Hummus Pasta - This creamy hummus pasta recipe is made with roasted red pepper hummus, sliced and sauteed onions, mushrooms, kale, and curly pasta noodles. Using hummus as pasta sauce helps keep this recipe at 5 ingredients and makes it easy to bring together in just 20 minutes. This red pepper hummus pasta is vegetarian and vegan, super customizable, and easy to make any night of the week.
This easy one-pot hummus pasta is one of my new favorites. The flavors alone are incredible - using hummus as pasta sauce is one of my favorite kitchen hacks. Hummus is already creamy, packed with flavor, and full of protein.
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When you combine hummus with pasta cooking water, it turns into the silkiest pasta sauce. I only want pasta with hummus sauce from now on! Or... until the next inspiration strikes.
This hummus sauce for pasta is easy, budget-friendly, and incredibly delicious.
This recipe is versatile. It can be a 5 ingredient, low grocery list meal by using storebought hummus. Or you can go the more made-from-scratch route like we usually do here and use homemade hummus. My favorite hummus recipes that would work here are my lemon basil hummus and my roasted sweet potato + garlic hummus.
For these photos I used roasted red pepper hummus and the textures are creamy, and the flavors are savory and a bit tangy.
Using hummus as a pasta sauce may sound unusual but hummus has so much flavor in it already. Hummus is usually made with chickpeas, tahini, garlic, olive oil, and lemon - all flavorful items. My hummus also had roasted red pepper blitzed in - even more flavor!
Did I mention that you only need one pot and 20 minutes to make this recipe?
Besides the pasta and the hummus, I used onions, mushrooms, and kale. I sauteed the onions and mushrooms for additional flavor and texture and added some kale for some healthy greens.
And that's it, that's the end of the ingredients list.
This is one recipe I like to keep simple because the hummus does most of the heavy lifting when it comes to textures, consistency, and flavor.
Also, I eat a mostly vegetarian and sometimes vegan diet, and this is one of my favorite, easy vegan pasta recipes.
what does hummus pasta taste like
Hummus pasta will take on the flavor of the type of hummus you use to make the sauce. Other add-ins will also contribute flavors, such as onions or garlic. For this hummus pasta, I used roasted red pepper hummus so the flavor is savory and tangy as a result.
tips to make hummus pasta
- use a noodle shape that will hold the sauce
- make sure to salt your pasta water for the best flavor
- cook the pasta a minute or two less than al dente as it will finish cooking in the sauce - no soggy noodles!
- make sure to save a cup of pasta water - this makes the hummus pasta sauce creamy and silky
- use a hummus flavor you really like
- add in your own favorite vegetables
- season everything well before serving
- garnish to your heart's content with cheese, nuts, seeds, fresh herbs, etc!
Ingredients
About the ingredients for this recipe. See the recipe card below for exact amounts.
- the hummus: I used a store-bought roasted red pepper hummus for this pasta recipe because it makes it easy while maintaining flavor. You can also make homemade hummus for this recipe. Use your favorite flavor or a basic hummus recipe like the one in my Chicken Shawarma Plate recipe, and try adding some fresh lemon juice and fresh herbs for more flavor.
- the pasta: I used curly fusilli corti bucati noodles because I love the look (it reminds me of old telephone cords) but it also has a great bite and lots of little places for the hummus pasta sauce to snuggle into which means more flavor per bite
- the rest: I also used onion and mushrooms because sauteing them is an easy and budget-friendly way to add more flavor and texture to any dish, and I added kale because I like to get my greens, even in pasta dishes.
Instructions
Prep Tips
- chop the onions, mushrooms, and kale
- have a mug or measuring cup at hand to reserve pasta water for the sauce.
- if you don't need a one-pot meal and are trying to speed it up, saute the onions, mushroom, and kale while the pasta cooks
The exact ingredients and instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Use the jump to recipe button at the top of the post to get right to it. Below is a quick summary of how to make hummus pasta with step-by-step photos.
Boil your pasta of choice, leaving off a minute or two of cook time to account for the time you'll cook the pasta in the sauce at the end. Reserve a cup of pasta water, then drain the noodles and set aside.
Saute the onion and mushrooms for about 5-6 minutes or until browning and softening. Add the kale and cook for about 2 minutes. Season with salt.
Add some pasta water to deglaze the pan.
Next, add the kale and cook for two to three minutes, just to soften a bit.
Add the hummus and mix it all in.
Finally, add the pasta and mix. Add pasta water as needed until you have a sauce consistency you like. Cook until heated through (a few minutes). Remove from heat and serve.
Garnish the pasta if you like. I like garnishing with fresh oregano from my garden. The substitutions section of this post (below) has many topping ideas for this pasta.
RECIPE TIP: Use the pasta water to deglaze the pan and get all the little flavorful bits off of the bottom. This also helps prevent burning.
Substitutions
✔ This recipe is vegetarian + vegan as made.
> Hummus is usually vegan as it's made with chickpeas, tahini, oil, lemon, garlic, and sometimes optional flavorings.
Try different flavored hummus in this dish, like:
- roasted sweet potato and garlic hummus
- lemon basil hummus
- butternut squash hummus
- avocado cilantro lime hummus
- caramelized onion hummus
- black olive tapenade hummus
You can use whatever hummus flavor you prefer to make the hummus pasta sauce. I love super savory flavors like roasted red pepper.
Try a different pasta shape like:
- farfalle
- conchiglie
- pappardelle
- fusilli
- cavatappi
- gemelli
- penne
- rotini
- rigatoni
I like these curly pasta noodles because they hold sauce in their little nooks and crannies.
Add in different or additional vegetables
You can add whatever vegetables you like to this dish. I always have onions, mushrooms, and kale around because I just love them so much, so that's what I add here.
Try other vegetables like:
- zucchini
- spinach
- sliced carrot
- sliced bell pepper
- asparagus
- broccoli or cauliflower
- brussels sprouts
Add a protein
To add more protein to this recipe you could add:
- sauteed chicken
- sliced cooked sausage
- sauteed shrimp
- baked crispy tofu cubes
- navy beans or lima beans
- crispy chickpeas
For a fall-inspired hummus pasta
- add pumpkin puree or butternut squash puree for an extra boost of fall vibes
- top with toasted pumpkin seeds
- add a dash of freshly grated nutmeg
Garnish
If you want to add extra ingredients to enhance the flavor and garnish this recipe try adding:
- crispy spiced chickpeas
- toasted pumpkin seeds
- shredded cheese
- toasted nuts like walnuts or pecans
- fresh herbs like basil, parsley, oregano
Equipment
I use my Cuisinart 7 qt Enameled Cast Iron Pot and a wooden turner to make this recipe. Use whatever large pot you have that will fit these ingredients.
Storage
Store in the fridge for 3-5 days just like any other leftovers. Reheat in a microwave or non-stick pan with a bit of liquid. I also like to eat this cold as leftovers like a pasta salad.
What to serve with Hummus Pasta
- Fried Oyster Mushrooms
- Lentil Balls
- Chickpea Patties
- Crispy Chicken Burgers
- Roasted Broccoli + Carrots
- Roasted Green Beans
Check out the rest of my side dish category for more ideas
More easy pasta recipes
Check the rest of my pasta recipes for even more dinner ideas
Tips + FAQs
Yes, you can use hummus as a pasta sauce. Combining hummus with pasta and adding some of the pasta cooking water makes a tasty, creamy pasta sauce.
This pasta recipe calls for 1 cup of hummus, making it a great recipe to use up leftover hummus.
Hummus is made of chickpeas, tahini (a sesame seed paste), olive oil, lemon, and garlic. There are many different flavors of hummus that have optional add-ins like roasted red pepper hummus or caramelized onion hummus.
Recipe
Creamy 5 Ingredient One Pot Hummus Pasta
Ingredients
- 227 grams hummus about 1 cup, flavor of your choice
- 1 lb pasta I used Fusilli Corti Bucati
- 1 cup pasta water reserved from cooked pasta
- ½ large white onion chopped
- 3 stems kale stemmed and chopped
- 100 grams cremini mushrooms chopped
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Boil the pasta according to package instructions for al dente but subtract a minute or so. The pasta will cook briefly in the sauce. Drain and set aside, reserving 1 cup of water from the pot.
- Saute: In the same pot, saute the onions and mushrooms for about 5-6 minutes, or until browning and softened. Add the kale and saute another 2-3 minutes. Pour a splash of the pasta water into the pan to deglaze it, and scrape the bottom of the pan. This incorporates all of those flavors and prevents the dish from burning.
- Mix: Add the hummus to the pot and stir. Add the pasta and stir to coat the pot. Add the reserved pasta water a little at a time, stirring until you get the consistency you want for your sauce. Heat for 2-3 minutes more, stirring occasionally to heat the pasta and sauce through.
- Serve: Serve hot with any optional garnishes you like, such as cheese, toasted nuts or seeds, or fresh herbs.
Video
Notes
Nutritional information is an estimate. Values vary based on products used. Read our full Nutrition Disclaimer.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.
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