Which Pasta is Vegan?
When choosing a vegan pasta at the store, you’ll notice that many types of dry pasta are naturally vegan. In most cases, there is only one or two ingredients on the back, such as semolina or Durham wheat. The exception to the rule is egg noodles and some fresh pastas, which are made with egg. Just be sure to check the ingredient labels before buying. These options are usually vegan:
100% Whole wheat pasta Semolina pasta Red Lentil Pasta Chickpea Pasta Brown Rice Pasta Quinoa Pasta
For a gluten-free pasta, I typically prefer brown rice noodles (usually the only ingredient is 100% brown rice), or a lentil or bean-based pasta, which are a great way to sneak extra protein into your meal.
How to Make the Easiest Vegan Pasta
To make this easy weeknight dinner, you’ll need just 5 ingredients that you might already have on hand. You’ll need:
Pasta Jar of marinara sauce Vegetables (any kind) Olive oil Hummus
To make this dish, you’ll roast the vegetables as the pasta cooks, or you can sauté them in a separate pan on the stove top if you prefer to not turn on your oven. (I prefer the hands-off nature of roasting.)
You’ll need about 20 minutes to roast the vegetables and cook the pasta (including the wait to bring a pot of water to a boil), and then you’ll just stir them into a creamy tomato sauce, which is simply a combination of marinara sauce and hummus. It may sound odd, but it’s surprisingly delicious!
Choosing a Vegan Pasta Sauce
Most marinara sauce is naturally vegan, but be sure to check the ingredient list to avoid any added dairy. Some marinara sauce will add Parmesan cheese or cream, so be sure to avoid that if serving vegan guests.
If you’d like to make your own sauce, try my Instant Pot Spaghetti Sauce or even my Tomato-less Marinara Sauce if you need a nightshade-free option. In most cases hummus is vegan, too, unless you are to find one with feta cheese added. If you don’t digest beans well, you can also try my bean-free Zucchini Hummus as an option.
Vegan Pasta Tutorial (1-Minute Video):
Recipe Notes:
The nutrition of this recipe will vary depending on the ingredients you use. If you follow an oil-free diet, try making a homemade hummus or using Engine 2 brand, which is sold at Whole Foods. Different vegetables will roast faster than others. To make the cooking process as fast as possible, cut the vegetables into smaller pieces. Broccoli, Cauliflower, zucchini, red onion, bell peppers, Brussels sprouts all make excellent roasted options, and you can add more tender greens, such as kale or spinach, into the skillet to wilt in the pasta sauce before serving. If you want to add a starchier vegetable, like squash or potatoes, they will take almost double the time to roast, so keep that in mind.
If you try this recipe, please leave a comment below letting me know how you like it. And if you make a modification, let me know how that works for you, too! We can all benefit from hearing about your experience. – Reader Feedback: What’s one of your go-to weeknight meals?
