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    Home » Recipes » Salads

    Colorful Vegan Pasta Salad Recipe (20 Minutes Only)

    Published: Jan 3, 2022 · Modified: Aug 10, 2022 by Marinela

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    The best vegan recipe for pasta salad with wholesome veggies is an easy and healthy side dish or light & tasty make-ahead meal prep for work or school.

    Life-giving, God-made food on a plate!

    Planning to enjoy a super quick and delicious plant-based pasta salad without meat or mayo?

    Best cold vegan pasta salad in a dish with a fork. Plant-based and weight-loss friendly recipe (no mayo).

    This cold pasta salad packed with flavor will surely hit the spot.

    It's hearty, fresh, filling, totally customizable, ready in just 20 minutes, and so satisfying.

    No matter the season it's perfect as a main or side to brighten up your table for any family gatherings, potlucks, or picnics. Pair it with these golden potato latkes, crispy zucchini fritters, or this oil-free vegan ranch dressing and see how they instantly disappear. 🙂

    Now, are you ready for a big bowl of this yummy veggie salad? Let's make it right away!

    Ingredients for a Vegan Pasta Salad

    Simple plant-based ingredients for preparing tasty vegetarian pasta salad recipe: pasta, avocado, green peas, corn, olives, cherry tomatoes, olive oil, capers, mustard and easy dressing.

    You definitely don't need any meat or dairy to enjoy a delightful dish of pasta salad. All you need are a few simple, budget-friendly ingredients to prepare this vegan pasta salad recipe:

    • Pasta of choice (rotini, farfalle, penne, macaroni, elbows, shells, or gluten-free pasta as needed)
    • Avocados
    • Cherry tomatoes
    • Olives
    • Green peas
    • Corn
    • Red Onion
    • Capers
    • Extra virgin olive oil
    • Mustard
    • Lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
    • Salt and freshly ground black pepper

    As always, you can find the full recipe with a list of ingredients with measurements in a printable recipe card at the end of this post.

    Time needed: 20 minutes.

    How to make a cold pasta salad recipe without mayo?

    1. Cook pasta and prepare vegetables

      First, cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and rinse pasta under cool running water. Don't overcook the pasta.
      While the pasta is cooking, finely chop your veggies. After that, make the dressing.

      Wholesome and budget-friendly colorful veggies and pasta in a pot for cooking yummy weight-loss friendly pasta salad.

    2. Assemble the salad

      Next, in a big bowl (or the pot where the pasta was cooked) assemble pasta with chopped vegetables. Pour the dressing and gently toss everything to combine.

      Colorful pasta salad with healthy vegetables in a pot with wooden spoon.

    3. Serve and enjoy

      Serve your homemade pasta salad immediately, at room temperature, or chilled. For added flavor sprinkle with some red pepper flakes and black (Nigella) seeds before serving. Enjoy!

      Healthy and colorful salad in a dish

    Is pasta salad good for you?

    Absolutely! Featuring a wide variety of colorful veggies and refreshing homemade vinaigrette, this gorgeous vegetable pasta salad offers you huge nutritional benefits. It's loaded with plant fiber, essential vitamins and minerals, and powerful antioxidants. A real treat for your body, indeed! This nutrient-rich salad will surely help you stay healthy and boost your immune system fast. In fact, it's perfect for those days when you are hungry but still need your daily dose of greens.

    How long will pasta salad last?

    You can keep this flavorful pasta salad in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge. The taste is even better the day after when all the flavors are nicely blended together. It's great for lunchboxes or weeknight dinners.

    Best cold pasta salad in a dish on black granite table with healthy veggies.

    Is pasta salad good for weight loss?

    If you're looking to slim down this no-mayo vegan pasta salad is undoubtedly the best option for you. In fact, this good-for-you balanced meal will actually fill you up and help you maintain your weight-loss goals. Since this easy-to-make salad is full of fiber and healthy fats (thanks to avocados) it'll keep you feeling full and satisfied longer after eating it. This fat-burning pasta & veggie mix proves that smart choices can be simple and wonderfully pleasing. Clean eating can be such a delight, don't you think?

    Why you'll love this vegan pasta salad? It's:

    Quick and easy plant-based salad in a pot.
    • Crowd-pleasing
    • Kid-friendly
    • Meatless
    • Dairy-free
    • Eggless
    • Vibrant
    • Full of freshness
    • Affordable
    • Loaded with veggies
    • Weight-loss friendly
    • Incredibly delicious

    More Quick & Easy Side Dishes that go with any Meal

    • High-Protein Chickpea Tuna Salad
    • Crispy Oven-Roasted Broccoli
    • Perfectly Seasoned Roasted Baby Potatoes
    • Best Low-Calorie Zucchini Fritters
    • Light & Bright Butter Lettuce Salad
    Easy pasta salad vegan recipe with wholesome veggies as a side-dish, dinner, or light meal prep for work or school.

    20 Minute Vegan Pasta Salad Recipe (Quick & Easy Side Dish)

    Marinela
    The best vegan recipe for pasta salad with wholesome veggies is an easy and healthy side dish or a tasty light make-ahead meal prep for work or school.
    5 from 10 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course dinner, Main Course, Salad, Side Dish, Starter
    Cuisine dairy-free, Plant-based, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 515 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 Cooking pot
    • 1 Knife
    • 1 Wooden cutting board
    • 1 Spoon

    Ingredients
      

    • 14 oz (400 gr) pasta choose you favorite: rotini, farfalle, penne, macaroni, elbows, shells, or gluten-free pasta as needed
    • 2 avocados
    • 1 ½ cup cherry tomatoes halved
    • ½ cup olives sliced
    • 1 cup green peas
    • 1 cup corn
    • 1 red onion small, chopped
    • 1 tablespoon capers rinsed, drained, chopped

    Pasta Salad Dressing

    • 4 tablespoon olive oil extra virgin
    • 2 tablespoon mustard
    • 3 tablespoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
    • salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

    Instructions
     

    • First, cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and rinse pasta under cool running water. Don't overcook the pasta. While the pasta is cooking, finely chop your veggies. After that, make the dressing.
      Wholesome and budget-friendly colorful veggies and pasta in a pot for cooking yummy weight-loss friendly pasta salad.
    • Next, in a big bowl (or the pot where the pasta was cooked) assemble pasta with chopped vegetables. Pour the dressing and gently toss everything to combine.
      Colorful pasta salad with healthy vegetables in a pot with wooden spoon.
    • Serve your homemade pasta salad immediately, at room temperature, or chilled. For added flavor sprinkle with some red pepper flakes and black (Nigella) seeds before serving. Enjoy!
      Healthy and colorful salad in a dish

    Notes

    • Cooking time for every pasta is different, so make sure you cook yours according to the package instructions. Do not overcook. Otherwise, your salad will be mushy and pasta will be without shape.
    • This pasta salad is so versatile. You can use finely diced tomatoes instead of cherry tomatoes, yellow onion or scallions instead of red onion, or substitute peas with cucumber or broccoli.
    • If you don't have capers you can add more black or green olives or finely chopped pickles.
    • Add more seasonings if you desire.
    • It's best to chop all vegetables as finely as possible so you'll get a little bit of everything when eating it.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 515kcalCarbohydrates: 68gProtein: 13gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 15gSodium: 284mgPotassium: 715mgFiber: 10gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 583IUVitamin C: 31mgCalcium: 47mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword cold pasta salad, easy vegetarian pasta salad, no mayo, pasta salad vegan recipe, plant-based salad recipe, vegan pasta salad with avocado, weight-loss pasta salad
    Tried this recipe?Snap a photo & tag me @go_eatgreen or #go_eatgreen!

    Don’t forget to pin or share this post so you’ll have this pasta salad recipe ready when you need it!

    Quick and easy plant-based vegan pasta salad (no mayo).

    Did you try this quick and easy pasta salad vegan recipe? If you tried it, please rate it, leave a comment below, and share your photo on Instagram with the tag @go_eatgreen and hashtag it #go_eatgreen. I would love to see your pictures and your comments just make my day!

    Follow me on Pinterest for more easy and delicious vegan recipe ideas.

    Love, Marinela💚

    More Salads

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    Filed Under: Dinner, Entree, Salads, Side dish Tagged With: cold pasta salad, easy vegetarian pasta salad, no mayo, pasta salad vegan recipe, plant-based salad recipe, vegan pasta salad with avocado, weight-loss pasta salad

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kayla DiMaggio

      January 03, 2022 at 5:30 pm

      5 stars
      This vegan pasta salad recipe is so amazing! It is the perfect pasta salad to bring to any gathering and I love that it is full of whole ingredients!

      Reply
      • Marinela

        January 03, 2022 at 8:47 pm

        Oh, yes, it's an ideal food to bring on any friends & family gatherings. I'm glad you enjoyed it, Kayla. Thank you for commenting!

        Reply
    2. Anthony

      January 03, 2022 at 9:33 pm

      5 stars
      Fantastic article with some delicious looking recipes. Can't wait to give some of these a go. Thankyou.

      Reply
      • Marinela

        January 05, 2022 at 10:34 pm

        Thank you, Anthony, let me know if you give some of them a try!

        Reply
    3. Holly

      January 03, 2022 at 10:08 pm

      5 stars
      Great side for pizza night! Would also be good for summertime potlucks!

      Reply
      • Marinela

        January 05, 2022 at 10:35 pm

        Absolutely! Super easy meal prep for every social gathering. Thank you, Holly, for commenting!

        Reply
    4. nancy

      January 03, 2022 at 11:26 pm

      5 stars
      can't go wrong with a 20 min salad thats fibre rich!

      Reply
      • Marinela

        January 05, 2022 at 10:36 pm

        I couldn't agree more! Thank you, Nancy, for commenting!

        Reply
    5. Amanda

      January 04, 2022 at 12:59 am

      5 stars
      This is such a great pasta salad recipe! Love the mustard/ lemon combination for the dressing

      Reply
      • Marinela

        January 05, 2022 at 10:36 pm

        Thank you, Amanda, for such a lovely comment!

        Reply
    6. Andrea White

      January 04, 2022 at 5:07 am

      5 stars
      Love this pasta dish! So good!

      Reply
      • Marinela

        January 05, 2022 at 10:36 pm

        Glad you love it, Andrea, thank you!

        Reply
    7. Anaiah

      January 05, 2022 at 6:43 pm

      5 stars
      I love this easy vegan pasta salad recipe and how simple it is to make. I could eat it as a whole meal by itself!

      Reply
      • Marinela

        January 05, 2022 at 10:37 pm

        Me too 🙂 I'm glad you love it, Anaiah, thank you for your lovely comment!

        Reply
    8. Aneta

      February 21, 2022 at 9:19 pm

      5 stars
      Super tasty! 💚

      Reply
      • Marinela

        February 22, 2022 at 3:30 pm

        Thank you, Aneta!

        Reply

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    A vegan food blogger, photographer, and recipe developer who is passionate about cooking simple, tasty, and budget-friendly recipes with wholesome God-given ingredients. Welcome to my vegan world! My goal is to share these delicious plant-based recipes with you so you can lead more healthy and happy lives!

    More about me →

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