When I get back from a long-haul flight, my fridge is usually depressingly empty, but my pasta stash in the cupboard is stubbornly persistent. That’s exactly why I love vegan noodles so much: they’re the most reliable answer to the question “What do I cook when there’s basically nothing left?”
In this post I’ll show you 7 quick and easy noodle dishes, all ready in under 25 minutes and requiring only a handful of ingredients. From creamy peanut sauce to fresh lemongrass flavors to a sesame noodle salad that disappears at every party before you even get a fork in your hand. Or are you more into the Italian flavours like balsamic glaze or olive pesto? There’s a recipe here for everyone.
Vegan noodles taste great warm or cold, travel well, and are perfect for barbecues, parties, or picnics. Of course, they also work for a trip or for lunch at work. Perfect for self-catering vacations, too, or for the day before, when you need to clear out the fridge. With quick and easy vegan noodles, you can use up almost anything.
Which noodles work best?
The good news first: most noodle varieties from the supermarket are vegan anyway. Classic durum wheat pasta, whole wheat pasta, or spelt pasta are usually made from just semolina and water, no egg. Still, it’s worth checking the ingredient list, especially with fresh pasta from the chiller cabinet.
For the recipes in this post, I use different types of noodles, from Asian mie and rice noodles to classic spaghetti. If you want to cook gluten-free, your best bet is rice noodles, glass noodles, or gluten-free whole grain pasta; you’ll find these in pretty much any well-stocked supermarket now.
Quick and easy vegan noodles with peanut sauce
These creamy peanut noodles are one of the most popular recipes on my blog and in my kitchen. Perfect with crunchy peanuts, refreshing cilantro and fresh limes.
Quick and easy pasta salad with balsamic glaze
This pasta tastes delicious warm in a skillet with spinach or rocket salad, pine nuts and balsamic glaze, or cold as a salad.
Quick and easy sesame noodles
This is my party buffet go-to recipe with roasted smoked tofu, red cabbage, creamy tahini sauce and loads of fresh parsley.
Quick and easy Bami Goreng
Indonesian bami goreng: fried vegan noodles with delicious sweet umami ketjap manis and spicy sambal oelek works fantastic with satay skewers.
Quick and easy lemongrass noodles
This refreshing noodle dish with refreshing lemongrass, lime and ginger is perfect for summer evenings. My personal favourite of the quick and easy vegan noodles.
Pasta with Homemade Pesto Puttanesca
This vegan olive pesto is ready in 3 minutes and absolutely bursting with umami. Green and black olives, sun-dried tomatoes, capers, garlic, good olive oil and a little salt – that’s all you need. Add to the pasta, maybe with some arugula or fresh basil, and your quick vegan noodles are ready.
Quick Gnocchi with tofu and veggies
We made this quick one-pot gnocchi with veggies over and over this summer, in all kinds of variations, after discovering how surprisingly delicious this simple combo is: gnocchi, carrots and Tofu Rosso fried in a pan, along with white cabbage, Pesto Rosso, salt and pepper, ready in 10 minutes. Just one pan, barely any cleanup, and endless variations that all turned out tasty. Also great whenever you need quick vegan noodles for a crowd.
FAQ:
Are noodles vegan?
Most noodle varieties from the supermarket are vegan, since they’re made only from durum wheat semolina and water. Fresh egg noodles are the exception – it’s worth checking the ingredient list here.
Which noodles work best for quick vegan dishes?
Thin noodle varieties like mie, rice, or glass noodles are fastest, since they only need a few minutes in hot water or straight in the sauce. Classic spaghetti or whole wheat pasta work just as well, though.
Can I prep these noodle dishes ahead and take them with me?
Yes, all 5 recipes taste great cold too and work well for meal prep, picnics, or travel food. It’s best to transport the sauce and noodles separately and mix them just before serving if you like it extra fresh.
Are there gluten-free alternatives?
For most recipes, you can easily swap the noodles for rice noodles, glass noodles, or gluten-free whole grain pasta without changing the flavour at all.
If you love these quick vegan noodles you should also try my vegan glass noodle salad with mango, avocado, and fluffy tofu, fresh, light, and your new go-to summer recipe. And for the colder days, take a look at my vegan tantan soup, which brings the warmer noodle option with ramen noodles, sesame, and chili oil.
