This Vegan Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is everything you love about Caesar—creamy, tangy, peppery—but with a plant-based twist and extra staying power from pasta and protein. Whether you’re eating it warm, cold, for lunch, or dinner, it’s a crowd-pleasing vegan salad that actually fills you up.
If you’ve ever wished your favorite Caesar salad had a bit more oomph, this Vegan Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is about to become your new go-to meal. It’s got all the creamy, tangy, savory vibes of a classic Caesar—with a protein-packed twist and pasta that makes it even more satisfying. Perfect for meal prep, summer picnics, or a quick and hearty plant-based dinner!
🥗 Vegan | 🌱 Dairy-Free | ⏱️ Ready in 30 minutes | 💪 High Protein
Jump to:
Why You’ll Love This Vegan Caesar Pasta Salad
- Protein-rich & filling – thanks to vegan chicken and a creamy tahini Caesar dressing.
- No mayo, no oil, no problem! – Whole food ingredients make this dressing a winner.
- Customizable – Use your fave pasta shape, swap the vegan chik’n, or skip the vegan parmesan—it’s still delicious.
- Meal prep approved – Make it ahead for a week of easy lunches!
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Salad:
- 1 large head romaine lettuce, chopped (about 8-10 cups)
- 10 oz Morning Star Chik’n Strips (or use tofu, chickpeas, or soy curls!)
- 2 oz vegan parmesan (optional – or sub with nutritional yeast)
- Fresh cracked black pepper
- 6 oz short pasta (rotini, shells, penne, elbows – you pick!)
For the Vegan Caesar Dressing:
- ¼ cup tahini
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon capers, chopped + 1 tablespoon caper brine
- 1–2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ tablespoon nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon vegan Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ teaspoon salt + ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 2–3 tablespoon water, to thin
Get my NEW Plant-based Flavor Booster eBook!
If you like this recipe, you'll love my NEW e-book with over twenty 5-minute sauce, dips & dressings recipes that will jazz up your meals while keeping your health goals in mind!
How to Make Vegan Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
- Make the Creamy Vegan Caesar Dressing: Blend all the dressing ingredients until smooth and creamy. Adjust lemon, salt, or garlic to taste. This dressing is bold, zesty, and super addictive.
- Cook the Pasta & Vegan Chicken: Boil your pasta until al dente, then rinse with cool water to stop the cooking. Cook your chik’n strips per the package (air fry or pan-fry for max flavor!). Roughly chop if needed.
- Toss & Serve: In a big bowl, combine chopped romaine, cooked pasta, vegan chik’n, and plenty of dressing. Toss well to coat everything. Top with vegan parmesan and cracked black pepper. Serve immediately for ultimate crunch and flavor!
Substitutions & Add-Ins
🔁 No vegan chik’n? Try:
- Air-fried tofu
- Crispy Pickle Tofu (my fave!)
- Chickpeas or edamame or other bean of choice
- Pan-fried soy curls
- Your favorite vegan chicken substitute!
🌿 Add-ins:
- Vegan bacon
- Cherry tomatoes
- Avocado chunks
- Roasted chickpeas for crunch
Meal Prep & Storage Tips
Make the components ahead and store separately to keep things fresh. The dressing keeps for 5–6 days in the fridge. Once assembled, the salad is best eaten fresh but will keep for 1–2 days in the fridge.
FAQ
Yes! Simply use your favorite gluten-free pasta and make sure your vegan chicken substitute and Worcestershire sauce are certified gluten-free. Everything else is naturally gluten-free.
Great options include:
Air-fried or pan-fried tofu
Crispy pickle tofu
Soy curls
Chickpeas or edamame
Any store-bought vegan chicken alternative you love
Absolutely! This dressing is made with whole food ingredients like tahini, lemon, garlic, and capers—no oil or mayo needed. It’s creamy, nutrient-dense, and packed with flavor.
Yes, but for best texture, store the dressing, pasta, lettuce, and protein separately and toss just before serving. The dressing will keep in the fridge for up to 6 days.
Protein content will vary depending on your vegan chicken substitute, but using Morning Star Chik’n Strips and tahini dressing, this salad is a great high-protein vegan meal—perfect for post-workout recovery or long-lasting energy.
Like this recipe? Try these next!
Try these tasty salads and bowls!!
Did you make this recipe? Please leave a comment and ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below! Take a picture and tag me on Instagram @samcookskindness !
Recipe
Vegan Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Ingredients
Salad Components
- 1 large head romaine lettuce chopped (about 8-10 cups)
- 10 ounces Morning Star Chik'n Strips see notes for substitutions
- 2 ounces vegan parmesan optional - substitute nutritional yeast
- fresh black pepper
- 6 ounces short pasta of choice- like rotini, elbows, penne or shells
Vegan Caesar Dressing (may substitute ¾cup storebought)
- ¼ cup tahini
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon capers chopped small
- 1 tablespoon caper juice
- 1-2 cloves garlic minced or pressed
- ½ teaspoon dijon mustard
- ½ tablespoon nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon vegan Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 2-3 tablespoons water
Instructions
Make the dressing
- To a blender, add all the dressing ingredients and process on medium speed until everything is smooth and no garlic chunks remain. Taste and add more salt or lemon to taste.
Cook the pasta & chik'n
- Boil your pasta until al dente, then rinse with cool water to stop the cooking. Cook your chik’n strips per the package (air fry or pan-fry for max flavor!). Roughly chop if needed.
Assemble the Salad
- To a large bowl, add the lettuce, cooked pasta & chik'n, dressing and toss well to coat everything with dressing. Grate the parmesan over top if using and crack fresh pepper over the whole salad. Best enjoyed fresh!
Notes
- Air Fried Tofu
- Crispy Pickle Tofu
- Chickpeas, edamame or other bean of choice
- Pan fried soy curls
- Your favorite vegan chicken substitute!
(There may be affiliate links in this post. I may earn a commission for qualified purchases with no added cost to you. Thank you for your support!)
Leave a Reply