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Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Pasta

Creamy Avocado Pasta

May 24, 2021 · Written by Dannii Martin · This post may contain affiliate links which earn us commissions if purchases are made · 58 Comments

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Diet: Vegan
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Creamy avocado pasta in a bowl with a text title overlay.

Creamy pasta is total comfort food and this Creamy Avocado Pasta recipe is ready in under 15 minutes. A creamy pasta doesn't have to be unhealthy, and we have made a super creamy sauce by blending up some avocado and adding lemon and basil for extra flavour.

Two bowls of pasta in an avocado sauce.

This is kind of like a guacamole pasta, but not. It's got the blended avocado vibes going on, but then with plenty of garlic (seriously, the more the better), some lemon juice and basil. Mix it all up and you have yourself a delicious and light pasta sauce that will cling to any pasta shape you have hanging about your cupboard.

Avocados never get wasted in our house, so when we have one that is getting past its best and we need dinner in a flash, this gets made.

For some more exciting ways to use avocados, try our Smashed Avocado on Toast or our delicious Avocado Chocolate Pudding. Check out 30 Ways To Eat Avocados.

Jump to:
  • Why you will love it
  • Ingredients needed
  • Step by step
  • Avocado pasta sauce
  • What pasta to use
  • What vegetables can you add?
  • What protein can you add?
  • FAQs
  • Extra tips
  • More avocado recipes
  • Recipe
  • Feedback

Why you will love it

  • A delicious way to use avocados
  • Ready in under 15 minutes
  • Vegan
  • Easy to adapt

Ingredients needed

All the ingredients needed for this recipe with text overlay labels.
  • Pasta - any pasta will work, but we used riccioli pasta as the sauce clings really well to it. Fusilli or penne are easier to find, and will work just as well.
  • Avocado - make sure they are nice and ripe.
  • Lemon - to add some sharpness to the sauce
  • Garlic and basil - to flavour the sauce. Adjust to your own preference. You can use coriander (cilantro) instead of basil if you prefer.
  • Water - or more if you prefer a thinner sauce.
  • Spring onions (scallions) - to serve (optional).
  • Red chilli flakes - to serve (optional).

A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

Step by step

One: Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions (about 10-12 minutes)

Pasta spirals cooking in a saucepan.

Two: Put the avocado, water, lemon, garlic, basil and salt and pepper in to a blender and blend until smooth.

A food processor containing avocado, basil leaves, garlic cloves, lemon zest and seasoning.

Three: Once the pasta is cooked, drain and add the avocado mix.

A saucepan of cooked pasta spirals with a large dollop of green sauce.

Four: Mix well.

A saucepan of cooked pasta in an avocado sauce.

Five: Transfer to bowls and sprinkle over spring onions (scallions) and chilli flakes.

A bowl of Creamy Avocado Pasta with chilli flakes sprinkled on top.

Avocado pasta sauce

If you struggle to get healthy fats in to your kids diet, then avocado is a great way to increase it, as it doesn't have a very strong flavour, more of a texture, and it can be hidden in to meals and blended in to a sauce.

If your kids are anything like mine, then they will love pasta, so make the most of that by making an avocado pasta sauce with avocado to increase their intake of this green gold. The most appealing part of it to kids, is the bright green colour. Which is why this pasta has been referred to as "Monster Pasta" before. Whatever gets them eating it, right?!

Pasta spirals in a green sauce with sliced onion and chilli flakes.

What pasta to use

This pasta sauce is really think (unless you make it thinner with more water), so it clings to pretty much any pasta really well. We used riccioli, which can be quite difficult to find in shops, but anything like penne, fusilli or even spaghetti will work. That's the great thing about this sauce - it goes with any pasta.

What vegetables can you add?

You can give it even more of a nutrient boost, and some extra colour by blending some spinach and/or cooked peas in to it. Whatever you think your kids will enjoy.

We like to keep it simple and don't usually add anything else in to it, but you could add some quick cooking chunky veg like mushrooms, courgette or aubergine that have been sautéed. A little bit of sweetcorn is nice in this too.

I like to add a sprinkle of red chilli flakes on top just before serving, as I think it really brings out the lemon in the dish.

What protein can you add?

You could use this pasta sauce as a base to make kind of an avocado carbonara. Add some grated Parmesan to it and then some cooked chopped bacon. Bacon and avocado go so well together.

Other ways we have varied this dish in the past include topping with chicken, salmon or prawns. You could add some cooked tofu, tuna or beans, or just keep it how it is.

Avocado pasta in two bowls next to a side salad.

FAQs

Is avocado pasta healthy?

This is an very healthy meal. Avocados can be quite high in fat, but they are the healthy monosaturated fats, which are good for the heart. Avocados are also abundant in vitamins K, C, B5, B6, E, folate and potassium. They are full of fibre and can also help to reduce cholesterol and help with eye health. Pretty much the ideal superfood!

How to pick the perfect avocado

The key is to pick a ripe but not over-ripe avocados. We like Hass avocados. Try to look for avocados that give a bit to a gentle squeeze. But you don't want one that it too soft, as it will be over ripe.
Don't worry if when you cut in to it there are some bruised or brown bits, as you can scoop those out and discard.

Avocado pasta for babies

This is a great meal to help with baby led weaning. Make sure your baby is confident at eating solids (at least 8 months old) and use a pasta that he/she can easily grip, like the shapes we suggest above. We would suggest leaving out (or at least reducing) the garlic and also omitting the chilli flakes. Give your little one a bowl of this avocado pasta and let them dig in! It will be messy - but they will love it!

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Extra tips

• Use any pasta you have in the cupboard that needs using, this sauce works with everything.
• Feel free to add more garlic, as you can never have too much.
• Add some protein to this dish by topping with some grilled chicken, salmon or prawns.
• Make an avocado carbonara by stirring some Parmesan and cooked chopped bacon in to the sauce. 
• A little bit of feta crumbled on top is delicious.

More avocado recipes

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    Healthy Green Goddess Chicken Salad (High Protein)
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    Cucumber Sushi Boats
  • A tuna sushi bowl next to some soy sauce and furikake seasoning.
    Tuna Sushi Bowl

If you’ve tried this avocado pasta recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

Recipe

A bowl of Creamy Avocado Pasta with chilli flakes sprinkled on top.

Creamy Avocado Pasta

By: Dannii Martin
Creamy pasta sauce doesn't have to be unhealthy, and we have made a super creamy sauce by blending up some avocado and adding lemon and basil for extra flavour.
An illustration of a v-shaped plant in a pot.
Vegan
5 from 32 votes
Pin Print Save recipe Saved!
Course: Lunch
Cuisine: British, Italian
Prep: 2 minutes mins
Cook: 10 minutes mins
Total: 12 minutes mins
Servings: 2 people
Calories: 420kcal
Allergens:
An illustration of two ears of wheat.
Gluten

Ingredients

  • 120 g (4.25 oz) Pasta shapes
  • 1 Lemon - (juice and zest only)
  • 4 Garlic clove
  • 1 pinch (1 pinch) Sea salt
  • 1 pinch Ground black pepper
  • 1 Avocado
  • 60 ml (0.25 cups) Water
  • 10 g (0.33 cups) Fresh basil - chopped
  • 4 Spring onions (Scallions)
  • 1 teaspoon Red chilli flakes - optional

Instructions

  • Cook 120 g Pasta shapes according to the packet instructions (about 10-12 minutes)
  • Put 1 Avocado, 60 ml Water, juice of 1 Lemon, 4 Garlic clove, 10 g Fresh basil and 1 pinch Sea salt into a blender and blend until smooth.
  • Once the pasta is cooked, drain and stir in the avocado mix.
  • Transfer to bowls and sprinkle over 4 Spring onions (Scallions) and 1 teaspoon Red chilli flakes.

Recipe Tips

  • Use any pasta you have in the cupboard that needs using, this sauce works with everything.
  • Feel free to add more garlic, as you can never have too much.
  • Add some protein to this dish by topping with some grilled chicken, salmon or prawns.
  • Make an avocado carbonara by stirring some parmesan and cooked chopped bacon in to the sauce.

Nutritional Information

Serving: 1portion | Calories: 420kcal | Carbohydrates: 63g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Sodium: 54mg | Potassium: 821mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 963IU | Vitamin C: 46mg | Calcium: 80mg | Iron: 2mg

The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.

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Comments

  1. Louise Decloedt says

    December 30, 2016 at 9:46 pm

    5 stars
    It looks fresh, good and healthy.
    You have many pastas on your blog and they look all really great.
    I often eat guacamole so I know how it tastes. It tastes good and I love it.

    Thank you for this receipt.

    Reply
  2. Aly says

    March 25, 2015 at 12:07 pm

    5 stars
    We absolutely love avocado! This sounds really delicious, on the menu plan for next week.

    Reply
  3. Krissy says

    March 19, 2015 at 12:46 pm

    My family found it too lemony, and I used small lemons. My husband loves basil, but it was drowned out by the lemon flavor. My 20month old LOVES avo but made quite a face when he tried the pasta, 3 different times. I think I'll put in less lemon next time. I just want to keep the avo from browning. I thought it was good but I felt it needed less lemon too.

    Reply
    • Dannii says

      March 19, 2015 at 12:58 pm

      Hello, thanks for your feedback. I think it comes down to personal taste, as well as the lemons used, as there have been comments from people that have loved it too. The lemons I have used have hardly had any juice in them, so I have used 2. I have amended the recipe to state this :)

      Reply
  4. Rath says

    March 06, 2015 at 10:04 am

    5 stars
    Wow it is an awesome avocado pasta recipe surely i will try this recipe tomorrow itself because my kid loves pasta a lot and that too you have prepared the pasta with avocado i hope she loves it very much
    Try to come out with different recipes using avocado so that it will be useful for her health

    Reply
  5. Emily Leary says

    March 04, 2015 at 8:54 am

    Sounds really delicious. I love avocado and keep hearing it's a great vegan alternative to creamy sauces - you've convinced me to try it.

    Reply
  6. Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says

    March 03, 2015 at 12:23 pm

    Love this creamy pasta! Anything with avocado always has my vote:) It looks delicious!

    Reply
  7. Lilinha Espindula says

    March 03, 2015 at 12:04 am

    5 stars
    The creamy avocado pasta looks delicious, especially with the chilli flakes - yum! :) x

    Reply
  8. shobha says

    March 02, 2015 at 5:44 pm

    Delicious and creamy !

    Reply
  9. Sus @ roughmeasures.com says

    March 02, 2015 at 4:05 pm

    5 stars
    Oh Dannii what a great idea! I LOVE avocados and am always on the lookout for new avo-ideas!

    Reply
  10. Laura says

    March 02, 2015 at 2:57 pm

    5 stars
    This sounds so yummy! I find it hard to stop myself eating ALL the avocados just as they are, straight out of the fruit bowl - but I should really try them in some recipes. This looks like a great place to start :)

    Reply
  11. Emily says

    March 02, 2015 at 2:53 pm

    Wow, looks delicious! Definitely want to try this recipe :)

    Reply
  12. Rachel says

    March 02, 2015 at 2:33 pm

    5 stars
    I'm totally the person who only uses avos for guacamole! My fella likes them on toast, or eating with a spoon but I'm just not that into them like that. This looks much more like my cup of tea! :)

    Reply
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My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist.

Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

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