No matter what your dietary preferences are, everyone loves a good bowl of pasta.
Not only is it relatively easy to make, but the options of what you can whip up are endless!
There’s a multitude of pasta recipes all over the internet, but it can be a struggle to find delicious vegan recipes. The ones that don’t just substitute every ingredient for the vegan version of those same ingredients.
But you’re in luck! Keep scrolling to explore some vegan pasta sauce recipes that are not only delicious and easy, but they also match the mood you’re in. Whether you’re feeling lazy or experimental, we have a recipe for you.
If you’re just looking for something you can make out of the ingredients you have right now, feel free to scroll through our lists of ingredients to find the one that matches your pantry.
1. When you’re not in the mood to clean up
If you want a quick recipe that doesn’t leave you with a sink full of dirty dishes, this recipe for pesto is perfect for you.
All you need is a food processor. You can also store your pesto in the fridge and add it to pasta, gnocchi, pizza, or anything else you feel like.
Ingredients:
2 cups of fresh basil packed lightly
2 garlic cloves
2 heaping tablespoons of pine nuts
1/2 cup of olive oil
1/3 cup of vegan parmesan cheese
Check out the method here.
2. When you’re craving some spice
Very few things taste as good as a creamy bowl of pasta with a little kick of spice. If you feel the same way, then this roasted red pepper pasta sauce is perfect for you.
Just sprinkle chili flakes generously before serving to bring the spice up a notch.
Ingredients:
2 red bell peppers
1 red onion
2 cloves of garlic
1/2 cup of cashews
1 cup unsweetened soy or almond milk
2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of smoked paprika powder
Black pepper
Chili flakes or red pepper flakes
Chopped fresh parsley (optional)
See the full method here to start cooking.
3. When you’re in the mood for a creamy
pasta bowl
We love a good mushroom pasta! And this mushroom stroganoff will have you salivating from the second you lay your eyes on it.
Whether you’re whipping it up for a cozy night in, or for a dinner with your loved ones, this one’s a crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients:
3 to 4 tablespoons of olive oil
2 large leeks
20 ounces of mixed mushrooms
6 cloves of garlic
1 tablespoon of fresh thyme leaves or 1 teaspoon of dried thyme
1 1/2 cups of vegetable broth
2 tablespoons of soy or tamari sauce
1 tablespoon of vegan Worcestershire sauce (optional)
1/4 cup of all-purpose flour
1/2 cup of dry white wine
1 can (13.5 ounces) of full-fat coconut milk
2 tablespoons of tahini
2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast
1 teaspoon of paprika
1/2 teaspoon of Dijon mustard or coarse-grain mustard
1/4 cup of fresh dill
Black pepper
Kosher salt
You can find the method here.
4. When you’re in the mood for a pasta bake
Crispy, creamy, and buttery baked mac and cheese is a classic comfort food.
It’s got all the goodness of mac and cheese, but the oven takes it to a new level by adding a crisp layer of breadcrumbs to it all.
Ingredients for the vegan cheese sauce:
1 butternut squash
1/2 cup of raw cashews
3/4 cup of nutritional yeast
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon of onion powder
1/2 teaspoon of smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon of dry mustard powder (optional)
1 tablespoon of white or yellow miso paste
1 can (13.4 ounces) of lite coconut milk
1 1/2 tablespoons of lemon juice
1 tablespoon of tapioca flour
1 1/2 teaspoons of kosher salt
Black pepper
Ingredients for the crispy topping:
3/4 cup and 2 tablespoons of panko bread crumbs
1 tablespoon of nutritional yeast
1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon of smoked paprika
2 1/2 tablespoons of melted vegan butter
Get started with the complete method here.
5. When you only have 30 minutes
Looking for a recipe that’s fast, easy, and doesn’t require a run to the grocery store? This creamy pantry pasta sauce will be right up your alley.
Your pantry probably already has all the ingredients you need to whip this up. It also only takes 25 minutes to cook, so this one ticks all the boxes!
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
1 medium yellow onion
3 cloves of garlic
1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes (optional)
3/4 cup of vegetable broth or water
1 tablespoon of soy sauce or reduced-sodium tamari sauce
2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
3/4 cup of lite coconut milk or unsweetened oat milk
1 tablespoon of tahini
1 tablespoon of nutritional yeast
1/2 teaspoon of smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon of Dijon mustard
Parsley or vegan parmesan cheese for garnishing (optional)
Black pepper
Check out the full method here.
6. When you’re in the mood for something new
If you want something beyond the traditional pasta recipes, then this chilled peanut noodle salad with crispy tofu will scratch that itch.
It’s still an easy recipe, but it’s got unique textures (not to mention temperatures) that make this dish a culinary adventure.
Ingredients:
14 ounces of extra firm tofu
1 tablespoon of minced ginger
1/3 cup of soy sauce
3 tablespoons of sesame oil
3 tablespoons of peanut butter
3 tablespoons of granulated sugar
2 tablespoons of unseasoned rice vinegar
2 tablespoons of dry sherry
1 clove of garlic
3 tablespoons of tahini
1 small shallot
5 tablespoons of roasted, unrefined peanut oil
3 tablespoons of vegetable oil
1 cucumber
1 red bell pepper
1/3 cup of cilantro
Sesame seeds
See the full method here.
Whether you make an event out of cooking with a cocktail in hand, or just love pasta, we hope you enjoy these recipes!
What’s your go-to pasta sauce? Tell us in the comments below.