Italian Vegan Sausage Pasta
Looking for an easy yet satisfying vegan pasta dish to cook midweek? This creamy Italian vegan sausage pasta with vegan cream cheese is just the ticket to a quick dinner you can enjoy while putting your feet up on the sofa and watching your favorite show. In addition, this dish makes excellent leftovers, so it’s the perfect packed lunch option for the next day!
Where to Find Vegan Italian Sausages, Vegan Parmesan, and More Vegan Dupes
For a vegan sausage dupe that tastes similar to regular sausage, even your meat-eating friends won’t believe it is plant-based meat; beyond Beyond Meat Spicy Italian Sausage is best! Field Roast Italian Garlic & Fennel Plant-Based Sausage (US) or Heck vegan sausages (UK) are also great options for a store-bought vegan Italian sausage. Or you could even make homemade vegan sausages using seitan (a high-protein wheat-based vegan meat alternative made entirely from the vital wheat gluten in plain flour).
This recipe with plant-based sausage uses vegan cream cheese, which you can find in grocery stores or online. My go-to brands are Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese and the Violife Original Creamy Cheese, as they melt down to create a silky and rich pasta sauce and aren’t too pricey for a vegan cheese alternative.
In true Italian style, this vegan sausage tomato pasta recipe laps up the chance to be smothered in crumbly vegan Parmesan cheese. But this isn’t always the most accessible ingredient to find. I recommend trying health food shops or larger food stores like Whole Foods and Sprouts, as they usually have a more comprehensive range of plant-based ingredients and vegan alternatives to dairy products. Or you can find vegan Parmesan cheese online at retailers such as Amazon. Brands such as Parma, Violife, Follow Your Heart, Nooch It, and Go Veggie are paving the way for vegan dairy products, so thankfully, finding a vegan cheese dupe isn’t as tricky as it used to be!
Top Tips for this Creamy Vegan Sausage Pasta Recipe
- Don’t forget to save some starchy pasta water when draining your penne to thin the sauce if needed.
- Cook the penne in the water till just over al dente. Then the pasta can finish cooking when combined with the sauce.
- If you use white wine in the sauce (recommended), don’t forget to pour yourself a glass on the side!
Recipe Alterations
- This recipe is not too spicy, making it perfect for kids. But if you are partial to a spicy pasta dish and would like to transform this into a vegan spicy sausage recipe, add chili flakes when browning the sausages and opt for a spicy vegan Italian sausage variety, such as the Beyond Meat Spicy Italian Sausages.
- Topping this pasta dish with crispy kale chips is a great way to add a contrasting crunch to the creamy sauce. Kale and spinach fall into the class of powerhouses of nutrition; both contain ample vitamin K, vitamin C, Calcium, and fiber.
- Speaking of topping alternatives, top with fresh basil instead of parsley for a slightly firmer, sweeter, and minty twist.
- Add sliced mushrooms alongside the sausage meat for extra goodness and a meaty texture.
- Serve this vegan take on a traditional Italian sausage pasta with a side salad or crusty bread ( garlic bread also works well! )
- Swap to shallots instead of onions for a slightly sweeter sauce.
- Skip the white wine if needed. It adds more depth of flavor, but if you aren’t a wine drinker, you may wish to omit this ingredient.
How to Store and Reheat Leftover Italian Vegan Sausage Pasta
Let the pasta cool to room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container. You can then store the pasta in the refrigerator for up to four days.
When ready to reheat the pasta, transfer it to a microwave-safe dish or heat it in a saucepan on the stove over medium-low heat. You may need to stir the pasta occasionally to ensure even cooking. If the pasta seems dry, add a splash of vegetable stock or water to help loosen it.
Or enjoy your delicious leftover Italian vegan sausage pasta cold straight from the fridge or as a to-go lunch option for work or school!
Other Weeknight Vegan Pasta Recipes
Here are five more flavorful and satisfying vegan pasta options that you can cook in under 30 minutes after a long day at work or school!
Although these easy vegan recipes don’t take long to make, they will still nourish and satisfy you. Plus, they make great leftover lunch options to take with you the following day.
- Vegan Bolognese
- Broccoli Pesto Pasta
- Vegan Feta Pasta with Butternut Squash
- Vegan Cacio E Pepe (vegan ‘cheese and black pepper)
- Vegan Sausage and Pepper Pasta (Another great vegan sausage recipe!)
Ingredients
- 8 ounces of penne pasta
- 2 vegan Italian sausages, casings removed and discarded ( I used Hot Italian Style Beyond Sausages )
- 1 small yellow onion, minced
- 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- ½ cup vegan white wine
- 14-ounce can of crushed tomatoes
- 4 ounces of vegan cream cheese
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt, + more to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 3 ounces of baby spinach
- Vegan parmesan and fresh parsley to serve
Method
1. Salt a medium pot of water and bring a boil. Cook the penne till al dente per the packaging. REMINDER: Before discarding the excess water, reserve 1 cup of starchy cooking water.
2. While the pasta is cooking, add 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil, the vegan sausage, onion, and garlic to a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. While cooking, use a spoon to break the sausages into bite-size pieces, cooking until they become golden brown on all sides.
3. Next, add the tomato paste to the skillet and combine.
4. Let it cook for 2-3 minutes, then stir in the white wine until the alcohol evaporates (you will notice the liquid reducing and letting off some steam).
5. Add the crushed tomatoes and vegan cream cheese, and bring the sauce to a simmer until the cream cheese has melted. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
6. Drain the cooked penne (remember to save 1 cup of starchy pasta water!). Add baby spinach and mix until combined for 1-2 minutes. If needed, pour in some reserved cooking water to loosen the sauce.
7. Serve your creamy veggie sausage pasta. Optional: top with grated vegan Parmesan cheese and fresh herbs like chopped parsley, basil, and red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
Italian Vegan Sausage Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 oz penne pasta
- 2 vegan Italian sausages, casings removed and discarded
- 1 small yellow onion, minced
- 3 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1/2 cup vegan white wine
- 14 oz can of crushed tomatoes
- 4 oz vegan cream cheese
- 3 oz baby spinach
- 1/2 tsp salt + more to taste
- 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- Vegan parmesan and fresh parsley to serve
Instructions
- Cook the penne till al dente in a large pot of salted water per the packaging. Before discarding the starchy pasta water, reserve 1 cup of the cooking water.
- While the pasta is cooking, add a ½ tablespoon of olive oil and the vegan sausage, onion, and garlic to a large pan over medium-high heat. While cooking, use a spoon to break the sausages into late bite-size pieces cooking until brown on all sides.
- Next, add the tomato paste to the pan and combine.
- Let it cook for 2-3 minutes, then stir in the white wine until the alcohol evaporates (you will notice the liquid reducing and letting off some steam).
- Add the crushed tomatoes and vegan cream cheese, and bring the sauce to a simmer until the cream cheese has melted. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
- Drain the cooked penne (remember to save 1 cup of starchy pasta water!) and baby spinach and mix until combined for 1-2 minutes. If needed, pour in some reserved cooking water to loosen the sauce.
- Serve your creamy veggie sausage pasta. Optional: top with grated vegan Parmesan cheese and fresh herbs like chopped parsley, basil and red chili flakes to add a spicy kick.
