30 Vegan Pasta Recipes From Italy

1) Spaghetti all’Assassina aka Assassin’s Spaghetti

Spaghetti all'assassina, also known as burnt spaghetti or spaghetti bruciati, is a traditional dish from Bari, Puglia. This unique recipe involves cooking the pasta "risotto style" in a spicy tomato sauce, resulting in slightly burnt, crispy spaghetti with a rich and spicy tomato flavor.

2 ) Spaghetti aglio e olio

Spaghetti aglio e olio is a quick pasta recipe known for its simplicity and rich garlic flavor. It only requires a few easy-to-find ingredients and takes just 15 minutes to prepare. Despite its simplicity, it packs a lot of flavor, making it an ideal choice for a quick and delicious meal.

3) Sardinian Fregola with Chickpeas

This comforting Sardinian fregola (fregula) with chickpeas is a hearty, slightly spicy pasta soup, ideal for the colder months. In addition to being very wholesome, this dish is not complicated to make, only using one pot and taking less than an hour.

4) Vermicelli di Positano

Vermicelli di Positano originates from the picturesque Amalfi Coast and is a simple and light dish. The combination of cooked pasta with marinated vegetables and herbs creates a light and refreshing meal, perfect for enjoying in the summer.

5) Elephant Garlic Pasta (Pici all'Aglione)

Pici all'Aglione is a traditional Tuscan dish that is easy to make and full of flavor. This vegan pasta recipe uses thick spaghetti-like pici pasta and elephant garlic, known for its large cloves and mild, leek-like taste. The preparation involves sautéing the garlic with chili pepper and olive oil, then simmering it with tomato passata to create a flavorful sauce.

6) Casarecce Pasta Caponata Recipe from Sicily

Try one of the most iconic dishes in Sicilian cooking: caponata! This popular vegan pasta recipe is loved for its balance of sweet, sour, and salty flavors from the Mediterranean vegetables, capers, and olives. It's delicious warm or as a pasta salad.

7) Olive Leaf Pasta with King Oyster Mushrooms

Enjoy the rich flavors of Puglia with this olive leaf pasta recipe featuring king oyster mushrooms. This vegan pasta recipe combines the meaty texture of king oyster mushrooms with sautéed garlic, onions, tomatoes, and a hint of peperoncino, all mixed with unique olive leaf-shaped pasta. Ready in about 50 minutes, this simple yet flavorful meal is perfect for a nutritious dinner.

8) Tuscan Minestrone with Orzo Pasta

Tuscan minestrone with orzo pasta is a vegan Italian minestrone recipe enjoyed during the fall and winter when the vegetables are in season. It features fresh, seasonal vegetables such as squash, potatoes, carrots, Swiss chard, leeks, celery, savoy cabbage, beans, and pasta. It's incredibly hearty and will keep you warm and help your body combat seasonal ailments.

9) Genovese Mushroom Ragu with Trofie (tocco de funzi)

Enjoy some of the rich flavors of Liguria with this Genovese mushroom ragu, known locally as "tocco de funzi." This vegan dish features a savory mix of porcini mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and herbs, creating an umami-rich, aromatic vegan sauce.

10) Umbrian Wild Pea Soup with Casarecce Pasta

This delicious and healthy wild pea soup with pasta from Umbria features a unique and rare legume called roveja. It is simple to prepare and offers a good source of nutrition and warmth. However, if you can't find roveja, you can easily substitute it with other legumes like chickpeas or lentils; it's still delicious!

11) Casarecce Pasta alla Peperonata

The star of this delicious casarecce pasta alla peperonata is a traditional stewed sweet pepper sauce from Southern Italy. The vibrant sauce uses a mixture of red, orange and yellow peppers and is perfect for a side dish or mixed with pasta.

12) Pasta and Chickpea Soup from Tuscany

Pasta with chickpeas is a delicious and nutritious traditional recipe in many parts of Central and Southern Italy. This recipe comes from Tuscany, where they use tomatoes, dried chickpeas and pasta ribbons like tagliatelle.

13) Red Lentil Ragu with Whole-wheat Pasta

Ready in about 40 minutes, this dish is not only nutritious but also easy to prepare, making it an excellent choice for a meatless pasta recipe. The rich, earthy flavors of the lentils make this ragu a satisfying alternative to traditional meat-based sauces.

14) Umbrian Lentil Soup with Pasta

This recipe from Umbria in Central Italy includes the region’s famous small mountain lentils, which many believe to be the best in Italy. However, you can use other types of small green/brown lentils, such as puy lentils from France.

Apart from the lentils and pasta, you need onion, carrots, celery, garlic, rosemary, tomato paste, and vegetable stock to make this one-pot nutritious vegan/vegetarian Italian soup with pasta.

15) Lagane with chickpeas (lagane e ceci)

This vegan pasta features homemade lagane, a wide, flat noodle similar to tagliatelle, paired with chickpeas, tomatoes, garlic, and rosemary. This hearty meal is perfect for cold weather, providing a nutritious and satisfying combination of legumes and pasta.

16) Italian Pasta with Peas (pasta e piselli)

This is a classic, comforting Italian dish that combines pasta with sweet peas in a light and flavorful sauce. With just four primary ingredients, including either fresh or frozen peas, this recipe delivers delicious Spring flavors in just 25 minutes. Make this vegan by using eggless pasta and leaving out the butter and cheese.

17) Spaghetti with Green Beans

This spaghetti with green beans is an excellent vegan pasta recipe that encourages children to eat their greens. The green beans are cooked in a rich tomato sauce, making them very flavorful and moreish. Use vegan cheese or omit the cheese.

18) Tagliatelle with porcini mushrooms

The deliciousness of pasta with porcini mushrooms can only be understood by those who have had the pleasure of eating it. This classic easily made vegan mushroom pasta recipe is easy to prepare and bursting with umami-rich flavors. Just use vegan butter or leave it out.

19) Tuscan Kale, White Bean and Pasta Soup

This hearty and delicious Tuscan soup with kale, white beans, and pasta is not just a flavorful dish but also a powerhouse of nutrition. Packed with the goodness of kale and protein-rich white beans, this soup is a perfect choice for a healthy and satisfying meal during the cold weather. Serve without cheese for a vegan version.

20) Pasta Risotto with Pumpkin or Winter Squash

Enjoy the comforting flavors of Neapolitan cuisine with this risotto-style pasta with pumpkin. This simple yet flavorful dish features orzo pasta cooked risotto-style with creamy pumpkin, garlic, and a hint of red chili pepper. Ready in about 35 minutes, this vegan-friendly recipe combines the richness of pumpkin with the unique texture of orzo, creating a delicious and nutritious meal. Omit the cheese or use vegan cheese.

21) Bucatini all'Arrabbiata

A delicious and spicy classic pasta dish from Rome that is easily made vegan by simply omitting the parmesan. In this 30-minute pasta recipe, all you need is garlic, chili peppers, tomatoes, parsley, and pasta!

22) Spaghetti with Agretti (Salsola Soda)

Enjoy this quick and tasty spaghetti with agretti or salsola soda that only use 6 ingredients! The salsola soda offers a delightful salty and slightly tangy taste that complements pasta beautifully. Serve without cheese to make this recipe vegan.

23) Summer Tagliolini Pasta Recipe with Marinated Vegetables

This light summer tagliolini pasta recipe straight from a restaurant in Bologna is tasty, fresh, and healthy. It has a no-cook sauce, meaning all you have to cook is the pasta; it's that easy! Use eggless pasta and omit the cheese to make this recipe vegan.

24) Green Pasta Salad with Edible Flowers

This green pasta salad is a perfect blend of health, flavor, and beauty, enhanced by adding edible flowers that make it visually stunning. Its fresh flavors and beautiful presentation will make it a hit at any gathering, from Mother's Day celebrations to summer picnics. Leave out the cheese to make this a vegan pasta recipe.

25) Elicoidali Pasta with Tropea Onions

This delicious elicoidali pasta recipe originates from Calabria in Southern Italy and is a must-try for onion lovers. It's typically made with the region's renowned sweet red Tropea onions, but you can also use other types of red onions for this dish. Use a vegan cheese in this recipe to make it vegan.

26) The Best Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce Ever

In this recipe, I will share with you the best spaghetti and tomato sauce recipe ever! It is by Michelin-starred Neapolitan chef Pepper Guida, and it is one of my absolute favorites. Serve without cheese to make this a vegan pasta recipe.

27) Drunken Spaghetti Red Wine Pasta (spaghetti all'ubriaco)

Spaghetti all'ubriaco or ubriachi is a fantastic choice for special occasions such as Christmas or Valentine's Day. This simple yet elegant recipe involves cooking spaghetti in red wine, similar to a risotto. Easily made vegan by leaving out the cheese.

28) Fileja Tropeana from Calabria

Fileja Tropeana is a traditional pasta dish from Calabria, Southern Italy. It’s made with a colorful and fragrant sauce of zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes, and red Tropea onion. There’s also some peperoncino (red chili pepper) which gives this dish a bit of a kick! Don't serve this recipe with cheese to make it vegan.

29) Tuscan Pomarola Tomato Sauce with Mixed Pasta

Pomarola is a traditional homemade tomato sauce from Tuscany. You can make it with a combination of different types of fresh tomatoes or with just one type.

In this recipe, I paired my Tuscan pomarola tomato sauce with mixed pasta (pasta mista). This is an excellent and economical way to use up leftover dried pasta. This recipe doesn't really need cheese so leave it out to make it vegan.

30) Pasta Aglio, olio, Peperoncino (alla Borbonica)

Pasta aglio, olio, e peperoncino (alla Borbonica) is a dish with simple yet bold flavors. It features garlic, high-quality olive oil, and a sprinkle of spicy peperoncino, highlighting the use of quality ingredients. Perfect without cheese!