If you’re looking for a delicious and easy dairy-free pasta dish, this Pesto Pasta is the perfect recipe for you. Made with a simple homemade pesto sauce, this dish is sure to please the whole family. Best of all, it can be on the table in under 30 minutes!

bowl of pesto pasta with a spoon ready to eat.

Feeding a family can be a challenge, even more so when you are dealing with food allergies. This Dairy-Free Pesto Pasta is an easy and delicious meal that everyone in your family will love.

The pesto is made with fresh basil, pine nuts, and olive oil, and the pasta is cooked al dente. You can serve this dish with a side of steamed broccoli or green beans for a healthy and satisfying meal.

So whether you are following a dairy-free diet or just looking for a delicious and easy meal, this Pesto Pasta is sure to please!

Contents hide
1 Why You Need This Recipe
2 Key Ingredients
3 Recipe Steps
4 Recipe Tips & Substitutions
5 More Pasta Recipes You Might Like
6 Dairy-Free Pesto Pasta

Why You Need This Recipe

  • Make the vegan pesto sauce ahead of time to shorten the prep time. Or, use a packaged pesto sauce made without cheese.
  • Customize the pasta dish to your liking. Want more protein? Add steamed tofu or cooked chicken. Want to make this recipe gluten-free? See my list of the best gluten-free pastas.
  • Pasta is comforting and satisfying. This dairy-free dish is perfect for a light dinner or side dish.

Key Ingredients

dairy-free pesto sauce made in a food processor and shown on a spoon.

Homemade dairy-free pesto is the star of this pasta dish. You can buy a prepared version if you don’t have time to make your own.

Your choice of pasta is the only other necessary ingredient. I like gluten-free spiral pasta, but you can use whatever type you like. See my list of the best gluten-free pasta brands for both vegan and paleo options.

Recipe Steps

Step One

Cook your pasta according to the directions on the package.

While the pasta is cooking, either make your pesto sauce or open a jar of prepared vegan pesto.

Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.

Step Two

Drain the cooked pasta, reserving a bit of the pasta water.

Add the pasta to a large serving bowl and add your pesto sauce.

spoonful of vegan pesto sauce getting ready to add to cooked pasta.

Step Three

Toss the pasta and pesto sauce together. Add enough of the pasta water to thin the sauce to your desired consistency.

Serve warm and enjoy!

up close picture of the texture of this dairy-free pesto pasta dish.

Recipe Tips & Substitutions

  • You can cut this recipe in half to make fewer servings. Or, you can double it to make more.
  • Store any leftover cooked pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  • If you don’t have time or the ingredients to make your own pesto sauce, you can buy a packaged or pre-made version. Just read the ingredients label carefully to make sure it doesn’t include dairy.
bowl of pesto pasta made with gluten-free spirals.

More Pasta Recipes You Might Like

Gluten-Free Italian Pasta Salad (Vegetarian)

Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad

Cheesecake Factory Tomato Basil Pasta (Copycat)

Best Gluten-Free Pasta Brands for 2024 (Not Mushy)

I hope you make this recipe! If you do, please leave a comment and a starred review below.

And, consider following me on social media so we can stay connected. I’m on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube!

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plate of vegan pesto pasta served with a spoon.

Dairy-Free Pesto Pasta

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5 from 1 review

Print Recipe

If you’re looking for a delicious and easy dairy-free pasta dish, this Pesto Pasta is the perfect recipe for you. Made with a simple homemade pesto sauce, this dish is sure to please the whole family. Best of all, it can be on the table in under 30 minutes!

  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 5 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 8–ounce bag of dried pasta (use gluten-free pasta for gluten-free diets)
  • 3/4 cup dairy-free pesto
  • 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast (optional, for serving)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of water to boil on the stovetop. Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package.
  2. When the pasta is done cooking, drain it in a colander, reserving about ¼ cup of the pasta water. Pour the drained pasta into a large serving bowl.
  3. Add the pesto and toss gently to combine. Add up to ¼ cup of the pasta water to help achieve a smooth consistency with the pesto sauce.
  4. Serve immediately, with the nutritional yeast sprinkled on top (optional).

Notes

  1. You can cut this recipe in half to make fewer servings. Or, you can double it to make more.
  2. If you don’t have time or the ingredients to make your own pesto sauce, you can buy a packaged or pre-made version. Just read the ingredients label carefully to make sure it doesn’t include dairy.
  3. Store any leftover cooked pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 325
  • Sugar: 1.9 g
  • Sodium: 368 mg
  • Fat: 16.2 g
  • Saturated Fat: 2.8 g
  • Carbohydrates: 36.3 g
  • Fiber: 2.1 g
  • Protein: 7.8 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

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About the Author: Carrie Forrest has a master’s degree in public health with a specialty in nutrition. She is a top wellness and food blogger with nearly 10 million annual visitors to her site. Carrie has an incredible story of recovery from chronic illness and is passionate about helping other women transform their health. Send Carrie a message through her contact form.