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    You are here: Home / Sides / The Best Vegan Pasta Salad

    LAST UPDATED: May 12, 2021 • FIRST PUBLISHED: May 12, 2021

    The Best Vegan Pasta Salad

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Bowl of Vegan Pasta Salad with Text Overlay Reading "Vegan Pasta Salad"

    This vegan pasta salad is made with rotini pasta dressed in a tangy balsamic vinaigrette and tossed with artichoke hearts, marinated mushrooms, roasted red peppers, olives and herbs!

    Close Up of Vegan Pasta Salad in a Glass Bowl

    I was at a barbecue recently where they served an antipasto salad. I was really bummed out because among all the delicious things I love about antipasto, like olives, peppers, artichoke hearts, were pieces of meat and cheese. So I couldn't try it.

    But I got inspired! All those delicious vegan ingredients would be great in a vegan salad — or better yet, a vegan pasta salad.

    Let's face it: pasta salads can be a little boring. Creating a vegan pasta salad in particular requires some special, super flavorful ingredients.

    Ingredients for Making Vegan Pasta Salad Arranged in a Bowl

    I decided I'd found exactly what I needed to create a vegan pasta salad that everyone (not just vegans) would love!

    Jump to:
    • What You'll Need
    • How to Make Vegan Pasta Salad
    • Shelf Life & Storage
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More Cool Vegan Side Salads
    • The Best Vegan Pasta Salad

    What You'll Need

    Bowl of Vegan Pasta Salad with Wooden Spoon
    • Dried pasta. I used rotini, but any smallish pasta shape should work just fine. Try penne, elbow macaroni, or orzo!
    • Olive oil.
    • Balsamic vinegar. Quality matters here. Use a good balsamic that has a thick, syrupy consistency to prevent your dressing from turning out too tart.
    • Red wine vinegar.
    • Garlic.
    • Salt & pepper.
    • Marinated mushrooms. Look for these in jars near the other marinated veggies (like artichoke hearts and roasted red peppers) at your store. If your supermarket has an olive bar you might find them there as well.
    • Kalamata olives. Have another favorite variety of olive? Feel free to substitute it!
    • Marinated artichoke hearts. Preferably use quartered ones, though halves work too.
    • Roasted red peppers.
    • Radicchio. You can substitute red cabbage if your store doesn't carry this.
    • Fresh parsley.
    • Fresh basil.

    How to Make Vegan Pasta Salad

    The following is a detailed photo tutorial on how to make this dish. Scroll down if you'd prefer to skip right to the recipe!

    • Cook your pasta according to the package directions, then drain it and toss it with a bit of olive oil to prevent sticking.
    • Mix up your dressing: whisk olive oil, both vinegars, minced garlic, salt, and pepper together in a small cup or bowl.
    • Transfer your cooked pasta to a large bowl and add all of your veggies and herbs: mushrooms, artichoke hearts, olives, roasted red peppers, parsley and basil.
    • Pour the dressing over the salad and toss it well to distribute the ingredients.
    Collage Showing Steps for Making Vegan Pasta Salad: Mix Dressing and Pour Over Salad
    • You can serve your pasta salad right away, or cover it up and chill it in the fridge for later.
    • Tip: chilling your pasta salad for at least a few hours will give the flavors a chance to meld.
    Close Up of Vegan Pasta Salad with Olives, Red Peppers, Herbs, and Mushrooms

    Shelf Life & Storage

    Vegan pasta salad should keep in a sealed container in the fridge for about 3 or 4 days. The exact time it keeps will depend on how fresh your herbs are when you make it!

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is pasta vegan?

    Most dried pasta is vegan! There are a few exceptions like egg noodles and some protein added pastas. Always check the ingredients to be safe.

    Can this pasta salad be made gluten-free?

    Yup! Just use your favorite gluten-free pasta.

    Can I serve pasta salad hot?

    Sure! It's intended to be served cool, but would be delicious hot as well — you could even make a main dish of it!

    Bowl of Vegan Pasta Salad on a White Wood Surface with Spoon and Cloth on the Side

    More Cool Vegan Side Salads

    • Creamy Cucumber Dill Salad
    • Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
    • Creamy Vegan Macaroni Salad
    • Vegan Greek Orzo Salad
    • Dijon & Herb Potato Salad

    Like this recipe? If so, be sure to follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram, or subscribe to my newsletter. And please stop back and leave me a review and rating below if you make it!

    Close Up of Vegan Pasta Salad in a Glass Bowl
    5 from 1 vote
    Print

    The Best Vegan Pasta Salad

    This vegan pasta salad is made with rotini pasta dressed in a tangy balsamic vinaigrette and tossed with artichoke hearts, marinated mushrooms, roasted red peppers, olives and herbs!

    Course Side
    Cuisine American, Italian
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes
    Total Time 25 minutes
    Servings 6
    Calories 216 kcal
    Author Alissa

    Ingredients

    • 8 ounces dried rotini pasta
    • ¼ cup olive oil
    • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
    • 2 garlic cloves, minced
    • ¼ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • ¾ cup marinated mushrooms
    • ½ cup Kalamata olives
    • ½ cup marinated artichoke hearts, quartered
    • ½ cup roasted red peppers, chopped
    • ½ cup thinly sliced radicchio
    • ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
    • ¼ cup chopped fresh basil
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    1. Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook it according to the package directions.

    2. Drain the pasta into a colander and transfer it to a large bowl. Toss it with a dash of olive oil to prevent sticking.

    3. While the pasta cooks, place the oil, balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper into a small bowl or shaker. Whisk or shake until the ingredients are thoroughly mixed.
    4. Pour the dressing over the pasta, and add the remaining ingredients. Toss until everything is mixed and coated with dressing.

    5. Taste-test your pasta salad and season it with more salt and pepper to taste.

    6. Serve immediately or cover tightly and chill for later.

    Nutrition Facts
    The Best Vegan Pasta Salad
    Amount Per Serving (1 cup)
    Calories 216 Calories from Fat 103
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 11.4g18%
    Saturated Fat 1.6g8%
    Sodium 292mg12%
    Potassium 126mg4%
    Carbohydrates 24.3g8%
    Fiber 0.9g4%
    Sugar 1.5g2%
    Calcium 20mg2%
    Iron 2.2mg12%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    « Vegan Pad Thai
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    About Alissa Saenz

    Hi, I'm Alissa! I'm a former attorney turned professional food blogger. I love creating vegan recipes with bold flavors! You can read more about me here.

    I'd love to connect with you on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Laura says

      July 19, 2017 at 11:05 pm

      This recipe looks delicious! I used to love pasta salad but gave it up because they always seem to have feta in them :(
      Just wondering what marinated mushrooms are? Do you have a specific recipe you follow?

      Reply
      • Alissa Saenz says

        July 21, 2017 at 2:53 pm

        Thank you! You can actually find them in jars, usually near the artichoke hearts and olives. Cento is the brand I believe I used. There are tons of recipes for them online - basically you boil the mushrooms and then pickle them in some vinegar and spices. I haven't tried any though, so I'm not sure I can point you to a specific one.

        Reply
    2. Jerrilynne says

      April 10, 2022 at 3:18 pm

      Alissa I really like this recipe. I have made it 3 or 4 times now. Thank you for sharing your recipes. Delicious!

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Alissa! I'm a former attorney turned professional food blogger. I love creating vegan recipes with bold flavors!

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