mealybug

This Cashew Cheezy Pasta has been a staple in my life for over 10 years. It’s a product of when I first started experimenting with nutritious alternatives to my favorite comfort meals while I was in college, and has to be one of the most repeatedly made dishes in my kitchen to this day.

An Easy Pantry-Staple Pasta for Busy Days

One of the elements about this recipe that I love is that all the base ingredients are very shelf stable. Cashews, pasta, nutritional yeast, seasonings, and vinegar. It’s one of those meals that I go to when I can’t think of anything to make, and it’s easy to incorporate whatever veggies you have on hand into it. To make it even better, it takes less than 30-minutes to make and the only cooking involved it boiling the pasta.

Why I’ve Been Making This Cashew Cheezy Pasta for 10+ Years

Everyone I’ve served this pasta to is astonished to find out that it is actually a very nutritious dish, given how indulgent and delicious it is. Nuts are a superfood, and this recipe is packed with omega fatty acids and fiber, especially when you use a protein + or whole grain pasta.

Serve it on the side of chicken or your favorite protein, or just eat it all by itself!

Cashew Cheezy Pasta

This dreamy, creamy cashew pasta has been a staple in my kitchen for over 10 years. Rich, cheesy, and made with simple, wholesome ingredients, it comes together in about 20 minutes. Enjoy it on its own or customize it with your favorite protein and vegetables.

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Servings: 6 Servings

Course: Main Course, Side Dish

Calories: 467

Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x?

• 16 oz pasta whole grain or protein+
• 1/4 cup reserved pasta water

Sauce

• 1.5 cups cashews
• 3/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
• 3 tbsp vinegar or lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp white pepper optional
• 2 tsp salt

Equipment

• Blender
• Pot

Method

 

1. Boil pasta according to box instructions. Make sauce while pasta cooks.
2. Combine all sauce ingredients in blender. Blend on high until smooth and creamy. Taste for salt and acidity. Add more vinegar or lemon juice if it needs more acidity.
3. Once pasta is al dente, reserve 1/4 cup pasta water and drain remainder.
4. Pour sauce over noodles. Thin with reserved pasta water if needed. Use 1-2 tbsp at a time until it reaches desired consistency.
Mix in optional veggies like wilted spinach, peas, broccoli florets, or whatever else sounds good!  

Nutrition

Calories: 467kcalCarbohydrates: 67gProtein: 18gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 3.3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 9.3gSodium: 790mgPotassium: 700mgFiber: 10gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 2700IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 170mgIron: 5.3mg

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