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.
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.
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Ingredients needed
- 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)
Two: Put the avocado, water, lemon, garlic, basil and salt and pepper in to a blender and blend until smooth.
Three: Once the pasta is cooked, drain and add the avocado mix.
Four: Mix well.
Five: Transfer to bowls and sprinkle over spring onions (scallions) and chilli flakes.
Why should you try it?
- A delicious way to use avocados
- Ready in under 15 minutes
- Vegan
- Easy to adapt
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?!
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 grilled chicken, salmon or prawns. You could add some cooked tofu, tuna or beans, or just keep it how it is.
FAQs
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!
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.
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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Recipe
Creamy Avocado Pasta
Ingredients
- 120 g dried pasta
- 1 lemon (juice and zest)
- 4 garlic cloves
- 1 pinch sea salt and black pepper
- 1 avocado
- 60 ml water
- 10 g fresh basil chopped
- 4 spring onions
- 1 teaspoon red chilli flakes optional
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions (about 10-12 minutes)
- Put the avocado, water, lemon, garlic, basil and salt and pepper in to a blender and blend until smooth.
- Once the pasta is cooked, drain and stir in the avocado mix.
- Transfer to bowls and sprinkle over spring onions and chilli flakes.
Notes
- 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.
Dave
this is one of my favourite quick meals and one of my favourite ways to use avocado
Gingi
MAN, this looks creamy and rich and delicious! I must try!!! Wish I could reach through the screen for a taste!
Lori @ TheHealthMinded.com
Great Idea, Dannii. I always feel terrible after having a heavy cream sauce on anything! I will give this a try.
Emily
Ooh, this looks yummy. We have a lot of avocados, so maybe I'll give it a try!
[email protected]
I never thought of having an avocado base for a sauce...yum! I used to have a Brita filter but I never changed the filter as much as I should.
Anna @AnnaTheApple
Mmmm love avocado! Sounds great.
David @ Spiced
You're killing me with these awesome avocado posts lately, Dannii! This pasta looks insanely delicious...I totally need to try this soon!
Taca @ A Side Of Dessert
I looooove creamy pasta and actually had a bowl of it yesterday! Love the addition of avocado too!
Stacie @ SimplySouthernStacie
Definitely going to be trying this soon! I love avocado anything!
Susie @ SuzLyfe
So kind of like an avocado pesto? Love it!
Marie
I love that you have called it monster spaghetti - I actually think I could get my kids to eat that. I like that it is adaptable, like you said. My kids are not super fussy, but I sometimes find myself naking different dishes for everyone just to keep them quiet.
Kayleigh
What a great idea. Avocado has so many uses, doesn't it.
Alison
I love the look of this. I like creamy pasta but would never have thought of using avocado as the base. Must give it a try
Kezia @ Super Naturally Healthy
Yum i do this with spiralised courgette 'pasta' as pasta and I don't get on well:) but avocado makes such a good sauce and pesto base - YUM:)
Arman @ thebigmansworld
That looks delicious- I'm loving all you avocadoness lately!
Jemma @ Celery and Cupcakes
It's amazing how many different ways that you can use an avocado in cooking. The pasta sauce looks so creamy.
Fiver Feeds
Recently I started eating avocado but so far I haven't tried mixing it with pasta. I'll definitely have to try this recipe!
Ali @ Inspiralized
I love this avocado creamy dressing! Have you ever tried using zucchini pasta? Your blog is so inspirational.
Ann
I'm making this tonight. Have a Spaghetti Squash and an Avocado I need to use! Thank you for sharing
Conor
I made a variation of this last night for dinner as had a very ripe avocado with no use sitting in the fruit bowl and no plan for meal that night! I blended the avocado mix with a bit of low fat fetta I had left over in the fridge and stirred it through the pasta (shells). I also fried up a heap of mushrooms to 'beef' it up - loved using avocado as the sauce, what a great idea. Keep up the amazing work and inspiration!