Unfortunately, most ready-made pesto sauces available today have parmesan cheese in them making them not-vegan-friendly. But do not worry because you can easily make your own delicious vegan pesto at home and enjoy it whenever you please!
Vegan pesto pasta is one of those magical meals that checks all the boxes. It’s quick to make, packed with flavor, and incredibly versatile. Whether you’re cooking for a busy weeknight or hosting a casual dinner, this dish delivers big on taste without the fuss. Plus, it’s a great way to sneak in greens—thanks to the fresh basil and spinach—while keeping things light and nourishing.
Making this recipe takes zero cooking skills and minimum time, so if you can’t cook for your life, then this will become your go-to! When your fridge is almost empty, and you come home starving or when you want to impress your friends with a fancy meal, pesto pasta will be there for you. Simple ingredients, satisfying flavor, and ready in under 30 minutes? That’s a win in our book.
It really doesn’t take much to throw together this vegan pesto pasta. Here’s what you need, plus some easy substitutions:
For the full list of ingredients and quantities, make sure to scroll to the recipe card below.
We need to get serious. Choosing which pasta to cook is serious business, friends. Pesto clings best to pasta with ridges or twists, like fusilli, rotini, or farfalle. But really, any pasta you have on hand will work just fine!
Here are some of the options:
My personal favorite is tagliatelle! There’s something about the pesto running through the long noodles that makes it perfect and just classic. What’s your favorite?
You can even use different types of noodles than the traditional wheat pasta. There are loads of healthy noodle options out there now. Try chickpea pasta for more protein and fiber or hearts of palm noodles for a low calorie option.
This will depend solely on your preference. Dry pasta is so easy-peasy and always readily available. But when you can get your paws on some fresh pasta, that always adds an extra special touch. If you want to feel like you’re sitting in a small restaurant in Italy, then get yourself some nice fresh fettuccini.
Just beware—eggs or other non-vegan ingredients that can often find their way into fresh pasta!
The best part about a classic and simple recipe like this vegan pesto pasta is how incredibly versatile it is. In fact, we first published it as a go-to vegan pesto sauce—perfect for everything from pasta to pizza!
Try it as a spread on a veggie sandwich, a drizzle over roasted veggies, or bake it into pesto pull-apart bread. It also makes a great dip for crackers or fresh veggies. Basically, if you can eat it, you can probably put pesto on it—and it’ll taste amazing.
And if you’re looking to switch things up, we’ve got a delicious vegan walnut pesto pasta variation too! It’s just as easy, made with walnuts instead of pine nuts, and has a slightly earthier flavor that pairs beautifully with hearty grains or roasted sweet potatoes.
This recipe is so easy and versatile you’ll enjoy it all the way through. From picking the fresh ingredients to preparing the pesto and mixing it with the pasta, to eating it and showing off in front of your friends and family. This vegan pesto pasta is a must-try!
Absolutely! You can substitute the pine nuts with sunflower seeds or hemp seeds for a nut-free version. Both add a nice texture and subtle flavor while keeping the pesto creamy.
Stored in an airtight container, vegan pesto will last about 7-10 days in the fridge. You can also freeze it in small portions (like an ice cube tray) for easy use later.
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Delicious pesto dish!! Looks amazing
This pesto pasta is something special! So delicious and packed with protein too!
This dish is perfect for spring. Love the vibrant color and it tastes so good!
Pasta is my weakness and this recipe is delicious!
My 10 year old’s favorite dish ever!
Delicious! We’ve made this pasta multiple times and it’s always soo good!
Love how easy and fast it is to make this vegan pesto pasta!
So bright and fresh! A super pasta recipe!
This one is one of my favorites! SO creamy and delicious.
So simple and delicious!
Delicious, creamy and so easy to make. A staple in our house.
I can never get enough of this dish! Yum!
Pesto pasta is one of my all-time favorite meals! It’s also great with walnuts instead of pine nuts for a more budget-friendly swap 🙂