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

Best Vegan Pasta Recipes (4)

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 do vegans eat for pasta? ›

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!

What is the secret to good pasta? ›

Season the pasta water

After filling your pot with water, season generously with salt. Don't worry, it won't all soak into the pasta. It also won't bring your cooking water to a boil faster! Adding salt means more savory, flavorful results when the pasta is cooked.

Is most boxed pasta vegan? ›

Fortunately, most boxed pastas contain only one or two ingredients – semolina and a grain, and are usually mixed with water to create a pasta dough. However, not every pasta is vegan.

Is vegan pasta healthy? ›

Plant-based pasta portions weigh in heavy on the healthy scale. That's because they retain the nutritional components of the plants they're made from. Not only is each pasta on our list a natural source of nutrients such as iron and calcium, but they're also excellent plant-based sources of complex carbs and protein.

Can vegans eat peanut butter? ›

Most types of peanut butter are free of animal products and can be enjoyed as part of a vegan diet. However, some varieties are made in facilities that also process animal products or contain refined sugar that was produced using bone char or non-vegan ingredients like honey or fish oil.

Can vegans eat Barilla pasta? ›

Barilla pasta's base is typically made from two key ingredients: durum wheat semolina and water. Examining their labels, you'll find that most varieties contain no animal products, making them a vegan-friendly choice. Durum wheat is prized for its high protein content and vitamins and minerals.

Which pasta is made without eggs? ›

Luigi Vitelli Pasta – products are made in an egg free facility. If you can't find this brand in the store, you can buy it online at stores like Amazon.

Is Trader Joe's pasta vegan? ›

Trader Joe's has a full range of organic, conventional, and gluten-free pasta options that are vegan, including the tightly coiled Organic Fusilli Corti Bucati for a fun and unusual shape and the gluten-free Brown Rice Penne, which is perfect for a marinara sauce or vegan pesto.

Is there a downside to a vegan diet? ›

Low vitamin B12 intake is a significant problem in vegan diets due to the exclusion of vitamin B12-rich foods such as meat, poultry, and eggs. A lack of vitamin B12 has been linked to neurologic and hematologic problems [19].

What is the healthiest pasta to eat? ›

Whole-wheat pasta is an easy-to-find nutritious noodle that will bump up the nutrition of your pasta dish. Made from whole grains, every cup of cooked pasta (140 grams) boasts 43 g of carbohydrate, 3 g of fiber and 8 g of protein per serving, per the USDA.

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!

Do vegans eat potatoes? ›

For a healthy vegan diet: eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day. base meals on potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates (choose wholegrain where possible)

What are filling foods for vegans? ›

Plant-based foods you can add to your meals to help improve satiety
  1. Lentils. Lentils are an economical and readily available ingredient that are used as staples in most plant-forward meals. ...
  2. Chia seeds. ...
  3. Oats. ...
  4. Chickpeas. ...
  5. Walnuts or Almonds. ...
  6. Sweet Potatoes. ...
  7. Brussels Sprouts. ...
  8. Avocado.

What is vegan pasta made of? ›

Making fresh vegan pasta

Mix 3 cups of flour (or semolina) with about 1 cup of water, a pinch of salt, and 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil. If you want to give your pasta a nice warm color as if it contained eggs, you can add a pinch of turmeric or saffron to the flour.

Can vegans eat noodles? ›

Wheat, buckwheat and rice noodles are all common and on their own present no dangers for a vegan as they are all plant-based. This can also be true for less-common noodles made with seaweed, acorn or mung bean. Egg noodles, on the other hand, clearly are not suitable for vegans as they combine their flour with egg.

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