Creamy Vegan Sweet Potato Pasta Skillet

Make the creamiest vegan Sweet Potato Pasta Skillet with rigatoni, sweet potato-coconut cream sauce, herbs, and a bit of spice for dinner tonight. 

I’m all about skillet dinners. If you have a good-quality cast-iron skillet, you can make so many delicious recipes. And pasta just happens to be one of my favorites! This pasta recipe, in particular, happens to be vegan, but it’s so full of creamy, savory and cheesy goodness, non-vegans will go crazy for it too. 

The secret is a dynamite combination of sweet potato puree and coconut cream or milk. The sauce coats every nook and cranny of your pasta so every bite is flavor-packed and decadent. 

How to Make Creamy Vegan Sweet Potato Pasta 

If these photos have you ready to get in the kitchen, start by reading these tips and swaps for the best cheesy vegan pasta skillet:

Ingredients

Here’s what you need to bring this creamy sweet potato pasta skillet to life for dinner tonight:

• Rigatoni. You can substitute rigatoni with your favorite pasta shape. For a gluten-free version, simply use gluten-free pasta. 
• Sweet potato puree. You can buy this canned or make your own by roasting a sweet potato until totally tender and pureeing it in a blender or food processor. Pumpkin puree will also work, though the flavor may not be quite as sweet. 
• Garlic. This adds a delicious aromatic flavor to compliment the sweetness of your puree. 
• Nutritional yeast. I think this is a must-have vegan pantry ingredient. It instantly adds umami and cheesy flavor without any dairy. 
• Flour. I use organic all-purpose flour from Bob’s Red Mill, which is certified vegan. For gluten-free, simply use their gluten-free flour blend to thicken your creamy sweet potato sauce. 
• Vegetable stock. Make your own or buy organic store-bought stock. 
• White wine. Opt for a dry white wine in this recipe. 
• Garlic powder, smoked paprika, and dried parsley. These dried herbs round out the creamy vegan pasta sauce with herbiness, smokiness and a bit of spice. 
• Roasted broccoli. I love the combination of sweet potato and broccolini. However, you can easily use other roasted veggies if you prefer, such as asparagus, regular broccoli, cauliflower, or Brussel sprouts. 

Make-Ahead Vegan Pasta

If you’re meal prepping, you can make a big batch of this sweet potato rigatoni. Divide it between airtight containers and store in the fridge for up to four days. You can heat it up on the stove or in the microwave for a comforting lunch all week long. 

Adding Protein

If you’d like to add protein to this vegan dish, it’s easy to do!

Plant-based protein options:

• Crispy or canned chickpeas or beans
• Crispy seared or baked tofu cubes
• Crumbled stir-fried seitan
• Crumble vegan bacon on top

Non-vegan protein options:

• Crispy Buffalo Chicken Tenders
• Pulled Chicken
• Fried egg

Topping Ideas for Vegan Skillet Pasta

While I love this pasta skillet dinner as-is, straight from the pan, you can dress it up with toppings if you like.

I usually add roasted broccolini, but for extra spice, color and texture, you can try:

• Chopped nuts, such as toasted hazelnuts or walnuts
• Sun-dried tomatoes
• Black olives
• Sliced jalapenos for a bit of heat
• Shredded vegan cheese
• Toasted bread crumbs

If you discover a new favorite topping idea, be sure to let me know in the comments section below!

More Vegan Weeknight Dinner Recipes

• Vegan Bolognese Pasta
• Loaded Dairy-Free Broccoli Cheddar Soup
• Quick + Easy Blood Orange Kale Salad

MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?

If you choose to make this Creamy Vegan Sweet Potato Pasta Skillet or any other recipe from us, be sure to tag us on Instagram at #Orchidsandsweettea so that we can share the love, rate, comment below, + share!

Creamy Vegan Sweet Potato Rigatoni Pasta

Prep Time: 5 mins

Cook Time: 20 mins

Total Time: 25 mins

Serves: 4 servings

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Ingredients

• 1 (16 oz.) package rigatoni pasta   (You can substitute w/ your own fave pasta!; See Notes for GF option.)
• 1 1/2 cups sweet potato puree
• 1 Tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 4 Tbsps nutritional yeast
• 1/4 cup organic all-purpose flour
• pinch of ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp sea salt + black pepper
• 1 (13 oz.) can coconut cream or milk 
• 1 cup organic vegetable stock 
• 1 Tbsp white cooking wine
• 1 Tbsp garlic powder
• 1 Tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 Tbsp dried parsley
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes
• handful of roasted broccolini

Instructions

• To begin, cook pasta according to packaging. NOTE: rigatoni pasta doesn’t take a long time to cook, usually 8-10 minutes (however, you should cook at 6-8 minutes or so—‘al dente’).
• In a large skillet on medium-high heat, heat the olive oil. Add the garlic and sauté until soft and translucent. 
• Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the flour, whisking constantly until well combined and everything looks like paste. 
• Slowly add in the milk or cream, continuing to whisk as it thickens. Once fully added, add in the veggie stock along with the following: seasonings, nutritional yeast, pinch of cinnamon, sea salt, + black pepper, white cooking wine, and sweet potato puree. Continue to whisk until full combined and the sauce looks smooth and begins to thicken. Add in the roasted broccolini and stir to incorporate.
• Let simmer (while stirring with a wooden spoon) for another 3-4 minutes.
• When the pasta is done, drain it and add it to the sauce, stirring until sauce fully coats + sticks to pasta. Remove from heat and serve.
• Bon Appetit!

Tips & Tricks

STORAGE: Any leftovers can be kept in a tightly sealed container and refrigerated for up to 3-4 days.

GLUTEN-FREE: To make this dish GF, simply use Gluten-Free pasta. 

PASTA: You can use long pastas like Pappardelle, Fettuccine, etc. however, I would recommend tossing with tongs to ensure that pasta is fully manageable and fully coated.Otherwise, other pastas such as Penne, Rigatoni, etc. are perfect.

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Vegan Sweet Potato Pasta Skillet

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