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    Home » Easy Vegan Salad Recipes » Vegan Creamy Cheese Pasta Salad

    Vegan Creamy Cheese Pasta Salad

    Published: Feb 2, 2021 · Modified: Apr 24, 2022 by Jacqueline Meldrum · 14 Comments

     This delicious cheese pasta salad is perfect for vegan lunch boxes, but it's also good as a side dish or an option for picnics, BBQs, potlucks & buffets.

    Vegan cheese pasta salad

    VEGAN CREAMY CHEESE PASTA SALAD 

    A quick and easy, creamy and cheesy pasta salad.

    I should really call it easy cheesy!

    The macaroni is coated in a creamy, cheesy sauce.

    I do love pasta salad.

    I don't know what it is about them. I mean we all love pasta, but why do I like cold pasta so much?

    I think it may be just an excuse to eat pasta at lunchtime or maybe because I'll usually serve it with a bit of a help-yourself dinner,

    My son calls it buffet. l serve a selection of pasta salad, crunchy salad sticks, olives, crusty bread, hummus, pickles and fruit and everyone can just help themselves.

     

    dried elbow macaroni

    WHICH PASTA SHAPE IS BEST FOR PASTA SALAD

    A smaller pasta salad is better for pasta salad. 

    Pasta shapes like penne and rigatoni don't really work well, they are better with hot sauces.

    For a good pasta salad macaron is a good option, either elbow or straight macaroni.

    You could also use farfalle (bow-tie pasta), fusilli (twists), and conchiglie (pasta shells).

     

    THE BEST WAY TO COOK PASTA FOR PASTA SALAD

    It's really important you get the pasta right when making a pasta salad.

    Cook it in a large pot with lots of water so it has plenty of room and according to the packet instructions, but check it a minute or two before the end of the cook time.

    It should be al dente, in other words, cooked but still firm. Overcooked pasta is just nasty.

    The most important part of preparing pasta when making pasta salad is the rinse.

    Drain your pasta in a colander, then rinse under the cold tap until completely cold.

    This rinses off all the starch and stops the cooking.

    The result is glossy firm pasta and the best pasta salad.

     

    Ingredients to make creamy cheese pasta salad - macaroni, vegan cheddar, vegan cream cheese, vegan mayo, paprika & spring onions

    WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE CREAMY CHEESE PASTA SALAD

    You just need a few ingredients to make a creamy cheese pasta salad.

    • elbow macaroni
    • vegan cream cheese 
    • vegan mayo
    • vegan cheddar, grated
    • paprika
    • salt & pepper
    • spring onions

     

    WHAT ELSE CAN YOU ADD TO PASTA SALAD?

    Want more veg? Here are a few ideas:

    • sweetcorn
    • carrot - grated
    • celery - finely sliced 
    • cucumber - half slices
    • red onion - thinly sliced
    • bell pepper - thinly sliced
    • jalapenos - thinly sliced
     

    MAKE IT EXTRA CHEESY

     
    If you want to make it extra cheesy, you can either add some grated vegan parmesan, which will really boost the flavour, or nutritional yeast, which has a good cheesy flavour.
     
    I can highly recommend Violife Prosociano, it's the nearest to parmesan I have found in vegan cheese. It has that real tang you want in a good parmesan.
     
    If you are adding nutritional yeast, add a bit at a time, you don't want to add too much or make the sauce grainy.
     
     
    Creamy cheesy pasta salad in a blue bowl

    PASTA SALAD SERVING SUGGESTIONS

     
    You can serve pasta salad on its own but it's great as a side dish too. 
     
    Here are some ideas, serve it with:
     
    1. Vegan burger in a bun with a side salad
    2. Vegan hot dog
    3. Salad
    4. Toastie
    5. Baked potato
    6. Vegetable skewers
    7. Sandwiches
    8. Slice of pizza and garlic bread
    9. Savoury pancakes
    10. Savoury tart or puff pastry pie
     

    HOW LONG WILL CHEESE PASTA SALAD KEEP?

     
     
    Cheese pasta salad can be kept in the fridge for 3 days.
     
    Store in an airtight container.
     
    Give it a stir to coat the pasta evenly with the sauce before serving as the dressing can settle at the bottom of the tub.
     
    For the best flavour, take the pasta salad out of the fridge for 5-10 minutes to take the chill off it. It is best served at room temperature.
     
     
     
    A close up of cheese pasta salad
     

    MORE VEGAN LUNCH RECIPES TO TRY

     
    Here are a few more tasty vegan lunchtime options.
     
    • Dill Potato Salad
    • Easy Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
    • Ploughman's Lunch
    • Tex-Mex Cheese Crunch Wraps
    • Vegan Cheese Ploughman's Sandwich
    • Vegan Cheese & Red Pepper Filo Hand Pies
    • Vegan Tomato Soup made with Tinned Tomatoes
     
    Also check out The Vegan Lunch Box Guide to Packing Lunch,  Back to School Lunches for Kids and Kid- Friendly School Lunch Plan for Vegan Kids
     
     

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    Vegan Creamy Cheese Pasta Salad for Lunch
     
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    Then join my Facebook group Living on the Veg. It's a very friendly community with lots of recipes and chat. I'm in there every day chatting.
     

    HOW TO MAKE VEGAN CHEESE PASTA SALAD

    Scroll down for step-by-step photos followed by a printable recipe. If you don't have a printer, hit the print button on the recipe card and save as a PDF.
     
    Cheese Pasta Salad - Step 1 (cooked pasta & cheese mix)

    STEP 1

     

    Once your pasta is cooked until it's al dente, rinse under cold water until completely cold.
     
    In a bowl mix together the vegan cream cheese, grated vegan cheddar and vegan mayo.
     
     
    Cheese Pasta Salad - Step 2 (spices & seasoning)

    STEP 2

     
    Add paprika, salt and pepper to the cheese mixture and mix well.
     

     

    Cheese Pasta Salad - Step 3 (spring onions added to cheese mix)

    STEP 3

     
    Add the sliced spring onion and mix well.
     
    Have a taste to check the seasoning.

     

    Cheese Pasta Salad - Step 4 (adding dressing to cooked pasta)

    STEP 4

     
    Add the cooked, cold pasta to a large bowl and add the cheese sauce.
     
    Give it a good mix, then serve.
     
    Enjoy!

     
    Created using The Recipes Generator

    Vegan cheesy pasta salad in a blue bowl

    Vegan Creamy Cheese Pasta Salad

    Jacqueline Meldrum
    This cheese pasta salad is perfect for vegan lunch boxes, but it's also good as a side dish or an option for picnics, BBQs, potlucks & buffets.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 12 mins
    Total Time 17 mins
    Course Easy Vegan Pasta & Pizza Recipes
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 176 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 125 g dried elbow macaroni
    • 2 tbsp vegan cream cheese
    • 5 tbsp vegan mayo
    • 3 tbsp vegan cheddar grated
    • pinch paprika more if you like
    • pinch salt and pepper
    • 2 spring onions finely sliced

    Instructions
     

    • Cook the pasta in a large pot with plenty of water until al dente (firm but cooked). Check the packet instructions as a guide.
    • Drain the pasta in a colander then cool under running cold water until completely cold.
    • In a large bowl, mash the cream cheese to soften it, then add the mayo and grated cheese.
    • Add a generous pinch of paprika and season with salt and pepper and mix well.
    • Pour the pasta into a large bowl and mix in the cheese sauce. Taste it to check the seasoning.
    • Mix in the spring onions, then serve.
    • Enjoy!

    Notes

    • Cheese pasta salad can be kept in the fridge for 3 days. Store in an airtight container. Give it a stir to coat the pasta evenly with the sauce before serving as the dressing can settle at the bottom of the tub.
    • For the best flavour, take the pasta salad out of the fridge for 5-10 minutes to take the chill of it.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 176kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 4gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 178mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2g
    Keyword cheesy pasta salad, creamy pasta salad, pasta salad, vegan cheese pasta salad, vegan creamy pasta salad, vegan pasta, vegan pasta salad
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Anonymous

      February 02, 2021 at 11:54 pm

      What cream cheese do you recommend? The one I tried wasn't very nice.

      Reply
    2. Anonymous

      February 02, 2021 at 11:55 pm

      That looks yum Jacqueline and you got me with cheese! Jill

      Reply
    3. Vicky

      February 03, 2021 at 9:09 am

      Creamy pasta!!! What a delicious dish!

      Reply
    4. Jamie

      February 03, 2021 at 9:09 am

      This is so creamy and delicious! I love how this can be made in advance for a quick and easy lunch!

      Reply
    5. Anonymous

      February 03, 2021 at 9:09 am

      Creamy and delicious! This cold pasta salad was a hit! So tasty too!

      Reply
    6. FoodHussy

      February 03, 2021 at 9:09 am

      looks good - especially with the super bowl coming up - i have a vegan friend coming!

      Reply
    7. Unknown

      February 03, 2021 at 9:09 am

      I made it for lunch, and it turned out deliciously! So easy too!

      Reply
    8. Jacqueline Meldrum

      February 03, 2021 at 9:14 am

      Yes it actually has more flavour the next day.

      Reply
    9. Jacqueline Meldrum

      February 03, 2021 at 9:14 am

      Yeah! So glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
    10. Jacqueline Meldrum

      February 03, 2021 at 9:14 am

      Oh well that's perfect timing.

      Reply
    11. Jacqueline Meldrum

      February 03, 2021 at 9:14 am

      We tend to go for a coconut based one. Either Tesco's own brand or Violife.

      Reply
    12. Jacqueline Meldrum

      February 03, 2021 at 9:14 am

      Haha, yes it is cheesy.

      Reply
    13. Jacqueline Meldrum

      February 03, 2021 at 9:16 am

      So glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
    14. Jacqueline Meldrum

      February 03, 2021 at 9:17 am

      Yes it really is creamy and delicious.

      Reply

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    JACQUELINE MELDRUM

    Welcome to The Vegan Lunchbox.

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