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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

13) Broccoli Pesto Pasta

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

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

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

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

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

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

19) Avocado Pesto Pasta

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

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!

FAQs

Can you eat pasta as a 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!

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Are spaghetti noodles vegan? ›

Most spaghetti and pasta varieties are vegan. To be sure, check the ingredient list to make sure it doesn't contain eggs. You are, however, more likely to find eggs in fresh pasta vs. dried.

What noodles are vegan? ›

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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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.

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Can vegans eat pizza? ›

Try barbecue with mushrooms and caramelized onions, or if you still consume dairy, try a white pizza with spinach, one of our favorites. A good sauce is a foundation for a tasty pizza, so try them all. If you're a vegetarian or vegan, you can still indulge in pizza; you don't have to miss out on a thing!

What pasta is not vegan? ›

yes, most dry pasta is vegan. 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.

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Can a vegan eat pizza? ›

If you're a diehard pizza fan, you may be under the impression that if you were to change your diet to vegetarian or vegan, you wouldn't be able to enjoy your favorite food any longer. This just isn't true! Pizza is still a staple among those following a meat-free or completely plant-based diet.

Can vegans eat white flour? ›

Yes. All flours are essentially plants crushed into a powder form that can be used to bake and cook a variety of foods. What types of flour are vegan? The vast majority of flours are vegan, from white to oat and everything in between.

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