This paleo and AIP Balsamic Mushroom Pasta is a one-pot dream! It comes together quickly for a hearty, creamy and delicious dish that’s sure to please.
Made using balsamic vinegar and full fat coconut milk, this Balsamic Mushroom Pasta dish hits all the right notes. It’s savory, hearty and filling – basically everything pasta always delivers 🙂 It’s great year round but I find it’s especially delicious in Fall and Winter because it is just so cozy!
Here’s what you need for this Balsamic Mushroom Pasta dish:
AIP pasta – My go-to is the Jovial cassava fusilli pasta. You want to ensure you cook your AIP pasta is cooked al dente, because you’ll be adding it into the pan with the beef, mushrooms and greens and there are few things as undesirable as mushy pasta. In my experience, cassava pasta is especially susceptible to getting mushy, especially when reheated so I take this into account for leftovers.
Portobello mushrooms – these add that incredible, intense mushroom flavor to this dish
Full fat, additive free coconut milk – You won’t use that much of it in this recipe, so the creaminess really comes from the full fat content. Coconut cream would also work.
Ground beef – you can absolutely use another ground meat here. I think ground chicken, lamb or = pork would work well.
Spinach – feel free to substitute with any other leafy green like kale or chard.
Balsamic vinegar – this adds SO much flavor to this dish, don’t skip it! You also want to ensure that the ingredients in this are AIP compliant
Tapioca starch – this is used to thicken the sauce. If you don’t have it and don’t mind a thinner sauce, you can definitely omit it.
FAQs
What can I substitute the AIP pasta with?
If you aren’t able to source AIP pasta you can make your own! My recipe for these hand-rolled noodles would work great here. You could also use sweet potato noodles made from sweet potato starch, or spiralized veggies like zucchini. If you go this route, I would recommend serving the beef and mushrooms on top the spiralized noodles rather than mixing them together. This is because zucchini has such a high water content that it will make the sauce too thin as it releases water.
Can I use a different variety of mushrooms?
You definitely can! Portobello mushrooms really add an incredible mushroom flavor in this dish but they can be expensive. In my house they aren’t a regular purchase, and I typically only buy them for special dishes/occasions. Button mushrooms or shiitake are both great substitutes!
Can I substitute the balsamic vinegar?
The balsamic vinegar is crucial to this dish and I wouldn’t recommend omitting it. I haven’t tried other substitutes here so can’t guarantee the same results but coconut aminos might work.
Can I make this dish coconut free?
I haven’t tested this with any other alternatives, but you might try using tigernut milk in place of the coconut milk to make this coconut free. It won’t be as creamy, and tigernut has a slightly sweet taste, but still would be delicious.
If you try this Creamy Balsamic Mushroom Pasta dish, I would appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and short review. Also, be sure to snap a picture of the finished product and share it with me on Instagram by tagging @healmedelicious.
If you enjoyed this AIP pasta dish, you might also like:
- Leek and Fennel Risotto
- Easy Paleo Pasta Salad
- AIP Pasta Carbonara
- Beef and Kale Casserole
- AIP Lasagna
Balsamic Mushroom Pasta (AIP, paleo, gluten free)
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
This paleo and AIP Creamy Balsamic Mushroom Pasta is a one-pot dream! It comes together quickly for a hearty, creamy and delicious dish that’s sure to please.
Ingredients
- 2 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, sliced
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp thyme (fresh or dry)
- 4 cups portobello mushrooms ~ 2 large portobellos, roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 cup hot water
- 1/4 cup full fat, additive-free coconut milk
- 3 cups spinach, packed
- 2 TBSP tapioca starch + 3 TBSP water mixed into a slurry
- 6 oz AIP-compliant pasta
Instructions
- Boil pasta of choice to al dente, strain, run under cold water and set aside.
- To a large stock pot heat olive oil to medium heat.
- Add onions and sauté at least ten minutes, stirring frequently until onions turn translucent and begin to cook down.
- Add garlic and sauté 3-4 minutes.
- Add in ground beef, sea salt and thyme and cook until the beef browns, stirring frequently.
- Add in mushrooms in 3 to 4 batches, stirring to incorporate between each addition and cook 5-7 minutes until mushrooms soften.
- Stir in balsamic vinegar, water and coconut milk and bring to a simmer.
- Fold in spinach until it begins to wilt.
- Combine tapioca starch and 3 TBSP water into a slurry and add to pot, stirring quickly until the sauce begins to thicken.
- Remove from heat and fold in pasta. Taste and adjust for salt as necessary.
- Serve immediately.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Mains
Just made this one! Great flavor and simple to put together. Thanks so much!!
Absolutely delicious! The whole family loved it. Thank you!!!
Not much flavor. I didn’t like the flavor that was there. And the texture of the sauce was weird.
That’s too bad!
I used sausage instead of beef because it’s all I had— was so!!! Good and love that it’s dairy free. Very flavorful. Topped it off with red peppers.
I made this recipe for dinner tonight and everyone loved it! I substituted Lacinto kale for the spinach but made no other change. It was a richly, satisfying meal. Thank you SO much for helping us folks with food sensitivities find such flavorful and satisfying alternatives!
This simple sounding recipe is very delicious!! Try it!
This balsamic mushroom pasta’s enjoyed almost every other week. Thanks, Nicole, for both your savory and sweet dishes creations! We adore you! XX Happy two-year-old, HMD!
Love this recipe! So easy and I love how its creamy but still light. Great flavor!
I just made this recipe. I had all the ingredients except for ground beef and since we just got 8 inches of snow in Chicago I substituted chicken breast which I cut up. Delicious!
I love this! Even my non AIP hubby enjoyed it (with his own pasta)! Thanks for all the delicious recipes!
Easy and delicious! I swapped the spinach for zucchini. My 15 year old son loved it too. Keeping this recipe on regular rotation now.
This is the second time I have made it. Delicious! I added 2 Tbsp of nutritional yeast for a little cheesy flavor.
Another excellent recipe, Nicole! I made this for lunch today with Jovial cassava pasta. It was so good I had to have seconds!
Thanks for your review Maria! So glad you enjoyed!
Made this last night. So easy and a big hit with the whole family! Such a rich and yummy flavour!
I made this tonight and it’s delicious! Quick and simple, with leftovers for lunch tomorrow. Amazing!
Made this with pumpkin spaghetti and was delicious! Also super quick and easy for a week night dinner x x love it
I love that idea! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review, Mica!