this vegan caesar pasta salad is packed with a creamy dressing, delicious pasta, lots of romaine lettuce, croutons, and vegan parmesan!
the inspiration
Early in my food blogging career I made a lot of online friends. One of whom was named Corey, her handle is @thevegansix. While she doesn’t post as frequently she was the first one I ever saw do a vegan Caesar pasta salad, back in either 2018 or 2019. So, I have to give Corey a big round of applause because without her I wouldn’t have ever made or tried it.
Ever since then I have loved making a vegan Caesar pasta salad. The pasta adds into the salad so nicely and really helps to bulk it up. I like to use a protein pasta to help add in some protein, plus I paired it with my creamy Tofu Caesar Dressing for even more!
I promise if you haven’t made a vegan Caesar pasta salad yet, you are truly missing out. You will be so glad you made this.
the ingredients
- Romaine Lettuce: of course for a vegan Caesar pasta salad we are going to need some romaine lettuce. I like to cut mine up fairly thin. If you wanted to substitute for another lettuce or leafy green kale would be a great replacement.
- Pasta: you can use any pasta you like. So, if you are gluten-free use a gluten-free pasta. You can use any shape as well. I opted for Brami pasta as it has a bit extra protein since it is made from lupini beans. I would not recommend using spaghetti or a long pasta though. Any short pasta or one you would typically use in a pasta salad.
- Croutons: I opted for store-bought croutons to make things easier. However, if you like you can definitely make your own. Be sure to check the ingredients as some contain milk and cheese. Usually, the plain store brand ones without too much flavor are a good fit.
- Vegan Parmesan: you can use any vegan parmesan you like. Whether you want to make it homemade or one from the store. I am partial to the one from Follow Your Heart.
- Chickpeas: I happened to have some chickpeas in my fridge, so I threw them in the pasta salad. You definitely do not need to do this if you don’t want to.
- Tofu Caesar Dressing: this dressing is very easy to make and comes together super quickly. You only need a few ingredients: tofu, nutritional yeast, vegan parmesan cheese, capers (which you can leave out if you want), salt, garlic powder, black pepper, and either lemon juice or apple cider vinegar. You throw it all in a blender and it is ready. You can also use my Tahini Caesar Dressing if you have a soy allergy. I do not use dijon mustard in my recipe but if you like to add some in you can.
How do you make homemade croutons?
Homemade croutons are super easy to make. First, all you need is any bread of choice. It can be sliced bread, a baguette, a boule, whatever you have. Cut it into cubes. Then, toss in olive oil about 1-2 tablespoons depending on how much bread you cut up. Add your favorite seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, or dried parsley. Mix around again. Then, spread it out over a baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes at 400°F (204°C) or until golden. That is it! Super easy to make and so delicious.
how to make the vegan caesar pasta salad
- Make the tofu caesar dressing. Blend the tofu, nutritional yeast, vegan parmesan cheese, capers (which you can leave out if you want), salt, garlic powder, black pepper, and either lemon or apple cider vinegar until creamy.
- Cook your pasta of choice until al dente. Let it cool.
- In a large mixing bowl combine the chopped romaine, chickpeas, vegan parmesan, and cooked pasta.
- Drizzle vegan Caesar dressing overtop and mix to combine. You can top with extra black pepper and vegan parmesan if desired before serving.
what else can I add to this caesar pasta salad?
The fun thing about pasta salad is you can truly add in anything you like! Here are some ideas I have:
- More beans. Add in any white bean you like, cannellini, butter beans, navy beans. Beans are always a good addition.
- Tomatoes. Some people like to add in tomatoes to their Caesar salad so if that is you, throw them in there.
- Nuts. I think either cashews or walnuts could be a fun addition. You can even toast them to add extra flavor.
- Breadcrumbs. Skip the croutons and add in some toasted breadcrumbs if you like, it is a fun play on this recipe.
- Plant Protein. You can add in cooked tofu, tempeh, or seitan.
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vegan caesar pasta salad faq
Is this recipe allergy friendly?
It does use tofu. Depending on your pasta and crouton choice this can very easily be made gluten free. It does not contain any nuts. If you have a tofu allergy, I have a tahini dressing recipe you can use instead.
How do I store leftovers?
In an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. The romaine and croutons will get a little soggy the longer they sit.
How can I meal prep this recipe?
I would make a bowl with your chopped romaine, cooked pasta, and any beans you would like to add. Then, prepare your vegan Caesar dressing and store it separately. Finally, to package it up scoop some of the base into a container. Add the vegan Caesar dressing, croutons, and vegan parmesan. This way it will stay as fresh as possible.
Do I need to press the tofu?
No. We want the liquid and moisture of the tofu to help make the creamy Caesar dressing.
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Vegan Caesar Pasta Salad
Equipment
- Large Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 batch vegan Caesar dressing
- 1 head of romaine finely chopped
- 4 ounces pasta dry or to the amount you like
- ½ cup croutons or to the amount you like
- ¼ cup chickpeas drained and rinsed, or to the amount you like
- 3 tablespoons vegan parmesan or to the amount you like
- Black pepper for topping if desired
Instructions
- Make the tofu caesar dressing. Blend the tofu, nutritional yeast, vegan parmesan cheese, capers (which you can leave out if you want), salt, garlic powder, black pepper, and either lemon or apple cider vinegar until creamy. The linked blog post has the full recipe.
- Cook your pasta of choice until al dente. Drain and let it cool for 5 to 10 minutes before combining with other ingredients.
- In a large mixing bowl combine the chopped romaine, chickpeas, vegan parmesan, and cooled pasta.
- Drizzle vegan Caesar dressing overtop and mix to combine. You can top with extra black pepper and vegan parmesan if desired before serving. You can also save an extra drizzle of dressing for the top if desired.
Video
Notes
- Nutrition facts are based on my gram measurements put into Cronometer. Yours may vary, they are to help you get an idea.
- Please do not repost recipes without my permission. Sharing a direct link is always highly encouraged and appreciated.
- For any questions you may have please refer to the FAQ above the recipe card.
Nutrition
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Hey, I’m Francesca!
Thank you for checking out my recipe! I am happy to have you here and hope you explore more delicious vegan recipes.
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