Gluten-Free Caesar Pasta Salad (Vegan)
This vegan and gluten-free Caesar Pasta Salad is perfect as a side dish to go along with your choice of plant protein, or you can top with plant-based chicken and make it a meal! Gluten-free pasta tossed with lettuce, cherry tomatoes, a homemade vegan caesar dressing and toasted breadcrumbs.
If you like caesar salad and you like pasta salad this Caesar Pasta Salad is the best combination of the two recipes. It’s easy to make and perfect to share as a side dish at a summer picnic 🧺 or cookout. It’s great for holiday parties, like Memorial Day, Fourth of July, or Labor Day!
The Ingredients
This pasta salad is simple to make and best enjoyed right away. Here’s what you need.
Gluten-free pasta. I used Banza chickpea pasta to add some plant-based protein to this recipe.
Lettuce 🥬 Traditionally romaine lettuce is used in a caesar salad, but you can use your favorite lettuce.
Cherry tomatoes 🍅 You’ll need 1½ cups cherry tomatoes, sliced in half. This salad is a great way to use up some of those cherry tomatoes from your summer garden!
Gluten-free breadcrumbs. Adding toasted breadcrumbs to the pasta salad replaces the croutons and adds a great flavor and a bit of crunch.
Vegan parmesan cheese. I make my own vegan parmesan cheese and keep it stocked in my fridge at all times! It’s so good and adds the best seasoned flavor to this Caesar Pasta Salad. You may also buy vegan parmesan cheese and use that.
The Homemade Caesar Dressing
I make my own vegan caesar dressing for this Caesar Pasta Salad. It’s easy to whip up and you’ll have a little extra on hand to use in another meal later in the week, like maybe my Kale Caesar Salad, Grilled Romaine Caesar Salad, or Roasted Caesar Potato Salad!
Simply combine all of the Caesar dressing ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and creamy.
Unlike other pasta salad recipe, because we’re using gluten free noodles, it’s best if you make this pasta salad right before serving. Instead of chilling the noodles overnight, it’s better to just rinse the noodles with cold water and then combine with the other ingredients.
If you’re looking to make this more of a meal, top with plant-based chicken! I used Abbot’s Butcher Chick’n for a chicken caesar pasta salad.
I hope this recipe is a fresh new way for you to enjoy caesar salad! It’s simple, flavorful and delicious! Let me know what you think down below in the comments section, as well as giving it a five star rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ so that others can discover this gluten-free vegan pasta salad recipe! Tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest!
Gluten-Free Caesar Pasta Salad (Vegan)
This vegan and gluten-free Caesar Pasta Salad is perfect as a side dish to go along with your choice of plant protein, or you can top with plant-based chicken and make it a meal! Gluten-free pasta tossed with lettuce, cherry tomatoes, a homemade vegan caesar dressing and toasted breadcrumbs.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces gluten-free pasta (I used Banza chickpea pasta for added protein!)
- ⅓ cup gluten-free breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1½ cups cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
- 2 cups lettuce (such as romaine), chopped
- 3 tablespoons vegan parmesan cheese (I used my own homemade* SEE NOTES BELOW)
Optional
- plant-based chicken
Vegan Caesar Dressing
- 1/2 cup vegan mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons tahini
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons capers
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 cup vegan parmesan cheese
Instructions
Cook the pasta according to package directions.
While the pasta is cooking, head a small skillet over medium heat. In a small bowl, toss the breadcrumbs with the teaspoon of olive oil and then spread them out in an even layer in the skillet, toast them until they start to turn golden, tossing occasionally so they don't burn.
To make the dressing, combine all of the dressing ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Set aside.
Drain and rinse the pasta with cold water, and shake it to get any excess water off the noodles. Add the noodles to a large bowl along with ½ cup of the caesar dressing, the chopped lettuce, sliced tomatoes, vegan parmesan cheese, and ¼ cup of toasted breadcrumbs. Toss to combine. Top with more toasted breadcrumbs and serve with more of the caesar dressing if desired.
To make this a meal, you can top the pasta salad with cooked plant-based chicken!
Notes
* Recipe for my homemade: vegan parmesan cheese.
** This pasta salad is best served right away. Gluten-free pasta tends to get hard/fall apart if you make it ahead of time or chill it.
