Avocado Pasta is one of the simplest pasta dishes you can make. Try it tonight for a flavorful, easy dinner!
The first time I tasted an avocado I was in my early twenties. It’s funny to think I spent more than twenty years without discovering the creamy texture and mild, buttery flavor that make avocados so versatile. Since then, avocados have become a pantry staple—there’s almost always a few on my counter at any given time, at different stages of ripeness.
One ripe avocado can easily be a quick, satisfying lunch with a dash of hot sauce, and it’s just as at home tossed with pasta for a fast weeknight dinner. This recipe for Spicy Avocado Pasta uses ripe avocados to create an instant, no-cook sauce that clings to hot pasta for a silky finish.
Is avocado a fruit or vegetable?
Avocados are technically a fruit, though most people think of them as a vegetable. They make a naturally creamy sauce without the need for heavy creams or roux. Because ripe avocado mashes smoothly, you can combine it with a few fresh ingredients—cilantro, citrus, garlic, and a bit of heat—to create a quick, flavorful pasta sauce.
How to make avocado pasta
This dish is wonderfully simple because you don’t need to cook a sauce. The basic method: cook your pasta, mash ripe avocados with aromatics, then toss the hot pasta with the avocado mixture. Adding a little reserved pasta water helps loosen and emulsify the sauce so it coats the noodles evenly. Finish with fresh tomatoes, green onions, and a crumbly cheese for texture and brightness.
Can avocado pasta be reheated?
Reheating avocado pasta is not ideal—the avocado sauce can change texture and become darker when heated. Instead, this recipe shines as a cold pasta salad. Store leftovers in an airtight container and enjoy them chilled the next day. The flavors often meld beautifully, making it a great option for lunch.
This Spicy Avocado Pasta is quick, fresh, and full of flavor. If you love avocado, it’s an easy recipe to add to your weeknight rotation. You can prepare the sauce while the pasta cooks, toss everything together, and serve in under 20 minutes.
Spicy Avocado Pasta
Prep Time: 10 minutes ·
Cook Time: 10 minutes ·
Total Time: 20 minutes
An easy, 20-minute recipe for creamy, flavorful pasta the whole family will enjoy.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. spaghetti
- 2 fresh Hass avocados, halved, pitted, peeled and cubed
- ¼ cup cilantro, chopped
- 1 jalapeño, minced (remove seeds for less heat)
- 1 garlic clove, finely minced
- 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice, or to taste
- 1 tsp. fresh ground pepper
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 green onions, sliced
- ½ cup crumbled queso fresco (or substitute feta)
Instructions
- Cook the spaghetti according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta water before draining.
- While the pasta cooks, mash the ripe avocados in a bowl until smooth. A fork works fine, or use a food processor for an ultra-smooth sauce.
- Stir in the cilantro, jalapeño, garlic, lemon juice, and ground pepper. Taste and adjust lemon or pepper as needed.
- Toss the hot, drained pasta with the avocado mixture. Add a few tablespoons of reserved pasta water at a time until the sauce reaches a creamy consistency that coats the noodles.
- Top with halved cherry tomatoes, sliced green onions, and crumbled queso fresco. Serve immediately.
Notes & Tips
Choose avocados that yield slightly to gentle pressure for the creamiest sauce. If your avocados are underripe, you can speed ripening by placing them in a paper bag with a banana for a day or two.
To reduce heat, remove the seeds and ribs from the jalapeño before mincing. For a smoky flavor, substitute lime juice for lemon and add a pinch of smoked paprika.
Leftovers make a great cold pasta salad. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator and eat within 1–2 days for best texture and color.
Nutrition Information (per serving)
Calories: 320; Total Fat: 10 g (Saturated Fat 2 g); Cholesterol: 5 mg; Sodium: 65–67 mg; Potassium: 450 mg; Carbohydrates: ~45–48 g; Dietary Fiber: 5–6 g; Sugars: 2–3 g; Protein: ~10 g.
Percent daily values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet and may vary depending on serving size and ingredient choices.