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    Home » Entree

    Easy Vegan Mac & Cheese

    Published: August 4, 2020 | 7:35 am, Modified: Apr 24, 2023 by Connie Edwards McGaughy This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Easy Vegan Mac & Cheese 🌱 Comfort food made even better with your favorite pasta covered in a delicious and nutritious creamy homemade plant-based cheddar cheese sauce.

    A cast iron mini dutch oven filled with baked vegan macaroni and cheese with broccoli.

    Being vegan does not mean you have to give up the foods you love, including cheese. By using the right plant-based ingredients to replace animal products, not only can you still enjoy your favorite dishes, you can make them better than ever, like a classic cheese fondue or everyone's favorite mac & cheese made with this healthy & delish vegan cheese sauce!

    An oval serving bowl filled with vegan macaroni and cheese.

    The secret to making this scrumptious dish is this fantastic plant-based cheddary cheese sauce. It has the tangy taste of sharp cheddar cheese with the smoothest creamiest texture. The combination of cashews, fresh lemon, carrots and potato blend together to make the richest cheesiest flavor.

    A baking dish and small bowl with vegan macaroni and cheese topped with breadcrumbs.

    It's fun to get creative with macaroni & cheese. I baked this in the oven for a few minutes, topped with breadcrumbs and homemade easy vegan parmesan. The breadcrumbs and parm added a great toasty crispy crunch.

    A bowl filled with vegan macaroni and cheese topped with a sprinkle of paprika and a sprig of fresh basil.

    Simple vegan mac & cheese sprinkled with paprika for a bit of color & spice! It's perfect paired with veggie burgers or a fresh green salad.

    A cast iron mini dutch oven filled with baked vegan macaroni and cheese with broccoli.

    My favorite way to enjoy mac & cheese . . . with broccoli & toasted vegan parmesan! It's a meal in itself!

    A cast iron mini dutch oven filled with baked vegan macaroni and cheese with broccoli.

    How to make vegan cheese sauce

    easy vegan cheese sauce

    With just a few basic ingredients, you can whip up the most luscious, tasty & healthy vegan cheese sauce. This recipe makes a generous batch of cheese sauce, which is a good thing! Just think . . . tomorrow night - nachos! Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

    Ingredients for making vegan cheese sauce including cashews, carrots, potato, lemon, vegan milk, nutritional yeast and salt.

    🥕 NOTE: Click the link below to see the complete recipe for everything you need to know to prepare this easy vegan cheese sauce.

    🛒 Ingredients

    Cheese Sauce

    • Raw cashews - presoaked before using
    • Non-dairy milk - we use rice, almond, or cashew milk
    • Potato
    • Carrots
    • Nutritional yeast
    • Lemon juice
    • Salt
    • Black pepper

    Macaroni

    • Pasta - your choice: elbow, small shells, farfalle, mini penne, any small variety.
    • Add-ins - broccoli, tomatoes, onions, carrots, peas, vegan burger crumbles, sweet peppers, green beans, jalapeños, red pepper flakes, breadcrumbs, vegan parmesan

    🥣 Equipment:

    • High speed blender or food processor
    • A colander or strainer
    • Large mixing bowl
    • Measuring cup
    • Measuring spoons
    • Veggie peeler
    • Citrus juicer
    • Kitchen knife
    • Cutting board

    A bowl of vegan macaroni and cheese next to a dish of vegan cheese sauce.

    How to Make Easy Vegan Mac & Cheese

    While you're making the cheese sauce, it's the perfect time to prepare your macaroni or pasta, which brings up the question - what's the difference between macaroni and pasta? The answer . . . macaroni is pasta. The difference is the shape. Macaroni is a tubular elbow-shaped pasta - typically made with durum wheat - which is what I used in this recipe post. Often times, I'll use whatever I have on hand in the pantry, like bowtie pasta or small shells. Want gluten-free vegan mac and cheese? Be sure to select gluten-free pasta.

    Prepare your pasta according to the package directions. Be sure to drain it really well once it's done cooking. Pour as much or as little cheese sauce as you like over your pasta and toss with a large spoon to thoroughly coat. Transfer to a large serving bowl or eat it right out of the pan. That's the beauty of mac & cheese. This is casual fare!

    A bowl of vegan macaroni and cheese sprinkled with paprika and a sprig of fresh basil.

    🥕This easy vegan mac & cheese is perfectly paired with any of these delish dishes!

    • Vegan Stuffed Bell Peppers
    • Best Vegan Meatless Meatballs
    • Easy Vegan Chili
    • Vegan Jackfruit Tuna Salad
    • Vegan Rustic Vegetable Soup

    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you’ve enjoyed this recipe, please rate it in the comments below. Sharing your experience helps others decide if they should give it a try too. Thanks a bunch!🥕

    Recipe

    easy vegan mac & cheese

    Easy Vegan Mac & Cheese

    by Connie🥕
    Easy Vegan Mac & Cheese 🌱 Comfort food made even better with your favorite pasta covered in a delicious and nutritious creamy homemade vegan cashew cheddar cheese sauce.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Soak Cashews 2 hours hrs
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American, Vegan
    Servings 10
    Calories 258 kcal

    Equipment

    • High speed blender or food processor
    • 5 - 6qt stove top pot
    • 4 qt stove top pot
    • A colander or strainer
    • Large mixing bowl
    • Measuring cup
    • Measuring spoons
    • veggie peeler
    • Citrus juicer
    • kitchen knife
    • Cutting board

    Ingredients
     
     

    Easy Vegan Cheese Sauce

    • 2 cups Easy Vegan Cheese Sauce Pre-prepared - see recipe

    Pasta

    • 16 oz package macaroni of your choice

    Instructions
     

    Easy Vegan Cheese Sauce

    • Prepare cheese sauce. See the recipe here.

    Pasta

    • Prepare pasta (macaroni) according to package instructions. Drain thoroughly.
    • Place pasta in a large mixing or serving bowl. Pour cheese sauce over pasta, a small amount at a time, and stir until thoroughly coated. Add more if desired.
    • Serve hot. Enjoy!

    Notes

    🥕Have fun with this basic recipe. I love to add other goodies like steamed broccoli, diced tomato, peppers, breadcrumbs, vegan parmesan. To toast breadcrumbs or cheese, spoon mac & cheese into a cast iron or flame-proof pan. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs and grated vegan parmesan and place under broiler for about one minute. 
    🥕This recipe can be prepared gluten-free by using gluten-free pasta.
    🥕I suggest heating the left-over cheese sauce in a saucepan on a stovetop, however you can also heat the sauce in a microwave in short increments of 10-15 seconds until desired temperature is reached. Don’t over heat in microwave, as the sauce may caramelize and possibly burn. Store extra cheese sauce in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. It's great for nachos, on top of veggies or whatever you like!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 258kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 9gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 490mgPotassium: 272mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 2131IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 51mgIron: 2mg

    These are estimated values generated from a nutritional database using unbranded products. Please do your own research with the products you're using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.

    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Elsie Zanni

      November 08, 2021 at 12:47 am

      Do you have any suggestions for replacing the cashews with something else?

      Reply
      • Connie Edwards McGaughy

        November 08, 2021 at 7:42 am

        Hi Elsie, I haven’t tried this recipe myself, but it might be worth a look if you want a plant-based cheese sauce without nuts as an ingredient: https://www.noracooks.com/vegan-cheese-sauce/

        Reply
    2. Connie Edwards McGaughy

      December 02, 2020 at 12:43 pm

      5 stars
      OMG - that cheese sauce! It's a delish & nutrish guilt-free pleasure!🧡

      Reply

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