Vegan Pesto Pasta Salad
If you’re looking for a simple meal prep dish, look no further than this vegan pesto pasta salad!
I love a good, hearty pasta salad. And while on some occasions I add as many veggies as I can, other times I crave simplicity. This vegan pesto pasta salad is a perfect example of a delicious, satisfying meal that isn’t too complicated. All the while, it is bursting with flavors and nutrients.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- If you like meal prep, this salad is right up your alley. You can prep individual ingredients or mix everything together and enjoy it throughout the week. Either way, it’s going to make your life easier and more vibrant.
- This vegan pesto pasta salad is a balanced, well-rounded dish. All of your nutritional need met in one bowl!
- If you’re a fan of savory flavors, this recipe is for you! Between homemade pesto and tempeh bacon, it’s bursting with umami.
- If you want to get creative, you can add or swap different veggies into this vegan pesto pasta salad.
- This salad is great if you’re cooking on the budget! To me, that’s usually just as important as the taste or the nutritional content.
How to Make This Recipe
It is ever so easy, I promise. It just takes some meal prep! Start by making your tempeh bacon. If you’re using homemade pesto, you’ll need to make that too.
Meanwhile, boil the pasta to your liking, drain it and let it cool down. You might add a small splash of olive oil to stop the pasta from sticking together.
Finally, chop your fresh veggies and combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl. Enjoy immediately.
Hack It!
- If you have some antipasti, you could take your salad to the next level! Sun-dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, olives, pepperoncini… Let your fantasy run wild!
- Feel free to swap lettuce for a different type of greens. Try it with spinach, arugula, or beet greens!
- For a gluten-free version, just use gluten-free pasta. From chickpea pasta to brown rice noodles, there are so many options!
- If you can’t have soya, tempeh bacon isn’t gonna fly. You could make this salad with roasted chickpeas or seitan instead to make sure you get your protein.
Other Recipes You’ll Love
- Dill Pickle Tofu Sandwich
- Mason Jar Kale Salad
- Vegan Broccoli Salad
- Vegan Taco Bowl
- Street Corn Pasta Salad
Have you tried the PlantYou Planner yet? Imagine a digital meal planner that’s filled with whole-food plant-based recipes and optimized for meal prep… That’s exactly what the PlantYou Planner is! Not only can you choose from over 600 delicious vegan recipes, you can customize the number of servings for each recipe and enjoy the perks of the tailored grocery list!
If you prefer a more old-school approach, check out the PlantYou Cookbook! It has over 140 recipes, all made from whole-food ingredients, and oil-free! The book is also allergen-friendly, with majority of recipes catering to gluten-, nut-, and soy-free diets.
The Recipe: Vegan Pesto Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 16 oz bowtie pasta, cooked and cooled
- 2 servings tempeh bacon, crumbled
- 1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 red onion, diced
- ½ head romaine lettuce, chopped
- ¾ cup vegan pesto, store-bought or homemade
Equipment
- frying pan
- chopping board
- knife
Instructions
- Prep and cool the more complex ingredients, like pasta and tempeh bacon.
- Mix the ingredients in a large mixing bowls. Enjoy immediately or refrigerate for 4-5 days.
