Best Vegan Pasta Recipes (2024)

I was referred to as the “pasta queen” as a kid for good reason. I LOVE pasta. While I’ve come a long way since my days of “penne pasta with sauce on the side,” I can never turn down an easy vegan pasta recipe.

Some of these recipes might seem complicated, but trust me, these vegan pasta recipes will surprise you.

They’re all packed with flavor, easy to make, completely dairy free, egg free and will even impress the biggest meat eater in the room.

Best Vegan Pasta Recipes (1)

Is pasta vegan?

While I love a good egg noodle as much as the next person, pasta IS vegan! So, if you’re wondering which pasta is vegan, the answer is… most of them!

Many people seem to be under the impression that all pasta is made with egg. While some of it is, most dried ones you find in a grocery store will be both egg free and dairy free. Barilla pasta is vegan friendly.

A lot of pasta sauces, however, contain dairy and are not vegan, so vegans cannot eat any type of pasta sauce. I’ve rounded up 20 of my favorite vegan pasta sauce recipes here.

Pasta is usually made from semolina flour, but if you want a gluten free one, brown rice pasta is my go-to. It has the best texture and doesn’t fall apart as easily as some other legume based pastas.

Flavor tips

Be sure to salt your pasta water! While all of these sauces add SO much flavor to the dish, salting your pasta water really well ensures the pasta has as much flavor as possible.

You ideally want the water to be salty like the ocean, so don’t be afraid to really pack it in there! It will also help the sauce stick to the pasta properly after cooking, which is especially important if using gluten free pasta.

1) Vegan Vodka Pasta

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This vegan vodka sauce with rigatoni is a creamy and delicious dairy free dinner recipe. It’s so easy to make andready in under 30 minutes.

2) Nut Free Pesto Pasta

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This vegan hemp and lemon pesto pasta recipe is sure to be a family favorite! It’s nut free and only takes 20 minutes to make!

3) Vegan Fettuccine Alfredo

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Creamy, flavorful, and ready in about 30 minutes, this Vegan Alfredo Sauce recipe is a healthier twist on your favorite pasta dish!

4) Chickpea Pot Pie Pasta

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This vegan chickpea pot pie pasta is so easy to make and makes for the perfect healthy comfort food. This chickpea pasta recipe is high in protein, creamy and perfect for a 30 minutes family favorite dinner.

5) Garlic Sesame Noodles

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These garlic sesame noodles require just a few ingredients, are gluten free, ready in 15 minutes, and can be eaten hot or cold!

6) Roasted Red Pepper Penne

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Ultra creamy and easy to make, this Vegan Roasted Red Pepper Penne is comforting, delicious, and makes the perfect weeknight dinner.

7) Lemon Asparagus Pasta

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This creamy, vegan lemon asparagus pasta is a quick and easy high protein dinner that the whole family will love. Plus, it’s ready in just 20 minutes!

8) Roasted Garlic Mac and Cheese

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Creamy, rich, and deliciously vegan, this is the BEST dairy free mac and cheese that even gets melty and stringy like traditional mac and cheese.

9) One Pot Mushroom Stroganoff

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This One Pot Vegan Mushroom Stroganoff is a healthy & hearty twist on a classic Stroganoff! This cozy and creamy noodle dish is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

10) Lentil Bolognese

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This Lentil Bolognese is the ultimate healthy comfort food.It’s loaded with veggies, super easy to make, and will be sure to please even the pickiest of eaters!

11) Creamy Pumpkin Alfredo

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Who says you can’t have pumpkin past Halloween? This creamy pumpkin pasta is vegan, can be made gluten free, and ready in just 20 minutes!

12) Spaghetti Pomodoro

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It might look simple, but this spaghetti pomodoro is bursting with flavor.

13) Broccoli Pesto Pasta

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his broccoli pesto pasta is the most delicious way to get your veggies in. It’s easy to make, vegan, ready in just 30 minutes, perfect as is or with grilled chicken or salmon!

14) Mushroom Broccoli Rigatoni

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This easy recipe is inspired by an old childhood favorite. This Mushroom Broccoli Rigatoni is ready in under 20 minutes and even kid approved!

15) Tomato Basil Cream Sauce

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Made with fresh tomatoes, basil, and deliciously dairy free, this creamy vegan pasta sauce is simple enough for a weeknight, but decadent enough for a weekend date night in! Recipe here!

16) Creamy Lemon Pasta Salad

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Easy, creamy, and so delicious, this asparagus pasta salad with lemon dressing is the perfect addition to your summer picnic or barbecue!

17) Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese

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This isn’t just any vegan mac and cheese, this is THE (baked) vegan mac and cheese that puts all the other ones to shame. It’s rich, creamy, easy to make and actually cheesy with no potatoes, squash or nutritional yeast!

18) Tahini Pasta

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The best nut free AND dairy free pasta! This tahini pasta is rich, flavorful and so easy to make.

19) Avocado Pesto Pasta

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Put two of my favorite foods together for this one! This avocado pasta is creamy, only takes about 15 minutes to make and loaded with fresh basil.

20) Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese

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This sweet potato mac and cheese is my go to when I need to impress. It doesn’t taste like sweet potato, just rich, cheesy and undetectably vegan!

If you try any of these recipes, be sure to leave a rating and review and let me know how they turned out. Happy cooking!

Best Vegan Pasta Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What pasta is best for vegans? ›

Most packaged pasta—including spaghetti, rotini, and any other type—is 100 percent vegan. To know for sure, simply check the ingredients on your package! Sometimes, you might see “egg” listed as an ingredient in “fresh” pastas, so avoid those—but generally, pasta contains no animal-derived ingredients.

Is pasta OK for vegan? ›

Most packaged pasta—including spaghetti, penne, and more—is vegan. It's worth checking the label to be sure, as some pasta contains eggs, but most of the pasta you see on the supermarket shelves is 100% vegan!

How do you add protein to pasta without meat? ›

Some of the best sources in the plant world include beans, legumes, lentils, soy like tofu or edamame, seeds and nuts and some whole grains like quinoa. Certain vegetables also contain small amounts of protein like zucchini, kale and collards (think leafy greens).

What spaghetti sauce is vegan? ›

The vegan-friendly brand Primal Kitchen offers No-Dairy Alfredo, Garlic Alfredo, and Vodka sauces! Primal Kitchen also has the hookup on various marinara sauces made with roasted garlic, basil, and crushed red chiles.

Is Olive Garden's pasta vegan? ›

Your best bet for a vegan entree at Olive Garden is to utilize their “Cucina Mia,” or build your own pasta option. Choose from either the angel hair, fettuccine, rigatoni, small shells, or spaghetti as a base, and top with marinara sauce or plain tomato sauce.

Can vegans eat rice? ›

Yes, absolutely! Rice is a common grain in all cooking and has a significant place in the plant-based world too. Some rice dishes may not be suitable for vegans though, so if you're eating out or following a recipe make sure there are no meat, fish or other animal products being used before you tuck in!

Why is garlic bread not vegan? ›

Generally speaking, the actual dough used in garlic bread is vegan. What could catch you out is the butter contents. Fortunately though, a lot of shop-bought garlic bread uses margarine or olive oil – so just make sure to check the ingredients first!

Why is ketchup not vegan? ›

While not an animal product in itself, many vegans consider sugar in ketchup to be non-vegan-friendly, as many white and brown sugars are filtered and bleached using animal bone char. Heating cow bones to a high temperature until they break down into carbon creates bone char or activated carbon.

What can I eat meat sauce with instead of pasta? ›

What to Do with Leftover Meat Sauce: 34 Creative Ideas
  • Meat. • 1 Make cheesy buffalo chicken dip. ...
  • Produce. • 1 Add to a baked potato. ...
  • Refrigerated. • 1 Add it to scrambled eggs.
  • Canned Goods. • 1 Make soup.
  • Condiments. • 1 Add it to a salad as a dressing. ...
  • Pasta & Grains. • 1 Add it to rice. ...
  • Bread & Baked Goods. ...
  • Frozen.

What veggies have the most protein? ›

Among the highest protein vegetables are chickpeas, corn, spinach, artichoke hearts, and edamame. To get all of the amino acids your body needs, aim to eat a variety of foods, such as legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and vegetables throughout the day.

What is a level 5 vegan? ›

Level 5 vegans are those who are seen as incredibly committed to the vegan lifestyle, and are often hailed as “extreme vegans”. Level 5 vegans go to an extensive effort to follow a vegan lifestyle that is free of any type of animal product or animal exploitation.

Is Olive Garden spaghetti sauce vegan? ›

At Olive Garden, it's all about the piping-hot breadsticks. These fluffy, garlic-topped appetizers are vegan—no modifications necessary. The marinara dipping sauce is also animal-free.

Why is marinara sauce not vegan? ›

The basic components of marinara sauce are inherently vegan. However, certain brands or recipes may add non-vegan ingredients for flavor enhancement. Shoppers and diners should watch out for: Dairy: Some recipes include Parmesan cheese or other dairy products for a richer taste.

What pasta is good for plant-based diet? ›

TYPES OF PLANT-BASED PASTA

Here are three of our favorites, using chickpea casarecce, red-lentil rotini, and whole-grain thin spaghetti.

Is most boxed pasta vegan? ›

However, most boxed pasta you find on the shelves at your grocery store is, in fact, vegan and doesn't contain any animal ingredients at all. There are even a couple of well-known, all vegan pasta brands.

Which Barilla pasta is not vegan? ›

But you should know that most of Barilla's pasta products are. There are, however, a select few that aren't -- those being the Tortellini and the Protein Plus varieties.

References

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