Vegan Creamy Tomato Pasta

by Kayla Berman on Aug 30, 2021 (updated May 3, 2022) 0 comments

There is not much I love more in this life than pasta! And I’m not going to lie, one of my all time favorites is a vodka or pink sauce pasta. It’s just so good! However, I can’t say I always love the heaviness. So I created a plant-based, lighter version with this Vegan Creamy Tomato Pasta. It’s rich & cozy enough for date night, but light enough for a weeknight dinner. Pretty much the perfect pasta dish!

Vegan Creamy Tomato Pasta is made with fresh garlic & shallot, rigatoni pasta, vegan butter, and dairy free creamer. This homemade plant-based pasta dish is cozy, light, and delicious all at the same time. Top with fresh basil and parmesan cheese (vegan if needed!) for the ultimate date night or even an easy weeknight dinner!

Ingredients needed for this Vegan Tomato Sauce & Pasta…

This recipe calls for all your classic creamy pasta ingredients with a vegan spin!

Pasta: You of course need pasta for this recipe. You will need 16 oz of pasta and I recommend rigatoni!
Tomato Sauce: Canned tomato sauce is the base of this creamy sauce. You will need 1 15 oz can.
Tomato Paste: You will also need tomato paste! This ingredient really helps to get a concentrated & delicious tomato flavor. Add 2 tbsp.
Dairy Free Creamer: Dairy free creamer makes this sauce perfectly creamy! You’ll need 3/4 cup.
Garlic & Shallot: Chopped shallot and minced garlic add some serious flavor to this pasta recipe. Add 1 shallot & 2 garlic cloves!
Vegan Butter: Use vegan butter to sauté the garlic & shallot. It also adds a delicious flavor and creaminess too! You’ll need 3 tbsp.
Italian Seasoning, Salt, & Pepper: Add 1 tsp of Italian seasoning and salt & pepper to taste to this creamy tomato sauce.
Fresh Basil: Fresh basil is optional here, but it adds a beautiful garnish and delicious taste!

How is this Creamy Tomato Sauce made vegan?

There are a couple swaps in this recipe that make the creamy tomato sauce completely vegan! Vegan butter and dairy free creamer are used in place of your classic butter and heavy cream. You could also top with vegan parmesan cheese!

The result is not only a vegan, dairy free dish … but a much lighter pasta recipe that still tastes just as rich & delicious! You can find my exact vegan substitute recommendations below.

How to make Vegan Creamy Tomato Pasta…

This Vegan Creamy Tomato Pasta is incredibly easy to make! It takes about 25 minutes from start to finish.

Start by cooking your pasta according to the package instructions.
Next chop the shallot finely & mince the garlic cloves.
Then add the shallot & garlic to a pan on the stove over medium heat with the vegan butter. Sauté for about 5 minutes until soft & fragrant.
Next add the tomato paste and sauté for another 1 minute.
Add the tomato sauce, salt, & pepper. Turn the heat to low and simmer for a few minutes.
Then add in the dairy free creamer, Italian seasoning, and more salt & pepper to taste. Mix until combined evenly.
Drain your pasta & add to the tomato sauce. Toss until all the pasta is covered. Season with extra salt, pepper, or Italian seasoning to taste.
Serve with parmesan cheese (vegan if needed!) & fresh basil.
Enjoy!

Vegan Tomato Sauce Pasta FAQs…

What type of pasta should I use?

I recommend you use rigatoni pasta for this recipe! It really gives the whole rigatoni alla vodka feel and catches all the delicious sauce.

Which dairy free products work best in this recipe?

Here are the exact dairy free products I used in this recipe. I highly recommend these because I know they work well and will give you the same results I had!

Tip! Whichever dairy free creamer you decide to use, make sure it is unsweetened & unflavored.

Can I customize this dish at all?

Yes, you can totally customize! I think the best place to customize this sauce is in the seasonings. Feel free to add more or less of the ones listed or add in some of your favorites. Crushed red pepper flakes, oregano, or parsley would all be delicious additions!

Tip! Make sure to add lots of salt, pepper, and any other seasonings you choose. Since dairy free creamers usually have a slightly sweet taste, even if you use unsweetened, this will help to balance that out!

How to serve this recipe…

You can serve this recipe just as is, with a little bit of fresh basil and parmesan cheese on top!

Or add a protein source! If you’re vegan try tofu or beans. Grilled chicken, grilled shrimp, or chicken sausage would be delicious if you’re not.

How to store Vegan Creamy Tomato Pasta…

Store Vegan Creamy Tomato Pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for about 1 week!

Looking for more pasta recipes? Check out the delicious ones below…

Connect with me!

If you make Vegan Creamy Tomato Pasta or any of my other recipes I would absolutely love to know! Tag me @wellnessbykay on instagram, so I can see and share your recreation.

Love this recipe? Leave a comment and a rating! I love to see and it helps me continue to develop delicious recipes for this blog.