Prep: 15 This Vegan Pasta Bake is the ultimate easy vegan dinner recipe! Made with flavorful chopped veggies, protein-filled lentils, tomatoes, marina sauce, and your choice of pasta. Top it off with vegan cheesy goodness, then bake and enjoy! Every bite is so incredibly delicious.
Vegan Pasta Bake Recipe
It truly doesn’t get any better than this Vegan Pasta Bake recipe! It’s full of that signature cheesy, saucy pasta flavor we all know and love, easy to make, and so, SO good. Saute the veggies, add in the sauce, seasoning, and vegan parmesan. Combine with cooked pasta (I love this one (opens in a new tab) for healthy pasta recipes) and top with vegan mozzarella. Bake and enjoy – that’s it!
If you’ve been looking for a great vegan pasta recipe that’s fuss-free and flavorful, this one’s definitely for you. Pair it with a fresh salad, roasted vegetables, bread with vegan butter, or anything else you want. It’s one of my favorite go-to pasta dishes, and I know you’ll love it, too!
RELATED: 27+ Vegan Comfort Food Recipes
What You’ll Need
Pasta of Choice – I love using penne, shells, rigatoni, or rotini! (opens in a new tab) Gluten-free or regular pasta are both great options for this recipe.
Olive Oil – Avocado oil works great, too, but olive oil adds so much flavor.
Red Onion/Bell Pepper/Carrots – Finely diced and sauteed. Feel free to add in other veggies that can be finely chopped as well, if desired!
Cooked Green Lentils – Cook the lentils in advance or buy pre-cooked lentils to save time.
Marinara Sauce (opens in a new tab)/Diced Tomatoes – Makes for the perfect sauce base.
Salt/Pepper/Garlic – A simple, but delicious combination that adds so much flavor.
Chopped Fresh Basil – There’s nothing like the smell and taste of fresh basil! While dried basil is always an option, fresh basil really takes this recipe up a notch.
Vegan Parmesan (opens in a new tab)/Vegan Mozzarella (opens in a new tab) – The perfect cheesy combination for pasta bakes and casseroles!
TIP: Get so many of these ingredients and other healthy groceries at a discounted price on Thrive Market! (opens in a new tab)
How to Make a Vegan Pasta Bake
This Vegan Pasta Bake is truly so easy to make. Here’s how to put it together:
- Cook the pasta.
- While the pasta cooks, saute the onion, garlic, bell pepper, and carrots in a large skillet/pan.
- Add cooked lentils, diced tomatoes, and marinara sauce.
- Stir in cooked pasta, freshly chopped basil, seasoning, and vegan parmesan.
- Transfer to a casserole dish or baking dish, then top with vegan mozzarella.
- Bake, uncovered, for about 20-25 minutes!
Tips: Save time by buying pre-cooked lentils (opens in a new tab) and/or use an oven-safe skillet (opens in a new tab) if you don’t want to transfer the recipe to a casserole dish before baking!
Variations/Toppings
Take this pasta bake up a notch with these delicious and fun variations and toppings!
- Cauliflower “Breadcrumb” Topping (opens in a new tab)
- Mix in Nutritional Yeast (opens in a new tab) (for an extra cheesy flavor)
- Crumbled Walnuts
- Olives/Capers
- Sun-Dried Tomatoes (opens in a new tab)
- Mix in plain vegan yogurt (for a creamy filling)
- Mushrooms
- Artichokes
- Vegan Sausage
- Zucchini
- Top with Red Pepper Flakes
Make This For Dessert: Vegan Butterfinger Cheesecake
How to Store
This weeknight dairy-free pasta bake stores well in an airtight container! To store, let cool then transfer to the container. Keep in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. To reheat, simply add a tiny bit of water or broth for each serving (about 1-2 teaspoons) and microwave until warm!
More Vegan Dinner Recipes
- Sesame Tahini Noodles
- Red Pepper Hummus Pizza
- Vegan Potato Curry
- Avocado Pasta Recipe
- Vegan Loaded Mashed Potato Bowls
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Vegan Pasta Bake
Ingredients
- 12 ounces pasta (opens in a new tab) (of choice)
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil (opens in a new tab)
- 1 1/2 cups diced red onion
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 medium bell pepper (finely diced)
- 2 medium carrots (finely diced)
- 1 1/2 cups cooked green lentils
- 1 24-ounce jar marinara sauce (opens in a new tab)
- 1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes (opens in a new tab)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
- 1/2 cup vegan parmesan (opens in a new tab)
- 1 1/2 cups shredded vegan mozzarella (opens in a new tab)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta according to package instructions.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Add the oil to a skillet and heat over medium heat.
- Add in the diced onion and saute for about 5-7 minutes, until translucent.
- Add in the garlic, diced pepper and carrots.
- Saute for an additional 5 or so minutes.
- Add in the lentils, diced tomatoes, marinara, salt, and pepper.
- Stir in the cooked pasta, basil, and parmesan. Mix well to combine.
- Transfer to a large casserole or baking dish.
- Top with the mozzarella and bake, uncovered, for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
- Enjoy!
Watch Me Make This
Nutrition
Did you make this? I’d love to see!
Tag me on socials at @JarOfLemons (opens in a new tab) or #JarOfLemons (opens in a new tab)
