This Creamy Tomato Pasta Sauce (Vegan) is a totally dairy-free pasta recipe made with coconut milk. The simple sauce comes together in minutes with pantry ingredients. With a crispy garlic panko topping, each bite is irresistible!
This is another delicious pasta dish (like this vegan pumpkin pasta with sage) that you can prepare for a special date or for the kids.
This article contains affiliate links which supports us at no extra cost to you.
Jump to:
The recipe is completely vegan and you could use your favorite gluten-free pasta to make this totally vegan + gluten-free!
Ingredients
- Pasta: I used penne, but any short pasta shape will work fine. You could even use spaghetti or any long shape.
- Extra-virgin olive oil: Used for cooking the garlic and making the breadcrumbs.
- Garlic: Adds flavor to both the sauce and breadcrumbs. Use onions or shallots, if you prefer.
- Tomato paste: Provides a rich, tangy taste to the creamy tomato pasta.
- Coconut milk: Adds a creamy texture to the sauce.
- Sea salt and freshly ground pepper: Seasoning for both the pasta and sauce.
- Fresh herbs (optional): Can be added as a garnish for extra flavor and freshness. I used Italian parsley, use whatever you have on hand.
- Hot pepper flakes (optional): Red pepper flakes add a hint of spice to the dish.
- Panko breadcrumbs: Gives a crunchy, crispy texture to the garlic breadcrumbs.
What ingredients are in the crispy garlic breadcrumb topping?
The flavorful topping for the vegan tomato pasta comes together with just 3 ingredients:
- Extra-virgin olive oil-the better quality oil you use, the more flavor the topping will have
- Garlic-I have a jar of freshly minced garlic in my fridge (always!)
- Breadcrumbs-use regular breadcrumbs or panko (I used panko)
Equipment you need to make this recipe:
- Cutting board: I love bamaboo cutting boards, but use whatever type of board you have on hand.
- Sharp knife: A nice and sharp knife is important to chop the ingredients correctly.
- Large skillet: Any type of large skillet is what you need. I sometimes use my large cast iron skillet.
- Wooden spoon : Just a simple wooden spoon is needed to stir all the sauce ingredients together.
🍽️ How to make creamy tomato pasta sauce?
Here are the steps to make this delicious easy vegan creamy sauce (full recipe below):
First thing is to gather the ingredients together.
- Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Heat the oil in a large skillet and add the garlic. It will only take a minute or less to get fragrant (longer if you’re using onion or shallot).
- As soon as water boils, add in the pasta and time it for 1 minute less than the al dente cooking time (I used penne, use whatever short pasta you like).
- Step 2: In the large skillet, add in the tomato paste and stir to combine with the garlic. Stir until the paste begins to darken. As soon as it's a dark red, add in the coconut milk and stir to combine. Add some pasta water to loosen it up.
- Step 3: Check the seasoning, and add some salt (the pasta water is salty, so you may not need a lot). Keep stirring and let it simmer on a medium-low heat.
- Step 4: Drain pasta just before it reaches al dente, (depends on which pasta brand you are using), drain it (reserve ½ cup pasta water)and dump the pasta immediately into the saute' pan with the sauce. Stir to combine and let it simmer 1 minute in the sauce.
- Step 5: Prep the garlic breadcrumb topping. The topping is fast to make. I make it while the pasta and sauce is cooking. I used panko, but you could use breadcrumbs if you don't have panko. The crispy panko topping is ready in just a few minutes. Keep stirring it so it gets an even golden-dark brown color on all sides.
📃 NOTE: Recipe card with detailed instructions can be found below. Print it out for later!
You may find full or reduced fat coconut milk, and either one is perfect for the recipe. I used full fat and I always shake the can before opening it. You can find the coconut milk in a can in any market (in my markets, it's typically in the Asian section).
What to serve with this recipe?
This pasta recipe goes nicely with salad or is filling even on its own.
This pasta is total comfort food and it goes really nicely with any roasted vegetable, side dish, and even bread.
- Insalata mista >>> A very fast Italian salad with a really delicious dressing.
- Panzanella Toscana >>> A very nice and easy to make Tuscan salad! Really flavorful.
- Crusty bread >>> Nice crispy bread does go great with pasta!
- Italian Cucumber Salad >>> A really fresh and easy salad made with cucumbers and tomatoes that are tossed in a homemade vinegar dressing.
Leftover and Storing
- To refrigerate: Once the pasta has cooled down completely, store any leftovers in an airtight container or a zipped lock freezer bag in the refrigerator. The pasta will stay fresh for up to 3 days.
- To freeze: I do not recommend freezing this pasta (you could freeze the sauce separately for up to 2 months).
Expert Tips
- Use a high-quality pasta for best results, as it will hold up better in the sauce.
- Make sure to reserve some of the pasta water before draining, as it helps to loosen up the sauce if needed.
- If you're not a fan of coconut milk, you can substitute with heavy cream or half-and-half for a creamier texture, if you're not vegan/dairy-free.
- If you're not vegan, for more protein-rich dish, you can add in cooked chicken, shrimp, or tofu to the pasta and sauce before serving.
- Experiment with different herbs and spices to customize the flavor of the dish. Some great options include basil, thyme, oregano, and smoked paprika.
- For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free pasta and substitute breadcrumbs with crushed gluten-free crackers or nuts.
- Don't skip toasting the breadcrumbs in garlic-infused oil, as it adds a delicious crunch and flavor to the dish.
- If you prefer more sauce, double the amount of sauce ingredients and adjust seasoning accordingly.
FAQ'S
Store-bought tomato sauce can be vegan, but it's important to read the label carefully. Many brands offer tomato sauces that are made from purely plant-based ingredients like tomatoes, herbs, and spices. However, some varieties may include non-vegan additives such as cheese, meat flavorings, or cream.
Adding cream to sauce is a culinary technique used to enhance its texture and flavor profile. Cream introduces a luxurious richness and silky smoothness. Also, the fat content in cream helps to mellow out acidity and sharpness in sauces, especially tomato-based ones.
Creamy garlic sauce, as traditionally made, often contains dairy products like cream or butter, making it non-vegan. However, there are plenty of vegan versions available that use plant-based alternatives, such as cashew cream, almond milk, or vegan butter, that creates the rich, smooth texture and the flavorful depth of garlic.
Absolutely! You can achieve a creamy tomato sauce without using dairy cream by opting for alternatives like pureed cashews, coconut milk, or even a roux made from flour and olive oil.
You may find full or reduced fat coconut milk, and either one is perfect for the recipe. I used full fat and I always shake the can before opening it. You can find the coconut milk in a can in any market (in my markets, it's typically in the Asian section).
Panko originated in Japan and have long been used in Asian cuisine. Panko is a dry, crustless white bread that is flaked and then dried.
Panko bread crumbs have a drier and flakier texture than ordinary breadcrumbs, so they absorb less oil. Panko produces food that is lighter in texture and crunchier in taste
Yes, you could use either one. You could even make your own breadcrumbs with some leftover bread.
Some other pasta recipes you'll love:
Originally published April 2022 and updated for content March 2024.
Did you make this and love it? Please RATE THE RECIPE below:)
I would LOVE IT if you could leave me a star rating and a review down below and let me know your thoughts! It means the world to me to hear how you liked it.
Please Subscribe and give a follow on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and TikTok xx
📖 Recipe
📖 Recipe
Creamy Tomato Pasta Without Cream
Ingredients
- 1 lb pasta I used penne but use whatever short pasta you prefer
- 2 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 6 oz can tomato paste
- 1 14 oz can coconut milk full fat or reduced fat
- salt
- Freshly ground pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley or basil chopped optional
- Hot pepper flakes
Crispy Garlic Breadcrumbs
- 2 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs or regular breadcrumbs
Instructions
Cook the pasta:
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it. Cook the pasta making sure it's not quite al dente (so about 1 minute less than the cooking time, because you'll be combining in the skillet with the creamy sauce and heating together and it will cook a little more).
Make the tomato sauce
- Prep the creamy tomato sauce while the pasta is cooking. Heat 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and let it get fragrant (not even 1 minute).
- Stir in the tomato paste with the garlic and oil and combine. Keep stirring until it becomes a dark red color (2-3 minutes). Add in ½ cup of the pasta water and stir.
- Add in the coconut milk and stir to combine. Add a teaspoon of salt and pepper.
- Let the sauce simmer on medium-low heat while the pasta is cooking (sauce will be simmering for a total 10-12 minutes).
Make the garlic panko breadcrumbs:
- When the pasta cooks and sauce simmers, you could make the garlic bread crumbs.
- In a separate small skillet, heat the extra-virgin olive oil over medium-high heat.
- Add the garlic, breadcrumbs, and salt, and stir to combine. The breadcrumbs will become a nice golden brown and toasted. As soon as they are ready transfer to a serving bowl. Sprinkle on the pasta when ready to serve.
- Drain the pasta when it's not quite al dente (reserve ½ cup of the water) and add to the skillet with the sauce. Stir to combine and let it simmer together for 1 minute. If pasta and sauce seems too thick, add a little bit of the pasta water to loosen it up.
- Spoon it out onto plate and add on the garlic breadcrumbs and whatever chopped fresh herbs and red pepper flakes (if using). Enjoy!
Nutrition Disclaimer
Please keep in mind that the nutritional information presented below is an approximation and may vary depending on the exact ingredients used.
Deb says
A very easy sauce to make and it's dairy-free...which is what I needed for my son. I can't believe you can't even tell that it's dairy-free because it's very creamy. Best sauce!!
Lora says
Hi Deb-Thanks for taking the time to let me know you enjoy my cream sauce (without cream!). ENJOY!