Super easy throw-together recipes are the best for busy Spring days, and this Creamy Avocado Pasta is a new favorite! Making pasta is the only cooking required - the sauce is just 6 easy-to-find ingredients thrown into a blender.
Toss with spinach, a vegan protein, or chicken if you like (we use canned chicken while traveling) and you have a satisfying 15 minute meal!
Because of its fresh flavor, I enjoy Creamy Avocado Pasta best in the Spring and Summer months. I make it weekly, and often for picnics or potlucks. It is a truly unique recipe with an excellent creamy texture without any cream or dairy!
Serve it alone for the main meal, or alongside a soup like this Italian Minestrone Soup or Tomato Soup with Shrimp. Or bake some crusty gluten-free artisan bread or gluten-free french baguettes to impress your guests and introduce them to the joys of good gluten-free food!
For more easy pasta recipes that are perfect for an easy breezy Spring, check out my One Pot Vegan Lentil Pasta, Creamy Sun-dried Tomato Pasta, Greek Tahini Pasta Salad, and Vegan Pea Pesto Pasta Salad. These are all vegan pasta recipes, and this creamy avocado pasta is vegan as well if you leave out the optional chicken.
We eat the vegan option of this creamy avocado pasta most often when I use a gluten-free pasta with lentil flour to increase the protein content. Bionaturae brand has the best lentil pasta since it's cut with rice flour, and doesn't taste like beans at all!
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How to make it (with photos)
Ingredients Notes + Substitutions
You need only 7 wholesome ingredients plus salt and pepper to make this creamy avocado pasta recipe!
- pasta - I love the fusilli pasta shape for this recipe because the creamy avocado sauce gets deliciously caught in the spirals for a flavorful bite! I used gluten-free pasta and recommend the Jovial or Bionaturae brands for best flavor and texture. The Bionaturae brand has more protein because the gluten-free flour is cut with lentil flour, so it has more protein.
- baby spinach - Any leafy green can go with this recipe, but I prefer spinach since it's readily available and will have a great taste and texture
- cooked chicken - This is a completely optional ingredient. Chop the chicken into bite-sized pieces or shred it and add it to the mixture before tossing. If I add chicken, I actually prefer to use canned chicken to make this recipe super simple and travel-friendly.
You also need olive oil, a ripe avocado, ground thyme, salt, black pepper, and a lemon to make this recipe.
See the recipe card for a full list of ingredients with quantities.
Variations
Make this creamy avocado pasta vegan and add protein with this variation:
Vegan - Without the optional chicken, this recipe is vegan. To add more vegan protein, I recommend adding peas or chickpeas.
Step-by-Step Instructions
This easy two step avocado pasta recipe is ready in 15 minutes!
- Pasta: Prepare the pasta according to the package instructions.
- Sauce: Meanwhile, add the olive oil, avocado, thyme, salt, pepper, lemon juice, and water to a blender. Blend until you have a smooth and creamy avocado sauce.
- Combine: Allow the pasta to cool until just warm, then combine the cooked pasta, creamy avocado sauce, fresh spinach, and optional chicken pieces in a large bowl. Toss to coat everything in that creamy avocado sauce. Enjoy warm or cool.
Expert Tips
Make perfect creamy avocado pasta on the first try with these expert tips.
Mind your avocado ripeness.
While this recipe will taste best with a ripe avocado, you can also use a slightly unripe or very ripe avocado. If using an avocado that is past peak ripeness, I recommend enjoying this pasta in the first one or two days since it will not last as long in the fridge.
Blend the sauce until very smooth.
For the ultimate creaminess, blend the sauce until it's very smooth. You can also taste the sauce before adding it to the pasta and spinach and adjust it to your personal taste preferences.
Recipe FAQs
Here I answered some frequently asked questions about this Creamy Avocado Pasta recipe. Don't see your question? Leave it in the comments at the end of this post and I'll answer within two business days.
Store leftover creamy avocado pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
You can eat this avocado pasta the next day, and the day after! The lemon preserves the avocado to prevent browning or any off taste or color.
Related dairy-free pasta recipes to consider...
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📖 Recipe
Creamy Avocado Pasta
Ingredients
- 12 ounces pasta , prepared according to package instructions (I used gluten-free pasta and prefer the fusilli shape)
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 medium ripe avocado
- ½ teaspoon ground thyme
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 medium lemon juiced
- 2 tablespoon water or liquid from chicken can -- optional below
- 4 cups fresh baby spinach , loosely packed, about 4 large handfuls
- ½ pound cooked chicken , chopped into bit-sized pieces (optional)*
Instructions
- Pasta: Prepare the pasta according to the package instructions.
- Sauce: Meanwhile, add the olive oil, avocado, thyme, salt, pepper, lemon juice, and water to a blender. Blend until you have a smooth and creamy avocado sauce.
- Combine: Allow the pasta to cool until just warm, then combine the cooked pasta, creamy avocado sauce, fresh spinach, and optional chicken pieces in a large bowl. Toss to coat everything in that creamy avocado sauce. Enjoy warm or cool.
Lou says
I made the vegan version of this avocado pasta as a side dish for a potluck, and it was a hit!
Emily says
I love this creamy avocado pasta with chicken. I also love that it tastes amazing with canned chicken! We make this recipe a lot while camping.
Maggie says
This creamy avocado pasta is one of my favorite recipes for spring and summer. It’s totally original. I haven’t seen anything quite like it.
Anna says
I love the canned chicken in here--it tastes really good!
Molly says
I can't believe how simple and tasty this is! I probably made it at least 20 times by now and I can't wait to have it again.