• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Kathleen's Cravings
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
    • Recipe Index
    • All Recipes
    • Air Fryer Recipes
    • Appetizer and Snack Recipes
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Drink Recipes
    • Grilling Recipes
    • Instant Pot Recipes
    • Main Dish Recipes
    • Meatless Recipes
    • Pasta Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Side Dish Recipes
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Soup Recipes
    • How To
  • Welcome!
    • Welcome!
    • Work With Me
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Fall Recipes
  • Recipe Index
  • Welcome!
  • Work With Me
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Fall Recipes
    • Recipe Index
    • Welcome!
    • Work With Me
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » All Recipes

    Vegan Creamy Tomato Pasta

    Published: Jan 13, 2021 · Modified: Mar 16, 2022 by Kathleen Hansen · This post may contain affiliate links · 8 Comments

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    Vegan Creamy Tomato Pasta is the perfect solution for a meatless Monday that uses staple pantry ingredients. This Creamy Tomato Sauce uses just 6 simple ingredients (including the oil, salt, and pepper!). The secret ingredient to make it creamy while also keeping it dairy-free and vegan… a can of coconut milk! Toss the sauce with your favorite pasta and don't forget the crispy breadcrumbs on top! Just 3 pantry ingredients to make this crispy topping that makes this pasta recipe anything but boring.

    Bowl of creamy tomato pasta made with coconut milk

    How to make a creamy dairy-free pasta sauce:

    Check out this Quick Video

    [mv_video doNotAutoplayNorOptimizePlacement="false" doNotOptimizePlacement="false" jsonLd="true" key="pyi8hbp0m5alvikhs8j1" ratio="16:9" thumbnail="https://mediavine-res.cloudinary.com/v1608657055/imik9bqkfxilzn1ezwd9.jpg" title="Vegan Creamy Tomato Pasta" volume="70"]

    Just 6 Ingredients for the Vegan Creamy Tomato Sauce

    • Olive Oil - You can certainly sub a different oil if you don't have olive oil on hand, but I love the flavor that olive oil adds.
    • Minced Garlic - Either fresh cloves that you mince or crush yourself, or you can use the pre-minced stuff in the jar.
    • Can of Tomato Paste - We use the entire 6oz can, so no food waste here!
    • Can of Coconut Milk - Either reduced fat or full fat. The coconut milk is what makes the sauce creamy without using dairy.
    • Salt and Pepper
    • Optional Spices: I often make the sauce using just salt and pepper to season. But, if you have other spices on hand, you can certainly add some to mix it up. Red Pepper Flakes are great to add a little kick to offset the sweetness from the coconut milk, and dried herbs like dried parsley are great to add more flavor as well.
    • Pasta of Choice - I prefer a short pasta like penne or rotini, but use what you have on hand! Make sure you save a little bit of the pasta cooking water.
    Vegan creamy tomato pasta topped with garlic breadcrumbs in a pan

    How to make the Tomato Sauce:

    1. Start by sautéing the garlic in the olive oil in a large skillet or pot. I like to use a deep skillet that's large enough to add the pasta to later.
    2. Add the entire can of tomato paste and cook, stirring, until the paste is dark red.
    3. Stir in the can of coconut milk. Cook, stirring, until the sauce is smooth and simmering. I like to toss the pasta right in the sauce and add a little bit of pasta water as needed to achieve the right consistency.
    Vegan creamy tomato pasta sauce tossed with penne in a large pan

    Do you know what takes this easy vegan pasta recipe to the next level? Crispy, garlic breadcrumbs sprinkled on top. Again, using just a few staple ingredients that you likely have on hand!

    Garlic Breadcrumbs are the perfect pasta topping

    Ingredients for the Crispy Garlic Breadcrumbs:

    • Olive Oil - similar to the sauce, you can substitute a different fat if you'd like. But, I prefer the flavor of the olive oil.
    • Minced Garlic - Either fresh cloves that you mince or crush yourself, or you can use the pre-minced stuff in the jar.
    • Panko Breadcrumbs - You can use regular bread crumbs as well if that's what you have on hand. I like the extra crispiness of panko breadcrumbs.
    Vegan creamy tomato pasta made with coconut milk and topped with breadcrumbs

    Tips and FAQs:

    How long do the leftovers last?

    Leftover vegan creamy tomato pasta can be stored in the fridge for 4-5 days. The breadcrumbs will lose some of their crispness in the fridge but still taste fantastic.

    What type of coconut milk should be used for the tomato sauce?

    You can use either full fat or reduced fat. Both taste great.

    Make sure to give the can a good shake before using to make the stirring process easier.

    What size of pan should be used to make the coconut milk pasta sauce?

    I prefer to toss the cooked pasta with the sauce, so I like to use a large deep sauté pan or Dutch Oven.

    But, you could make the sauce in a regular medium-large skillet instead. Then just toss the sauce and pasta in a bowl or serve separately.

    Bowl of pasta with a creamy coconut milk tomato sauce

    Some other recipes using Canned Coconut Milk

    • Korean Chicken Coconut Rice Bowls
    • Vegan Chickpea Tikka Masala
    • Instant Pot Curry Lentils

    Like this recipe? Sign up for my e-mail list so you get a weekly e-mail with new recipes from the week as well as occasional ‘bonus’ content not found on the blog! E-mail link sign up!

    Those ads on the page? A portion of all ad revenue is being donated to Warrior Dog Rescue. A MN-based dog rescue that I foster and volunteer with.

    Print

    Recipe

    Vegan Creamy Tomato Pasta

    vegan creamy tomato pasta in a large pan
    Print Recipe

    ★★★★★

    5 from 2 reviews

    Vegan Creamy Tomato Pasta uses pantry staples, is Meatless Monday approved, and ready in under 30 minutes. The creamy, yet dairy-free sauce, uses just 6 simple ingredients. A can of coconut milk is the secret! Topped with easy crispy, garlic bread crumbs.

    • Author: Kathleen
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 20 minutes
    • Total Time: 25 minutes
    • Yield: 6 servings
    • Category: Main Dish, Meatless Monday
    • Method: Stove
    • Cuisine: Italian
    • Diet: Vegan

    Ingredients

    Vegan Creamy Tomato Sauce

    • 1 lb pasta, such as penne, farfalle, or rotini
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
    • 1 6oz can tomato paste
    • 1 14oz can coconut milk, full fat or reduced fat
    • salt and pepper, to taste
    • Dried parsley, red pepper flakes, garlic salt etc. Optional spice additions

    Crispy Garlic Breadcrumbs

    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
    • ½ cup panko bread crumbs
    • salt and pepper

    Instructions

    Creamy Tomato Pasta

    1. Set a large pot of water to boil and cook the pasta according to the package directions. Before draining the pasta, save about ½ cup of the pasta water.
    2. In a large, deep skillet heat the olive oil over medium-high. Add the garlic and sauté for 30 seconds to 1 minute until fragrant. Add the entire can of tomato paste, stir and cook until dark red. Add the coconut milk, a pinch of salt and pepper and continue to stir while cooking.
    3. Once the sauce is smooth is combined, allow to simmer for about 5 minutes. Taste, and adjust seasonings if needed. I love using just salt and pepper, but you can also add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a sprinkle of dried herbs.
    4. Lower the heat and fold in the drained pasta. If needed, add a little bit of the pasta water to loosen up the sauce.

    Crispy Garlic Bread Crumbs

    1. While the tomato sauce is simmering. Make the bread crumbs.
    2. In a small skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, bread crumbs and a pinch of salt and pepper.
    3. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Stir and toast the bread crumbs for 2-3 minutes until the bread crumbs are golden brown and fragrant. Be careful not to burn. Immediately either sprinkle the bread crumbs over the pasta or pour into a bowl. You don't want to keep the bread crumbs in the hot skillet because they may burn.

    Notes

    Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: â…™ of recipe
    • Calories: 553
    • Sugar: 6.1 g
    • Sodium: 96.1 mg
    • Fat: 25.2 g
    • Carbohydrates: 71 g
    • Fiber: 4.1 g
    • Protein: 13.8 g
    • Cholesterol: 0 mg

    Keywords: Vegan creamy tomato pasta, vegan pasta sauce, coconut milk recipe, coconut milk pasta sauce, coconut milk tomato sauce, vegan pasta recipe, creamy dairy-free pasta sauce, dairy-free pasta

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @KathleensCravings on Instagram

    Share this:

    • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)

    More All Recipes

    • air fryer apple crisp in bowl with ice-cream.
      Air Fryer Apple Crisp
    • creamy sausage soup with kale
      Sausage Kale Potato Soup
    • Two bowls of slow cooker sausage tortellini soup
      Crockpot Sausage Tortellini Soup
    • gnocchi sausage soup with kale in a bowl
      Creamy Sausage Gnocchi Soup

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Did you make this recipe? Let me know! Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    1. Mo says

      April 12, 2023 at 6:55 pm

      I subbed in oat milk since I was out of coconut milk and it was delicious!

      Reply
      • Kathleen Hansen says

        April 12, 2023 at 9:54 pm

        I’m so glad the swap worked for you! Thank you for your comment! 🙂

        Reply
    2. Kate says

      October 06, 2022 at 12:42 pm

      Hi! Just wondering if this is freezer friendly- my toddler loves it and it makes a lot !

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Kathleen says

        October 09, 2022 at 10:59 am

        Hello! So glad your toddler love it! It can be frozen - often creamy sauces don't freeze well, but because this is made with coconut milk it will freeze well. When reheating, you may need to add a splash of coconut milk or other dairy-free milk to bring the sauce back together. Also be aware that the pasta will be softer after freezing, thawing, and reheating.

        Reply
    3. Ann says

      August 11, 2022 at 6:38 pm

      Can i use almond milk instead of coconut? i dont like the taste of coconut milk.

      Reply
      • Kathleen says

        August 12, 2022 at 9:23 pm

        I haven't tested it myself, but I think it would work! I would use plain, not vanilla sweetened, almond milk. You may need to add a little extra oil for the added fat/flavor. If you try it, please let us know how it turns out!

        Reply
    4. chahinez @lifestyleofafoodie says

      December 27, 2020 at 9:11 pm

      Vegan creamy tomato pasta is our favorite at my house so I will be making this easy dinner for sure!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Kathleen says

        December 27, 2020 at 9:39 pm

        Yay! I’m so glad to hear that! Thank you for your comment 🙂

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi! I'm Kathleen and welcome! My favorite place to be has always been in the kitchen and I love creating recipes that are easy and approachable. Simple ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions!

    More about me →

    Easy Fall Eats

    • Ladle of chicken noodle soup in crockpot
      Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup
    • Fall Harvest Salad (Apple Cider Vinaigrette)
    • apple crisp with oat topping in a bowl
      Easy Apple Crisp (with Oats)
    • pumpkin banana muffins on a plate
      Easy Pumpkin Banana Muffins
    • Hand picking up chicken slider
      BBQ Chicken Sliders
    • dutch baby with apples
      Apple Dutch Baby Pancake

    Popular Recipes

    • moist banana bread with chocolate chips
      Extra Moist Banana Bread with Oil
    • French onion pasta with thyme
      One Pot French Onion Pasta
    • hand holding pb pumpkin dog treat in front of puppy
      Peanut Butter Pumpkin Dog Treats
    • bowl of vegan creamy tomato pasta with bread crumbs
      Vegan Creamy Tomato Pasta
    • microwave chocolate chip cookie in a mug with a spoon
      Microwave Chocolate Chip Cookie Mug
    • steak bites with asparagus on a plate
      Air Fryer Steak Tips with Garlic Butter

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • About Me
    • Work With Me

    Copyright © 2023 KATHLEEN'S CRAVINGS ON THE SEASONED PRO THEME

     

    Loading Comments...