The weather is getting warmer and summer is approaching. That means pasta salad season is officially here. Pasta salads are perfect for outdoor dining. They are nutritious, taste great, and can often be prepared well in advance. Many pasta salads are already inadvertently vegan, and all of the recipes below are dairy-free, egg-free, and meat-free.
Read more: 20 High-Protein Vegan Dinner Ideas
Pasta salad is basically a combination of pasta, fruits, vegetables, and salad ingredients. It’s a staple at picnics, barbecues, potlucks, and many other events. There’s a recipe for every taste, and all of the methods below can be adapted to suit your mood. Dressings and sauces determine the flavor of your pasta salad. These recipes will show you how to make vegan Caesar dressing, pesto, and more.
Whether you’re planning a summer picnic or want something delicious and healthy for dinner, you’re sure to find a vegan pasta salad recipe that’s perfect for you. Here are six pasta salads to try this summer.
Read more: 8 Easy Vegan Egg Recipes, From Egg Yolks to Omelettes
Pesto Pasta Salad
Sometimes you just want an old classic. This pesto pasta salad is comfort food in a bowl. Some people may not know that most commercial pestos are not vegan because they contain Parmesan cheese. Those who eat a plant-based diet can buy vegan pesto (often easy to find in stores) or make their own at home. This simple Nuts & Twigs recipe calls for a jar of store-bought pesto, but you can also use homemade pesto if you prefer. It tastes great, is ready in about 30 minutes, and is packed with veggies.
Get the recipe.
Easy Macaroni Pasta Salad
If you’re a fan of mayonnaise-based dressings, then this dish from Eating by Elaine is for you. This creamy macaroni pasta salad calls for vegan mayonnaise, along with ingredients like distilled white vinegar, maple syrup, and garlic powder, for a zesty, flavorful dish. It’s truly made for picnics and is also suitable for those avoiding gluten (though you can also use gluten-based pasta).
Check out the recipe here.
greek pasta salad
Greek salad is a hugely popular dish eaten all over the world, but it’s very easy to make it vegan. Just replace dairy feta with a plant-based version (or make your own vegan feta from scratch at home). This Greek pasta salad recipe features classic ingredients like kalamata olives, cherry tomatoes, olive oil, and oregano. This recipe is brought to you by The Garden Party.
Check out the recipe here.
Caesar Pasta Salad
If there’s anything more delicious than a vegan Caesar salad, it’s a vegan Caesar salad with pasta. This recipe was created by the author or vegan pasta cookbookHere’s how to make an animal-free, cashew-based dressing from scratch. Traditional Caesar salads are far from vegan, as they often contain a combination of dairy, eggs, anchovies, and chicken, but it’s super easy to replace these with plant-based alternatives. Combining ingredients like miso paste, almond palm, and Dijon mustard, this recipe is perfect for summer.
The recipe can be found here.
Peach pasta salad
peach? For pasta salad? of course. Janet’s nutritious munch meals are the perfect combination of sweet and savory and taste as good as they look. Packed with nutrients from a combination of fruits and vegetables, it also contains additional protein in the form of chickpeas. The creamy mustard dressing really makes this dish. Just mix the ingredients together (no food processor required).
Check out the recipe here.
Bean, orzo and pesto salad
For those who are methodically preparing meals, this salad is just what you need. We use orzo, a small pasta shaped slightly like a grain of rice. The addition of beans gives you plenty of protein, making this a perfect salad for weekday lunches. This recipe is from plantbaes.
Click here for the recipe.
Read more: 10 Vegan Dinners That Prioritize Whole Foods
