35 Easy Vegan Pasta Dishes to Make for Dinner Tonight
There's still plenty of tender veggies and creamy luxe sauces to be had, even if each of these dinner ideas are totally plant-based.
Many vegans will tell you that a bowl of pasta can be the ultimate comfort meal for them — after all, pasta can be a vehicle for luxe sauces, hearty sautées, and plenty of delicious plant-based alternatives to traditional dairy. And since pasta is so hearty and filling, many meat-eaters and vegetarians alike would be happy to tuck into any of the following pasta recipes, making it perfect for sharing with family and friends at your dinner table. Even your Italian relatives can get down with these filling, flavorful vegan pasta recipes. Add a glass of wine (for your health, of course!) and it's a perfect evening.
Wondering if there are any pastas that are off the menu for vegans? Normally, boxed varieties in the supermarket are free of any dairy products, making them safe for vegans. Unless the pasta is made fresh with eggs (think: pappardelle, fettuccine, or egg noodles), you should be safe to use most any pasta variety for a vegan meal. From penne to linguine to ziti, these vegan pasta ideas are made with countless different variations — and while they're designed around traditional pasta, plant-based alternatives can also be used in their place. Chickpea pasta, anyone?
A majority of vegetarian pasta recipes can also be made into vegan-appropriate versions with a simple ingredient swap. We've highlighted a few recipes that can be made for vegans if you choose to hold an ingredient altogether: Skipping that sprinkle of parmesan, or omitting staples like cream cheese, for example. Whether you choose to use a vegan-approved alternative or simply follow a stricter diet occasionally, the following pasta dishes will quickly become a highlight of the week.
Grilled Ratatouille Linguine
Why choose one summer veggie when you can have five? Fire them up and simply toss among fresh pasta while dining al fresco.
Get the recipe for Grilled Ratatouille Linguine »
Pesto Zucchini Orzo
Armed with your favorite pesto recipe (store-bought is fine, too!), you can marinate fresh zucchini to become super tender overnight. It's a vegan take on classic pasta salad!
Brussels Sprout & Basil Bowties
You'll find yourself whizzing through this 20-minute dinner, chopping up fresh brussels sprouts, basil, mushrooms and onions. Simply toss the veg with pasta and oil (minus any added cheese!) and it's ready.
Summer Pesto Pasta
Let your favorite veggies shine in a pool of sleek pesto; the punch of acidity from a spritz of lemon makes this bowl that much better.
Broccolini Pasta With Chile Breadcrumbs
You'll need to think of a smart swap for sour cream in this recipe (coconut milk, perhaps?). But the peppery broccolini and crunchy panko breadcrumbs can stand all on their own.
Get the recipe for Broccolini Pasta With Chile Breadcrumbs »
Roasted Vegetable Penne
Roasting your veggies before tossing them with penne amps up the flavor of your whole dish. Swap traditional parmesan for a small pinch of nutritional yeast (or mix into your sauce).
Asian Sesame Zucchini Noodles
It's not traditional pasta, but just as delicious! Light on carbs but big on flavor, these zucchini noodles are about to become your new weeknight go-to.
Vegan Mushroom Bolognese
We love how nutritionist Jamie Vespa, MS, RD, smartly swapped out ground beef for meaty cremini and shitake mushrooms. You'll also use oat milk to create a rich pan sauce to coat your noodles in.
Easy Ratatouille Pasta
You'll need to skip the parmesan or add a faux cheese of your choice. But feel free to double down on hearty vegetables in place of actual noodles.
Pasta With Marinated Cherry Tomato Sauce
While this take on pasta primavera is topped with ribbons of fresh mozzarella, you can swap for a vegan alternative of your choice (or ditch altogether!).
Vegan Lasagna
This is more a labor of love than anything else you'll make — but vegan lasagna is so delicious, even diehard ground meat fans will be asking for seconds. You need 15 minutes to prep and about 90 minutes to bake.
Vegetable Spaghetti
Trying to clean out the vegetable drawer in your fridge? This catch-all pasta dish is for you.
Pumpkin Alla Vodka
A happy duo of golden mushrooms and fresh kale are coated in a seriously luxe vegan vodka sauce. The secret to vegan vodka sauce? Coconut milk!
Creamy Vegan Linguine With Wild Mushrooms
Nutritional yeast shines in this thick pan sauce, replacing any real cream you'd normally need to pull it off. Alongside velvety mushrooms, our vegan cream sauce is simply sublime.
Get the recipe for Creamy Vegan Linguine With Wild Mushrooms »
Butternut Squash Linguine with Fried Sage
Flavorful fried sage is the perfect topping for a totally dreamy, decadent pasta dish that's perfect for date night.
Creamy Vegan Pumpkin Penne
You wouldn't know that this indulgent bowl is full of gluten-free noodles. The marriage of sage, balsamic, garlic, and onion is the perfect basis for a creamy cashew sauce.
Garlic and White Wine Pasta
Once you've made this indulgent pasta with garlic and brussels sprouts, sit down and enjoy it alongside the rest of that white wine.
Pasta with Sauteed Kale and Tomatoes
Superfood kale finds yet another use in this healthy recipe that uses a creamy cashew-based sauce.
Lentil Pasta with Vegan Butter Garlic Sauce
Lentil noodles and broccoli ensure that this dish is totally packed with protein. It's a healthy and easy choice for any weeknight.
One Pot Ratatouille
In addition to being tasty, this veggie-packed pasta dish is ready in about 30 minutes.
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