Creamy Vegetarian Fajita Pasta

Section: Flavorful Vegetarian Recipes That Satisfy

This creamy vegetarian fajita pasta is a flavorful, high-protein meal that's ready in just 15 minutes. It combines farfalle pasta with sautéed onions and peppers, vegan mince, and a homemade spice mix, then stirred into a rich sour cream and tomato-based sauce. Finished with cheddar cheese and customizable with toppings like avocado or pico de gallo, it’s a quick one-pan dish that's both satisfying and adaptable to your preferred protein or spice level.

Published By Ioana
Updated on Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:27:30 GMT
A bowl of pasta with vegetables and meat. Bookmark
A bowl of pasta with vegetables and meat. | ioanacooks.com

This creamy vegetarian fajita pasta is packed full of flavor, high in protein, and ready in just 15 minutes. It’s the perfect quick, one-pan dinner with plenty of vegetables and a wonderfully spicy, creamy sauce.

Ingredient Notes

The exact quantities of the ingredients you need for this recipe are included in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Here, I’ve added a few notes on the ingredients you need, plus a few potential substitutions you could make if you can’t eat/find a certain ingredient.

  • Pasta: In this recipe, I’ve used farfalle (bow-tie) pasta. However, do feel free to use whatever pasta shape you most prefer – penne, rigatoni, or even spaghetti would all work!
  • Protein: This fajita pasta recipe uses vegan mince for the addition of protein and lots of flavor. However, you could use whatever protein you prefer (diced chicken or a vegan chicken alternative, fried tofu or tofu crumbles, or even black beans!
  • Vegetables: We’ve used the classic fajita trifecta for this recipe: onion, red pepper, and green pepper.
  • Seasonings: You could either use a store-bought fajita spice blend for this recipe, or if you have a lot of seasonings already, we use a combination of paprika, cumin, oregano, cayenne chili pepper, and salt and pepper to taste!
  • Sour Cream: A couple of scoops of sour cream help to make the sauce for your fajita pasta wonderfully creamy as well as giving it a slight tanginess. As an alternative, you could use a reduced-fat cream cheese, a splash of double cream, or some cashew cream to make this recipe vegan.
  • Cheese: What would fajitas be without cheese?! A sprinkle of grated mature cheddar cheese, stirred in until melted and gooey, finishes off this delicious pasta dish perfectly.
A bowl of pasta with meat and vegetables. Bookmark
A bowl of pasta with meat and vegetables. | ioanacooks.com

Other Toppings / Variations

The fun part of making a fajita pasta dish is that you can bring in a huge range of other elements familiar to fajita recipes to make this recipe truly extravagant. For example, you could:

  • Add a pice de gallo (fresh tomato, diced red onion, cilantro, chilies)
  • Top your pasta with sliced avocado or guacamole
  • Substitute the pasta for Mexican crispy potatoes
  • Add some hot sauce for a spicier dish
  • Stir in some charred corn, black beans, and kidney beans to bulk up the dish

How To Make This Creamy Fajita Pasta

In the recipe card below, you can find the exact ingredient quantities and instructions for the fajita pasta recipe. Below is a brief overview to show you how this recipe comes together.

Step 1) Cook Your Pasta:
Cook the pasta according to your package instructions. We’ll cook the fajita sauce in another pan while the pasta cooks – but remember to reserve a cup of the pasta water before you drain it to add to the sauce!
Step 2) Cook The Vegetables:
Cook your onion and peppers in a little oil, for 5–6 minutes until they’re beginning to soften. Then, add your garlic and the vegetarian mince and cook for another 2–3 minutes.
Step 3) Add Seasonings & Sauce:
Next, add your fajita seasonings, the tomato paste, and the sour cream, and stir everything together to make a sauce. If it doesn’t seem very “saucy” at the moment, don’t worry – we’ll add the pasta water when adding the pasta which helps to bring everything together.
Step 4) Add the Pasta:
Finally, stir through your cooked pasta and the reserved pasta water, adding it bit by bit until you have a thick and creamy sauce and everything is fully combined. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cheddar cheese until melted.

Chef’s Notes

Top your fajita pasta with some parsley or chopped fresh cilantro to retain in keeping with the Mexican-vibe of this recipe. This isn’t the “sauciest” of pasta dishes, but if you do want more sauce, add more tomato paste and sour cream, and continue adding pasta water bit by bit until you’ve achieved your desired consistency. This fajita pasta has a mild spice, but you can add more cayenne pepper, some hot sauce, or diced jalapenos if you like a spicier flavor!

A close up of a bowl of pasta with meat and vegetables. Bookmark
A close up of a bowl of pasta with meat and vegetables. | ioanacooks.com

Storing

If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4–5 days. Reheat in the microwave until piping hot. Only reheat pasta once.

Frequently Asked Questions About Recipes

→ Can I use a different pasta shape?

Yes, penne, rigatoni, or even spaghetti work well in this dish.

→ What can I substitute for vegan mince?

Try diced chicken, vegan chicken alternative, tofu crumbles, or even black beans.

→ Is there a vegan alternative to sour cream?

Yes, you can use cashew cream, reduced-fat cream cheese, or double cream.

→ How spicy is this dish?

It has a mild spice, but you can increase the heat with cayenne pepper or hot sauce.

→ How should I store leftovers?

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 4–5 days. Reheat once until piping hot.

Fajita Pasta Vegetarian

Creamy vegetarian fajita pasta with veggies, cheese, and spice. Ready in 15 minutes.

Time Needed to Prep
5 minutes
Cooking Duration
10 minutes
Overall Time
15 minutes
Published By: Ioana

Category of Recipe: Vegetarian

Preparation Difficulty: Easy to Make

Type of Cuisine: Mexican-inspired

Number of Portions: 4 How Many It Serves (1 large skillet of pasta)

Dietary Preferences: Made for Vegetarians

Ingredients You'll Need

→ Pasta

Ingredient 01 250 g farfalle pasta

→ Vegetables

Ingredient 02 1 medium red bell pepper, sliced
Ingredient 03 1 medium green bell pepper, sliced
Ingredient 04 1 medium onion, sliced
Ingredient 05 2 garlic cloves, minced

→ Protein

Ingredient 06 200 g vegan mince

→ Seasonings

Ingredient 07 2 tsp fajita seasoning blend
Ingredient 08 1 tbsp tomato paste
Ingredient 09 Salt and pepper to taste

→ Sauce

Ingredient 10 2 tbsp sour cream
Ingredient 11 100 ml reserved pasta water

→ Finishing Touch

Ingredient 12 50 g grated mature cheddar cheese
Ingredient 13 Chopped fresh cilantro or parsley, for garnish

Steps to Follow

Step 01

Boil pasta according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of cooking water before draining.

Step 02

In a large pan, heat oil and cook sliced onion and peppers for 5-6 minutes until softened.

Step 03

Stir in minced garlic and vegan mince. Cook for 2-3 minutes until lightly browned.

Step 04

Add fajita seasoning, tomato paste, sour cream, and mix well. Gradually stir in reserved pasta water.

Step 05

Add cooked pasta to the pan and toss until coated in sauce. Stir in grated cheddar until melted.

Step 06

Remove from heat and garnish with chopped cilantro or parsley before serving.

Extra Tips

  1. Add more sour cream and tomato paste for a creamier consistency.
  2. Customize spice level with jalapenos or hot sauce.
  3. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat only once.

Tools You'll Need

  • Large saucepan
  • Large skillet or frying pan
  • Wooden spoon
  • Colander

Allergen Information

Carefully check food labels for allergens and consult an expert if you're uncertain.
  • Contains dairy (cheddar cheese, sour cream)
  • Contains gluten (pasta)

Nutritional Information (Per Serving)

Remember, these values are for guidance only and shouldn't replace advice from a professional.
  • Calories Per Serving: 520
  • Total Fat: 24 grams
  • Carbohydrate Amount: 58 grams
  • Protein Amount: 21 grams