60+ Best Vegan Italian Recipes—From pasta to soups, risottos, and more, you are sure to find a bunch of great new vegan recipes to try in this compilation of vegan Italian recipes.
Hey Internet, We LOVE Italian food here at ZardyPlants. And while we aren't Italian ourselves and don't claim that any of these recipes model authentic Italian cooking, we love making Italian-inspired food. Besides, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!
While most people think of pasta dishes when they think of Italian food, there are so many more Italian dishes that are revered around the world such as risottos, creamy sauces, soups, PIZZA, and so much more.
Have you ever wondered if you can still enjoy Italian food while on a plant-based diet? Being plant based for 7+ years has given us the time to really explore using basic ingredients to create amazing meals. We think you'll love these delicious vegan Italian recipes and still enjoy plant forward eating.
In this big list of Italian dishes, you'll find a vegan version for plenty of Italian recipes so you can make delicious weeknight dinners or special occasions, side dishes, soups, and more.
And once again, I do not claim that any of these classic recipes are authentic or better than traditionalItalian recipes. These are my vegan interpretation of classic dishes and I feel they are delicious and fun in their own right. Plus, they're vegan so no matter what your reason is for eating plant based (I have many, as I'm sure many plant-eaters do), you can find delicious recipes in here.
Are you ready to start talking Italian vegan food recipes perfect for the whole family and zero animal products of any kind? Andiamo!
Vegan Pasta Recipes
What list of vegan Italian recipes is complete without a whole section devoted to pasta?
Pasta is amazing. It can be anything from a simple dish with simple ingredients to an elaborate recipe with bold flavors.
I typically lean toward simpler recipes such as my Vegan Pastina (truly one of the most comforting dishes!), but since I do have to veganize each traditional Italian dish I attempt, I often have to make or buy a vegan substitute for cheese, cream, meat, etc. So it ends up being slightly more complex than maybe the traditional Italian version... but it's veganized and I think it can be fun to experiment anyway.
With some recipes, such as my Vegan Cacio e Pepe and Vegan Carbonara, I end up blending up a sauce to put on the pasta, and this is definitely not something you'd see in typical Italian kitchens. But we've already established that I believe tasty vegan Italian recipes can be fun to make and reminiscent of the traditional recipes without taking anything away from those recipes.
I really like pasta dishes with fresh ingredients too, such as in my Vegan Pasta Primavera with fresh vegetables and ripe tomatoes, Pasta with Zucchini and Mushrooms, Orzo Pesto Salad, Vegan Aglio e Olio, and Vegan Puttanesca Pasta.
Stuffed pasta is also an amazing concept, and I'm not sure if it originated in Italy but I sure do love some stuffed pasta recipes, such as our Vegan Stuffed Shells, and Vegan Manicotti.
Baked pasta is also an amazing concept. We have done quite a few of those, including our Vegan Baked Ziti, Vegan Pasta Bake, Vegan Baked Feta Pasta, Vegan Baked Brie Pasta, and Vegan Baked Mac and Cheese.
We also like to make a lot of sauces for pasta (Italian or not), like our Vegan Vodka Sauce, Broccoli Sauce for Pasta, Green Pea Pasta, Savory Coconut Pasta, and Vegan Meat Sauce.
Soups and Stews
In the colder months, it's definitely advantageous to start making some vegan soups and stews.
My favorite might be my Vegan Gnocchi Soup because it's pure comfort food, although the Vegan Zuppa Toscana takes a close second! So loaded with Italian flavor! Although, Vegan Orzo Soup is sooo good because it has a lemon chicken vibe.
I have this Butter Bean Ragout that is definitely Tuscan-inspired and so cozy, especially with some crispy or crunchy bread... try it with this easy Vegan Garlic Bread or Vegan Focaccia!
This Butter Bean Stew also has an Italian vibe and it is really delicious and easy to make! I just love butter beans...
Anyway, next season we will be working on a vegan Italian wedding soup (with meatballs!) and probably some vegan minestrone and vegan pasta e fagioli! We really want to add more to our collection of Vegan Soup Recipes.
Vegan Risotto
Okay, so I of course have to talk about risotto, a staple of Italian cuisine. Rice has been grown in southern Italy for hundreds of years and this dish is, in my opinion, one of the best things you can make with rice.
Risotto is a classic Italian dish that is based around a very rounded short grain rice. Most people know arborio rice to be the main rice used for risotto. I have learned through research that Vialone Nano or Carnaroli are also fantastic choices, but they can be harder to find. If you ever happen upon one of those options, pick it up—you won’t regret it.
You might have heard that risotto is labor intensive, or even that it’s difficult to make. I don’t believe either of those.
Risotto is just rice that’s cooked in a wider pot with small splashes of hot broth or water added slowly as it cooks, it makes it very creamy. The trick to good risotto is waiting until one ladleful (around a half cup or ⅔ cup) of liquid has been absorbed before adding another. Anyway, if you check out any of my risotto recipes, I've packed them with plenty of tips so that you too can enjoy this Italian staple.
Risotto makes for an excellent main or side. I have quite a few vegan risotto recipes with rich flavors including Garlic Risotto, Zucchini Risotto, Vegan Mushroom Risotto, Vegan Pumpkin Risotto, Vegan Asparagus Risotto, and Vegan Butternut Squash Risotto.
Next on my risotto bingo card I will be working on a red pepper risotto and likely a creamy tomato risotto.
Miscellaneous Vegan Italian Recipes
Okay, so this section is a little all over the place, but we have a bunch of ... miscellaneous (for lack of a better word) vegan Italian recipes here. Salads, sauces, and more random yet delicious foods will be the topic of this section.
As far as salads, we've got our classic Vegan Italian Salad plus a super creamy Vegan Italian Dressing. There's also this White Bean Salad featuring cannellini beans and this Butter Bean Salad that's also pretty special. Throw in your favorite fresh herbs and seasonal vegetables for a lovely dish!
Oh, and we also have a delicious Vegan Kale Caesar Salad. Don't forget the Easy Vegan Croutons!
For sauces, you can't go wrong with our classic Vegan Meat Sauce or our Vegan Ragu for delicious flavors and meaty texture. These go perfectly with our Vegan Garlic Bread or Vegan Focaccia on pasta night. The focaccia is especially delicious with a little extra virgin olive oil.
Speaking of pasta night, you definitely should try our Tofu Meatballs. And if you're a little sick of pasta, why not try our Tofu Gnocchi? Tender pillowy gnocchi made out of tofu are very similar to the classic Italian recipe for ricotta gnocchi. A little Vegan Parmesan Topping (instead of parmesan cheese) doesn't hurt either. I mean, you can use straight up nutritional yeast but I kinda feel this is better.
If pesto's more your deal, we've got a few of those: Vegan Cashew Pesto, Olive Pesto, Avocado Pesto, and the classic basil pesto in our Orzo Pesto Salad. If you're avoiding oil, try Liz's Oil-Free Pesto.
You could also argue that our Vegan Pepperoni and Vegan Salami are Italian-inspired, at least.
Last but hardly least, I couldn't create a list of vegan Italian recipes without talking about pizza night! I've got some classic yeasted Vegan Pizza Dough as well as a Quick Vegan Pizza Dough, which is actually my favorite because I'm impatient.
I love to make Air Fryer Pizza with that quick dough because ... like I said before, I'm impatient. Once in a while, my hubby and I will also make an epic Vegan Meat Lover's Pizza.
I'd definitely love to work on a lentil bolognese soon, and I'm also in the process of developing recipes for homemade vegan mozzarella cheese (I've currently got a recipe for a 5-Minute Stretchy Melty Vegan Mozzarella Sauce, but I'm working on recipes to make the actual balls of mozzarella. One of the first things I'm going to make with that is a vegan Caprese salad with some juicy tomatoes, fresh cracked black pepper, and fresh basil!
Oh and speaking of cheese, we also made our own recipe for Vegan Ricotta, which I'm obsessed with putting in or on pasta like our Vegan Ricotta Pasta with fresh and juicy tomatoes, Vegan Stuffed Shells, and Vegan Manicotti.
Italian Inspired Desserts
I only (currently) have a few Italian-inspired desserts: Vegan Tiramisu with homemade Vegan Ladyfingers and Vegan Mascarpone as well as a dessert/breakfast/snack hybrid which is my Tiramisu Chia Pudding.
There are definitely some easy vegan Italian desserts you could whip up, such as affogato which is espresso poured over ice cream, so just use a store bought vegan vanilla ice cream and you can easily make this treat at home.
I'm also working on a recipe for vegan panna cotta, which is an Italian classic dessert that is like a moulded pudding that stands up on its own. My version will likely be coconut milk based for richness, though I do want to test a version with soy milk.
I may also experiment with making a vegan cannoli in the future!
Vegan Italian Recipes List
But it's time now to share the big list of vegan Italian recipes! I hope this list has everything you're looking for and gives you some ideas for meals to make soon. And I hope you make at least one of these recipes, because we sure as heck would not do all this work to get these recipes tested (and retested, many times to make sure they're perfect), photographed, filmed, written up, etc. if we did not believe they were truly delicious vegan recipes. Buon appetito!
Vegan Italian Recipes
## Best Vegan Italian Recipes—From pasta to soups, risottos, and more, you are sure to find a bunch of great new vegan recipes to try in this compilation of vegan Italian recipes.
High Protein Tofu Gnocchi is an easy, delicious, and the ultimate comfort food. You only need 4 ingredients to make tender gnocchi that's ready for your favorite sauce—or simply pan fry them in a little olive oil for crispy gnocchi.
Vegan Stuffed Shells are a super cozy, flavorful, and easy dinner. With some jumbo shells and our 5-minute vegan ricotta filling, you'll soon have an amazing comfort dish in about 30 minutes. It's great for meal prep and family gatherings!
This creamy Vegan Gnocchi Soup is so cozy and easy to make in under 25 minutes. It tastes just like the Olive Garden classic but with chickpeas instead of chicken without sacrificing any flavor.
Cheesy, rich, and a little indulgent, this Vegan Cacio e Pepe is basically grown up mac and cheese. With only a few simple ingredients, this simple and easy dish packs a mighty bunch of flavor in a sophisticated and feels-fancy package.
Easy Vegan Panna Cotta is a delicious chilled vegan dessert made with just 4 ingredients! This simple and tasty vegan dessert is has a creamy texture and lovely sweet flavor that's refined sugar-free!
Tofu Meatballs are a super easy recipe that you'll love in your pasta! With no-beef bouillon and lots of spices, these flavorful meatless meatballs are ready in just 20 minutes! With over 17 grams of protein in each serving, you'll leave dinner feeling satisfied with this vegan meatball recipe!
Tiramisu Chia Pudding is an incredibly flavorful and easy to make breakfast-friendly version of a classic Italian dessert. This dairy-free chia pudding recipe is high in protein and healthy fats that will supercharge your morning and is easy to meal prep in advance!
This easy Butter Bean Stew is a great way to take canned beans and turn them into an amazing meal. It's ready in 30 minutes, it's an easy dinner that will give you leftover for the next day or so!
Bold, flavorful, smoky, and a little spicy, this Vegan Pepperoni is obscenely close to the real thing but without any animal cruelty or cholesterol. Use it on vegan pizza, in sandwiches, charcuterie boards, or just eat it on its own because it’s downright delicious!
This Vegan Kale Caesar Salad with Chickpea Croutons and Pickled Onions is a delicious twist on a classic salad. This salad is also protein-packed, super satisfying, and takes less than 15 minutes to throw together!
Crunchy and flavorful, these Easy Vegan Croutons are the perfect topping for soups and salads. Flavor them any way you wish and make them quickly in the oven or air fryer.
Meaty, salty, and savory, this delicious Vegan Salami is easy to make at home without any fancy equipment. It makes the perfect addition to any sandwich, vegan charcuterie board, pizza, or just a delicious snack with crackers.
Simple and completely delicious Vegan Focaccia is chewy yet soft with a super crispy exterior and immense flavor. You don’t need to be a pro baker to make this tasty yeasted bread. This dough rests overnight in the fridge for more flavor and hands-off time.
Butter Bean Salad is fresh and filling! With the buttery flavor of these big beans, fresh vegetables, and a super easy vinaigrette, this recipe is a great side dish with any meal. Take it with you on your next picnic.
Eh, feta isn't exactly Italian, but this is a baked pasta dish and it's REALLY delicious. Remember when it was viral a long time ago? This is the veganized version with my homemade vegan feta and it's totally amazing.
Creamy, bright, and delicious, this Vegan Vodka Sauce comes together in just 20 minutes with simple ingredients. It’s packed with flavor, incredibly easy to make, and is sure to become your go-to dinner with the pasta of your choice.
Easy, flavorful, and inexpensive, this Quick Vegan Pizza Dough will become your go-to for easy homemade pizza no matter what night of the week it is. With this quick-to-make versatile dough, you can make pizza or any number of other savory dishes.
Vegan Pastina is super simple comfort food that’s ready in just 15 minutes. It’s buttery, satisfying, and really easy to make.
Marry Me Butter Beans are a great way to transform two cans of beans into an elegant and flavorful meal to feed the whole family! With just some pantry staples and spices, you'll have this amazing dish in just 15 minutes. Eat it with a spoon or serve it with some crusty bread for a rustic taste of Italy! Best part is that this recipe is vegan and dairy-free too.
Pasta with Zucchini and Mushrooms is a fun way to have an easy 30 minute dinner with lots of veggies. Just make our rich and flavorful cashew sauce in a blender, boil some pasta, and cook your vegetables in a large skillet. Combine everything and then you have the perfect meal for the whole family to enjoy anytime!
Brie is French... but pasta is Italian, right? This meal is too good not to share. And it uses my homemade vegan brie!
Gooey, cheesy, and filling, this Vegan Pasta Bake is the perfect recipe for a yummy vegan dinner idea! Fitting in a 9x13 pan, this pasta bake is a great way to feed your whole family or do some meal planning.
Creamy, flavorful, and easy to prepare, this Vegan Sun-dried Tomato Pasta will be your new favorite weeknight dinner. Pantry staples come together to make this quick, and delicious vegan pasta for a simple and satisfying meal.
Creamy Zucchini Risotto is super flavorful and easy to make. This easy entrée or side is loaded with fresh vegetables and beautiful flavor.
Olive Pesto is a chunky sauce made with green olives, herbs, and olive oil! It's great on pasta and on bread, and is perfect for a dip. All you need is a food processor and you too can have a fresh yet rich and luscious meal with this great pesto recipe.
This Garlic Risotto is the ultimate creamy delicious dinner—and it’s vegan! Made to be the star of the show (but also works as a fabulous side dish), this garlic herb risotto is ready in 25-30 minutes and is packed with flavor.
This Creamy Vegan Orzo will be your new favorite quick dinner. With a sauce made from cashews (substitutions available) and sun-dried tomatoes, this recipe has a lot of flavor for only taking 15 minutes to make! Serve it as the perfect side dish or add a vegan protein for a complete meal.
This simple 3-ingredient vegan manicotti is cozy, delicious, and easy to make. Customize it any way you like, but this veganized classic is family friendly and comfort food at its best.
This Garlic Risotto is the ultimate creamy delicious dinner—and it’s vegan! Made to be the star of the show (but also works as a fabulous side dish), this garlic herb risotto is ready in 25-30 minutes and is packed with flavor.
Chewy, flavorful, and satisfying, this Easy Vegan Meat Sauce for Pasta will become a new household favorite. Make a single or multiple batches easily and save in the freezer for a quick meal later.
Quick and easy, this Vegan Garlic Bread is super delicious and flavorful. Make this cozy classic side dish in just 20 minutes with only 5 ingredients including the bread!
This super easy and flavorful Vegan Aglio e Olio Pasta dish is a quick and versatile meal. Dress it up with fancy olives, cook down some kale for a little nutrition, or ditch these suggestions and add whatever you like to this delicious vegan pasta dish.
Epic delicious food couldn’t get any easier with this Air Fryer Pizza, making any night a pizza night! Load it up with anything you like, throw it in the air fryer, and in 10-12 minutes you’ve got delicious homemade pizza.
These crispy and delicious Air Fryer Gnocchi are super easy and simple to make with only a few ingredients. Grab a bunch of shelf stable gnocchi next time you’re in the store (or make your own!) and keep them on hand for a quick snack or appetizer.
Cozy, flavorful, and hearty, this Vegan Orzo Soup is super easy to make in 30 minutes or less! It has a lemon chicken soup vibe and it’s packed with veggies, vegan protein, and SO MUCH FLAVOR you might not have leftovers.
Creamy and packed with flavor, this Vegan Mushroom Risotto is a delicious yet easy dish. Easy enough to make on a weeknight but fancy enough to serve guests, this versatile recipe is perfect for a main dish or show-stealing side.
Bright, simple, and flavorful, this Vegan White Bean Salad is the perfect summer side or light meal. With fresh ingredients like avocados, cucumbers, dill, and lemon, this satisfying bean salad comes together in minutes and is a great dish to bring to a potluck or BBQ.
This bright, fresh, and flavorful Vegan Cashew Pesto is the perfect addition to pasta, toast, crackers, potatoes, or whatever else you can think of. It’s so easy to make and so delicious that you’ll want to put it on just about everything!
Creamy, bright, and delicious, this easy Vegan Asparagus Risotto is packed with delicious spring flavors like lemon and asparagus, but with a cheesy twist. Great for a family dinner, Easter, a potluck, or meal prep, this meal is perfect any time of year.
Satisfying and oh-so-delicious, this Easy Vegan Ragu is a plant protein-packed weeknight meal. It only takes 30 minutes to make this family-friendly, hidden veggie, healthy recipe.
Bright, flavorful, and easy to make, this Orzo Pesto Salad is a delicious and quick entree or side. Made with fresh and simple ingredients and lots of flavor, this versatile dish will be enjoyed by everyone.
This vegan Tuscan Butter Bean Ragout is the perfect cozy and easy meal. Pair it with crusty bread, rice, pasta or enjoy just on its own. This vegan butter bean recipe is perfect for using up scrap veggies in the fridge, meal prep, or quick and wholesome meal for family.
Rich, decadent, and delicious this easy Vegan Tiramisu is an incredible plant-based dessert that’s sure to impress. Make the individual components from scratch or take a few shortcuts with store bought items.
Creamy, lush, and easy to make, this Vegan Mascarpone is a vegan take on a traditional Italian classic. Used in recipes such as my vegan Tiramisu, this easy vegan cheese is great as an ingredient, but also great just as a snack eaten savory or sweet.
Traditionally made from egg whites, these delicious Vegan Ladyfingers are made from a few simple ingredients and so quick and easy. Make them for delicious Vegan Tiramisu or just enjoy like any other sugar or shortbread cookie.
Creamy, thick, and delicious, this easy Vegan Ricotta Cheese is ready in only 5 minutes for pasta, potatoes, veggies, or whatever deliciousness you have planned! Our nut-free tofu ricotta is protein-packed, low in fat, and high in flavor, so use it liberally in vegan lasagna, vegan stuffed shells, and more. It even works as a fun spread for wraps and sandwiches.
This creamy and refreshing Vegan Ricotta Pasta is not only insanely easy to make, but delicious and will please the whole family. Delicious cold or warm, this pasta is great for potlucks or leftovers—even great for picky eaters! Boost the flavors with lemon and freshly cracked black pepper if desired.
This Vegan Chickpea Florentine Pasta is a creamy, savory, cheesy, tangy pasta meal that comes together in just 30 minutes and only uses one pot! Loaded with veggies and protein-packed chickpeas, this light and saucy pasta is also super satisfying and delicious.
This super creamy and light Vegan Pasta Primavera is absolutely packed with fresh vegetables and tons of flavor. This dish makes it easy to enjoy a variety of fresh vegetables without sacrificing time or taste.
Creamy, protein-packed Vegan Puttanesca Pasta is the perfect busy weeknight dinner. A dish that the whole family can enjoy, this delicious vegan pasta dish only takes 30 minutes and one pot to make.
Colorful and crisp, this Vegan Italian Salad is delicious and filling enough for a meal or makes the perfect side. The classic Italian flavors and zesty, creamy dressing will leave you wanting more, and luckily this salad is easy and simple enough to make all the time!
This creamy and zesty Vegan Italian Dressing is the perfect easy dressing for any salad. Quick, nut-free, and totally delicious, this sauce is a great go-to sauce that’s much more exciting than vinegar and healthier than any store-bought dressing.
This luscious creamy Vegan Baked Ziti with Nut-Free Cheese is a delicious take on a classic family meal. Taking just 30 minutes to make, this is an easy and tasty meal to please even the pickiest of eaters.
Ridiculously quick and easy, my 5 Minute Vegan Nut-Free Mozzarella Cheese Sauce is stretchy, melty, and super easy to make. It will become your new favorite for grilled cheese, pasta, pizza, and more.
This creamy and cozy one-pot Vegan Pumpkin Risotto is the ultimate comfort meal, but still healthy and family friendly. This 20 minute dish is sure to be a favorite entree, but also makes a fabulous side. Bonus points: it’s great for a holiday meal or just a quick weeknight favorite.
Delicious Vegan Parmesan Cheese topping without nuts, oil, gluten, soy, or sugar! You'll want to put this cheese on everything—luckily it's super easy and inexpensive to make!
Rich, creamy, and flavorful, this Vegan Carbonara is a super easy but impressive dish. Loaded with vegan bacon, vegan Parmesan, fresh basil, and smothered in a creamy sauce, this dish comes together in less than a half hour so it’s perfect for weeknights OR fancy dinners!
Loaded with autumn flavors, this cozy Vegan Butternut Squash Risotto is a delicious entree or side. This easy rice dish is family friendly and perfect for a weeknight or a special occasion like a date night or holiday meal.
The Best Oil-free Vegan Pizza Dough (thick crust) is easy to make and not intimidating at all. This supple pizza dough made from just 5 ingredients produces delicious thick crust pizza. The cooked crust is still soft and delightful to bite into--if you weren't someone who eats the crust, this recipe may make you change your mind!
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