Pasta salads are one of the most comforting, crave-able side dishes around. Tender pasta, veggies, and a delicious dressing? Count me in. Even if you go plant-based, pasta salads are your friend and these vegan pasta salad recipes will prove it. Even better, most of them are hearty enough to enjoy as a main dish. Perfect for entertaining, meal prep, summer BBQs, and so much more!
If you're struggling to eat enough veggies or just need some vegan-friendly sides for a potluck, you are in the right place. Most of us already love pasta, which makes it the ideal vehicle for sneaking in a few extra veggies.
All you've got to do is toss your favorite noodles with lots of herbs, greens, and veggies, and then add your favorite vegan salad dressing recipe. Toss it all together and serve!
It's truly that easy and these recipes were all chef-formulated to be 1) simple to throw together, 2) ultra delicious, and 3) good enough to make anyone fall in love with veggies once and for all.
Why you'll love these vegan pasta salads
Great for summer gatherings.
One of the best things about pasta salads is that they taste even better as they sit in the dressing. This means you can make them a day ahead of time and then serve straight from the fridge. No stress, just scoop and serve!
Loaded with fresh ingredients.
Most pasta salads are not just salad and dressing, especially these ones. Instead, they're loaded with greens, fresh veggies, herbs, beans, and nuts or seeds to make them hearty and delicious. They are one of the easiest (and tastiest) ways to eat more veggies ever.
Easiest meal prep ever.
Pasta salads hold up beautifully in the fridge for a few days, making them a game-changer for meal prepping. Portion them out for lunches or just keep a container in the fridge for a ready-to-serve meal. Total win.
Easy on the wallet.
Boxed pasta, canned beans, some veggies, and a homemade dressing? This is budget-friendly dining at its finest.
Tip: It's easy to make any pasta salad recipe gluten-free. Simply use your favorite gluten-free pasta and cook until al dente. Rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process then use like normal! Or for an interesting twist, replace the pasta with cooked cubed potatoes, roasted cauliflower or cooked quinoa. Get creative!
20 Best Vegan Pasta Salad Recipes
Best Vegan Pasta Salad
I call this one the "best" for a reason. It's part kale salad and part pasta salad with fully loaded with flavor and crunch. With juicy cherry tomatoes, roasted chickpeas, bell peppers, cauliflower, and fresh kale all tossed in a smoky-sweet roasted red pepper dressing, this salad is a regular in my fridge.
Lemon Tahini Orzo Salad
Orzo is like the pasta version of rice - tiny little oblong pieces that are tender and soak up dressing like nobody's business. This one is loaded with lemon tahini sauce, tender roasted eggplant, and crispy chickpeas for even more crunch. It's bright, bold, and utterly addictive.
Asparagus and Orzo Salad
Asparagus season is seriously short, which is why it's such a delicacy and deserves to be treated as such. This veggie-packed pasta salad is ideal for spring with the fresh asparagus, English peas, cucumbers, roasted red peppers, and vegan feta cheese, all loaded with flavor thanks to my tangy Dijon and dill vinaigrette.
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
Craving classic macaroni salad with a twist? This creamy pasta salad uses vegan yogurt, salt, and pickle juice for plenty of pucker. Add in some al dente macaroni, crunchy veggies, and dill pickles for the ultimate pasta salad for any summer gathering.
White Bean and Orzo Salad
If you have a hard time eating enough veggies, you've got to try roasting them. Roasting concentrates the flavor and softens the texture, which can make them irresistible. Plus, those nooks and crannies are ideal for soaking up extra dressing for maximum flavor.
This white bean and orzo pasta salad relies on roasted cauliflower, bell peppers, and radishes for a slightly sweet flavor profile. Add in lots of fresh elements, like cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and herbs plus a bunch of white beans, then coat it all in a roasted red pepper dressing. It's one of my favorite pasta salad recipes, especially when I'm craving something cozy yet still light.
Kale Pasta Salad
This kale pasta salad is such a simple recipe, yet still so FULL of flavor. The pasta is paired with cherry tomatoes, roasted cauliflower, raw kale, and hearty white beans, then coated in my sweet citrus mint dressing for a major dose of flavor. It gets better as it sits, so prep this one on the weekends for the easiest lunches ever.
Asparagus Pasta Salad
Asparagus is so good it deserves two pasta salad recipes, right? This version uses roasted asparagus, which has more of a savory flavor. It's all about the balance between earthy and fresh ingredients - roasted asparagus and fresh cucumber, roasted peppers and fresh kale.
My herb vinaigrette dressing brings it all together in the most delicious way.
Lemon and Herbs Pasta Salad
This vegetarian pasta salad tastes like pure summer. Load up on tons of fresh herbs with garlic, fresh lemon juice, olives, peppers, a can of chickpeas, and more. There is so much texture, so much flavor, and yet it is still unbelievably simple. One of the best!
Vegan Tortellini Pasta Salad
It's easier than ever to find vegan alternatives to all your favorites, including good ol' cheese tortellini. That tender bite of pasta plus the creamy vegan cheese filling works perfectly with a tangy vinaigrette to balance it all out.
Puttanesca Pasta Salad
Puttanesca is a decidedly non-vegan dish with anchovies, but that sharp, briny flavor is irresistible. This version ditches the fish and relies on the natural brininess of olives and capers instead.
Throw in some fresh basil, cherry tomatoes, and artichoke hearts for more of that Mediterranean flavor. It's bright, light, and packs a major punch of flavor.
The dressing couldn't be easier either. Just mix together some tomato paste with extra virgin olive oil, vinegar, and a little salt and black pepper.
Vegan Italian Pasta Salad
This one is a masterclass in balance. Pairing cooked and raw ingredients together can elevate the flavors and textures in so many ways, and this easy pasta salad recipe uses this trick really well.
Cook up a bunch of fresh zucchini, summer squash, and red peppers. Toss the cooked pasta with chickpeas, vegan parmesan cheese, and those roasted veggies, plus add the fresh ingredients - tomatoes, olives, and lots of herbs.
Finally, coat it all in a lemony herb dressing and sprinkle generously with extra cheese. It's the perfect summer side dish to make you feel like you stepped off a plane in Tuscany (but without the expensive airfare).
Vegan Caesar Pasta Salad
Caesar dressing is notoriously heavy on the animal products like egg yolks, anchovies, and parm, but I've cracked the code with this easy vegan swap. The dressing gets its creaminess from raw cashews, which are blended with miso, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, hemp hearts, and more.
Then, toss the kale, broccolini, pasta, cabbage, and pasta with that delicious dressing and serve. It's so simple, you get that iconic Caesar sharpness, and a massive pile of veggies at the same time.
Primavera Pesto Pasta Salad
This easy pasta recipe is loaded with spring flavors, like fresh vegetables and herbs. The roasted cauliflower is paired with corn, peppers, tomatoes, olives, and more, then coated with a gorgeously green arugula pesto.
Garnish with cashews ground into a powder for a nutty note that will remind you of parmesan cheese. So good!
Kale Pesto Pasta Salad
With some Brazil nuts, garlic, and nutritional yeast, you can turn ordinary kale into a flavor powerhouse that will make any veggies taste even better.
This easy veggie pasta salad leans heavily on Mediterranean flavors like artichoke hearts, tomatoes, fresh squash, and cannellini beans. It eats like a main meal and will keep you going for hours!
Orzo Primavera Pasta Salad
This one walks the fine line between pasta salad and kale salad with plenty of fresh greens, broccoli, peas, red onions, olives, and more. The orzo adds bulk and texture, plus it cooks up so quickly!
The dressing comes together quickly in the food processor too. Use Brazil nuts for a naturally creamy pesto loaded with flavor and without a drop of oil.
Summer Orzo Salad
I admit it - this is my favorite pasta salad. The light, summery flavors get me every time and it's got the perfect balance of sweet and savory going on.
It leans Mediterranean or Greek with the grape tomatoes, roasted peppers, and orzo, but with nutty walnuts and sweet red grapes to balance it out. The veggies marinate in the balsamic vinaigrette to infuse flavor deep into every bite. There's nothing better for summer picnics!
Summer Harvest Orzo Salad
If you have a garden or shop your local farmers market, you know there's always a time in the summer when you start to feel overwhelmed by all the cukes, squashes, and more.
This salad is all about celebrating that season of abundance with fresh zucchini, bell pepper, kale, fresh parsley, and juicy peaches. Combine the fresh ingredients with cooked orzo pasta and a creamy basil vinaigrette for the ultimate summer lunch.
Greek Inspired Orzo Salad
Since orzo cooks so quickly, it's the ideal option for last-minute summer entertaining or any time you want texture without heating up the kitchen too much. This Greek pasta salad is simple and understated but with plenty of flavor and vibrant color.
I like to combine cukes with tomatoes, avocado, chickpeas, olives, and red onion all in a simple dressing made from fresh lemon juice, maple syrup, and olive oil. Timeless, classic, yet utterly delicious.
Sesame Noodles Salad
We're leaning on a totally different flavor profile here. The wheat udon noodles are coated in a sesame tahini dressing alongside crunchy cabbage, broccoli, cucumbers, and more.
It's ready in just 10 minutes, yet looks and tastes totally gourmet. I love this one for meal prep and it always gets rave reviews at dinner parties or potlucks!
Winter Orzo Pasta Salad
Pasta salads aren't just a summer thing, at least for me. This winter orzo pasta salad is loaded with greens like kale and cabbage, fresh radishes, avocado, tomatoes, and more, plus plenty of chickpeas. Top it all off with an easy citrus dressing and enjoy it all winter long.
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