The other afternoon, I was trying to find something to make for dinner.

I had a bag of Gardein faux chick’n strips (they are amazing, completely meat-free. Check your local grocery store.)

So I made a delicious vegetarian “chicken” pasta with them.

I also made it gluten-free by using gluten-free pasta and brown rice flour.

Easy Vegetarian Faux Chicken Pasta – Gluten-Free!

Easy Vegetarian Faux Chicken Pasta – Ingredients

1 package penne pasta
1 package Gardein Chick’n Strips
half stick butter
¼ cup flour (I used brown rice flour)
2 cups almond milk
¾ cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (vegan alternative; use Daiya)
salt and pepper to taste

Easy Vegetarian Faux Chicken Pasta – Instructions

1. Cook and drain the pasta according to package directions.
2. Add about a teaspoon olive oil (to keep the pasta from sticking), add in the chick’n. Stir together.

3. In a saucepan, melt the butter on medium heat, then stir in the flour. Stir together for a minute or two, and pour in milk, whisking it all together. Continue whisking until sauce thickens, then stir in ranch seasoning.

4. Pour sauce over pasta and mix together, then add the cheddar cheese and stir.

5. Pour into a baking dish and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes

Easy Vegetarian Faux Chicken Pasta – Gluten-Free!

We also had plenty of leftovers for lunch the next day, but it would also be really simple to divide the pasta before baking it…bake one dish for supper, and cover the other (unbaked) pan with a double layer of foil.

Freeze it to thaw and pull out for dinner another day!