Sooo, we’re doing a thing today & it’s called taking all of the greens out of salad & replacing them all with pasta but still calling it salad. For the record:
- THAT IS MY KIND OF SALAD!!!
- Whoever first decided we could still call it salad despite being a big bowl of noods is probably the greatest unsung hero of our time. I mean, RIGHT?!?
Creamy Vegan Southwest Pasta Salad – your newest summer staple!
Say hello to the superstar of your next summer get-together – a new summer staple that everyone at the table can enjoy, Vegan Southwest Pasta Salad.
this Recipe for Later!
Made in 30 minutes or less, this Vegan Southwest Pasta Salad ispackedwith flavor: a creamy, dreamy cashew-based vegan Southwest dressing gets tossed into spiraly noodles with red onion, red bell pepper, fire-roasted corn, tomatoes & black beans.
The veggies add pops of freshness to every bite, while the creamy Southwest dressing delivers the perfect touch of smoky, zippy heat. SO GOOD.
It’s totally delicious, make-ahead friendly, & it’s perfect forweeknight dinners & summer entertaining alike. Plus, this pasta salad can be enjoyed by all since it’s vegetarian,vegan,dairy-free, & oil-free.
(But I promise you, no one would even guess it, based on how creamy & delicious this pasta salad is!)
Vegan pasta salad, we love you so much. ♡ Read on to learn more about this Creamy Southwest Vegan Pasta Salad recipe, orjump straight to the recipe& get cookin’!
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How to make this Vegan Southwest Pasta Salad recipe:
You can make this easy pasta salad recipe in less than 30 minutes, & it couldn’t be easier to throw together!
(Note: full Recipe Directions are provided in the Recipe Card, below.)
- Boil some pasta. Be sure to boil the pasta in heavily salted water (it’s the only chance to season the pasta itself!) & cook until just al dente to avoid a soggy pasta salad (the worst!).
- Blend up the vegan Southwest dressing. Simply add cashews & water to a high-speed blender with some spices & lime juice for plenty of Southwest flavor & blend it until it’s smooth & creamy.
- Assemble the Vegan Southwest Pasta Salad!Grab a big mixing bowl & toss the pasta with black beans, corn, onions, tomatoes, bell pepper, cilantro, & the southwest dressing.
& that’s really it! So simple, & so flavorful! And you can serve it in a variety of ways. This vegan pasta salad can be served hot, room temperature, or cold (one of the benefits of a mayo-less salad!) so anything goes!
Creamy vegan southwest dressing recipe:
We need to talk about the dressing for this vegan creamy pasta salad for a second because it’s that good. It’s similar to our chipotle lime cashew crema on these tacos, which PWWB readers have legit raved about for the past 2 years. I don’t blame them – it is SO creamy & SO good!!!!
Since this vegan Southwest dressing recipe is cashew-based, it has the perfect creamy texture without requiring the use of any dairy products or oil.
If you’ve been on the fence about cashews in dressing, now is the time to try it out. You won’t even believe what they can become with a few other simple ingredients – like lime juice & taco spices for this particular recipe – & a quick biltz in the blender.
Cashew Sauce FAQ: Do you need to soak cashews before blending them? In my experience, so long as you have a high-speed blender, you really don’t need to worry about soaking the cashews ahead of time. The powerful motor of a high-speed blender will easily break cashews down into the creamiest, dreamiest texture. If you’re still nervous about it, you can give the cashews a quick soak in hot water – simply use some of the boiling water from the pasta. Since the water is warm, the cashews will soften up in no time – 5-10 minutes, tops!
How to make vegan pasta salad ahead of time:
One of the many, many reasons I love this healthy southwest pasta salad is that you can make it ahead of time. I actually think it’s best after sitting for a few hours – the flavors really meld together beautifully as the pasta salad sits.
Make-ahead pasta salad: Simply make the easy vegan southwest pasta salad & then store it, covered, in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve it.
Pasta salad meal prep: If you’d prefer to just do a little partial prep to help make this vegan pasta salad easier to throw together at meal time, you definitely have options, too! I’d suggest chopping all the veggies & blending up the cashew dressing in advance. You can store everything in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator until you’re ready to toss together your Southwest Pasta Salad. See the Recipe Card, below, for more detailed meal prep suggestions!
I can’t wait to see you make this Vegan Southwest Pasta Salad Recipe. If you ask me, it’s definitely in the ranking for best pasta salad recipe ever. You’re gonna love it!
If you do give it a try, be sure to let me know!: Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo & tag @playswellwithbutteronInstagram. I LOVE hearing about & seeing your PWWB creations! Happy cooking! ♡
Vegan Southwest Pasta Salad Recipe
★★★★★4.9 from 15 reviews
- Author: Jess Larson
- Prep Time: 15 mintues
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: Serves 8–12 1x
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
An easy vegan pasta salad with plenty of Southwest flair. Made with black beans, roasted corn, tomatoes, bell peppers, & an easy & creamy cashew southwest dressing. Perfect to make-ahead for parties & quick dinners this summer. You will LOVE this Vegan Southwest Pasta Salad recipe!
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 ounces whole wheat pasta (see Recipe Notes)
- 16 ounces cherry/grape tomatoes, halved or quartered
- 1 red bell pepper, deseeded & diced
- 1 smallred onion, diced
- 1 cup finely chopped cilantro
- 1 14-ounce canblack beans, drained & rinsed
- 2 cups fire-roasted corn (frozen is fine!)
- kosher salt & ground black pepper, to season
for the Creamy Vegan Southwest Dressing:
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup raw cashews(unsalted)
- 1 lime, juiced
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2–3 chipotle peppers,packed in adobo sauce
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Boil the pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, generously salt the water. Add in the pasta and cook to al dente, according to package directions. Drain the pasta, rinsing with cold water, and set aside.
- Make the creamy vegan southwest dressing: Meanwhile, as the pasta boils, prep the dressing. Add all listed ingredients to a high-speed blender. Blend until smooth and creamy. Set aside, or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- Assemble the vegan southwest pasta salad: Add the halved tomatoes to a large mixing bowl. Season with 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, tossing to combine. Add in the bell pepper, red onion, cilantro, black beans, corn, and cooked pasta. Pour the creamy vegan southwest dressing over top. Toss to combine, seasoning with additional kosher salt & ground black pepper as needed.
- Serve& enjoy! You can serve this pasta salad immediately, though we like it best after it has sat for a few hours (the flavors come together even better!). Serve it at your next potluck-style summer BBQ or alongside your favorite summer dinners, like these grilled black bean burgers. Enjoy!
Notes
- Pasta: Obviously, to make this pasta vegan, use your favorite vegan pasta. I love DeLallo’s whole wheat pastas – they’re totally vegan-friendly. While I prefer a textured short noodle for this vegan southwest pasta salad recipe (the creamy vegan Southwest dressing clings to it really nicely!), you can use whatever shape you like best.
- Storage:Creamy vegan Southwest pasta salad will keep, stored in an airtight container, for up to 5 days.
- 15-Minute Meal Prep: This Vegan Southwest Pasta Salad recipe is easy & quick to make, especially if you’re able to do a little prep in advance. Simply follow the steps below & at dinnertime all you have to do is boil the pasta & toss it all together – easy!
- Halve the cherry tomatoes & dice the bell pepper & red onion. Store in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Blend the creamy vegan Southwest dressing according to Step 2 of Recipe Directions, above. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. The dressing will thicken quite a bit as it sits – simply stir in a few splashes of water before tossing together the pasta salad.
Keywords: Vegan Southwest Pasta Salad, Vegan Pasta Salad recipe, vegetarian, dairy-free, oil-free, quick, easy, summer, for a crowd, make-ahead
Recipe by Jess Larson, Plays Well With Butter | Photography by Eat Love Eat
More Pasta Salad + Summer Recipes to try soon:
If you’re anything like me, you have a major thing for pasta salads. I totally get it! They are the perfect addition to any summer table & so portable which is helpful for summer months when you just want to eat, drink, be, & live outside. (& if you’ve experienced Minnesota winters, you know the feeling!)
Here are a few PWWB faves:
- Another easy pasta salad: 6-Ingredient Sun Dried Tomato Pasta Salad {Vegetarian, easily Vegan & Gluten-Free}
- My all-time fave raw salad for summer: {Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, easily Vegan}
- Perfect for summer entertaining: Easy Vegan Grilled Vegetable Platter recipe {Naturally Vegan, Dairy-Free, Vegetarian & Gluten-Free}
- For the grill!: The BEST Grilled Black Bean Burgers {Vegetarian, Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free, easily Vegan}
- & another 30-minute pasta dinner win: {Naturally Vegan, Dairy-Free, & Vegetarian, easily Gluten-Free}
Follow along with Plays Well With Butter onInstagram,YouTube, Facebook, andPinterestfor more unfussy recipes that pack a big punch of flavor!
