Pasta salad season is HERE (in case you missed this post) and I hope you’re ready for it. If you’re like me and used to picture pasta salads as gloppy, flavorless, and filled with more mayo than pasta, welcome to the new world of fresh, delicious pasta salads you’ll actually crave.
Over the years I’ve been experimenting with fun pasta salad flavors that capture all that summer has to offer. If you haven’t yet, it’s time to get my Street Corn Pasta Salad on your menu.
A couple of years back I took my fresh vegan caesar salad and, you guessed it, added a noodle twist! This vegan caesar pasta salad is filled with texture from crunchy chickpeas, juicy tomatoes, crisp romaine lettuce, and a zippy, tahini-based caesar dressing that you’ll want to pour on everything. Serve it up at your next BBQ or enjoy a protein-packed lunch any day of the week!
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What makes this caesar pasta salad vegan?
Traditional caesar salads and pasta salads are made with egg and sometimes anchovies in the dressing, plus dairy from parmesan cheese. In this vegan version, we’re skipping the eggs, anchovies and dairy and adding plenty of creaminess from a tahini-based vegan caesar dressing and fresh avocado. You won’t even miss the cheese!
Everything you’ll need to make vegan caesar pasta salad
This easy vegan caesar pasta salad is made with simple, fresh ingredients but packs bold flavors and wonderful textures you’ll crave. Plus, plenty of plant based protein! Here’s what you’ll need to make it:
- Pasta: I love using rotini or bowtie pasta in my pasta salad recipes, but feel free to use any shape you’d like (and gluten free if you’d like).
- Dressing: we’re using my homemade vegan caesar dressing made with a tahini base for that flavorful creamy element that makes pasta salads truly delicious.
- Romaine: just like classic caesar salads, we’re chopping up and mixing in crunchy romaine lettuce.
- Avocado: the bites of creamy avocado make this vegan caesar pasta salad extra delicious.
- Tomatoes: add some brightness and summer flavor with cherry or grape tomatoes.
- Roasted chickpeas: we love adding sea salt or ranch roasted chickpeas for extra crunch and a boost of plant based protein. Try this homemade version with your own seasonings if you’d like!
- Salt & pepper: the key to a perfect caesar pasta salad is to finish it off with plenty of salt and pepper.
Jazz up your pasta salad
The great part about this vegan caesar pasta salad is that it’s easy to customize with ingredients you have on hand (or ones you’re craving!) Here are some suggestions:
- Customize your veggies. Out of romaine? Feel free to use a kale base. This pasta salad would also be delicious with sliced persian cucumbers, red onion, or even grilled corn.
- Add some cheese. If you’re not vegan, feel free to add a sprinkle of freshly grated parmesan cheese or feta crumbles! This vegan parmesan would also be perfect.
- Use your fav protein. Feel free to use regular chickpeas from the can if you don’t have any roasted, or add some delicious grilled chicken or even cooked, chopped bacon if you’re not vegetarian.
How to make vegan caesar pasta salad
This recipe couldn’t be easier to throw together, making it the perfect, quick and easy summer lunch or side dish.
- Cook your pasta. Start by cooking your noodles according to the directions on the package. Then drain them and transfer them to a large bowl.
- Make your dressing. While the pasta is cooking you can make your vegan caesar dressing.
- Toss the pasta. Pour the dressing into your large bowl with the pasta and give it a toss so that it’s nice and coated.
- Add your toppings. Add the chopped romaine lettuce, sliced avocado, tomatoes and roasted chickpeas and toss everything together.
- Season & serve. Don’t forget to add salt and pepper! Season your pasta salad well, toss and serve.
Storing tips
Store any leftover pasta salad in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Because of the romaine lettuce, it’s best to enjoy it as soon as possible to avoid it getting soggy.
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More pasta salad recipes you’ll love
- Damn Good BLT Pasta Salad with Creamy Jalapeño Cashew Dressing
- Peach, Tomato & Corn Arugula Pasta Salad
- Avocado & Tomato Chickpea Pasta Salad with Lemon Basil Vinaigrette
- Street Corn Pasta Salad with Cilantro Pesto + Goat Cheese
Get all of our fresh and delicious salad recipes here!
I hope you love this vegan caesar pasta salad! If you make it be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked it. Enjoy, xo!
Ambitious Kitchen
Cookbook
125 Ridiculously Good For You, Sometimes Indulgent, and Absolutely Never Boring Recipes for Every Meal of the Day
Vegan Caesar Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 8 ounces rotini or bowtie pasta (or pasta of choice -- gluten free, if desired)
- 1 batch vegan caesar dressing
- 2 hearts romaine, chopped
- 1 firm but slightly ripe avocado, diced or sliced
- 1 ½ cups halved cherry or grape tomatoes
- 1 ½ cups roasted chickpeas -- we love the Biena ranch flavor or sea salt (regular, unroasted chickpeas is also fine, but roasted will have more flavor)*
- Freshly ground salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Boil the pasta according to directions on the package. Drain, then transfer to a large bowl.
- While pasta is cooking, you can make the vegan Caesar dressing. Once done, toss the dressing in the bowl with the cooked pasta until well combined.
- Next, add in the romaine, sliced avocado, halved tomatoes and roasted chickpeas; toss again until well combined. Add more salt and pepper to taste. Caesar salads usually need to have a decent amount of salt in order for the flavor to be spot on, so be generous with your salt and pepper! Serves 4.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Eat Love Eats
This post was originally published on May 13th, 2021, and republished on June 25th, 2023.
Such a great pantry meal. I made a homemade Caesar dressing using avocado mayo. I am not vegan so though I roasted my own chickpeas in the airfryer, I still added some leftover grilled chicken. I never would have thought to combine these things. Thank you for the inspiration! Delicious and my husband and I are both planning to have for lunch tomorrow too.
Perfect! So glad you both enjoyed!
Like someone else commented, I must have had large hearts of romaine because the salad doesn’t have enough dressing. Next time, I’ll measure out 4 cups of chopped romaine (Google says that’s the equivalent of two hearts). I might also wait to add the roasted chickpeas so they retain more of the crunch, but that’s just a personal preference.
Did you make sure to use just 8oz of pasta? I’ve seen people add a full box (16oz) which could contribute. I’ve always found that after mixing really well the dressing coats everything nicely, but feel free to also double the dressing next time if you like more!
Amazingly delicious (not that Monique surprises me anymore #onlyevercookambitiouskitchen). I didn’t have any capers so used minced dill pickles and brine instead. I’m not vegan but looooove tahini so couldn’t resist trying this recipe out. My new go-to caesar dressing / salad!
So happy to hear that!! Great idea to add some pickles & brine 🙂
I really wanted and expected to love this, but I actually ended up being kind of underwhelmed and needing to add a lot to it to get it to pack the flavor punch I was hoping for. Not a bad recipe by any means, I just felt like it was kind of bland. Next time around, I will double up on the dressing (maybe my romaine hearts were weirdly large? They dominated the bowl and I needed more dressing), and go extra hard on the salt from the jump. I kept adding more dressing ingredients to it, and overall enjoyed it then. 🙂 Good with lentil pasta and chicken!
Sorry to hear that, and really appreciate the feedback! Good idea to double the dressing 🙂
Definite crowd pleaser at my family’s MDW bbq. I got the ranch flavored chickpeas and they added a nice flavor.
The dressing was a touch butter from the tahini so I added more caper brine.
Will absolutely make again!
Yay! I am so glad you found this recipe and it was a hit
How do you make the roasted chickpeas?
YUM! The vegan Caesar dressing is delicious! I roasted my chickpeas with salt, pepper and a little everything but the bagel seasoning which paired well with the rest of the ingredients. Will definitely be making this recipe again!
Right?! So tasty! GREAT idea to add EBTB–sounds amazing 😍
I am LOVING this salad! I think this is a really good and easy approximation of caesar dressing as vegan and everything together is such a great weekday lunch! I’m already planning on which BBQs I can bring it to too. 🙂 Thank you!
The heartiest pasta salad! I loved meal prepping this lunch for the week. In an abundance of caution, I added the romaine to each portion separately to avoid a soggy lettuce situation haha. I also used chickpea + lentil pasta so the meal was a perfect plate of food keeping me fueled for many hours. I will definitely be making this dish again!
Great call on keeping the romaine separate! And to use high-protein pasta. Yay!
Wow! So incredible! I’m not vegan but don’t each much dairy and this will be a total go-to recipe for me.
So glad to hear that, Kayla! 🙂
will be making this and caesar dressing soon can i skip romaine and tomatoes as am not a big fan of them i love pasta soooooooooo much i never had salad before perfect for my after office meals sorry i took a break from commenting on your posts as busy with work will dm you if i make this and let you know how it goes Thanks Ramya
Hope you love it!