Plain Mushroom And Onion Penne Pasta Recipe

Pasta is always a good idea for a meal, but with so many options out there, it can sometimes be hard to narrow down exactly what you're craving. One thing is certain, though. After a busy day, many of us don't have the time to spend hours cooking in the kitchen and instead want something simple but fulfilling — and that's where this plain mushroom and onion penne pasta comes in.

Recipe developer Susan Olayinka of The Flexible Fridge has crafted an easy yet elegant pasta dish that doesn't sacrifice flavor for simplicity. This mushroom and onion pasta uses fresh, wholesome ingredients, and the result is a truly tasty dish. "I would describe the flavor as quite cheesy, mild, and earthy from the mushrooms," Olayinka says of this recipe. Unlike many pasta recipes, this dish isn't drenched in a tomato or Alfredo sauce, but instead has a mild butter and garlic coating to give it uncomplicated yet irresistible flavor. If you're looking for a simple pasta dish that only requires a few ingredients, you've certainly come to the right place. Keep reading to learn how to make this plain mushroom and onion penne pasta.

Before you can start making your mushroom and onion pasta, you'll have to gather the right ingredients. This recipe calls for using penne pasta, so be sure to have some of that on hand. Additionally, you'll need button mushrooms, yellow onions, garlic, fresh parsley, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, butter, salt, and water. Because this is such a simple pasta dish, it's also easy to sub out some of the ingredients for what you have on hand. For instance, Olayinka says that you can use a different kind of mushroom, like portobello, oyster, or shiitake, as well as a different kind of onion like red, white, or shallots.

Once you have your ingredients sorted, you can begin prepping them to make the dish. First, start cooking your penne in boiling water, per the instructions on the package. Then, grab your cutting board and a knife, and get ready to chop some vegetables! Start with the mushrooms, and thinly slice them, as shown in the image. Next, dice your onions, and set them aside. Mince your garlic cloves, then set those aside as well. Finally, pull off a couple of leaves of your fresh parsley, thinly slice them, and then set it aside with the rest of the chopped ingredients.

Now that all of your vegetables and additions are chopped up, you can begin cooking. Put a frying pan over medium-high heat, and add in the olive oil and butter. Then, toss in the minced garlic and chopped onion, and allow those to cook for about two minutes. As these ingredients cook, you'll notice a delightful aroma of butter and garlic start to fill the air. By this point, you can toss in your mushrooms, and allow those to cook in the pan for about four minutes.

As your mushrooms finish cooking, go ahead and drain your pasta, and then immediately transfer it into the pan. Then, add in the chopped parsley, Parmesan cheese, and salt, and give everything a good stir. Now, you're ready to serve your plain mushroom and onion penne pasta, and enjoy!

Olayinka says, "[You] can definitely pair some grilled meat with this [pasta dish], for example, chicken or steak," though it also stands as a fulfilling and delicious dish on its own. Though you only use a handful of ingredients to make this recipe, you'll notice a wide range of delicious flavors that make this pasta dish stand out above the rest. And, if you have leftovers, you can store them in the fridge for two to three days, and simply sprinkle on some fresh Parmesan when you reheating. Considering how appetizing this plain mushroom and onion penne pasta is, however, it's safe to say that there may not be any leftovers after you make this dish.