Easy Five Ingredient Penne Pasta
My easy 5-Ingredient Penne Pasta dish is not only delicious but it is also vegetarian and vegan.This dish is great for busy weeknights and anyone who wants some meatless Monday inspiration. All you need is portobello mushrooms, spinach, sun dried tomatoes in olive oil and Italian seasoning.
Original Post: January 2023 | Post Updated: May 2025
Portobello mushrooms are one of my favorite “meaty” additions to vegetarian cooking and they work well in this simple recipe. This penne pasta tastes good the next day and can be made into a whole other dish by following the ingredient swaps suggested later in this article.
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Why this recipe works
- Easy pasta dishes like this are good foundations to build on. When you learn to make a cooked pasta dish using short ingredient lists, it will help bring out your creative side in the kitchen when you’re ready to create new recipes. Olive oil and salt are generally a pantry staple which is an added bonus.
- This penne pasta recipe is adaptable. Use regular, whole grain or gluten free. You can also add meat or chicken such as Italian Chicken Thighs or pair it with Rosemary Salmon or Almond Crusted Cod.
Ingredients
- Penne pasta. For this I use gluten free penne from Barilla. You can also use regular pasta or whole grain if you like.
- Portobello mushrooms. These mushrooms are juicy and definitely take on a meaty texture when cooked.
- Baby spinach leaves. I like spinach because not only is it packed with nutrients, it’s mild enough not to overpower the other flavors in this delicious meal.
- Sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil. You can find this in Trader Joe’s or even regular supermarkets. I chose sun-dried tomatoes because they have so much flavor and work well with the mushrooms.
- Italian seasoning. I’m kind of a seasoning snob and I really do love the Italian seasoning from Flavor God. I think what it is is that they use paprika in the blend. So to me that is game changing and really adds a nice zest to the Italian seasoning. I even created my own version of Zesty Italian Seasoning. Regular Italian seasoning works too.
- There are only 2 pantry staples needed: salt and extra virgin olive oil.
How to make 5-Ingredient Penne Pasta
In 3 simple steps, you will have a delicious dish on your table in no time.
Step One: In a large pot of salted water, start by cooking the penne according to the package directions. While the pasta cooks, start on the mushrooms.
Step Two: Preheat the grill pan, over medium-low heat then add the olive oil. Season the portobello mushrooms on both sides with a touch of salt and Italian seasoning. Then add them to the pan, flipping every 5 minutes. Total cook time for the mushrooms should be about 17-18 minutes. The mushrooms will be done when you press on the center with the tongs and it is juicy and more soft. Remove from the pan and set aside. Slice or cube when adding to the pasta.
Step Three: When the penne is al dente, drain the pasta water and then add the penne back to the pan. Add the spinach leaves and sun-dried tomatoes to the hot pasta. Then add the portobello mushrooms. Gently toss to combine. Season with additional salt if needed.
Storage
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove top using a large skillet.
Helpful tips
Here is a couple of tips on Portobello Mushrooms:
- You will want to remove the stems.
- Spray them with water to get any excess dirt off of them and then lay them on a baking sheet to dry.
- Store Portobello’s whole versus slicing them. They will stay fresher longer if you keep them whole.
Serving suggestions and variations for this 5-Ingredient Penne Pasta
Here are some suggestions on how to ingredient swap while making this.
- You can replace the portobello mushrooms with leftover chicken and add a creamy white sauce and a dash of black pepper to make this a chicken penne pasta.
- Ground beef can be used and add cherry tomatoes. Let the cherry tomatoes cook down and when they burst open, it will make a simple sauce.
- Switch out spinach for bell peppers.
- Use an Alfredo sauce or spaghetti sauce.
- Add another kind of pasta sauce, like my Simple Roasted Vegetable Sauce, for a lighter dish my Lemon Basil Sauce or if seasonally available, a pumpkin sauce.
- For a little heat, you can add red pepper flakes or sprinkle pepper jack cheese on top.
- Add a little bit of parmesan cheese on top with fresh parsley.
- Toss in fresh basil or use fresh garlic
- Pair it with a refreshing salad like my Cauliflower Tabbouleh or warm garlic bread sticks.
Check out other vegetarian dishes like my Roasted Cauliflower Steaks or my Vegetarian Lasagna Soup.
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Easy 5 Ingredient Penne Pasta
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Equipment
- stove top grill pan or large skillet
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil extra virgin
- 12 ounces gluten free penne or penne of your choice
- 3 portobello mushrooms rinsed, stems removed and patted dry
- 2 cups spinach leaves
- 1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes in olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- kosher salt as needed
Instructions
- In a large pot of salted water, start by cooking the penne according to the package directions. While the pasta cooks, start on the mushrooms.
- Preheat the grill pan, over medium-low heat then add the olive oil. Season the portobello mushrooms on both sides with a touch of salt and Italian seasoning. Then add them to the pan, flipping every 5 minutes. Total cook time for the mushrooms should be about 17-18 minutes. The mushrooms will be done when you press on the center with the tongs and it is juicy and more soft. Remove from pan and set aside. Slice or cube when adding to the pasta.
- When the penne is al dente, drain the pasta water and then add it back to the pan.
- Add the spinach leaves and sun-dried tomatoes to the hot pasta. Then add the portobello mushrooms. Gently toss to combine. Season with additional salt if needed.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- You will want to remove the stems.
- Spray them with water to get any excess dirt off of them and then lay them on a baking sheet to dry.
- Store Portobello’s whole versus slicing them. They will stay fresher longer if you keep them whole.
Nutrition
Making this recipe? I would love to see it! Tag me on Instagram @whensaltyandsweetunite or use hashtag #whensaltyandsweetunite .
Nice and easy recipe. I just used regular Italian seasoning and it was good.