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Creamy Mushroom Pasta Recipe

If you’re craving comfort food that’s both simple and downright indulgent, this Creamy Mushroom Pasta Recipe is going to be your new best friend in the kitchen. I absolutely love how the mushrooms soak up the garlicky buttery sauce, twisting perfectly around each strand of pasta. It’s fast enough for a weeknight but special enough to impress guests – trust me, your family will go crazy for this one!

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Unbeatable Flavor: The combination of butter, garlic, and wine-infused mushrooms creates a rich, savory sauce you’ll want to slurp up.
  • Quick Weeknight Winner: From start to finish, you’re looking at about 20 minutes of hands-on time, perfect for busy evenings.
  • Simple Ingredients, Stunning Result: You don’t need fancy or hard-to-find ingredients to make this pasta shine.
  • Perfectly Balanced Creaminess: The sauce isn’t just heavy cream— it’s that delicate mix with parmesan and broth that keeps it silky, not cloying.

Ingredients You’ll Need

I’ve found that each ingredient here plays a key role in building up layers of flavor. When shopping, try to grab fresh mushrooms and good-quality parmesan—you’ll taste the difference!

Flat lay of fresh linguine pasta nest, a small pat of unsalted butter, a few sliced white and cremini mushrooms arranged naturally, two whole uncracked garlic cloves, a small white ceramic bowl of dry white wine, a small white ceramic bowl of chicken broth, a small white ceramic bowl of heavy cream, a small white ceramic bowl of finely grated parmesan cheese, a few sprigs of roughly chopped fresh parsley, a small white ceramic bowl with mixed salt and pepper, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p awthu7i m7354615311229779997 - Creamy Mushroom Pasta, mushroom pasta recipe, easy mushroom pasta, quick creamy pasta, vegetarian mushroom pasta
  • Fettuccine or Linguine: Both work beautifully; choose your favorite pasta shape for silky sauce coating.
  • Unsalted Butter: Adds richness and helps the mushrooms brown perfectly without burning.
  • Olive Oil: A little keeps the butter from browning too quickly and adds depth.
  • Mushrooms: Use a mix of white and cremini for more flavor and texture; sliced thin helps them cook evenly.
  • Garlic: Finely chopped so it melds into the sauce without overpowering.
  • White Wine: Dry wine is best; it adds brightness and helps lift the richness.
  • Chicken or Vegetable Broth: Low sodium is key, so you can season thoughtfully.
  • Cream: Heavy or thickened cream for that luscious texture.
  • Parmesan: Freshly grated for maximum flavor and easy melting into the sauce.
  • Salt and Pepper: To season and bring out the natural mushroom goodness.
  • Parsley: Optional but so worth it—adds a fresh pop of color and flavor.
Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

The beauty of this creamy mushroom pasta recipe is how easy it is to tweak for your mood or dietary needs. I love experimenting and making it my own—don’t be afraid to play around!

  • Go Vegetarian: Swap chicken broth for vegetable broth to keep things plant-based without losing flavor. I do this all the time when meatless Mondays roll around.
  • Add Protein: Toss in sautéed chicken or crispy pancetta for a heartier meal. Adding a little protein change things up beautifully and keeps my family full and happy.
  • Change the Mushrooms: Use shiitake, oyster, or portobello for a deeper umami punch. I discovered this trick on a trip abroad and it really elevates the dish.
  • Make it Dairy-Free: Try coconut cream and nutritional yeast in place of dairy ingredients—just note the flavor will shift, but it’s surprisingly good!

How to Make Creamy Mushroom Pasta Recipe

Step 1: Prep Your Pasta Like a Pro

Start boiling your pasta water with a big pinch of salt—this is your chance to season from the beginning. Cook the fettuccine or linguine just one minute less than the package directs so it stays perfectly al dente after finishing in the sauce. Before draining, scoop out a cup of that reserved pasta water—you’ll see why shortly!

Step 2: Achieve the Perfect Golden Mushrooms

Heat the butter and olive oil over high heat in a large skillet. Add your sliced mushrooms and stir regularly. When they start to sweat, season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Keep cooking until they get beautifully golden—about 4 to 5 minutes. This step is key: the caramelization adds so much flavor, so don’t rush it!

Step 3: Add Garlicky Goodness & Wine

Once the mushrooms look golden and luscious, toss in the finely chopped garlic. Cook just until it’s fragrant and lightly golden, then step back and pour in the white wine carefully—it will steam up immediately! Stir and scrape the bottom of the pan to lift any delicious browned bits. Let the wine simmer until mostly evaporated and the strong alcohol smell fades.

Step 4: Build That Creamy Sauce

Pour in the broth, cream, and parmesan, then season with salt and pepper. Stir continuously to melt the parmesan into a silky sauce and let it simmer gently for about 2 minutes. You’ll see it thicken up just enough to coat your pasta perfectly.

Step 5: Bring It All Together

Transfer your pasta straight into that beautiful sauce and toss for 1 to 2 minutes—this allows the sauce to cling lovingly to every strand. If the sauce seems too thick or sticky instead of smooth and silky, add a splash of that reserved pasta water you saved. It’s a game changer for loosening the sauce without watering down the flavor.

Step 6: Garnish and Serve Immediately

Top your creamy mushroom pasta with freshly chopped parsley and an extra sprinkle of parmesan. Serve right away because this dish is best enjoyed warm and saucy!

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Pro Tips for Making Creamy Mushroom Pasta Recipe

  • Don’t Skip the Butter-Olive Oil Combo: Butter adds creaminess but burns easily; adding olive oil raises the smoke point so mushrooms get gorgeous and golden.
  • Reserve Pasta Water is Magic: That starchy water lets you thin the sauce perfectly and helps it cling to pasta like glue—trust me on this one.
  • Cook Mushrooms in Batches If Scaling Up: Too many mushrooms crowd the pan and steam instead of brown—batches help keep flavor sharp and texture just right.
  • Add Wine Slowly and Stir: Pouring slowly while stirring helps prevent boiling over and burns off alcohol leaving behind just that subtle, bright flavor.

How to Serve Creamy Mushroom Pasta Recipe

A close-up of creamy pasta with several long, flat noodles twisted and layered, covered in a smooth, off-white sauce. On top and mixed into the pasta are many thin slices of cooked mushrooms with a light brown color and soft texture. Small pieces of fresh green herbs are scattered over the whole dish, adding a splash of color. The dish is on a white plate with a fork partially wrapped in the pasta at the bottom left corner. The background is a white marbled texture. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Creamy Mushroom Pasta, mushroom pasta recipe, easy mushroom pasta, quick creamy pasta, vegetarian mushroom pasta

Garnishes

I always add fresh parsley for that pop of color and a sprinkle of extra parmesan because, well, you can never have too much cheese on creamy mushroom pasta! Sometimes I’ll even toss in a little crushed chili flakes for some unexpected heat.

Side Dishes

My go-to sides are a crisp green salad dressed simply with lemon vinaigrette and warm crusty bread to mop up every last bit of sauce. Roasted asparagus or steamed green beans also make great accompaniments to balance the richness.

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I like serving creamy mushroom pasta in shallow bowls with a drizzle of truffle oil and some toasted pine nuts for crunch—it feels so luxe! You can also layer the pasta in individual glass jars for easy, pretty presentation at casual get-togethers.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover creamy mushroom pasta in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The sauce thickens as it cools, so I recommend reheating gently to bring back that silky texture.

Freezing

Freezing this dish works okay if you’re careful—store it without fresh herbs and add those after reheating. When I’m freezing it, I prefer to keep sauce and pasta separate, if possible, to preserve texture better.

Reheating

The best way I’ve found to reheat creamy mushroom pasta is gently on the stove with a splash of broth or reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce. Microwave works in a pinch, but watch the time so it doesn’t dry out or separate.

FAQs

  1. Can I use other types of pasta in this creamy mushroom pasta recipe?

    Absolutely! While fettuccine and linguine work beautifully because their shape holds the sauce well, you can swap in penne, rigatoni, or even spaghetti depending on your preference. Just adjust cooking times accordingly.

  2. What can I substitute for white wine if I don’t have any?

    If you don’t have white wine on hand, dry rose works just fine, or you can add a bit more broth with a splash of lemon juice to maintain acidity and brightness in the sauce.

  3. How do I prevent the sauce from being too heavy?

    I balance richness by using a mixture of cream and broth, plus the acidity from the wine. Also, stirring in reserved pasta water helps loosen the sauce, so it feels light and coats the pasta evenly instead of sitting thick and gloopy.

  4. Can I make this dish vegan?

    Yes! Swap butter for vegan margarine or olive oil, use plant-based cream alternatives like cashew cream, replace chicken broth with vegetable broth, and use nutritional yeast or vegan parmesan to mimic the cheesy flavor.

  5. Why is reserving pasta water important in this recipe?

    Reserving pasta water is a classic trick that helps emulsify your sauce, thanks to its starch content. It loosens the sauce just enough to make it silky and helps it stick to the pasta beautifully, creating that restaurant-quality finish.

Final Thoughts

This creamy mushroom pasta recipe has become one of my absolute favorites because it hits all the right notes: creamy, garlicky, comforting, yet fresh and vibrant from the wine and parsley. I love sharing this with friends because it feels like a hug on a plate but comes together so quickly that it never feels like a big production. I truly think you’ll enjoy making and eating this as much as I do—give it a try and see how it transforms your pasta nights!

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Creamy Mushroom Pasta Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 101 reviews
  • Author: Lauren
  • Prep Time: 8 minutes
  • Cook Time: 12 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 2 servings
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Italian
  • Diet: Low Salt

Description

This Creamy Mushroom Pasta recipe features perfectly cooked fettuccine tossed in a rich, garlicky mushroom sauce made with white wine, cream, and parmesan. The mushrooms are sautéed until golden, creating a luxurious, flavorful sauce that coats each strand of pasta. This comforting dish is quick to prepare and ideal for a satisfying weeknight meal or elegant dinner.


Ingredients

Pasta

  • 160g (6oz) fettuccine or linguine

Sauce

  • 2 tbsp (30g) unsalted butter
  • 1/2 tbsp olive oil
  • 300g (10oz) mushrooms, sliced 1/3 cm (1/8″) thick (white or cremini/swiss brown)
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup (125ml) dry white wine (or rosé, substitute with more broth if preferred)
  • 1/2 cup (125ml) low sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth
  • 3/4 cup (185ml) heavy cream (thickened cream)
  • 1/3 cup (30g) parmesan cheese, finely grated
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper

To Serve

  • Extra parmesan cheese
  • Parsley, roughly chopped (optional)


Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta: Bring salted water to a boil and cook the fettuccine for one minute less than package instructions. Just before draining, reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.
  2. Prepare the mushrooms: In a large skillet, melt the butter with olive oil over high heat. Add the sliced mushrooms and cook, stirring regularly. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper to help release moisture. Continue cooking until the mushrooms turn golden, about 4 to 5 minutes.
  3. Add garlic: Stir in the finely chopped garlic and cook until the garlic turns golden and mushrooms are richly browned.
  4. Deglaze with wine: Carefully pour in the white wine, as it may steam vigorously. Stir the skillet bottom to scrape and lift any browned bits. Simmer rapidly until the wine has mostly evaporated and its sharp aroma dissipates.
  5. Add broth and cream: Pour in the chicken or vegetable broth, cream, grated parmesan, and season with salt and pepper. Stir well to dissolve the parmesan into the sauce, then simmer for 2 minutes, stirring frequently to thicken the sauce.
  6. Toss pasta with sauce: Add the drained pasta directly to the sauce and toss gently for 1 to 2 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the pasta evenly. If the sauce becomes too thick or clings too much, add a splash of the reserved pasta cooking water to loosen it.
  7. Serve and garnish: Transfer the creamy mushroom pasta to plates, garnish with freshly chopped parsley and extra parmesan cheese. Serve immediately for the best flavor and texture.

Notes

  • Watch the recipe video for visual guidance on perfect creamy pasta.
  • To scale up, cook mushrooms in batches to prevent steaming and ensure they brown well.
  • If white wine is not available or preferred, substitute with rosé wine or use additional broth.
  • Use low-sodium broth to better control salt levels.
  • For a vegetarian version, substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 893 kcal
  • Sugar: 5 g
  • Sodium: 1117 mg
  • Fat: 58 g
  • Saturated Fat: 33 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 23 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 67 g
  • Fiber: 4 g
  • Protein: 24 g
  • Cholesterol: 237 mg

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