Vegan Strawberry Fields Pasta Salad with Strawberry Balsamic Dressing

The perfect vegan pasta salad for all of your summer BBQs. It’s loaded with fresh strawberries, avocado, and basil and tossed in a creamy balsamic vinaigrette. This creamy pasta salad is loaded with fresh produce making it the ultimate summer salad.

Strawberry season is making its way to us here in California and my family couldn’t be happier. There’s just something about ripe, juicy, and extra-large strawberries that bring extra excitement. 

It’s that time of year! Bring on the backyard barbeques, beach days, and poolside food. Summer is the best season for refreshing food, delicious meals, and entertaining dishes. This Vegan Strawberry Fields Pasta Salad is all that and more. 

Spotlight on this Vegan Strawberry Fields Pasta Salad

It’s flavorful and tasty. There is so much flavor in this pasta salad! From sweet strawberries to fresh basil, to the creamy strawberry balsamic dressing, it’s bursting with flavor. 

It’s simple to make. This straightforward recipe is easy to make. If you are making this as one of your dinner party sides, you’ll be happy to know it comes together quickly. You can even meal prep it and make it in the morning.

It’s dairy-free. I am always looking for a summer pasta salad recipe that contains no dairy, which is why I created this pasta dish. You won’t find any meat or cheese in this dish: just plant-based ingredients and simple pasta.

It’s hearty and filling. Enjoy this as a main dish or serve it as a side dish at all of your summer parties. It’s hearty and filling which is exactly what a pasta salad should be. 

It’s healthy. This is one of those healthy salads that you don’t mind eating poolside in a bathing suit. It’s packed with the season’s best produce and is a great salad option for a healthy vegan diet.

It’s a wonderful BBQ side dish. I enjoy eating this pasta salad both as a lunch meal and as a side. Either way you enjoy it, you will love it. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will the pasta salad last as leftovers? The salad will last up to 3 days in an airtight container in the fridge.

Do I have to chill this pasta salad or can I serve it immediately? Either way works! You can make this ahead of time and chill it in the fridge or serve it immediately after making it.

Can I modify the ingredients? Yes! Use any pasta variety, add feta cheese if you are into that, and change up the dressing to store-bought. Add some cherry tomatoes if you like.

How can I make this easy pasta salad fast? I recommend using bottled Italian dressing instead of making the homemade vinaigrette. I also recommend purchasing prechopped ingredients. These changes will help make this salad in a pinch.

The Ingredients

Pasta: I like to use bow-tie pasta for its adorable look. However, you can use any smaller pasta varieties such as penne, shells, fusilli, or macaroni. 

Strawberries: Grab a container of ripe, red, and juicy strawberries. If you have the time, head to your local Farmer’s Market for the freshest strawberries.

Spinach: I love always adding greens to my dishes. It just feels healthier, am I right? Spinach is nice because of its subtle flavor. It won’t change the taste of the pasta salad.

Shallots: You can definitely swap these for red onion, however, I enjoy the lighter flavor of the shallot. Don’t skip this ingredient as this pasta salad needs the spice of the onions. 

Great Northern Beans: Beans add protein to this vegan pasta salad. They are smooth, hearty, and have a wonderful light flavor. Perfect for this vegan strawberry fields pasta salad.

Avocado: I love how avocado brings creaminess and heartiness to this strawberry fields salad. It’s one of my favorite ways to add more texture to a salad. Avocados have my heart and they should have yours, too.

Basil: There’s nothing like fresh herbs in a pasta salad. They are packed with flavor and packed with nutrients. Basil has such a fresh flavor and works nicely in this recipe. It’s the perfect summer herb.

Pecans: Adding a crunch from the pecans is the perfect finishing touch. They are meaty, and filling, and add a nice crunch. You can swap them out for slivered almonds or chopped walnuts, however I recommend pecans.

Nutritional yeast: This healthy vegan cheese alternative is packed with nutrients and gives off a cheesy vibe. You can skip this step if you do not have any on hand. You can also use non-vegan ingredients if that’s your vibe such as fresh mozzarella balls, or chicken chunks.

Strawberry balsamic Vinaigrette: This homemade vegan creamy dressing is the perfect combination and sweet and savory. It’s creamy and dreamy and tosses nicely into this strawberry pasta salad. You can swap it out for your favorite homemade or bottled Italian dressing also.

The Instructions

Step one: Cook the dry pasta according to package directions. Drain, rinse with cold water, add a drizzle of olive oil, and toss to coat. *This keeps it from sticking as it dries. Pour the cooked pasta into a large bowl and set it aside. 

Step two: Prepare your ingredients. Chop and mince the produce and pecans. Rinse and drain the beans.

Step three: Make your vinaigrette. Starting with the strawberries, add all of the ingredients to a high-speed blender and blend for about one minute or until everything is creamy. You might need to scrape down the sides once. Set it aside. 

Step four: Add the rest of the ingredients to the large bowl of cooked pasta. Finish with the strawberry balsamic vinaigrette and toss everything well. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge to chill. 

Tips + Modifications

If you plan to have leftovers or love heavy dressing, I recommend doubling the vinaigrette recipe. That way you have extra to toss in as desired. You will definitely want to add additional dressing if enjoying as leftovers as the pasta will soak up a lot of the dressing.

Other Vegan BBQ Pasta Salads to Make

Easy Cherry Tomato Couscous Salad

The Best Vegan Summer Pasta Salad with Roasted Veggies and Orzo

Israeli Couscous Vegetable Salad

Enjoy!

XOXO

Michelle