Creamy Pasta With Mushroom And Marsala Wine

Creamy Pasta with Mushrooms - Indulge in the irresistible fusion of earthy mushrooms and creamy pasta with this delectable mushroom pasta recipe.

Mushroom Pasta, is a creamy, luscious, pasta dish, cooked in a rich, nutty, flavorful mushrooms, garlic, and Marsala wine sauce.

This mushroom pasta can be made in under 30 minutes, making it a perfect weeknight dinner or even for a company. This recipe can be made vegan and gluten-free.

My family loves Italian food and anything with mushrooms is a bonus. Yes, we all love mushrooms, in any form.

From a quick stir fry, or even grilled mushroom, in curries, mushroom soup, and yes, one of my favorite dishes to cook with mushrooms is this mushroom pasta.

Jump to:

• What Is Mushroom Pasta
• Ingredients For Mushroom Pasta
• How To Make Creamy Mushroom Pasta
• Substitutions Pasta Mushroom
• Variations Mushrooms Pasta
• Storage
• Tips For Pasta With Mushroom Sauce
• FAQ
• Pairing
• Creamy Pasta With Mushroom And Marsala Wine
• Bread Recipes

What Is Mushroom Pasta

This mushroom pasta is inspired by one of our favorite Italian dishes Chicken Marsala Crispy, pan-fried tender chicken breasts, lightly coated with flour and cooked in a flavorful, and creamy mushrooms, garlic, and Marsala wine sauce. The sauce is poured over the chicken and served along with some mashed potatoes or pasta.

I wanted to create a dish using the same rich, creamy flavors, but at the same time keep it vegetarian. So, when I have my vegetarian friends over for dinner, I have something to share with them as well. This Italian-inspired mushroom pasta is super easy to make at home and tastes amazing.

What makes this dish so amazing, is the Marsala wine. Marsala wine is a fortified wine from Sicily, which is used to give a nice, rich, caramelized flavor to the sauce. Mushrooms and garlic are cooked along with wine and butter to create a rich, nutty flavor.

Ingredients For Mushroom Pasta

Pasta: You can use any pasta of your choice. To cook pasta on the stovetop, please follow the package instructions.

For cooking pasta in an Instant pot, I reduce the cooking time “By Half” which is recommended on the box of the pasta.

For eg, Recommended cooking time for al dente Thin Spaghetti is 6 minutes. I reduce the cooking time by half, which is 3 minutes.

It is important to turn off the keep-warm mode, to avoid any sticky, mushy pasta.

Followed by 5 minutes of natural pressure release and after 5 minutes, release the remaining pressure manually. Pasta turns out perfect, never under-cooked or over-cooked, just perfect!!

Mushrooms: Cremini, button or portabella mushrooms work fine in this recipe, or combinations of mushrooms would equally do. I prefer cremini, as they add a lot of depth and color to this dish, but you could use any combination of your favorite mushrooms.

Marsala Wine: Adds a nice depth of flavor to this dish. I prefer Marsala wine. However, any dry red or white wine works fine. Marsala, sherry, or red wine.

Garlic: Fresh minced garlic, it adds a nice flavor to this dish. I think mushrooms and garlic, compliment each other.

Herbs: – Herbs that go well with the earthy flavors of mushroom and some of my family favorites include thyme, oregano, parsley. You can use fresh or dry herbs.

I use one or a combination of herbs to add more depth and flavor to this dish. You can use any herb of your choice.

Spices (Optional): Red Chili Flakes or Cayenne Pepper, to taste. Adds a nice kick to this pasta.

Dairy: Heavy cream, half and half, milk or evaporated milk can be used in this recipe. Cream, balances the flavors from wine and mushroom, and also makes this pasta extra creamy.

Cheese: Hard Italian cheeses like Parmesan, Parmigiana-Reggiano works well, adds distinct taste and flavor.

Oil & Butter: Used to sauté mushrooms and garlic.

Broth: Low Sodium Vegetable, or mushroom broth adds an additional layer of flavor. Low sodium broth helps control the sodium intake.

How To Make Creamy Mushroom Pasta

Easy, effortless, delicious meal, that can be done in under 30 minutes. The only prep required is slicing the mushrooms. Well, you can even skip that and get pre-sliced mushrooms, which are easily available these days at local grocery stores.

Other than gathering a few ingredients and spices, I think this is one of the far easiest and best-tasting pasta dishes you may have tried before. I love to make this dish in Instant Pot. However, I have also shared a stovetop version of this recipe. Enjoy this creamy, one-pot Mushroom pasta!

Instant Pot Mushroom Pasta

Turn on sauté (more). When it displays "Hot", add oil and butter.

Add sliced mushrooms, garlic, thyme, and oregano. Sauté for 1-2 minutes. 

Add Marsala wine, and deglaze the pot. Cook for 2-3 minutes. Turn OFF sauté.

Break the spaghetti in half and lay them in crisscross pattern. Add broth, salt, and pepper to taste.

Close the lid, vent sealed. Turn on Manual / Pressure cook (high) for 3 minutes.

Important: Turn off "Keep-Warm" setting.

Please see the recipe notes on - How To Cook Pasta In Instant Pot

Let pressure release naturally, around 5 minutes, and then release the remaining pressure manually. Open the lid.

Add cream, and Parmesan cheese, mix well until cheese melts. 

Garnish with some chopped parsley, grated cheese, and red chili flakes (optional).

Enjoy this creamy pasta with mushrooms with your favorite wine. Bon-Appetit!!

Stovetop Pasta With Mushroom

Cook pasta as per package directions. Drain, rinse and keep it aside.

In a large skillet, or a pan, heat oil and butter, over medium-high heat.

Add sliced mushrooms, garlic, thyme, and oregano. Sauté for 1-2 minutes.

Add Marsala wine, and cook for 3-4 minutes. Turn off the heat.

Add cooked pasta, cream, cheese, salt and pepper to taste, mix well until cheese melts. 

Garnish with some chopped parsley, grated cheese, and red chili flakes (optional).

Enjoy this delicious Mushroom Pasta with your favorite wine. Bon-Appetit!!

Substitutions Pasta Mushroom

Pasta: If you're looking to reduce carbs or follow a gluten-free diet, you can use alternative pasta options such as whole wheat pasta, gluten-free pasta made from rice or legumes, or even zucchini noodles (zoodles) for a low-carb option.

Mushrooms: Feel free to use your favorite type of mushrooms or a mix of different varieties. You can also combine fresh mushrooms with dried mushrooms for a more intense flavor.

Wine: Substitute ¾ cup of white grape juice plus a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar instead of wine.

Use vegetable or chicken broth instead of wine. Love umami flavor, use mushroom broth.

Garlic: I prefer fresh garlic, but you could totally use garlic powder. Use ½ teaspoon of garlic powder.

Spices: You can use Italian seasoning, a blend of different spices to add flavor to this dish.

Heavy Cream: To make the dish lighter, you can substitute heavy cream with alternatives like half-and-half, whole milk, or dairy-free milk such as almond milk or coconut milk. Keep in mind that the texture and flavor of the sauce may be slightly different with these substitutions.

Parmesan Cheese: If you're vegan or lactose intolerant, you can use a plant-based Parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast to achieve a similar cheesy flavor. For a non-vegan option, you can try Pecorino Romano or Grana Padano as alternatives to Parmesan.

Broth: You can also use a bouillon, mix it with water as per package instructions and use it.

Variations Mushrooms Pasta

Add Protein: Add some tofu or chicken, great way to add some protein into your diet.

You can use pre-cooked tofu, available in the grocery stores or simply saute some and add it to your pasta.

Got some leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken, add it to your dish. 

Add Veggies: Include veggies such as peas, green beans, and broccoli, for some added flavor. Feel free to use the veggies of your choice. I like to rotate the veggies in the pasta, thus enjoying the flavors and nutritional values of different veggies.

Add Greens: Leafy greens add a punch of flavor and nutritional value. You can add kale, or spinach. Add the greens at the end, before adding cream. It only takes couple of minutes for greens to cook.

Broth: I use vegetarian broth, to keep this pasta vegetarian. However, chicken broth can also be used. Love umami flavor try some mushroom broth.

Storage

Mushroom pasta stays good for 1-2 days in the refrigerator. Store it in a clean, glass container. 

Reheat the pasta in the microwave. I like to add a splash of milk or broth and microwave it for a minute or so. Mushroom pasta is ready to be devoured!

Tips For Pasta With Mushroom Sauce

I use a combination of oil and butter to sauté mushrooms. It gives a nice, nutty flavor, to this dish.

Cook the mushroom down, before adding wine or broth, for a nice earthy flavor.

For Instant Pot cooking, just add enough broth to cover the pasta. Reduce the cooking time “By Half” which is recommended on the box of the pasta.

Let the pressure release naturally for around 5 minutes, and after 5 minutes, release the remaining pressure manually. Pasta turns out perfect, never undercooked or overcooked, just perfect!!

Turn off the "Keep-Warm" mode in Instant Pot. 

Add cream, cheese, and mix well. Simmer for 2-3 minutes, or until the cheese is incorporated well, with the pasta. Do not overcook the pasta after adding the cream. The cheese will melt in the residual heat.

Herbs and spices enhance the flavor of this dish. Feel free to add herbs of your choice. We like a blend of thyme, oregano, or Italian seasoning go well in this recipe.

I like to add some crushed red chili flakes or a pinch of cayenne pepper for some heat and additional flavor.

FAQ

Pairing

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