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    Home » All Recipes » Vegetarian Pasta

    Vegan Caramelized Onion & Roasted Garlic Pasta

    Published: Apr 14, 2023 · Modified: Apr 26, 2023 by Megan · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    pasta with text overlay "vegan caramelized onion & roasted garlic pasta, 10 ingredients!".

    This Vegan Caramelized Onion & Roasted Garlic Pasta is so creamy! With only 10 ingredients, you are going to love this easy & dairy-free weeknight pasta recipe.

    two plates of caramelized onion roasted garlic pasta with fresh thyme on top and a fork.

    I think by now you all know I have a true obsession with making vegan pasta. While I love a classic tomato sauce on pasta, it can get a bit boring. That's why I've made it my mission to create innovative & unique pasta recipes for you to enjoy!

    My favorite Caramelized Onion Mashed Potatoes partly inspired this caramelized onion pasta. Many of you have said you like adding roasted garlic to that dish, so I thought- why not take that & make it into the BEST roasted garlic & caramelized onion pasta?!

    Ingredients:

    labeled ingredients including pasta, onions, vegan butter, olive oil, coconut milk, salt, pepper, garlic, parsley, and Worcestershire sauce.

    See the recipe card at the end of the blog post for exact measurements.

    Ingredient & substitution notes:

    • Onions: Any onion variety works in this recipe, but I decided to use a yellow onion. I find that using an onion variety that is not too sweet is best as the onions become pretty sweet after caramelizing.
    • Dried parsley: I love the flavor dried parsley gives this dish- kind of makes it taste like French onion soup. However, feel free to adjust with other spices such as rosemary, thyme, or oregano.
    • Coconut milk: I recommend using full-fat canned coconut milk to make this a truly creamy dish. Other plant-based milk can work, but the dish will be significantly less creamy.
    • Vegan Worcestershire sauce: Traditionally, it is made with anchovies or fish sauce, so it's not vegan. However, Annie's Worcestershire sauce is vegan & my absolute go-to!

    Steps to make caramelized onion pasta

    Roast the garlic head

    Preheat the oven to 400F. Then, peel and discard any of the papery layers on the outside of the garlic clove while still keeping it intact.

    Slice about ¼ inch from the top of the clove. Then, place it onto a piece of tin foil and drizzle with olive oil, salt, & pepper.

    Wrap the garlic bulb in tin foil and roast for 30-40 minutes.

    head of garlic with oil salt and pepper wrapped in tin foil.

    Once it's cooked, squeeze the garlic cloves out of their skins and mash them into a thick paste. You can use the whole clove in this recipe, or just half. Whatever you prefer!

    head of roasted garlic held over pan of caramelized onions.

    Luckily, this step is pretty hands off so you can caramelize the onions & cook the pasta while the garlic is roasting!

    Cook the caramelized onions & pasta

    Cook & strain the pasta. While it is cooking, make the caramelized onions.

    Thinly slice the onions. Then, add the melted butter and olive oil to a saucepan and heat over medium heat.

    Add in the sliced onions and salt and saute until they are caramelized for about 30-40 minutes.

    making caramelized onions in a saucepan.

    My best tips for perfect caramelized onions?

    • Cook over low/medium heat so the onions cook evenly and do not burn.
    • Add a teaspoon of water at a time if the onions start to brown too quickly or crisp up while cooking. This deglazes the pan and makes sure the onions don't burn!

    Make the sauce & add the pasta

    Once the caramelized onions are cooked down, add the vegan Worcestershire sauce, dried parsley, mashed roasted garlic, coconut milk, pasta water, salt, & pepper to the pot.

    adding worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and coconut milk to caramelized onions.

    Mix into a thick sauce, then turn off the heat and add in the cooked noodles. Stir the noodles in the sauce until coated and glossy.

    Once the pasta is mixed into the sauce serve it as is or add some fresh thyme. If you want to make it even creamier, top it with vegan parmesan!

    two plates of caramelized onion roasted garlic pasta alongside an onion, garlic cloves, and fresh thyme.

    FAQ & Tips:

    Can I make this roasted garlic pasta gluten-free?

    Definitely! First, make sure to use a gluten-free noodles.

    Second, you'll need to use a different vegan Worcestershire sauce than the one I recommended as it contains wheat.

    How do I store this pasta?

    This pasta can be stored in a closed container in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month.

    It will solidify a bit in the fridge as it cools (because of the coconut milk), but once you reheat it will become a glossy sauce again!

    fork swirling noodles with caramelized onion and roasted garlic pasta sauce.

    I hope you enjoy this creamy & delicious Vegan Caramelized Onion & Roasted Garlic Pasta! With just 10 ingredients, it's a great weeknight dinner staple. Enjoy!

    -TSG

    More vegetarian pasta recipes you will love:

    • chopsticks twirling chili shallot noodles topped with green onions in a saucepan.
      Shallot Chili Oil Noodles (15 minutes!)
    • bowl of linguine with spinach, artichokes, basil, and toasted pine nuts
      Vegan Spinach Artichoke Pasta
    • plate of linguine pasta with mushrooms, spinach, and a garlic miso sauce
      Vegan Miso Mushroom & Spinach Pasta
    • bowl of pasta with burst cherry tomatoes, basil, vegan parmesan, and two forks
      Vegan Tomato Basil Pasta

    If you loved this recipe, please leave a 5-star review on the recipe card. I always appreciate your feedback and support! You can also follow along on my Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Pinterest, or sign up for our newsletter!

    plate of caramelized onion roasted garlic pasta alongside an onion, and garlic cloves with fresh thyme on top.

    Vegan Caramelized Onion & Roasted Garlic Pasta

    This 10-ingredient pasta is made with the creamiest caramelized onion & roasted garlic pasta sauce.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin
    Course: Main Course, Vegetarian Lunch + Dinner
    Cuisine: American, French
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 40 minutes
    Total Time: 55 minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Author: Megan Horowitch

    Ingredients 

    Roasted Garlic:

    • 1 head garlic
    • 1 teaspoon olive oil
    • sprinkle of salt & pepper

    Caramelized Onion Garlic Sauce & Pasta

    • 8 ounces dried spaghetti or linguine cooked according to package instructions
    • 2 Tablespoons vegan butter
    • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 large yellow onion thinly sliced (or 2 small onions)
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 2-3 teaspoons water add as needed to degalze the pan while caramelizing onions
    • 1 ½ Tablespoons vegan worcestershire sauce
    • 1 Tablespoon roasted garlic paste *made above, add more or less depending on preference
    • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
    • ½ cup full-fat coconut milk
    • ¼ cup starchy pasta water reserved from cooking pasta
    • salt & pepper to taste I recommend at least ½ teaspoon ground pepper

    Instructions

    Roast the Garlic:

    • Preheat the oven to 400F. Then, peel and discard any of the papery layers on the outside of the garlic clove while still keeping it intact.
    • Slice about ¼ inch from the top of the clove. Then, place it onto a piece of tin foil and drizzle with olive oil, salt, & pepper.
    • Wrap the garlic bulb in tin foil and add to the oven to roast for around 30-40 minutes.
    • Once the garlic is roasted, remove it from the oven and let cool. Then, squeeze out the garlic cloves and mash them into a thick garlic paste. Set aside for later.

    Cook the pasta & caramelized onions

    • While the garlic is roasting, cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Don't forget to reserve ¼ cup of the starchy pasta water before straining the pasta to use in the sauce.
    • While the pasta is cooking, thinly slice the onion(s).
    • Then, add the vegan butter and olive oil to a saucepan and melt over medium heat. Once bubbling, add in the sliced onions and ½ teaspoon salt.
    • Stir & cook the onions until caramelized, about 30-40 minutes. Make sure to stir every few minutes and cook over medium to low heat. If the onions start to cook or brown too fast, add a teaspoon of water to deglaze the pan as needed.

    Put it all together

    • Once the onions are caramelized, add the vegan Worcestershire sauce, roasted garlic, and dried parsley to the pan. I use about 1 Tablespoon of roasted garlic, but you can use more or less depending on your preference. Stir and sauté for 30 seconds.
    • Then add the coconut milk and reserved pasta water. Stir into a thick sauce, turn off the heat, and add in the cooked pasta noodles. I recommend tasting the pasta at this time and seasoning with salt & pepper to your liking.
    • Mix the pasta with the sauce until thick and glossy. Then, serve while warm. If you would like, top with fresh thyme or a sprinkle of vegan parm to make this dish extra delicious. Enjoy!

    Notes

    • Please see the blog post for substitution ideas & more recipe tips.
    • While the instructions do call for adding salt & pepper to your liking, I recommend at least ½ teaspoon of ground pepper for the best flavor. Only add additional salt if you need it- the salt from the onions and the Worcestershire sauce already add a bit of salt to the dish. 
    • This pasta can be stored in a closed container in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month.
    • It will solidify a bit in the fridge as it cools (because of the coconut milk), but once you reheat it will become a glossy sauce again!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1bowl of pasta | Calories: 387kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 429mg | Potassium: 328mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 8IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @shortgirltallorder or tag #sgtoeats!
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    Hi, I'm Megan! I believe eating plant-based food can be enjoyable for everyone. Eating plants doesn't have to be hard and it certainly shouldn't be boring. I am here to help you on your journey to eating food you actually feel good about and to make cooking at home fun again! 

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