Mushroom Olive Pasta

This Italian Mushroom Olive Pasta is healthy, vegetarian and ready in 30 minutes! It's made with garlic, Kalamata olives and Parmesan cheese.

This Kalamata Olive Mushroom Pasta is perfect if you're looking for a fast and healthy weeknight dinner. It's packed with Mediterranean flavors and ready in no time!

Pasta is one of my favorite all-around meals. It's cheap, versatile, cooks quickly, and can be customized any number ways. I love that pasta dishes can be made with or without meat along with any vegetables, cheese, herbs and spices that you can imagine.

This pasta is vegetarian and prepared with only a few simple ingredients, which makes it a great choice if you want a flavorful meal without spending lots of time cooking it.

It's made with sliced mushrooms that are sautéed in a skillet with olive oil and garlic and then tossed with short pasta such as rotini, fusilli, or farfalle along with diced Kalamata olives and Parmesan cheese. This mushroom pasta is made without cream, so it's a bit lighter than many recipes.

This is a great dish if you love the flavor of mushrooms. It's garnished with fresh basil or parsley and feels a little special even though it only takes about 30 minutes to make.

Jump to:

• Ingredients For Mushroom Olive Pasta
• Which Mushrooms Are Best For Pasta?
• How To Sauté Mushrooms In A Skillet
• How To Make Mushroom Olive Pasta
• Which Olives Are Best For Pasta?
• What To Serve With Mushroom Pasta
• How Long Does This Pasta Last In The Fridge?
• Can It Be Frozen?
• Mushroom Olive Pasta

Ingredients For Mushroom Olive Pasta

As mentioned, it only takes a few ingredients to whip up this Olive Mushroom Pasta and all of them are likely ones that you already have on hand.

Here's what you'll need to make it.

• 1 package Gluten Free Short Pasta (such as rotini, fusilli, farfalle, or penne) (can use regular short pasta if not gluten free)
• 2 8 oz. packages Mushrooms of choice
• 6 cloves Garlic
• 2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
• ½ tsp. Italian Seasoning
• ¼ tsp. each Kosher Salt and Pepper
• 1 cup Pitted Kalamata Olives (chopped)
• ½ cup Low Sodium Vegetable Broth
• 1 cup Parmesan Cheese (grated) (can sub Asiago or Romano cheese)
• Fresh Basil or Parsley for garnish

Which Mushrooms Are Best For Pasta?

I am definitely a mushroom fanatic. This may be a controversial opinion but as far as I'm concerned the more mushrooms the better.

Mushrooms provide any dish with a great earthy, umami flavor and meaty texture.

You can use any type of mushrooms you like to make this Mushroom Olive Pasta. I used cremini (also known as Baby Bella) mushrooms in this recipe, because that's what's readily available in most grocery stores, but you can enhance the flavor even more with more exotic mushroom varieties.

Feel free to choose a common variety such as white button or cremini if you'd like to keep it simple. For a more robust flavor, opt for some chanterelle, oyster, or morel mushrooms.

Here are some of the best mushroom varieties for pasta.

• Cremini
• Portobello
• Chanterelle
• Oyster
• Porcini
• Morel

How To Sauté Mushrooms In A Skillet

Sautéing mushrooms in a skillet with either olive oil or butter along with kosher salt and pepper helps to bring out their natural flavors.

And because pasta without garlic is, like, illegal these mushrooms are sautéed along with minced garlic.

Sautéing mushrooms in a skillet allows them to caramelize and the salt helps to draw out some of the water, creating a flavorful liquid for the pasta.

1. Start by mincing 6 cloves of garlic.
2. Wipe any dirt and slice 2 8 oz. packages of mushrooms (any variety). Feel free to remove the stems if you like, or chop them up and add them to the pasta.
3. Place a large skillet on the stove top and heat to medium.
4. Add 2 Tbsp. of olive oil to the skillet.
5. Once the oil is heated, add the sliced mushrooms along with ¼ tsp. each of kosher salt and pepper. Stir until combined.
6. Sauté the mushrooms for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. The mushrooms will shrink down a bit.
7. Add the minced garlic and ½ tsp. Italian seasoning to the skillet. Sauté for another 2-3 minutes, stirring often. Set aside.

Love mushrooms? Don't miss these recipes!

• Mushroom Shrimp Risotto
• Arugula Mushroom Pizza
• Mushroom Gruyere Tartlets
• Air Fryer Mushrooms
• Turkey Mushroom Wild Rice Soup
• Fennel Sausage Mushroom Soup

How To Make Mushroom Olive Pasta

The pasta can be prepared while the mushrooms are sautéing on the stove top. The Kalamata olives can be chopped and the Parmesan cheese grated as well.

This recipe is gluten free and calls for a quality brand of gluten free short pasta. My favorite for this type of pasta is the Brown Rice Fusilli from Jovial. It holds up nicely, retains its texture, and doesn't become mushy when cooked.

Tinkyada, Banza, and Barilla also make great gluten free pasta. Alternately, you can use any brand of regular short pasta if gluten is not an issue for you.

1. Start by preparing 1 package of gluten free short pasta (or regular short pasta if not gluten free) according to package instructions. Cook the pasta just until al dente. It's very important not to overcook gluten free pasta, or it will become mushy.
2. Once the pasta is cooked just until al dente, place a strainer in the sink and drain the pasta. Run the cooked pasta under cold water. This will help stop the cooking process and help the pasta to retain its shape (this step is not necessary if using regular pasta).
3. Dice 1 cup of pitted Kalamata olives.
4. Grate 1 cup of Parmesan, Asiago, or Romano cheese.
5. Place the cooked and rinsed pasta into the skillet along with the sautéed mushrooms.
6. Add the diced Kalamata olives and grated cheese to the skillet.
7. Pour ½ cup of low sodium vegetable broth (can use low sodium chicken broth if not vegetarian) to the skillet.
8. Heat the skillet to medium and carefully stir all of the ingredients together with a wooden spoon until combined. Continue to cook for another couple of minutes, or until the cheese has melted and the pasta is heated through.

Which Olives Are Best For Pasta?

I really wanted to drive home the Mediterranean flavors in this pasta and what better ingredient to accomplish that than olives?

Mushroom and olive are two flavors that were just meant to go together. The brininess of the olives makes the flavor in this pasta pop and gives it just the right amount of saltiness.

You can use any type of olives you like, but I recommend a variety of pitted olives. This means that the pits have been removed from the olives and you don't need to worry about choking on them.

I went with pitted Kalamata olives because they have a robust flavor and are available in any grocery store.

You can also use Castelvetrano, Manzanilla, Nyon, Gaeta, or any of your favorite olives. Keep in mind that using a different variety of olive will alter the overall flavor of the pasta, so make sure to use ones that you enjoy.

If you love olives, check out this Kalamata Olive Tapenade!

What To Serve With Mushroom Pasta

I recommend garnishing this pasta with some extra grated Parmesan cheese and freshly torn basil leaves.

Fresh herbs help to add bright flavor and color to any dish. You can also use parsley or chives if you prefer.

I love to serve healthy pasta dishes with a tangy side salad like this Italian green bean salad, marinated tomato salad or fresh snap pea salad. The bright flavors of the salad help to balance the rich flavor of the pasta.

It's also great with vegetable side dishes like these garlic roasted green beans or Parmesan roasted cauliflower.

If you'd like to make this dish a bit heartier, feel free to top it with some sautéed shrimp or roasted, sliced chicken breasts.

Love pasta? Check out these recipes!

• Leek Pancetta Pasta
• Chicken Marsala Pasta
• Chicken Sausage Spaghetti
• Kale Pancetta Pasta
• Ground Turkey Spinach Pasta
• Cajun Chicken Orzo
• Cauliflower Tomato Sausage Pasta

How Long Does This Pasta Last In The Fridge?

Any leftovers may be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

Be sure to allow the pasta to cool completely before transferring to the fridge for storage.

Can It Be Frozen?

For optimal taste and texture, I do not recommend freezing this pasta. It's best enjoyed right away or within a few days.

Love vegetarian pasta? Don't miss these recipes!

• Vegetarian Mediterranean Pasta
• One Pot Veggie Pasta
• Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
• Green Pasta Sauce
• Thai Basil Pesto
• Spinach Walnut Pesto

Looking For More Pasta Recipes? Don't miss these!

Pasta with Carrot Sauce

Lemon Chicken Pasta with Broccoli

Creamy Mushroom Spinach Pasta

Baked Feta Pasta