11 Gluten-Free Vegan Pasta Brands To Look For
If you’re on the lookout for an excellent gluten-free and/or high-protein vegan pasta, you’ve come to the right place! This year may just be the year pasta makers all over the world have mastered the art of gluten-free pasta. With so many options out there, you’re sure to find one that reminds you of the real deal!
Whether using legumes, corn, rice, quinoa, or other natural ingredients, these brands have developed the perfect formula for their wheat-free products. Keep reading and find out which gluten-free vegan pasta is best for your taste and nutritional needs!
Banza Vegan Pasta
Banza’s beloved pasta, made with chickpeas, is totally gluten-free and incredibly similar to its wheat-based counterpart! Plus, it’s loaded with protein (12g per 2oz. serving), iron (3mg), and calcium (40mg). An excellent, nutritious pasta substitute for those following a vegan diet, or avoiding the empty carbohydrates found in refined wheat flour.
Another thing we love about this chickpea pasta is the simplicity of its ingredients—just chickpeas, tapioca, and xanthan gum! If you’re wondering what ‘xanthan gum’ is, it’s a natural gum that functions as a binding agent in many gluten-free products. It’s considered safe as a food additive, and is used in Banza’s formula to help replace the gluten in wheat, which holds the pasta together.
If you’re a huge Italian food lover, this is the ideal choice for traditional recipes that feature the pasta as the main attraction. Think spaghetti aglio, pasta al pomodoro, pasta alla genovese, and other simple, authentic dishes!
Barilla Gluten Free
With all types of cuts, including elbows, fettuccine, lasagne, penne, rotini, and spaghetti, Barilla’s gluten free pasta is a widely available and complete selection! It’s made with a simple blend of corn and rice flour, and produced on a dedicated gluten free line. For a wheat-free pasta that does not compromise on taste, Barilla’s line is a top-tier pick!
Although it’s not for those in search of a high-protein option, if you simply need a delicious gluten free alternative to satisfy your pasta cravings, it’s sure to do the trick.
To add more flavor and help the pasta avoid sticking, add some salt to your boiling water before tossing it in, and make sure not to overcrowd your pot! Once it’s in the water, stir immediately so it doesn’t stick to the bottom. In just 7-8 minutes, you’ll be left with a perfectly al dente treat!
Garofalo Gluten Free Quinoa Pasta
For authentic Italian gluten free linguine, spaghetti, casarecce, or rigate, go for Garofalo’s gluten free line! Their version cooks in 11 minutes, and is made with a subtle corn, quinoa, and rice flour blend.
This pasta, although nutritionally similar to semolina wheat pasta (not very much protein or iron), provides a wider range of natural plant ingredients, as well as an extra gram of fiber to help you reach the 25g you should aim for each day! Plus, it’ll give you no reason to miss the taste and texture of semolina pasta! Unlike many gluten free products, it will not fall apart while cooking, and can be cooked to al dente perfection.
Explore Cuisine Edamame Fettuccine
Made with incredibly unique and high-quality plant foods, Explore Cuisine’s pasta is the most nutritious on our list! It’s also made with a super straightforward formula—no additives, only the ingredients listed on the label. Their other pastas use uncommon, but delicious ingredients like fava bean, edamame, mung beans, spirulina, sesame, and more!
With 24g of plant protein per serving, just 20g of carbohydrates, a whopping 14g of fiber (more than half of your daily requirement), as well as 7mg of iron and 120mg of calcium, there’s no beating this brand when it comes to nutrition!
You may think, due to the ultra-healthy, whole ingredients used in this pasta, it may have a questionable taste or texture. However, this pasta cooks to al dente, boasts a hearty taste, is filling, and will not fall apart or turn into a gooey mess once cooked—no need to compromise anything! This is a hidden gem for gluten-free dieters everywhere!
Ancient Harvest Organic & Gluten Free Pasta
If you’ve never tried corn-based pasta, it’s a game changer! Its flavor differs slightly from wheat pasta—in a good way! It’s more flavorful, and tends to hold a slightly firmer bite. Ancient Harvest’s organic & gluten free pasta is a prime example of corn pasta done right. Their most recent formula contains corn, brown rice, and quinoa, and their line features a variety of cuts, including penne, rotini, spaghetti, elbows, linguine, shells, and garden pagodas!
If you’re not a fan of the addition of brown rice in the new formula (brown rice tends to contain a certain level of arsenic—more info here), you’ll be happy to know the brand has also brought back their original corn & quinoa recipe! An excellent gluten and rice free choice.
Colavita Gluten-Free
Colavita’s gluten-free pasta is made in an Italian gluten-free facility using high-quality yellow and white corn, rice, and potato starch! No additives or artificial ingredients. It cooks to al dente, and is Italian-approved—over three Colavita family generations of pasta making have truly paid off!
This pasta cooks in just 11 minutes, and can be ideally paired with a light tomato sauce and fresh vegetables. However, its taste and texture set the perfect base for any type of pasta sauce you choose! Find it in fusilli, linguine, penne rigatte, and spaghetti cuts.
Rummo Legume and Gluten-Free Pasta
Founded in 1846, Rummo’s pasta is authentic and cooks to al dente bliss! And when it comes to their gluten free ranges, they’re no different. With two types of gluten-free pasta—their legume pasta and gluten-free line, you can go either high-protein or corn and brown rice-based!
Their gluten-free line is masterfully crafted using the traditional steam method (Metodo di Lavorazione al Vapore) to ensure optimal texture that will satisfy all of your pasta needs! Find them in cuts like fusilli, penne rigate, pennette rigate, maccheroncelli, spaghetti, linguine, stelline, elicoidali, and more!
We’re fans of the “ai ceci” selection (chickpea-based), which contains 6g of protein, and is fairly low in carbs, at 38g per serving. It’s hearty and firm, and greatly resembles traditional semolina pasta.
Tolerant Organic
This entirely gluten-free brand makes awesome green lentil, red lentil, and chickpea pastas! Featuring elbows, penne, and rotini, as well as lentil pilaf and kids’ pasta shapes, all of their products are vegan and organic.
Although you need to be careful not to overcook this pasta, as it will alter the flavor, enjoy it hot and you will be amazed at how similar it is to semolina-based pasta! It’s lower in carbs than many other gluten free brands, and contains 6g of dietary fiber and 13 mg of calcium in a 2oz. serving. And what we love the most is that it’s made with just ONE ingredient every time!
Their kids’ pasta line features fun shapes like wild animals, letters, and planets. Encourage your little ones to eat more legumes and fiber by introducing them to Tolerant’s nutritious products!
Akua Kelp Pasta
A totally vegan, gluten-free, and all-natural option, Akua's Kelp Pasta is an excellent source of iodine and omegas! All you need to do is rehydrate one cup of your kelp pasta for 5-6 minutes, then drain and cook in 1/3 cup water for 10 minutes. Then, drain again and add any sauces, additional veggies, and spices you'd like!
Warning: This product is extremely high in iodine, and while this can be an added benefit for those with low iodine levels, it can only contribute to a healthy diet when consumed with moderation. If you suffer from hyperthyroidism, consult your doctor before consuming Akua's Kelp Pasta.
Now that you know which gluten-free vegan pasta brands to look for, make sure to check out some of our other favorite vegan products! By making small swaps, you can gradually begin to master the vegan diet and lifestyle. So, don’t give up—you’re doing great!
Thanks for looking out for the planet and our animal friends, and the best of luck to you on your gluten-free and plant-based journey!
