There are recipes that taste good…and then there are recipes that taste amazing. And sometimes, that amazing flavor doesn’t take much effort at all. Such is the case with this mushroom pasta with goat cheese! It is so seriously good, it’s one of my favorite things that has come out of our kitchen. It pairs savory mushrooms with bright lemon, creamy goat cheese, and fresh thyme and oregano. And it’s done in less than 30 minutes. Boom! Mushroom lovers: you’re not going to know what to do with yourself.
Is it really the best mushroom pasta?
Well, we think so! This recipe was inspired by a mushroom pasta that I had at a restaurant. But here, Alex and I decided to add soft goat cheese, lots of fresh herbs, leafy greens, and a hit of lemon. And the result was pretty perfect. The pasta is smothered with creamy goat cheese, the mixed mushrooms are sauteed with fresh thyme and oregano until they’re super savory, and there’s a pop of fresh lemon to round it off. Oh and we threw in some nutrient dense leafy greens. It takes only 25 minutes to put together, making it of our favorite quick and easy dinner ideas. And at the rate we hear rave reviews from readers, it’s one of our best vegetarian recipes to date.
Tips on how to make mushroom pasta
Here are a few notes on how to perfectly season this mushroom pasta with goat cheese:
Cook the pasta in salted boiling water. To cook pasta properly, you have to salt the water: A LOT. You can dump about 1 tablespoon kosher salt into the water. Don’t worry, the pasta will only absorb a small bit of that amount of salt. And it will be perfectly salted. Cook the pasta to al dente. This is where a lot of people trip up and over cooking pasta! To cook the farfalle for this mushroom pasta to al dente, start checking the pasta a few minutes before the timing indicated on the pasta box and taste it. Cook until it is tender but still a little firm on the inside. Al dente is so much better than mushy pasta: it’s worth getting it just right. Salt to taste. This is the crucial final step. The dish should be well salted to bring out the flavor, but not overly salty. Since the recipe calls to salt the pasta water, mushrooms, and greens separately, you may not have to add much in your final taste.
How to make it a meal!
This pasta recipe is for 8 ounces of pasta, which we’ve noted as 4 servings. They’re modest servings, so we’d recommend serving with a green salad with some veggie protein (nuts, seeds, etc). Usually Alex and I throw together greens and some of our favorite homemade salad dressings, like Best Balsamic or Healthy Ranch. Our Arugula Salad or Chopped Salad would be lovely to pair. Whatever your choose, this mushroom pasta with goat cheese is a delicious dinner: it was even a big win with our toddler Larson! It’s one of our favorite mushroom recipes, hands down.
Is pasta healthy?
Have you been avoiding pasta because it’s not typically considered healthy? Good news: a new study found pasta can actually help you lose weight. The Italian researchers found that eaten in moderation, pasta can be part of a healthy diet. This is a full 180 of conventional wisdom, right? Alex and I have been enjoying pasta in moderation for years—so we’re glad it’s back in good graces! And this mushroom pasta is the perfect way to enjoy it.
This mushroom pasta recipe is…
Vegetarian. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta.
Looking for easy dinner recipes?
Outside of this mushroom pasta, here are some of our favorite easy dinner recipes: 4.8 from 13 reviews **Fresh grating from a large block of Parmesan cheese is best; sometimes pre-grated or pre-shredded Parmesan cheese includes stabilizers that can cause the cheese to stick together and become gummy. ***Buy the soft goat cheese log here, not the packaged goat cheese crumbles (these have a firmer texture). Last updated: January 2020
