22.3g
Protein 152.5g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 2136.2mg	0%
Iron 28.4mg	0%
Potassium 2998.7mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 46.1%

Protein: 17.4%

Carbs: 36.5%