Vegan avocado pesto pasta topped with crispy chickpeas. This easy plant-based dinner recipe is made in under 30 minutes with just a few ingredients.

A healthy and delicious vegan dinner, ready in less than 30 minutes. This pasta recipe is packed with flavor thanks to fresh basil, lemon juice and a generous amount of garlic. You can easily customize this recipe with your favorite pasta and toppings!

This recipe is also packed with healthy fats from the avocados and olive oil. Serve it with a high-fiber pasta, vegetables and crispy chickpeas for protein. The result? A nutritious and filling vegan meal.

This recipe is lightly based on my 5-ingredient avocado tofu pasta recipe. Check out that one if you’re looking for an oil-free and higher-protein option!

How to Make Avocado Pesto Pasta

Notes on the Recipe:

• You can reduce the amount of oil in this recipe if preferred. Simply add more lemon juice and/or water as needed until you get your desired consistency. The sauce should be thick and creamy. I wouldn’t recommend skipping the oil entirely. Taste the pasta before adding more lemon juice.
• Try topping your pasta with this 3-ingredient vegan parmesan! You can also use store-bought vegan parmesan.
• You can use your pasta of choice, including white, whole wheat or gluten-free. Linguine, fettucine or fusilli are great options. 
• This pasta dish is served with roasted chickpeas for a crunch and extra protein. You can skip the chickpeas if preferred for a quicker dish. You could also add hemp hearts for a little more protein.
• I like to serve this pasta with fresh arugula. It would also be delicious with roasted broccoli or Brussels sprouts if you’re looking for more vegetables.

More Vegan Pasta Recipes:

• 5-Ingredient Avocado Tofu Pasta
• Creamy Hummus Pasta with Roasted Brussels Sprouts
• Vegan Chickpea Pasta Salad with Tahini Dressing
• Vegan Lasagna with Tofu Ricotta
• Easy Vegan Mac and Cheese

Watch How to Make the Recipe:

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Vegan Avocado Pesto Pasta

Vegan avocado pesto pasta topped with crispy chickpeas. This easy plant-based dinner recipe is made in under 15 minutes of preparation with just a few ingredients.

Course Main Course

Cuisine vegan

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 45 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Ingredients

• 3 cups (260g) pasta of choice
• 1 cup canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt, to taste
• 1 handful arugula, for serving
• Vegan parmesan, for serving

Avocado Pesto

• 2 medium avocados, pitted and peeled
• 1 cup fresh basil
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice, about 1 large lemon
• 2 medium garlic cloves
• 1 tablespoon water, or more as needed
• 1/4 teaspoon fine grain sea salt, or more to taste
• Pepper to taste

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 400°F. Place the chickpeas on a baking sheet and toss with oil. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Roast the chickpeas for 25-30 minutes or until golden and crispy.
• Meanwhile, bring water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Cook the pasta according to the package's instructions.
• Prepare the avocado pesto: In a food processor, add the avocados, basil, garlic, oil, lemon juice, water and salt. Process until smooth, stopping to scrape the sides as needed.
• Once the pasta is ready, drain and return it to the saucepan. Add the pesto and toss to combine.
• Serve the pasta with the crispy chickpeas, vegan parmesan and arugula if desired.

Video

Notes

Looking for a homemade vegan parmesan recipe? Try this 3-ingredient vegan parmesan!

You can use your pasta of choice, including white, whole wheat or gluten-free. I like to use linguine, fettucine or fusilli. 

If you’re looking for a lower fat recipe, you can replace some of the oil with additional water. I don’t recommend skipping the oil completely.

If you make this avocado pesto pasta, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I love to hear from you guys. And of course, if you try this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram!