This Vegan Caesar Pasta Salad features a creamy, tangy vegan Caesar dressing, crisp romaine, and hearty pasta for a satisfying pasta salad ready in 15 minutes.
I love Caesar salad and pasta, so why not combine these two to create a delicious and easy vegan Caesar pasta salad recipe? It makes a perfect side dish, is great for picnics or potlucks, and is a refreshing main dish for a light lunch.
This simple recipe is a variation of my vegan Caesar salad with a slightly different Caesar dressing. It is a favorite in my kitchen, especially when I’m looking to impress friends with something that’s both familiar and surprising.
This pasta salad can be served at room temperature or cold from the fridge. It has won over even the staunchest salad and vegan skeptics at my table.
Looking for more delicious pasta dish recipes? Check out Lemon Artichoke Pesto Pasta, One-Pot Creamy Vegan Pasta, and Easy Vegan Mushroom Leek Pasta.
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Why You'll Love This Pasta Recipe
- Flavorful and Creamy: The rich, creamy dressing is packed with tangy, umami flavors that no one will guess are not part of a traditional Caesar salad.
- Nutrient-rich: It is delicious and healthy with ingredients like nutritional yeast and cashews, making it egg-free and dairy-free.
- Make Ahead: Prep this recipe for a convenient, grab-and-go meal for lunch or dinner or for easy make-ahead entertaining.
- Perfect for Any Occasion/Season: This pasta salad is perfect for any occasion, from a casual lunch to a special gathering. Additionally, it's suitable for any season, making it a versatile choice year-round.
- Diet-Friendly: This vegan Caesar dressing is so authentic-tasting that you won't miss the traditional version, making it enjoyable for everyone on most diets. Plus, the dish can be made gluten-free simply by selecting the right pasta.
- Easy to Make: This salad is simple to prepare with minimal cooking and readily available ingredients. It is convenient for busy days without sacrificing taste or quality.
Recipe Ingredients
Here's what you'll need for this vegan pasta salad with a homemade vegan Caesar dressing. It might seem like a lot, but the dressing ingredients come together easily, and the salad is just as simple!
Check the recipe card below for exact quantities.
Ingredients for Caesar dressing.
Ingredients for the pasta salad.
Ingredient Notes
- Pasta: Pick a pasta that clings to creamy vegan Caesar dressing like fusilli or penne. For a healthier twist that doesn’t taste like cardboard, give Trader Joe's quinoa pasta a whirl. Not all healthy pastas are good, but this one is delicious.
- Nutritional Yeast can be found in the baking aisle or with the seasonings in most major grocery stores. Amazon is also an option.
- Vegan Parmesan: Opting for a wedge of vegan Parmesan is a game-changer compared to the pre-shredded variety. You can snag the Violife wedge at Whole Foods.
How To Make Vegan Caesar Pasta Salad
See the process in the pictures here. For detailed instructions, visit the recipe card below.
Step 1 - Cook Pasta: Boil until al dente, rinse to cool, and set aside.
Step 2 - Make Dressing: Blend the dressing ingredients - cashews, water, lemon juice, mustard, yeast, capers, garlic, salt, and pepper until creamy.
Step 3 - Assemble Salad: In a large bowl, toss lettuce, pasta, cherry tomatoes, Parmesan, and croutons with dressing.
Step 4 - Serve: Mix well and serve.
Top Tips
- Chop the romaine into bite-sized pieces for a better eating experience.
- Choose pasta shapes that won't let go of that dressing, like fusilli, rotini, and penne. They are great choices because their ridges and curves catch and hold the creamy dressing, ensuring each bite is flavorful.
- Add at least one crunchy element to the salad, like toasted pine nuts, the suggested homemade croutons, or crunchy chickpea croutons for crunch.
- Rinse the pasta under cold water after cooking to stop the cooking process and remove excess starch. This helps keep the pasta firm and the lettuce from wilting.
Serving Suggestions
- I love having vegan Caesar pasta salad as a main course.
- This salad pairs well with soups and pizza.
- It's ideal for picnics as it can be easily transported and doesn't wilt easily, especially if you pack the dressing separately and toss it when ready to serve.
- Add it to a buffet or potluck spread where its familiar flavor and filling nature can appeal to a wide range of tastes.
- Serve it alongside other salads like a vegan Cobb salad, vegan orzo pasta salad, or vegan couscous salad for a diverse and colorful buffet.
- Serve as a side dish with vegan sandwiches or wraps like chipotle black bean burger, vegan BLT sandwich, or vegan tunacado sandwich.
Additions and Variations
Additions
- To add protein to your Vegan Caesar Pasta Salad, consider including crispy chickpeas, marinated and baked tofu, seitan, or cooked lentils. You can also add a "chicken" plant-based alternative for a delicious chick'n Caesar salad.
- Add different vegetables like minced red onions, shredded carrots, roasted bell peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, or artichoke hearts for extra flavor and texture.
- Add vegan bacon bits for a bacony and crunchy flavor.
Variations
- Substitute the pasta with spiralized vegetables, like zucchini or cucumber noodles, for a lower carbohydrate version. Another option is a low-carb pasta alternative, such as those made from lentils or chickpeas.
- Swap the romaine lettuce for kale, arugula, spinach, or a combination of greens.
- For a higher protein version, use my recipe for high-protein Caesar dressing made with silken tofu.
Storage
- Storage: Keep the components of your Vegan Caesar Pasta Salad — pasta, dressing, and greens — in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator to maintain freshness for 3-4 days. It's still good if stored together, but it will maintain freshness better separately. I also like adding freshly squeezed lemon juice to brighten the flavor.
- Meal Prep: For easy meal prep, pre-cook the pasta and prepare the dressing, storing them separately and assembling them with fresh greens just before serving to ensure the best texture and flavor. Alternatively, assemble the whole salad in individual containers but store the dressing in a separate container for a grab-n-go option.
- Freezing: Freezing is not recommended for this salad, as the fresh ingredients will not hold up well, resulting in a less desirable texture upon thawing.
Storage Note
If you store the salad already mixed, the pasta may absorb some of the dressing, so consider adding extra dressing to keep it creamy and flavorful.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can cook the pasta and prepare the dressing beforehand. However, combining the ingredients before serving is best to maintain the best texture and freshness. The dressed salad can be stored in the refrigerator for a day or two, but the lettuce might wilt slightly.
Yes, to make this salad gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta.
More Vegan Salad Recipes You'll Love
What did you think?
Got a minute? Dive into the comments and rate Vegan Caesar Pasta Salad and let me know how it turned out for you. Was it a hit? Any ingredients you added? I want to know if my directions were any good or if you plan to make it. Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for inspiration.
PrintRecipe
Vegan Caesar Pasta Salad
This Vegan Caesar Pasta Salad blends the creamy, tangy zest of a delicious vegan Caesar dressing with the crispness of fresh romaine lettuce and hearty pasta, creating an exceptionally satisfying and flavorful dish ready in 15 minutes.
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
Caesar Dressing
- 1 cup raw cashews, soaked in water for 4-6 hours and then drained
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons of water (more as needed for blending)
- 2 -3 tablespoons lemon juice (juice of one large lemon)
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon capers
- 3 cloves garlic
- ½ teaspoon salt, adjust to taste
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper, adjust to taste
Salad
- 12 oz. of your favorite pasta (like fusilli or penne, ideally whole wheat for a healthier twist)
- 1 large head of romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- ¼-½ cup vegan Parmesan cheese, grated
- homemade croutons
Instructions
- Boil: Boil the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool. Set aside.
- Blend: While the pasta cooks, combine the soaked and drained cashews, water, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, nutritional yeast, capers, garlic, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth and creamy. Add more water if needed to reach a dressing-like consistency. Season with more salt and pepper to taste.
- Assemble: In a large bowl, toss the chopped romaine lettuce with the cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, and vegan Parmesan cheese. Pour over the dressing and mix until everything is well coated. Sprinkle with more vegan Parmesan and add croutons.
- Serve: Let the salad sit for about 5 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together, then serve as a main dish or a side.
Notes
The best vegan Parmesan is the kind you grate yourself. While pre-grated options are convenient, the freshly grated version delivers superior freshness and flavor. I recommend the Violife wedge you can find at Whole Foods.
Store-bought croutons can be vegan, but not all of them are. Some croutons contain animal-derived ingredients like butter, cheese, or meat flavoring so read the labels if opting to purchase from the store.
If you store the salad already mixed, the pasta may absorb some of the dressing, so consider adding extra dressing to keep it creamy and flavorful.
If you don't have time to soak the cashews, visit Guide to Soaking Cashews for quick soak ideas.
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The information is based on the pasta salad as a main meal with only 4 servings.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: salad
- Method: stove top
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 489
- Sugar: 6.2 g
- Sodium: 482.2 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Carbohydrates: 78.6 g
- Protein: 18.1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Maddie says
This was great! Loved adding the pasta to the Caesar salad to make it more hearty. And the dressing tastes so much like the traditional. Thanks for sharing this.
Regi Pearce says
Hey Maddie! So glad you tried it and you stopped by the site again. It is really good - we eat it all the time since the kids often crave it. Thanks for commenting.