Best 8 Easy Vegan Mac N Cheese Recipes

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Indulge in the creamy and cheesy goodness of vegan mac n cheese without compromising taste or convenience. With a variety of recipes that cater to different flavors and dietary preferences, you'll discover the perfect recipe to satisfy your comfort food cravings. Whether you prefer a classic and simple dish or one with a flavorful twist, our selection of recipes will tantalize your taste buds. Get ready to whip up a delightful and satisfying vegan mac n cheese that will leave you craving for more.

Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!

VEGAN MAC 'N' CHEESE



Vegan mac 'n' cheese image

This cheat's vegan mac and cheese is just like the real thing - proper comfort food.

Provided by Jamie Oliver

Categories     Mains     American     Bread     Pasta bake     Pasta & risotto     Baking

Time 40m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 14

350 g dried macaroni
sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
1 onion
1 litre unsweetened organic soya milk
100 g dairy-free margarine
85 g plain flour
1 heaped teaspoon English mustard
1½ tablespoons nutritional yeast flakes
50 g vegan cheese, optional (available from specialist stores)
5 cloves of garlic
½ a bunch of fresh thyme
olive oil
40 g fresh breadcrumbs

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4. Cook the macaroni according to the packet instructions in a large pan of salted boiling water.
  • Meanwhile, peel and halve the onion, then place in a small pan over a medium heat with the milk. Slowly bring to the boil, then remove from the heat.
  • Pick out and discard the onion, then set aside. Melt the margarine in another pan over a medium heat, then add the flour, stirring continuously until it forms a paste - this is the roux.
  • Gradually add the warm milk a little at a time, whisking continuously until smooth. Bring to the boil, then simmer for around 10 minutes, or until thickened.
  • Stir in the mustard and nutritional yeast flakes, grate and stir in the vegan cheese (if using), then season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • Drain and add the macaroni to the sauce, then toss to coat. Transfer the mixture to an ovenproof baking dish (roughly 20cm x 30cm), then set aside.
  • Peel and finely slice the garlic, then pick the thyme leaves, discarding the stalks. Add to a medium pan over a medium heat with a splash of oil. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until golden, then transfer to a food processor with the breadcrumbs and a splash of oil. Blitz until combined and roughly chopped, then sprinkle over the pasta.
  • Place the dish in the hot oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden and bubbling. Leave to stand for around 5 minutes, then serve with seasonal greens.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 453 calories, Fat 16.9 g fat, SaturatedFat 3.1 g saturated fat, Protein 16.6 g protein, Carbohydrate 61.9 g carbohydrate, Sugar 2.3 g sugar, Sodium 0.7 g salt, Fiber 3.8 g fibre

EASY VEGAN MAC AND CHEESE



Easy Vegan Mac and Cheese image

Easy, creamy, vegan mac and cheese! This 1-pot dish is made with tender shells and creamy vegan cheddar cheese sauce. It's the ultimate cozy comfort food with just 5 ingredients and 15 minutes required!

Provided by Minimalist Baker

Categories     Entree

Time 15m

Number Of Ingredients 7

2 cups pasta shells
3/4 cup Vegan Cheddar Cheese ((plus more to taste))
5-6 Tbsp unsweetened plain almond milk ((or sub other neutral-flavored milk, such as oat or rice))
1 healthy pinch sea salt
1 tsp nutritional yeast
Vegan Parmesan Cheese
Red pepper Flakes

Steps:

  • Fill a medium saucepan a little more than halfway full with water, add a pinch of salt, and bring to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, add pasta and cook according to package instructions until just al dente (ours took 9 minutes). Be careful not to overcook because the shells will cook a bit longer with the cheese sauce after draining.
  • Drain pasta (we avoided using a colander by using our saucepan lid, which has a draining feature - if yours doesn't, drain in a colander as needed, then add back to saucepan).
  • Immediately add the vegan cheddar cheese, almond milk (starting with lesser amount), salt, and nutritional yeast. Stir and cook over low heat, stirring frequently until the sauce melts, becomes gooey, and coats the shells. If the cheddar isn't melting, cover to encourage it along.
  • Remove from heat and serve immediately. Option to garnish with vegan parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes.
  • Store cooled leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 1-2 days (not freezer friendly). Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop over medium-low heat until hot, adding more dairy-free milk as needed to thin.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 serving, Calories 490 kcal, Carbohydrate 66.6 g, Protein 27.7 g, Fat 17.1 g, SaturatedFat 2.1 g, Sodium 499 mg, Fiber 10.7 g, Sugar 5.7 g, UnsaturatedFat 10.7 g

VEGAN MAC AND CHEESE



Vegan Mac and Cheese image

The combination of soaked cashews and nutritional yeast creates a savory sauce for this vegan mac and cheese. The cashews don't blend up completely smooth, but will have a fine texture even after processing, which helps the sauce cling to the noodles. -Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 30m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 10

2 cups raw cashews
16 ounces uncooked elbow macaroni
1-1/2 cups water
1/3 cup nutritional yeast
2 teaspoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons onion powder
1-1/2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Steps:

  • Rinse cashews in cold water. Place in a large bowl; add water to cover by 3 in. Cover and let stand overnight., Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain and rinse cashews, discarding liquid. Transfer to a food processor. Add 1-1/2 cups water, nutritional yeast, lemon juice and seasonings; cover and process until pureed, 3-4 minutes, scraping down sides as needed., Drain macaroni; return to pan. Stir in cashew mixture. Cook and stir over medium-low heat until heated through. Sprinkle with additional paprika if desired.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 497 calories, Fat 18g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 803mg sodium, Carbohydrate 67g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 5g fiber), Protein 18g protein.

EASY 1 POT VEGAN MAC AND CHEESE



Easy 1 Pot Vegan Mac and Cheese image

Creamy, saucy, easy vegan mac and cheese. No messy blenders or extra dirty pots necessary. This vegan mac and cheese is ready in 20 minutes or less!

Provided by Brittany Mueller

Categories     Lunch and Dinner

Time 20m

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 ½ cups (225 g) elbow macaroni
¾ cups (175 ml) unsweetened non-dairy milk
⅔ cup (60 g) vegan cheese shreds (I used Follow Your Heart/Earth Island Mozzarella)
2 tbsp (30 ml) vegan butter or margarine
2 tbsp (8 g) nutritional yeast flakes
2-3 tsp (10-15 ml) white vinegar
1 tsp (5 ml) garlic powder
1 tsp (5 ml) onion powder
1-2 tsp (5-10 ml) sugar
½ tsp (2.5 ml) salt, add more to taste
Black pepper, to taste

Steps:

  • In a small bowl, measure out the cheese, butter, nutritional yeast, vinegar, garlic and onion powder, sugar, and salt.
  • Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to boil. Add macaroni noodles. Cook pasta al denté, according to package instructions. Drain the pasta but DO NOT rinse it. The leftover starch from cooking the pasta thickens the cheese sauce.
  • In the pot you used to boil the pasta, turn heat to medium. Add the cooked macaroni, and stir in unsweetened almond milk, and measured ingredients from step 1. The mac and cheese will look a little soupy at this stage.
  • Continue cooking, stirring constantly, until vegan cheese is melted, and the sauce is smooth and thickened to your liking. Taste and adjust seasoning.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 341 calories, Sugar 3.5 g, Sodium 582.1 mg, Fat 12.3 g, SaturatedFat 3.7 g, TransFat 0 g, Carbohydrate 46.9 g, Fiber 4 g, Protein 8.9 g, Cholesterol 0 mg

THE BEST VEGAN MAC AND CHEESE YOU'LL EVER EAT



The Best Vegan Mac and Cheese You'll Ever Eat image

The BEST vegan mac and cheese recipe with a deliciously creamy vegan cashew cheese sauce! This easy vegan mac and cheese can be made in a few simple steps, has a hint of spice and will be your new favorite plant based comfort food.

Provided by Monique Volz of AmbitiousKitchen.com

Categories     Dairy Free     Dinner     Gluten Free     Vegan     Vegetarian

Time 1h20m

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 1/2 cups raw cashews*
2 cloves garlic
1/2 cup nutritional yeast
1 1/4 cups unsweetened almond milk (or neutral dairy free milk of choice)
1 jalapeño, chopped (you can deseed if you are sensitive to spice)
3/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
3/4 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
Freshly ground black pepper
1 pound shell (Conchiglie) pasta* (or sub any kind of gluten free pasta you'd like!)
To garnish:
Freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • *To make the cashew cheese sauce: soak the cashews in 4 cups of water for at least 2 hours; otherwise I've found that you can easily speed up the process by adding the raw cashews to a pot with water and placing over high heat. Bring water to a boil, then immediately turn off the heat; let the cashews sit for 30-45 minutes in the warm water, then drain.
  • Once the cashews have finished soaking you'll be ready to make the sauce: add drained cashews, garlic, nutritional yeast, almond milk, jalapeno, turmeric, paprika, onion powder, dijon mustard, salt and black pepper to a high powered blender. Blend until a thick sauce comes together. If you want a thinner sauce, add a bit more almond milk. Taste and adjust seasonings as necessary.
  • Cook the noodles according to the directions on the package, until they are al dente. Drain noodles, then add back to pot and stir in your cashew cheese sauce. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary. You may need more salt! Garnish with freshly ground black pepper. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 serving (based on 6), Calories 470 kcal, Carbohydrate 66.3 g, Protein 16.7 g, Fat 15.8 g, SaturatedFat 2 g, Fiber 5.7 g, Sugar 3.5 g

THE BEST VEGAN MAC AND CHEESE



The Best Vegan Mac and Cheese image

This delicious creamy mac and cheese recipe is 100% vegan, free of any oil, and made with no-fuzz ingredients in just 15 minutes or less! Kids and omnivores love it, guaranteed.

Provided by nutriciously

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Pasta

Time 1h5m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 16

1 ¾ cups whole wheat elbow macaroni
2 potatoes
1 small onion, chopped
½ carrot, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons water, or as needed
¾ cup water
½ cup cashews
¼ cup soy milk
¼ cup nutritional yeast
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 dash ground paprika
1 dash cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons water
2 cups chopped broccoli florets

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain.
  • Place potatoes into a large pot and cover with salted water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain. Peel and finely chop potatoes when cool enough to handle.
  • Combine potatoes, onion, carrot, and garlic in a small pot over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons water and cook until soft enough to blend and water is mostly evaporated, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Transfer sauce to a blender. Add 3/4 cup water, cashews, soy milk, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, salt, paprika, and cayenne. Cover the blender and hold lid down with a potholder; pulse a few times before leaving on to blend until smooth.
  • Heat 2 tablespoons water in a nonstick pan over medium heat. Add broccoli and cook until soft but still a little crunchy, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a large serving bowl. Pour sauce in and mix until thoroughly coated.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 325.6 calories, Carbohydrate 51.8 g, Fat 9.2 g, Fiber 8.6 g, Protein 14.5 g, SaturatedFat 1.7 g, Sodium 586.1 mg, Sugar 3.9 g

VEGAN BAKED MAC AND CHEESE



Vegan Baked Mac and Cheese image

If you have vegan dinner guests or are trying to cut back on the dairy, this mac 'n' cheese will satisfy your craving, I promise. The nutritional yeast gives it that "cheesy" flavor and the ground mustard makes it taste like my original recipe. Plus, the pureed butternut squash gives the sauce that iconic yellow hue.

Provided by Kardea Brown

Categories     side-dish

Time 55m

Yield 8 to 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

One 16-ounce package large elbow pasta
1 1/2 cups raw cashews
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
One 12-ounce package frozen butternut squash purée, thawed
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Nonstick cooking spray, for the baking dish
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/2 cup dairy-free Parmesan
1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil

Steps:

  • Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain, and keep warm.
  • Meanwhile, combine the cashews with enough boiling water to cover in a medium bowl. Let stand for 10 minutes. Drain.
  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Combine the soaked cashews, nutritional yeast, cornstarch, garlic powder, ground mustard and 1 1/2 cups water in a high-powered blender. Blend until very smooth, adding more water if necessary to reach the desired consistency. Stir in the butternut squash and season with salt and pepper.
  • Stir together the cooked pasta and sauce in a lightly greased 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Stir together the panko, Parmesan and olive oil in a bowl. Sprinkle evenly over the pasta. Bake until the pasta is bubbly and the topping is browned, 20 to 25 minutes.

THE BEST EVER VEGAN MAC 'N' CHEESE RECIPE BY TASTY



The Best Ever Vegan Mac 'N' Cheese Recipe by Tasty image

Whether you're lactose intolerant or just looking to cut back on dairy, this creamy, dreamy mac stands up to the real thing. Made with velvety cashew milk and roasted garlic, you'll be going back for seconds and thirds.

Provided by Rachel Gaewski

Categories     Sides

Time 5h40m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 16

1 cup raw cashews
warm water, for soaking cashews
1 head garlic
5 tablespoons olive oil, divided
3 cups cold water
1 ¼ cups panko breadcrumbs
½ teaspoon paprika
3 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
2 tablespoons vegan butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 cups elbow pasta

Steps:

  • Add the cashews to a medium bowl and cover with warm water by 1 inch (2 ½ cm). Soak for 3-4 hours, until the cashews are softened and plump, then drain.
  • While the cashews are soaking, make the roasted garlic: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
  • Cut off the top ½ inch (1 ¼ cm) of the head of garlic and drizzle the exposed cloves with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Replace the top of the head of garlic and wrap tightly in foil. Roast for 35-40 minutes, until the cloves are easily pierced with a fork. Unwrap the garlic and let cool completely. Once cooled, squeeze all of the cloves from their skins.
  • Add the soaked cashews, roasted garlic cloves, and cold water to a high-powered blender. Blend on high speed until completely smooth. 30-60 seconds. Set aside.
  • Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a 12-inch (30 G) cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is shimmering, add the panko, paprika, and 1 teaspoon of salt. Stir with a spatula to coat the bread crumbs in the oil. Toast, stirring frequently, for 3-5 minutes, until the bread crumbs are lightly golden brown. Transfer the bread crumbs to a bowl and set aside. Wipe out the skillet.
  • In the same skillet, melt together the vegan butter and remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 2-3 minutes, until fragrant but not browned. Whisk in the flour, making sure there are no clumps. Cook the roux for 3-4 minutes, whisking continuously, until the flour is golden in color and fragrant.
  • Add the blended cashew mixture to the skillet and whisk well to combine with the roux. Add the nutritional yeast, apple cider vinegar, turmeric, pepper, and the remaining 2 teaspoons of salt. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer the sauce for 2-3 minutes, until slightly thickened. It should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon and pool when drizzled, but not so thick that it is gloppy. If the cheese sauce is too thick, add more water, 2 tablespoons at a time, until it reaches the desired consistency.
  • Add the elbow noodles to the sauce and toss until well coated.
  • Sprinkle the toasted bread crumbs on top of the pasta in an even layer.
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling around the edges of the skillet and the bread crumbs are deep golden brown.
  • Garnish with fresh minced parsley and serve.
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 615 calories, Carbohydrate 83 grams, Fat 23 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 17 grams, Sugar 4 grams

Tips:

  • For a creamier sauce, use cashew butter instead of almond butter.
  • If you don't have nutritional yeast, you can use a combination of dried mustard and garlic powder.
  • To make the mac and cheese gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta.
  • To make the mac and cheese oil-free, omit the olive oil.
  • For a spicier mac and cheese, add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
  • To make the mac and cheese more flavorful, add a tablespoon of your favorite herbs, such as basil, thyme, or oregano.

Conclusion:

This easy vegan mac and cheese is a delicious and comforting dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It's perfect for a quick and easy weeknight meal or a special occasion. With just a few simple ingredients, you can create a creamy, cheesy sauce that's perfect for coating your favorite pasta. So next time you're craving mac and cheese, give this vegan version a try. You won't be disappointed!

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