The Best Vegan Pasta Recipes: Dairy-Free Deliciousness (2024)

Finding decent vegan pasta recipes can be challenging. So many pasta dishes include either meat, dairy, or both in them as part of their traditional make up (not to mention the pasta itself! Check out “Is Pasta Vegan?” for more info on this) you’d be forgiven for thinking there would be only one or two plant-based options available.

But, you’d be wrong!

Here I’ve gone through my recipe bookmarks once again to bring you a collection of my all-time favorite plant-based pasta recipes. There are over 20 on the list, so you should be able to find something to satisfy everyone in the family.

Let’s tuck in!

Vegan Garlic Mushroom Spaghetti from Wallflower Kitchen

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Creamy pasta is the ultimate comfort food, but white sauce can be tough to successfully veganize. Aimee from Wallflower Kitchen pulls it off beautifully in her recipe for this spectacularly rich vegan garlic mushroom spaghetti. I love her use of sautéed mushrooms; they’re super tasty and healthy even when they’re smothered in sauce.

Learn how to make this pasta over on the Wallflower Kitchen blog here.

Garlic & White Wine Pasta with Brussels Sprouts from Minimalist Baker

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White wine sauce has got to be one of the classiest pasta sauces out there. Dana from Minimalist Baker puts a delightful vegan twist on it in this recipe.

Aromatic garlic and roasted Brussels sprouts are lent a complex flavor profile by Dana’s vegan white wine sauce. This pasta is perfect for a dinner party or as an easy weeknight meal.

Get the full recipe by clicking here!

WANT TO CUT YOUR PASTA CONSUMPTION? TRY A VEGGIE NOODLE MAKER!

Pumpkin, Spinach and Walnut Spaghetti from Lazy Cat Kitchen

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Autumn is pumpkin season, but this colorful vegan pasta dish is so good you’ll want to keep the ingredients around all year.

Ania from Lazy Cat Kitchen takes sweet roasted pumpkin and expertly combines it with a savory, slightly spicy garlic sauce. Spinach and chopped walnuts give the dish even more flavor. So good, no matter what season it happens to be!

Find the recipe – and more of Ania’s fantastic food photography – over at Lazy Cat Kitchen.

RELATED: HEALTH BENEFITS OF SPINACH AND MORE

Creamy Cauliflower, Mushroom & Kale Pasta Bake from Top with Cinnamon

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Pasta bakes are always high on my list of cravings. The contrast between the crispy breadcrumb topping and the soft, creamy pasta underneath is just irresistible.

This pasta bake recipe from Izy is loaded with healthy veggies: garlicky kale, sautéed mushrooms and a cauliflower-potato puree. A sprinkle of nutritional yeast on top and you’ll totally forget that it’s dairy-free!

Top with Cinnamon, Izy’s blog, has the recipe.

RELATED: BEST MINI FOOD PROCESSOR FOR PUREEING

Tomato Basil Cream Pasta from Well Vegan

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It’s no secret that vegans love cashews. These little wonder nuts can add cruelty-free creaminess to just about anything.

In this recipe, Katie from Well Vegan blends them with tomatoes to make a dangerously rich and tangy pasta sauce. It’s super quick, too, perfect for a weekday dinner or a last-minute get-together.

Learn how to make this vegan pasta dish by heading over to Well Vegan.

Mushroom & Lentil Ragu from Foxes Love Lemons

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Lori from Foxes Love Lemons enjoys experimenting with meatless meals. Her mushroom and lentil ragu experiment certainly qualifies as a success in my book!

Lentils make a hearty meat replacement, while mushrooms, carrots, and bell peppers provide a ton of nutrition. The real star of the recipe is Lori’s red wine tomato sauce, loaded with herbs and so savory you’ll be licking the bowl clean!

Ready to get cooking? Find the recipe on Foxes Love Lemons here.

Veggie Sausage & Sun Dried Tomato One Pot Pasta from The Veg Space

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Kate from The Veg Space loves one pot dishes as much as the rest of us. They make the cooking process so streamlined, and it’s so nice to not have a million dishes to wash once we’re full of food!

This one pot pasta recipe incorporates yummy veggie sausage and sweet sun-dried tomatoes. Ready in 20 minutes, it’s the ultimate quick and easy vegan pasta dish.

Get the lowdown on this recipe over on The Veg Space.

One Pot Creamy Garlic Pasta from Yup, It’s Vegan

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We wouldn’t blame you if you accused us of lying about this pasta being vegan. Just look at it – that sauce has got to contain all sorts of dairy, right?

Nope!Shannon from Yup, It’s Vegan has reworked classic alfredo into this sinfully creamy and garlicky vegan sauce.

The pasta cooks in the sauce, absorbing huge amounts of flavor whilst minimizing cleanup. The possibilities for add-ins are endless, too, but the recipe as written is so good you may not even need any!

Yup, It’s Vegan has the recipe here – take a look and get cooking!

READ NEXT: BEST POTS AND PANS FOR INDUCTION COOKTOPS

Vegan Garlic Pasta with Roasted Cajun Cauliflower from Vegan Richa

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Richa from Vegan Richa loves to play with spices. She’s famed for her unique flavor profiles and inventive vegan recipes.

Her garlic pasta with roasted Cajun cauliflower exemplifies both of those qualities. Creamy, garlicky pasta pairs exceptionally well with cauliflower coated in a homemade Cajun spice medley. Richa also includes instructions for making the recipe oil-free and nut-free, so anybody can enjoy it regardless of dietary restrictions.

Find the recipe on Vegan Richa by clicking here!

Vegan Roasted Red Pepper Pasta from Minimalist Baker

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It’s a fact: food is better when it’s made from scratch as much as possible.

Dana from Minimalist Baker roasted her own red peppers for this recipe, and the payoff is phenomenal. Just look at that color! A mere 10 ingredients combine to make this dangerously dreamy dish. One bite and you won’t even remember that what you’re eating is 100% plant-based. Now that’s good vegan cooking!

Learn how to roast red peppers and make this pasta over on Minimalist Baker.

READ NEXT: IS SRIRACHA VEGAN?

Vegan One Pot Creamy Mushroom Pasta from Delicious Everyday

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You’re just 20 minutes, 11 ingredients, and one pot away from digging into this gorgeous mushroom pasta.

Jennifer from Delicious Everyday makes healthy vegan cooking so simple and easy there’s no excuse to not whip this dish up tonight. Miso and nutritional yeast add a savory dimension to the creamy sauce.

Get Jennifer’s recipe on Delicious Everyday by clicking here.

READ NEXT: IS MISO VEGAN?

Vegan Rigatoni with Saffron, Capers and Tomatoes from Lazy Cat Kitchen

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Ania is at it again with her keen ability to cook up some truly unique meals. This pasta is simultaneously sweet, spicy and savory thanks to an inspired combination of ingredients. Ania’s tomato sauce, made from scratch and accentuated with capers and saffron, delights the senses.

Want to try making this pasta for yourself? Find the recipe on Lazy Cat Kitchen here!

One Pot Ratatouille Spaghetti from Wallflower Kitchen

Aimee from Wallflower Kitchen makes eating vegan easy with this recipe for one pot ratatouille spaghetti.

Courgette, aubergine and red pepper cook up quick on the stove (no need to spend all day roasting them!) and pair sublimely with a simple tomato sauce. This vegan pasta will turn even the most devoted meat lovers into veritable veggie fanatics!

Read the recipe by clicking over to Wallflower Kitchen now!

One Pot Creamy Hummus Pasta from This Savory Vegan

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Rene from This Savory Vegan presents us with a different take on creamy vegan pasta: linguine with hummus-based sauce!

It’s lighter than your average vegan white sauce and infinitely more tasty. Sun-dried tomatoes and baby spinach are always yummy, but they’re especially irresistible in this dish.

Learn how to cook this one pot wonder by clicking here!

READ NEXT: STORING HUMMUS AND IS HUMMUS VEGAN?

Creamy Vegan Pasta with Sautéed Kale & Tomatoes from Fit Foodie Finds

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Whether or not you’re vegan, this dish is sure to make your mouth water. Lee from Fit Foodie Finds keeps it simple with sautéed kale and tomatoes and a six ingredient sauce that couldn’t be easier to throw together. I love how colorful it is – and the fact that it’s ready in just half an hour!

Get the recipe over at Fit Foodie Finds.

Creamy Vegan Butternut Squash Linguine with Fried Sage from Cookie and Kate

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Kate from Cookie and Kate is a food blogging superstar, and her ingenious use of unexpected ingredients is always a delight to behold.

In this vegan recipe, she takes fragrant fresh sage and crisps it up in a frying pan before adding it to a beautiful butternut squash sauce. The finished dish is sweet, spicy and oh-so-comforting. Even though butternut squash is usually thought of as a fall vegetable, I want to eat this pasta all year long. Don’t you?

Cookie and Kate has the recipe here.

Vegan Tuscan Rigatoni from Rabbit and Wolves

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Inspired by the many diverse flavors found in Tuscan cuisine, Lauren decided to create this vegan pasta recipe. I’m so glad she did, because it’s just lovely.

I’ll never say no to a creamy white wine sauce, especially not when it’s accompanied by juicy tomatoes and yummy sautéed spinach. Close your eyes and take a bite – doesn’t it feel just like you’re watching the sunset in Italy?

Lauren’s recipe can be found on her blog, Rabbit and Wolves, by clicking here.

Vegan Lasagna with Spinach & Tofu Ricotta from The Viet Vegan

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Lasagna is one of those dishes that just never gets old, especially when it’s Lisa’s vegan lasagna!

Her blog, The Viet Vegan, can always be counted on for recipes that satisfy even the unhealthiest cravings with wholesome ingredients. This lasagna recipe is no exception.

With meatless crumble, spinach and an extremely convincing tofu-based ricotta “cheese”, it’s sure to hit the spot. Vegans and omnivores alike will find themselves returning to the kitchen for second (and possibly third) helpings!

Lisa shares the recipe on her blog here.

Vegan Mac and Cheese from Healthier Steps

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Now that’s what we call cheesy! There’s plenty of vegan mac and cheese recipes out there, but Michelle’s is exceptionally fabulous.Just look at that perfect orange color and that dreamy creaminess… absolutely heavenly!

Cashews and coconut milk create that cheesy texture, while red bell pepper supplies a healthy helping of veggies. If you really want to do it up, the mac and cheese can be baked after cooking on the stovetop. Either way, you’ll savor every bite!

Find Michelle’s stellar recipe on Healthier Steps by clicking here.

Vegan Creamy Tomato Mediterranean One Pot Pasta from My Vibrant Kitchen

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The many flavors of Mediterranean cuisine are given the spotlight in this vegan pasta recipe created by Alex from My Vibrant Kitchen.

Capers, artichokes, and olives get smothered in a terrific tomato sauce and tossed with tagliatelle pasta. Sounds like a lot of work, right? Nope! One pot and 15 minutes are all that stand between you and this superb dish.

What are you waiting for? Click here to read the recipe on My Vibrant Kitchen.

Roasted Tomato Arrabbiata Sauce from The Veg Space

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For those who like their food red-hot, Kate from The Veg Space has the ideal recipe. Arrabbiata means “angry sauce” in Italian, and Kate’s sauce recipe sure does bring on the heat!

Even if you don’t like too much spice, you’ll still want to make this sauce: it’s so easy to reduce the amount of crushed chili peppers to taste. You can even omit them altogether and make a simple roasted tomato sauce that’s just as yummy.Anyone who says vegan food has no flavor has clearly never tried this plant-based pasta sauce!

Learn how to make this roasted tomato arrabbiata sauce by clicking over to The Veg Space!

Twenty-plus vegan pasta recipes…finito!

There you go, over 20 vegan pasta recipes for you to enjoy. Don’t say I don’t give you anything!

I hope you get plenty out of these amazing plant-based pasta sauces and bakes, but I’d love to hear all about your favorites, too.

Simply drop me a comment in the box below to let me know what I’ve been missing out on!

About The Author:
Lisa Williams
The Best Vegan Pasta Recipes: Dairy-Free Deliciousness (22)

Lisa Williams is a committed vegan, passionate animal welfare advocate, and keen follower of too many v-friendly food blogs to mention. She startedhappyhappyvegan.comback in 2016 because she felt there was a need for more straightforward information on plant-based living.

Back then, too many sites seem to either concentrate solely on recipes or be too intimidating or inaccessible for the v-curious, and she wanted to change that. The landscape is certainly a whole lot different now!

SAVE THIS TO PINTEREST!
The Best Vegan Pasta Recipes: Dairy-Free Deliciousness (23)
The Best Vegan Pasta Recipes: Dairy-Free Deliciousness (2024)

FAQs

How to make a simple vegan pasta sauce? ›

To make the creamy vegan pasta sauce, add the bean/onion mixture, tahini, lemon zest, lemon juice, a pinch of salt and pepper, and ladle or two of pasta water to a blender. Blend for 2-3 minutes or until smooth. Add pasta water as needed to keep the sauce moving in the blender.

What pasta is best for vegans? ›

The general everyday dry pasta in shapes like spaghetti, linguini, fettuccini, fusilli, penne, orzo, jumbo shells, manicotti, lasagna noodles, and elbow macaroni are usually vegan. The fresh pasta sold in the refrigerated section usually contains eggs and is therefore not vegan.

What spaghetti sauce is vegan? ›

Bolognese, five-cheese, and traditional vodka sauces certainly contain animal products, but tomato- and vegetable-based sauces like marinara, tomato and basil, mushroom, and garlic and herb sauces often are vegan, even though they're not marketed specifically as such.

What does vegan pasta have in it? ›

Gluten-free and vegan varieties tend to replace durum wheat with a different kind of flour that doesn't contain gluten, such as rice or corn flour, and like other dried varieties they don't use eggs so are also gluten-free. Check out Dove Farms pasta, who tick both boxes.

How do you thicken pasta sauce without dairy? ›

Use Flour and Water

Combine 2 tablespoons flour with every 1/4 cup cold water and whisk until smooth. Add the mixture to your sauce over medium heat, and continue to stir and cook until you've reached your desired consistency. Test with a spoon.

How do you thicken dairy free pasta sauce? ›

While you can't add butter to vegan dishes, you can still use flour to add some substance to watery sauces. All types of flour work well for thickening, including wheat flour, coconut flour, and chickpea flour. However, you should keep the flavor of your dish in mind when choosing a thickening agent.

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!

Is ketchup vegan? ›

Yes, generally tomato ketchup is suitable for vegans. Its core ingredients are usually tomatoes, vinegar, sugar, salt, herbs and spices, all of which are vegan friendly. But the ingredients list isn't the only thing we need to look at in order to get to the bottom of this question.

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.

What bread is vegan? ›

Vegans can eat bread that does not contain animal products or byproducts. This includes breads that only use some variation on flour, water, yeast, and salt including ciabatta, baguette, focaccia, sourdough, pita, and ezekiel breads.

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.

What snack foods can vegans eat? ›

Try These Popular Vegan Snacks (Chips, Cookies, and More)
  • Vegan Rob's Chips.
  • Rivalz Extra Chedda' Mac.
  • Outstanding Foods PigOut Pigless Pork Rinds.
  • Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bars—Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate.
  • Trader Joe's Almond Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets.

Is peanut butter vegan? ›

The bottom line. 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.

Are potatoes vegan? ›

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 can I put on pasta when I have no sauce? ›

Cheese is an excellent way to add flavor to your pasta without having to rely on sauce. Try mixing your angel hair pasta with goat cheese, and toss in sun-dried tomatoes to make an amazing meal with just a few ingredients. Garlic butter is a terrific way to season all types of noodles.

What can I use as a pasta sauce if I don't have any? ›

What can I substitute for tomato sauce?
  1. Tomato paste. “I think of tomato paste as the garlic powder equivalent to fresh garlic,” Xie said, noting that it's highly concentrated and very dehydrated. ...
  2. Canned tomatoes. ...
  3. Tomato soup. ...
  4. Ketchup. ...
  5. Fresh tomato. ...
  6. Sun-dried tomatoes.
Mar 24, 2022

What are the three vegan sauces? ›

And once you've made them a few times, you won't even need a recipe!
  • 1 - Béchamel or Basic White Sauce. A white sauce is made by adding milk, salt, and pepper to a roux. ...
  • 2 - Mornay or Cheese Sauce. Building off a white sauce is a Mornay or cheese sauce. ...
  • 3 - Gravy.
Nov 13, 2017

How to make pasta sauce thick without cheese? ›

Add Cream. Adding heavy cream will change the flavor of a tomato sauce, but it will also thicken it. Drizzle in the cream and simmer for a few minutes until the sauce has your desired consistency.

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