10-Ingredient Creamy Vegan Pantry Pasta

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This 10-Ingredient Creamy Vegan Pantry Pasta is made with just a handful of everyday pantry staples and it’ll quickly become part of your regular easy weeknight dinner rotation. It’s creamy, cheesy, and smoky and indulgent yet healthy, and guaranteed to be a crowd pleasing meal.
Prep 10 minutes
Cook 15 minutes
Total 25 minutes
5 from 233 votes

I am often in the mood for a creamy comforting pasta, and this 10-Ingredient Creamy Vegan Pantry Pasta is the easiest option that actually tastes amazing.

It’s made with just pantry ingredients, is quick and simple to make, and is packed with flavor. It’s also easy to customize, so you can round it out with your favorite vegetable or protein.

This recipe is straightforward, but if you want a few cooking tips (including the proper way to dice an onion and peel garlic) or want to see me cooking in action, I’ve included the video down below.

If you love the sound of a pantry-friendly pasta, you should also try my 10-Ingredient Lentil Bolognese and my Italian White Bean and Pasta Stew!

And for even more pasta-recipes, check out my round-up of 30 amazing vegan pasta recipes right here!

Watch: How to make Creamy Pantry Pasta!

Why you’ll love this vegan pantry pasta

10 main ingredients. Okay, not counting water, oil, salt and pepper. But yeah, just 10 main ingredients, woohoo!

Pantry staples. And all those ingredients are pantry staples (i.e., you might already have all the required ingredients in your pantry).

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Budget-friendly. In addition to being a pantry meal, it’s budget-friendly!

Weeknight-friendly. It takes 20ish minutes to make, from start to finish.

Comfort food heaven. It’s creamy, cheesy, and smoky, and incredibly indulgent. It tastes like a slightly smoky version of fettuccine Alfredo! It was inspired by my Creamy Mushroom Stroganoff, which is one of my most popular recipes, so you know it’s good!

Easy to customize. Feel free to make this your own meal. Toss in frozen peas at the end, pair with a side of roasted broccoli, bulk up with some beans or tofu or your favorite protein source. I personally love it with roasted broccoli or charred zucchini and smoked tofu.

10-Ingredient Creamy Vegan Pantry Pasta. Pasta food photography.

Substitutions for this recipe

Gluten-free? Use gluten-free soy sauce (aka tamari), use gluten-free flour or cornstarch, and use gluten-free pasta.

Plant milk. Canned lite coconut milk is the most pantry-friendly option, but I typically use oat milk because I always have it on hand. Any creamy plant-based milk such as oat, coconut, cashew, or soy will work—just make sure it’s a plain / unsweetened variety.

No tahini? The tahini adds extra richness and creaminess, so you can omit it, though at least one reader subbed almond butter with delicious results.

No Dijon or coarse-grain mustard? Add a splash of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. The acidity at the end helps balance the creamy richness.

creamy pantry pasta in a bowl

If you give this recipe a try, be sure to tag me on Instagram with your recreations and please rate and review the recipe below :)

10-Ingredient Creamy Vegan Pantry Pasta

5 from 233 votes
This 10-Ingredient Creamy Vegan Pantry Pasta is made with just a handful of everyday pantry staples and it’ll quickly become part of your regular easy weeknight dinner rotation. It’s creamy, cheesy, and smoky and indulgent yet healthy, and guaranteed to be a crowd pleasing meal.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: Italian-Inspired, New American
Diet Vegan
Serving size: 3

Ingredients

  • 1 generous tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for mild heat)
  • 3/4 cup (180 mL) vegetable broth or water
  • 1 tablespoon reduced-sodium tamari or soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour*
  • 3/4 cup (180 mL) canned “lite” coconut milk or unsweetened oat milk (ideally a creamy full-fat version)**
  • 1 tablespoon tahini
  • 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt + more to taste
  • Freshly cracked black pepper to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 6 ounces (170g) linguine, fettuccine, or any pasta of choice (including gluten-free)
  • Optional garnishes: chopped flat-leaf parsley or vegan parmesan cheese

Instructions

  • Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta until al dente.
  • Meanwhile, heat a deep sauté pan over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Once the oil is shimmering, add the onions and season with a pinch of kosher salt. Cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned around the edges. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes (if using), and stir to combine for 1 minute, until fragrant.
  • While the onions are cooking, pour the vegetable broth (or water) into a measuring cup or bowl and add in the tamari or soy sauce and flour. Whisk to combine until all the flour is dissolved.
  • Pour the vegetable broth-flour mixture into the onion-garlic mixture and whisk to combine, ensuring there are no flour clumps. It should thicken almost immediately. Reduce the heat to medium-low and pour in the coconut milk or oat milk, tahini, nutritional yeast, paprika, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and black pepper to taste. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes***, or until the sauce is thickened and very creamy, whisking occasionally.
  • Stir in the Dijon mustard, and taste for seasonings, adding more salt as needed. Turn on the pan with the sauce to low heat and add the hot cooked pasta. Use tongs to toss the pasta until it's well coated in the sauce and it's all heated through. Garnish with parsley and/or vegan parm, if using.

Notes

* If you’re gluten-free, you can substitute with (a) 2 tablespoons gluten-free all-purpose flour or (b) 1 tablespoon cornstarch.
** I use oat milk because I usually have it on hand, but any creamy plant-based milk will work. If all you have is canned full-fat coconut milk, be sure to stir well and water it down a bit.
*** *If your milk is not as creamy, you might need to simmer a few extra minutes. If you double the recipe, simmer for 10 minutes. 

Calories: 375kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 780mg | Potassium: 293mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 175IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 2mg

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311 comments on 10-Ingredient Creamy Vegan Pantry Pasta

  1. Kevin Robinson

    5 stars
    This recipie has become one of our weekly staples, the only change we made is adding a bunch of sautéed mushrooms!

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Awesome, Kevin. Thanks for your comment and for taking the time to review!

  2. Katie

    5 stars
    I make this every single week. DELICIOUS! Being vegan made me miss a really good, creamy pasta. This dish hits the spot.

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Thanks for the lovely feedback, Katie!

  3. Britt

    5 stars
    Everyone loved it!

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Awesome, Britt. Thanks for your comment and for taking the time to review!

  4. Loren

    5 stars
    This pasta is excellent. I just got back from a camping trip & my fridge is empty. I needed a simple pantry meal & I had all these ingredients. I doubled it to feed 4 adults (+a portion of leftovers). I added diced bell pepper with the onion & some frozen peas at the end. Everyone in the house loved it & my wife suggested I send this recipe to my MiL who loves parmesan noodles, since it’s creamy and she claims the taste is similar. This will definitely be going into my rotation. I’m excited to pair it with other veggies and see how it tastes.

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Loren, So glad to hear you loved this recipe! :)

  5. Ryley W.

    5 stars
    I never leave reviews but I just had to for this recipe! This is like high end restaurant quality pasta! Complex flavor, creamy mouthfeel, and that smoky element just fills my heart with joy! Hands down the BEST pasta recipe on the internet today.

    My only suggestion is to double the batch and be sure to have leftovers for a late night snack or for lunch the next day. Learned my lesson this time and I won’t be making that mistake again 😂

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Thanks for the lovely feedback, Ryley!

  6. Raven

    5 stars
    Okay… this recipe should be illegal for how AMAZING it is. Literally I have never tasted a pasta dish quite like this before and it is so delicious. This is an incredible, umami, creamy, and FLAVORFUL pasta dish, and I wish I found it sooner. So unique and tasty; the onions mixed with the soy sauce and mustard… perfection. I added some spinach straight to the sauce and it came out perfect. Another amazing recipe by Miss Nisha!

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Raven, So glad to hear you loved this recipe! :) Thanks for the wonderful review!

  7. Arianne

    5 stars
    This is so good! I used the coconut milk and added peas. Next time I might add mushrooms. Even my 19 month old ate a bunch and my husband loved it also!! I will definitely make this again.

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Thanks for the lovely feedback, Arianne!

  8. Alena

    4 stars
    I really love the taste of this sauce! I used oat milk in this which my sister insists made it taste funny (she’s a bit anti-vegan), but my grandmother (who rarely enjoys non-Chinese food) finished her plate. THAT is insanely impressive. There is a slight kick of spice, a pleasant tanginess, and delicious creamy goodness.
    I will be making this more often.

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Thanks for sharing, Alena!

  9. Sinead Kirkwood

    5 stars
    Amazing recipe, came out perfectly first time round. Boyfriend who I’m attempting to convert to vegan, also a big fan.
    I topped with some salted peanuts which went well.

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Sinead, So glad to hear you loved this recipe!

  10. Heather Landale

    5 stars
    This was flippin amazing!! My hubby was a happy man… :)

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Heather, So glad to hear you loved this recipe!

  11. Yosseline

    5 stars
    I tried this recipe yesterday. I doubled the recipe for meal prep and it’s delicious! It is so creamy yet light!

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Yosseline, So glad to hear you loved this recipe!

  12. Samantha

    5 stars
    I don’t usually leave comments on recipes but I had to on this one… the dish is absolutely lovely; creamy, unctuous, savory… hits the spot entirely. I made it exactly as prescribed (using oat milk). You would assume there was a boat-load of cream and butter in this as it’s rich, thick and super silky. Marvellous!

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Awesome, Samantha. Thanks for your comment and for taking the time to review!

  13. Sarah Wade

    5 stars
    This does not taste like anything else I make, in the best way! Such a unique combination of flavors and so creamy. All with ingredients that are already sitting in my pantry! Love this

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Thanks for the lovely feedback, Sarah!

  14. Jeannine Johnson

    Outstanding, delicious, amazing! Everything came together perfectly. I am excited to try more of your recipes. I am new to the vegan diet. I will definitely take pointers and direction from you.

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Thanks for sharing, Jeannine!

  15. Lily

    5 stars
    Made this tonight— my husband ate his portion and the extra that was going to be my lunch tomorrow;) He added sriracha on top, but he basically puts that on everything. I made it per the recipe, but I’ll probably try it with veggies next time. Very yummy.

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Thanks for sharing, Lily!

  16. Lenita

    5 stars
    I received your wonderful cookbook as a gift and have been making your recipes. I’m blown away by the flavor of every single one that I’ve prepared. Thank you for your amazing creations! You are truly a gifted chef!

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Thank you so much for leaving this comment, Lenita! We are beyond thrilled you’ve found so much value in the cookbook!

  17. Mr Patten

    5 stars
    I really like it

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Thanks for the lovely feedback!

  18. Alejandra

    I make this all the time, what a great weeknight dinner!

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Hi Alejandra, we’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed this recipe! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating alongside your review? Star ratings are big help to readers who are thinking of making the recipe. Thanks!

  19. Audrey

    5 stars
    Absolutely love this recipe! It has become a staple for us for weeknight dinners. I’ve made many variations with different veggies, mock meats, pastas, etc. and they’ve all turned out great! Only difference I make is omitting the soy sauce because the better than bouillon vegetable broth I use is already salty enough :) Your recipes never disappoint!!

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Awesome, Audrey. Thanks for your comment and for taking the time to review!

  20. Michelle M Niinisto

    5 stars
    I made this tonight and it was delicious!! It was a little salty, so I added more coconut milk and nooch to even it out. Other than that, perfection! Oh, and I added some frozen veggies. I’m glad I have some leftovers for lunch tomorrow!

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Awesome, Michelle. Thanks for your comment and for taking the time to review!

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