18 best vegan pasta dinners to make when you’re craving carbs

When it comes to comforting dinners that are full of flavour, few things hit the spot quite like a big bowl of vegan pasta.

From saucy spaghetti dishes and dairy-free lasagne to vegan macaroni and cheese, there are endless ways to get creative with vegan pasta recipes.

Is pasta vegan?

Although there can sometimes be a tricky question that arises; is pasta vegan? The answer depends on which type you want to use in a recipe.

There are two main types of pasta: fresh or dry.

Although fresh pasta typically contains eggs, most dried pasta you can find readily available in stores are egg-free and suitable for vegans making pasta one of our go-to dinner options.

However, it is always good to double check as even sometimes the dry pasta can contain eggs. Once you become familiar with certain brands and specific types of pasta, you’ll be able to shop with ease.

Or if you’re feeling particularly crafty, you can even have a go at making your own fresh vegan pasta from scratch to really hone your culinary skills, and ensure that it is vegan!

Worried that you won’t be able to recreate your fave Italian pasta dish without the cheese? Fear not! There are lots of options for replacing dairy cheese with a plant-based alternative to use as a base or a sauce or even vegan cheeses that are great for specifically melting on top of baked pasta dishes.

Take a look at these vegan cheese recipes to find out how to make your own vegan mozzarella, parmesan, feta and more.

Whether you’re looking for easy vegan pasta recipes that can be rustled up in minutes to recipes to create your own fresh vegan pasta at home, here is our pick of the best vegan pasta recipes for midweek meals.

1. Classic Vegan Lasagne

It’s hard to beat a lasagne served with a side of garlic bread when you get a craving for comfort food. Thankfully, it’s simple to make a meat-free lasagne that tastes even better than the original. This veggie lasagne recipe even shows you how to make both vegan béchamel sauce and vegan mozzarella cheese.

Grab a glass of wine and spend a blissful afternoon in the kitchen making this lovely lasagne this autumn. We promise it’s worth the effort.

2. Easy Vegan Mac and Cheese

When you fancy comfort food, nothing hits the spot quite like vegan mac and cheese. It’s carby, cheesy, crunchy and one the whole family will love.

This easy vegan mac and cheese recipe is the best we’ve tried as it’s topped with an irresistible layer of breadcrumbs and chives for texture. Plus, it’s healthier than the classic dish as we’ve swapped the cheese for cashews and nutritional yeast.

3. Jackfruit Vegan “Tuna” and Sweetcorn Pasta Salad

Shredded jackfruit has a very similar texture to tuna so. is the perfect for replacement when you want your tuna pasta fix. Red onions and sweetcorn add fresh flavours and crunchy textures to this vegan pasta salad that’s delicious served hot or cold.

4. Vegan Cannelloni with Spinach & Almond Ricotta

This spinach and almond ricotta cannelloni is filled with almond ricotta and tomato basil sauce and baked to perfection until the cashew cheese sauces bubbles and browns.

5. Vegan Cavatelli Arrabbiata

Try your hand at making your own homemade vegan pasta with this vegan cavatelli arrabbiata dish. Their simple shapes means they’re much easier to make, and you don’t even need a pasta maker to make them.

6. Italian Carbonara with ‘Bacon’

This recipe is official proof that anything can be made vegan – even the traditional Italian dish of carbonara.

Our vegan carbonara recipe is full of beautifully creamy flavours mixed with the taste of smoky vegan bacon to really recreate the classic dish.

7. Homemade Vegan Spinach Ravioli

There’s something so satisfying about making your own pasta from scratch. These small parcels of ravioli are filled with spinach and mushrooms, which are ever so fun to roll and create.

Impress your guests and serve these at your next dinner party.

8. Creamy Garlic Gnocchi with Walnut Pesto

If you’re in need of a comforting bowl of creamy vegan gnocchi, this is the recipe for you! This dish is such a treat, with its tangy garlic pesto and rich creamy sauce.

And the best part? You can make and enjoy a bowl in just 15 minutes!

9. Lentil Bolognese

Keep it simple with a nice and saucy vegan pasta bolognese. This recipe uses a common household food item to create a hearty vegan ragu – lentils!

This recipe takes it back to the basics, so it’s great for beginners and those who want to build up their cooking skills. As you get more comfortable, you can add extra veggies and spices to add even more flavour and texture.

10. Roasted Garlic Vegan Alfredo Sauce

Keep vampires at bay with this delightfully garlicky Alfredo sauce recipe.

We can’t get enough of this delightfully cheesy and garlicky sauce, and it’s simply divine when poured on top of some freshly boiled pasta. Sometimes keeping it simple is simply the best!

11. Baked Vegan Pasta Bolognese

Now, this is the vegan pasta dish to create if you’re looking to impress. A completely meat-free pasta bolognese is guaranteed to fill you up, and learn how to create a delicious vegan ragu from plant-based ingredients.

12. Vegan Orecchiette with Pesto, Broccoli and Kale

This rich and creamy vegan pasta recipe is loaded up with veggies and ready to eat in just 20 minutes. Plus, we’ve swapped out dairy cream for silken to fu to make a high-protein sauce that’s low in fat but super creamy and delicious.

13. Smoked Tofu & Walnut Pesto Pasta Salad

Vegan pasta salad couldn’t be simpler, and yet still absolutely delicious. This recipe is perfect for any time of year and blends together a great mix of flavours.

The tang of olives, succulent tomatoes, and a crispy slab of tofu bring this vegan pasta salad to the next level.

14. Smoked Tofu & Watercress Cannelloni

Cannelloni is an often overlooked pasta dish, but it is a wonderful dish that packs in loads of flavour.

For those who may not be familiar with this specific type of pasta, they are pasta rolls which have been filled and baked to perfection. This recipe features a tasty spinach, tofu, and watercress filling. And of course, don’t forget to sprinkle a heap of vegan cheese on top to melt into the dish.

15. Mushroom Mac ‘N’ Cheese

Mac ‘n’ cheese can be such a draw with its simple recipe and abundance of cheese. Fortunately for us, it’s really easy to make a great vegan cheesy version to enjoy.

The added feature of mushrooms adds even more texture and flavour to the well-loved dish. You’ll no doubt be going back for another serving!

16. Vegan Pappardelle with Fennel, Courgette & Lemon

This vegan pappardelle pasta recipe is both light and summery thanks to the fresh flavours of courgette and fennel combined with zesty lemon. it’s a simple yet elegant dish that also makes an impressive dinner party course.

17. Vegan Samphire & Spinach Linguine

Vegan pasta recipes don’t need to be complicated to be delicious. This simple dish features samphire to add a salty flavour with lemon and tomatoes bringing the acidity and a dash of chilli for heat.

18. One Pot Vegan Spaghetti Puttanesca

If you’re looking for an easy vegan dinner with minimal washing up, try this one-pot vegan spaghetti puttanesca!

With a rich tomato sauce and plenty of umami flavour, this vegan pasta dish makes a super satisfying dinner.

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