This Caesar Pasta Salad will become your favorite lunch! It combines two of my favorites in one bowl: Caesar Salad and Pasta. When you’re tired but want something healthy and refreshing, whip up this easy vegan recipe.
I always make this satisfying Vegan Caesar Pasta Salad when I’m craving a low-effort meal for lunch. It’s ready in under 20 minutes, high in protein, and can easily be adapted to be made gluten-free with gluten-free noodles!
My ridiculously easy salad only requires a chop of romaine and tomatoes, a grate of parmesan, vegan Caesar dressing, and boiling some pasta.
Ingredients for Vegan Caesar Pasta Salad:
- 2 cups uncooked Bow-Tie Protein Pasta: Penne Pasta works as well. I use protein pasta, but use whatever you have!
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt: For the pasta water.
- 1 head chopped Romaine Lettuce: You could also use Butter Lettuce, Spinach, Arugula, Baby Gem Lettuce, or Kale. I always use what I already have in the fridge.
- 1 1/2 cups Chickpeas (15oz can)
- 1 cup sliced Grape Tomatoes: Any small tomato variety like cherry tomatoes works.
- 3/4 cup Vegan Caesar Dressing: The Trader Joe’s vegan Caesar one is my favorite. If you can’t find store-bought dressing, you can easily make it at home too. Here is a recipe you can try: 5-Minute Vegan Caesar Dressing by Minimalist Baker.
- 1/4 cup Vegan Parmesan Cheese
- 1 tablespoon Nutritional Yeast: This adds a cheesy flavor to the salad and one tablespoon of nutritional yeast provides about 5 grams of protein. Feel free to add extra to your bowl for extra protein and flavors.
- 1/2 teaspoon Cracked Black Pepper
- 1/2 cup Croutons: If you’re making this for meal prep, I recommend only adding in croutons right before serving it. They will get soggy if you leave them in too long.
How to make a Caesar Pasta Salad:
- In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to package instructions; drain well and rinse with cold water until it’s completely cooled down.
- While the pasta is cooking, chop the lettuce and grape tomatoes.
- To your large salad bowl, add the cooled pasta, chopped lettuce, sliced tomatoes, chickpeas, grated parmesan cheese, nutritional yeast, Caesar dressing, and cracked black pepper (leave the croutons out if you’re meal-prepping and add them to your bowl when serving).
- Enjoy! Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
More delicious recipes for you to try this new year:
- Lemon Orzo Salad – My orzo salad recipe is perfect for summer barbecues, picnics, and parties! Impress all your friends with this refreshingly flavorful side.
- Chickpea Tuna Salad – This Vegan Chickpea Tuna Salad is the best quick lunch on a busy day. It’s easy to make, delicious, and loaded with protein!
- Vegan Ceviche – Enjoy a plant-based twist on the famous Latin American dish with hearts of palm. It’s an easy recipe that makes a refreshing appetizer or a wonderful light meal for hot days.
- Fall Harvest Salad – Enjoy the autumn season with this delicious Fall Harvest Salad! This festive salad has honey crisp apples, pecans, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, and an easy apple cider vinaigrette. A perfect side for Thanksgiving!
The only thing better than a Vegan Caesar Salad is making it a PASTA Salad! It’s a high-protein and refreshing meal that’s ready in 20 minutes. What could be better than that on a warm day?!
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Vegan Caesar Pasta Salad
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 5 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
I always make this satisfying Vegan Caesar Pasta Salad when I’m craving a low-effort meal for lunch. It’s ready in under 20 minutes, high in protein, and can easily be adapted to be made gluten-free with gluten-free noodles!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 2 cups uncooked Bow-Tie Protein Pasta (or Penne)
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt (for the pasta water)
- 1 head Romaine Lettuce, chopped
- 1 1/2 cups Chickpeas (15oz can)
- 1 cup Grape Tomatoes, sliced
- 3/4 cup store-bought Vegan Caesar Dressing (or homemade*)
- 1/4 cup grated Vegan Parmesan Cheese
- 1 tablespoon Nutritional Yeast
- 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1/2 cup Croutons* (optional)
Instructions
- In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain well and rinse with cold water until it’s completely cooled down.
- While the pasta is cooking, chop the lettuce and grape tomatoes.
- To your large salad bowl, add the cooled pasta, chopped lettuce, sliced tomatoes, chickpeas, grated parmesan cheese, nutritional yeast, Caesar dressing, and cracked black pepper (leave the croutons out if you’re meal-prepping and add them to your bowl when serving).
- Enjoy! Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Boiling, Chopping
- Cuisine: American
⭐️ RATE THE RECIPE ⭐️ and share any suggestions or feedback in the comments below. Have questions? I will post your question and respond quickly. Your feedback is valuable because it helps me fine-tune the recipe to help others!
