Vegan Carbonara
If you’re craving a rich and creamy pasta dish, this vegan carbonara is sure to impress! It’s packed with flavor, easy to make, and perfect for a cozy dinner at home. Instead of traditional eggs and bacon, this recipe uses simple plant-based swaps that still deliver that classic carbonara taste. With a silky sauce, smoky bites, and a sprinkle of black pepper, every forkful is pure comfort.
The best part? This recipe comes together in no time, making it great for busy weeknights. You’ll need two different types of tofu for the sauce, plus some smoky vegan bacon (similar to this tofu bacon recipe) for that signature flavor. Toss it all with freshly cooked pasta, and you’ve got a creamy, dreamy carbonara that’s sure to please.
Grab your favorite bowl and dig in!
Why You’ll Love This Vegan Carbonara
Aside from being absolutely delicious, there are even more reasons to love this vegan carbonara recipe. Here are just a few!
- Creamy and Delicious. This vegan carbonara has a rich, silky sauce that coats every noodle perfectly. Thanks to blended tofu, you get that creamy texture without needing dairy. It’s comfort food at its finest!
- Packed with Flavor. Plant-based bacon adds a smoky, savory kick that mimics traditional carbonara flavors. Seasoned with spices like smoked paprika and soy sauce, it brings just the right punch to every bite.
- Quick and Easy. This recipe comes together fast, making it perfect for busy weeknights. With just a few simple steps, you can have a hearty pasta dish on the table in no time.
- Protein-Packed. The tofu (or mushroom) bacon and creamy sauce both add plant-based protein to your meal. That means you’ll stay full and satisfied long after dinner.
- Perfect for Sharing. This cozy pasta dish is a crowd-pleaser that’s sure to impress. Whether you’re feeding family or friends, everyone will want seconds!
Key Ingredients and Substitutions
What goes into a plant-based carbonara, you ask? Minimal elbow grease, plenty of pasta, and some wonderfully creamy components.
- Silken Tofu: Instantly create a high-protein yet low-calorie base by blending silken tofu to a smooth, creamy consistency. You can find this in shelf-stable, aseptic packages or water-packed near the refrigerated produce area.
- Non-Dairy Milk: Pick a milk, any milk, as long as it doesn’t come from a cow! Make sure it’s unsweetened and then go with your favorite, whether that’s soy (for ultra richness), almond (like this DIY almond milk recipe), creamy cashew milk, hemp, oat, rice, or something else entirely.
- Kala Namak: Otherwise known as “black salt,” it’s a bit of a misnomer because the color is actually pink! This is the secret ingredient that creates an uncanny eggy flavor since it’s a kiln-fired rock salt infused with sulfurous aroma. You can find it in most Asian specialty markets or online.
- Spaghetti or Bucatini: Any long pasta will do, but bucatini, which is essentially a narrow tube, is the deluxe option. It offers the most satisfying bite. The open ends allow the sauce to run through the entire length, rather than just cling to the outside.
- Vegan Parmesan: Many people don’t realize that conventional Parmesan isn’t even vegetarian, let alone vegan. Traditionally, rennet is used to make the curds coagulate, which comes from the stomach lining of cows.
- Liquid Smoke: A little bit goes a long way with this concentrated smoky flavor extract. It makes everything instantly taste like veggie bacon, so it’s a great thing to keep in the kitchen pantry for when cravings hit.
How To Make This Creamy Carbonara Pasta
This vegan carbonara is a creamy, smoky pasta dish made with silken tofu and crispy tofu or mushrooms instead of bacon. It’s quick, easy, and totally satisfying for any night of the week. Here’s the step-by-step process.
Step 1: Make the Tofu Bacon – Preheat your oven to 400°F. In a bowl, add the canola oil, soy sauce, maple syrup, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and liquid smoke.
Whisk until smooth.
Toss with diced mushrooms or tofu, spread on a parchment-lined pan.
Bake for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until crispy.
Step 2: Cook the Pasta – Boil spaghetti according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
Step 3: Blend the Sauce – Blend silken tofu and soy milk until smooth.
Set aside for later.
Step 4: Cook the Sauce – In a saucepan, melt vegan butter and stir in flour.
Cook until golden.
Slowly add the blended milk mixture, stirring until thickened.
Add minced garlic, nutritional yeast, onion powder, black salt, black pepper, and vegan parmesan.
Blend until smooth and combined.
Finally, Step 5: Combine and Serve – Add the cooked spaghetti to the sauce, folding gently to coat. Top with crispy tofu bacon and enjoy!
Serving Tips and Suggestions
No one would complain if you stick with a simple, straight-forward tofu carbonara sauce, but you can enhance the dish with your own personal touches to make it different and exciting every time.
- Toss in Some Roasted Veggies – Roasted asparagus, sheet pan peas, or cherry tomatoes pair beautifully with the creamy sauce. They add extra flavor, texture, and a pop of color.
- Serve with Garlic Bread – A warm slice of crispy garlic bread is perfect for scooping up every last drop of sauce. It’s a delicious way to round out your meal.
- Crunch Time – Add more textural contrast by adding a handful of crunchy chickpeas, sliced almonds, or crushed kale chips on top.
- Pair with a Vibrant Salad – If you want to get your greens but keep them separate, this dish pairs beautifully with a simple arugula salad dressed with a creamy dijon vinaigrette dressing.
- Swirl It into Soup – Drizzle into creamy soups for a truly luxurious spoonful.
- Impromptu Dairy-Free Rice Dish – Stir it into cooked rice to make a shortcut vegan risotto.
Dairy-Free Carbonara FAQs
Tofu is a critical part of the carbonara sauce, but you can swap it out for unsweetened almond or coconut yogurt for a tangy change of pace.
Once the sauce, pasta, and vegan bacon have been tossed together, the textures will change if kept for a second serving. The sauce will thicken and the bacon will soften, but you can still enjoy it for up to 5 days if stored in an airtight container in the fridge. To reheat, you may want to add a bit more water while warming it gently in a saucepan over the stove, until the sauce is smooth again and everything is warmed through.
No problem! You can make tofu bacon instead, or simply use one of the many prepared vegan bacon options available in most grocery stores.
To make your vegan carbonara gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta like brown rice or chickpea pasta. Choose tamari over soy sauce when seasoning your mushroom or tofu bacon, and check your dairy-free parmesan label or use nutritional yeast instead. These simple swaps keep your carbonara creamy, smoky, and delicious!
More Deliciously Dairy-Free Pasta Recipes
Listen while you cook! Tune into my podcast, The Plant Powered People Podcast, while you’re cooking, folding laundry, or taking a bath. It may just change your life!
Creamy Vegan Carbonara
Ingredients
For Plant-Based Bacon Topping:
- ¾ cup diced mushrooms , OR
- 4 ounces diced extra firm tofu, half of an 8 ounce block
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce, or tamari
- 2 teaspoons maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- few drops liquid smoke, optional
For The Pasta:
- 16 ounces spaghetti noodles
- 6-8 cups water
For The Sauce:
- 4 ounces silken tofu, drained, half of an 8 ounce block
- 3 cups unsweetened soy milk, or dairy-free milk of choice
- ¼ cup plant based butter
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon kalanamak (black salt)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅓ cup plant based parmesan cheese , and more for later topping
- 1 cup pasta cooking water (as needed), 240 ml
- Pinch sea salt
To Serve:
- cracked black pepper, to taste
- plant based parmesan cheese , to taste
Instructions
For the Bacon Topping (Prepare in Advance):
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a medium-sized bowl whisk together the canola oil, soy sauce, maple syrup, onion and garlic powder, smoked paprika, and liquid smoke.
- In a parchment-lined baking pan, pour the sauce mixture over your choice of thinly diced mushrooms (we like cremini king oysters) or thinly diced extra-firm tofu.
- Stir periodically and remove from oven once crispy. (It should be done in around 10-15 minutes).
For the Pasta:
- Cook the spaghetti in a large pot based on the instructions on the box.
- Drain and set aside if ready before the sauce.
For the Sauce:
- Blend the silken tofu and soy milk until smooth and set aside.
- In a large saucepan, combine the flour and butter and cook over medium heat until the flour becomes golden brown to create a roux.
- Pour the milk mixture into the pan, stirring frequently as it thickens.
- Add the remaining ingredients: minced garlic, nutritional yeast, onion powder, kalanamak (black salt), black pepper, and plant-based parm.
- Stir until combined, adding more milk or water if necessary to reach a thick saucy consistency.
- Once the sauce is your desired thickness, fold in the spaghetti noodles gently to avoid breaking them.
- Serve topped with your plant-based bacon pieces!
Notes
Nutrition
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Leave a Comment
I can’t believe how delicious this is without any dairy! Even my non-vegan family loves it and it’s so easy!
Always looks for new ways to make pasta.
Such a yummy and delicious pasta!
This came out delicious! So great to have a dairy free creamy white sauce.!!
So creamy! Love how the texture turned out!
Love this silken tofu carbonara! Super creamy and healthy, I’m obsessed!
It’s one of our family favorites, too! Isn’t the creaminess crazy good?
What a perfectly creamy pasta without dairy! We loved this option to skip on the heavy cream!
Yes! You really don’t need the dairy at all. Isn’t it awesome?
Amazing and creamy! So good!
Silken tofu is so useful for so many recipes 😀
I’m loving this healthy twist on carbonara!
We’re so glad to hear it! Yes!
Love this creamy and savory sauce! And the coconut bacon is the perfect touch. Excellent recipe!
That’s my favorite part, too!
Amazing creamy pasta recipe and dairy free! Delish!
Love when you can switch out the dairy and the recipe comes out even better 😀
looks so creamy and delicious! can’t wait to try this out!
Yay! Hope you love it!
This sounds absolutely amazing! I have never heard of coconut bacon, so I am going to have to try it. My best friend is vegan so I will definitely be sharing this with her. 🙂
Please let us know what you think of this recipe! I hope your vegan friend loves it as much as we do 🙂