Name: Vegan Creamy Roasted Tomato Garlic Pasta
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1 pound cherry tomatoes (organic); ¼ cup Kalamata olives, halved lengthwise. (soaked in water briefly and rinsed. If not pitted, pit with a cherry pitter.); 6 cloves garlic (sliced); 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (plus extra to drizzle over vegan cheese); 1 teaspoon dried oregano; 1 teaspoon fine sea salt; ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes; ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 4 oz vegan cream cheese; 4 oz vegan ricotta; 8 oz gluten-free pasta (or pasta of your choice); ½ cup fresh basil leaves

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Have you been looking for the perfect weeknight dinner that’s easy, healthy, and delicious? Well, look no further than this Vegan Creamy Roasted Tomato Garlic Pasta! This simple, family-friendly meal will surely be a hit with everyone in your home.

Bursting with flavor from the roasted cherry tomatoes and roasted garlic, it takes advantage of garden-fresh summer ingredients while having an indulgent creaminess.

Overhead view of bowl of Vegan Creamy Roasted Tomato Garlic Pasta with fork and glass of white wine on a white wood surface with grey striped napkin.

This delicious and easy vegan, gluten-free pasta recipe will have you on your way to a surprisingly simple, satisfying dinner tonight. This dish is perfect for an effortless dinner for company or date night!

It's no secret that I love pasta, such as this Asparagus Mushroom Pasta and this Creamy Vegan Pasta with Peas, but I wanted to make a creamier dish with tomatoes and olives.

This vegan Creamy Roasted Tomato Garlic Pasta is made with roasted cherry tomatoes, garlic, Kalamata olives, vegan ricotta, and vegan cream cheese. Enjoy this indulgent pasta that's ready in just 45 minutes.

I made a variation of a baked pasta recipe with roasted tomato cream sauce that I suddenly saw everywhere on Instagram. It became so popular in Finland that the grocery stores ran out of feta cheese; I had to make a vegan version and see what the fuss was about!

This tasty vegan pasta comes together quickly, making it one of those “thrown together” dishes that still taste like you spent hours preparing it.

This flavorful combination of roasted garlic, cherry tomatoes, and Kalamata olives is combined with cooked pasta, creamy plant-based ricotta, and cream cheese for a nearly effortless meal.

After one bite, this pasta with roasted tomatoes was declared a keeper, and we'll make it repeatedly. This recipe is a new family favorite from our kitchen to yours!

Everything melts with the roasted cherry tomato cream sauce into the most glorious combination of flavors; it tastes heavenly!

Ingredients

These are the ingredients you need to make this delicious Vegan Creamy Roasted Tomato Garlic Pasta:

Garlic - for flavor. The six cloves of garlic add a delicious bite of flavor.
Cherry tomatoes - I prefer organic tomatoes with a variety of colors for this dish
Extra-virgin olive oil - for roasting the tomatoes and garlic
Vegan cream cheese - I used Kite Hill plain almond milk cream cheese style spread.
Vegan ricotta - I used Kite Hill ricotta alternative made with almond milk; mixed with their vegan cream cheese alternative, it creates a delightful tangy combination.
Kalamata olives, pitted and soaked in water and rinsed, so they're not briny. I prefer to pit the olives with a cherry pitter versus buying them pitted - they have more flavor that way.
Fine sea salt - to bring out the flavors. Add one tablespoon of salt (I use kosher salt) to your cooking water for the pasta.
Crushed red pepper flakes - for added spice and flavor
Dried oregano - if you use fresh, stir it in at the end
Pasta - I used gluten-free rotini, which held the sauce well; you can use whichever short pasta you like.
Fresh basil - to stir in at the end and top with basil if desired.

How to make this vegan creamy roasted tomato garlic pasta

It's easy to make this vegan pasta dish, even if it is your first time!

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Grease a 9-inch x13-inch dish or 8-inch x 11 ¾-inch dish with olive oil. I used this 11-inch baking dish.

Overhead view of fresh cherry tomatoes, sliced garlic, olives, spices, oil, and herbs mixed in a baking pan.

Combine the cherry tomatoes, halved Kalamata olives, sliced garlic, olive oil, dried oregano, salt, crushed red pepper, and freshly ground black pepper in a baking dish—place in the oven for 30 to 35 minutes until the tomatoes soften.

Overhead view of small bowl filled with vegan ricotta and vegan cream cheese mixture.

Combine the vegan cream cheese with the vegan ricotta in a small bowl.

Depending on your oven, you may need more time. Keep an eye on the cherry tomatoes. Halfway through the cooking time, take the baking dish out of the oven, stir the mixture, and place it back in the oven to keep roasting.

Overhead view of cooked fusilli in a white bowl with pasta water nearby on a white wood surface.

While the tomato mixture roasts, cook the pasta in salted water according to directions and reserve ¾ cup of pasta water. You likely won't need all of it, but it is nice to have extra on hand.

Overhead view of roasted vegetables in a white oval baking dish on a white wood surface with a grey striped napin.

Once the cherry tomatoes have softened and released their juices, take the baking dish out of the oven.

Overhead view of vegan cheese mixture placed in spoonfuls on top of roasted tomato and vegetable mixture.

Add the vegan cream cheese and ricotta mixture in spoonfuls on top of the baked tomato mixture.

Overhead view of vegan cheese mixture mixed with tomato and vegetable mixture in a white oval baking dish.

Stir in ¼ cup of reserved pasta water and combine. Add more pasta water if necessary; you may need another ¼ cup.

Overhead view of pasta mixed with vegan cheese and roasted tomato and garlic mixture in a white baking dish.

Taste and season as desired. Stir in fresh basil and serve.

TIP: Save the leftover pasta over stir it into leftover pasta when reheating.

Expert Tips

Add one tablespoon of sea salt or kosher salt to your pasta water before you add the pasta for more flavor.
Add ¼ cup to ½ cup of the reserved hot pasta water to help the vegan cheese mix more easily with the roasted tomatoes and pasta.

Equipment

I love my 8-inch x 11 ¾-inch enameled cast-iron rectangular roaster in Flame. It's the perfect size for this recipe!

Another pan I love to use is this ova l baki ng dish. It cleans up easily in hot soapy water. Use Bon Ami or Barkeeper's Friend powdered cleansers on a damp sponge to clean the baking dish for any stubborn stains or spots. We've been using these products for years, and they work well!

Storage

Store this pasta in a shallow air-tight container in the fridge for 3 to 5 days. Refrigerate any leftover pasta within two hours of cooking in an airtight container.
You can freeze it for up to two months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Reheat leftovers in a saucepan on the stovetop over low to medium heat with a small amount of reserved pasta water, water, or unsweetened and unflavored plant milk like almond milk to loosen up the sauce. Cover it with foil, reheat it in the oven, and bake at 350°F for 20 to 30 minutes until heated.

Side view of two bowls of Vegan Creamy Roasted Tomato Garlic Pasta with a glass of white wine.

Substitutions

Gluten-free: Instead of durum wheat pasta, use cassava flour pasta or brown rice pasta, or make this dish with spiralized zucchini noodles.

Kalamata olives - Use Castelvetrano olives instead, or any other olives you like.

Red pepper flakes: Try Calabrian red pepper chile paste instead.

Variations

Try switching up the pasta with cooked vegan tortellini or ravioli.

Top with fresh herbs such as fresh thyme or fresh oregano; be sure to add them at the end; otherwise, they'll burn in the oven.

Try vegetables such as zucchini, bell pepper, or roasted bell pepper.

Overhead view of bowl of Vegan Creamy Roasted Tomato Pasta with Garlic.

If you make this recipe, please take a moment to ★★★★★ star-rate it and leave a comment below. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook, and share your creation with me! Tag me @resplendentkitchen and hashtag #resplendentkitchenrecipes.

Vegan Creamy Roasted Tomato Garlic Pasta