Vegan Broccoli Cheese Pot Pie 🥦 Broccoli, potatoes and carrots baked with a rich & creamy vegan cheddar cheese sauce nestled in a buttery flaky crust. Comfort food just got cozier!
Earlier this week I was craving something comfy and cozy, so I rolled up my sleeves and got baking. The result? A vegan broccoli cheese pot pie so irresistible, I knew I had to share it with you. This recipe was inspired by two (non-vegan) nostalgic favorites - Amy's Broccoli Pot Pie with cheddar cheese sauce and Marie Callender's Broccoli Cheddar Potato Pot Pie - but my copycat version has a delicious twist: it's completely plant-based and even better tasting than the originals.
I set out to recreate those creamy, cheesy, comforting flavors using only wholesome vegan ingredients - and I nailed it. The secret is the rich, cheddary sauce made from cashews, potatoes, carrot, lemon juice, and nutritional yeast (aka nooch). If you've never tried nutritional yeast before, it has a nutty, cheesy flavor that's a staple in vegan cooking. It's also the magic behind other comfort-food favorites like my vegan mac & cheese and this rich and delish vegan cheese fondue. It's exactly what takes this pot pie from simply tasty to "oh wow!"
★★★★★ "I made this last night and it was a total winner! It was simply delicious and will definitely make this again. Thanks for the share!" Lisa
For the filling, I combined broccoli, carrots, and potatoes with that luscious cheese sauce, then tucked it all into a flaky, golden pie crust. I love baking these in individual mini cast-iron pots - they're adorable, perfectly portioned, and make serving a breeze. When you break through that lovely pastry, you're met with a warm, savory medley of fresh veggies and creamy sauce that feels like a hug in a bowl.
This recipe is also wonderfully adaptable. You can swap in your favorite seasonal vegetables, use puff pastry for an extra-flaky crust, or even make one big family-style pie instead of minis. Serve it alongside a fresh green salad or a bowl of Vegan Tomato Soup for the ultimate comfort food dinner.
Table of Contents
See the printable recipe below for quantities and details.
INGREDIENTS
This recipe is prepared in three stages: Cheese Sauce - Pie Crust - Filling
🧀 Cheese Sauce
- Cashews - raw
- Carrots - fresh
- Potato - I use russets, but you can also use Yukon gold
- Non-dairy milk - I prefer rice milk, almond or cashew based milk
- Nutritional yeast - I like this brand
- Lemon juice - fresh preferred, bottled is fine too
- Salt & pepper
🥧 Pie Crust
- Flour - all purpose
- Vegetable shortening
- Non-dairy butter - use your favorite
- Salt
- Water
🥦 Filling
- Broccoli - fresh or frozen florets (thawed)
- Potatoes - Yukon gold (preferred as they don't get too soft as easily as russets)
- Carrots - fresh
- Vegan cheese sauce
- Salt & pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
🧀 Cheese Sauce
First, you will need to make a batch of our scrumptious Easy Vegan Cheese Sauce. You can find the recipe for it here.
🥕NOTE: The cheese sauce recipe requires that you soak cashews prior to using, so be sure to plan ahead!
🥧 Pie Crust
While the cashews are soaking, you can prepare the dough for your pie crust. It's a good idea to let the dough refrigerate for awhile before rolling it out. You can find our recipe for Easy Vegan Pie Crust. Be sure to watch my video for more tips on creating your own vegan pie crust.
🥕NOTE: If you prefer not to make your own crust, no problem! You can use store bought pie dough or puff pastry too. Be sure to check the label for all vegan ingredients.
🥦 Filling
In addition to your pie crust & cheese sauce, you'll need just a few more basic ingredients for this vegan broccoli cheese pot pie: Diced broccoli, potatoes, carrots, and salt & pepper. That's it! Here is how to prepare the filling:
- Dice broccoli, potatoes, and carrots.
2. Steam broccoli and carrots. Simmer potatoes until just tender.
3. Combine cooked veggies, vegan cheese sauce, salt and pepper.
4. Press pie dough into individual ramekins or oven-proof dishes. The dough can be thin, but avoid tearing it.
5. Spoon filling into each. Add a little extra cheese sauce if you want!
6. Cover with top crust, seal edges, and cut slits in top of each. Place onto parchment or foil lined baking sheet.
7. Bake in a preheated oven at 425℉ for approximately 35 minutes or until pie crust is golden brown. Remove from oven and place on a cooling rack for a few minutes. When ready to serve, carefully remove pot pies or, you can eat them right out of the baking dishes. Enjoy!
FAQ's
Absolutely. Use a standard 9-inch pie dish instead of individual ramekins. Adjust the baking time so the crust turns golden brown and the filling is hot and bubbly.
Yes. Simply use your favorite gluten-free pie crust or puff pastry. Make sure any store-bought version is labeled vegan and gluten-free.
You can assemble the pies up to a day in advance, cover them tightly, and refrigerate until ready to bake. Add 5-10 minutes to the baking time if they're going into the oven cold.
Stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, leftovers will keep for
2 -3 days. Reheat in the oven for the best texture.
If you love this recipe ★★★★★ please be sure to rate it below! Sharing your experience lets me know that you enjoyed it and will help other readers decide if they should give the recipe a try too. Thanks a bunch!🥕
Recipe
Vegan Broccoli Cheese Pot Pie
Equipment
- High speed blender or food processor (for cheese sauce)
- 5 qt or larger stovetop pot with lid
- 4 qt stovetop pot with lid
- Steamer basket
- Mixing bowl - large
- large strainer or colander
- Vegetable peeler
- Pastry cutter or fork
- Silicone pastry mat or clean flat surface (for rolling pie dough)
- Rolling Pin
- Long handled spoon or spatula
- baking sheet
- Parchment paper or foil
- 4 oven-proof 8 oz (1 cup) ramekins
Ingredients
Easy Vegan Cheese Sauce
- 1 ½ cups easy vegan cheese sauce see the recipe here
Easy Vegan Pie Crust
- 1 cup flour all-purpose
- ¼ cup vegetable shortening chilled
- ¼ cup vegan butter chilled
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 - 3 teaspoon cold water
Broccoli Potato Carrot Filling
- 1 lb broccoli florets fresh or frozen - cut into small pieces
- 1 lb potatoes Yukon Gold - peeled & diced in small cubes
- 1 cup carrots peeled & diced into small cubes
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Easy Vegan Cheese Sauce
- Prepare cheese sauce following this recipe. Refrigerate until ready to use
Easy Vegan Pie Crust
- Prepare pie crust following this recipe (unless store-bought) and refrigerate until ready to use.
- Divide pie dough in four equal pieces, then divide each piece into approx. ⅓ and ⅔ pieces, creating enough pieces to create 4 bottom crusts (⅔) and 4 top crusts (⅓).
- Roll out each of the 4 bottom crusts making sure they are large enough to line the inside of your ramekins. It's fine if the dough is quite thin or transparent. Use your fingers to press the dough in place all the way around. Use a knife to trim off the top edge around the rim of the ramekins.
- Once the ramekins are filled with veggies and cheese sauce, roll out the top crusts and place gently over the top of the filling. Press the edges of the top and bottom crusts together to seal and trim away excess dough. Use the point of a knife to pierce three or four small slits in the top crust.
Filling
- Preheat oven to 425°
- Chop broccoli florets into small pieces
- Peel and dice carrots into small cubes
- Peel and dice potatoes into small cubes
- Place broccoli and carrots in steamer basket. Place in 4 qt pan with a few inches of water in the bottom. Cover with lid. Place on stove over medium heat. Allow veggies to steam approx 7 minutes until just tender, not mushy. Remove from heat and drain water.
- Place potatoes is 5 qt or larger pan. Cover with water at least 2 inches above potatoes. Cover with lid and place on stove over med-high heat. Bring to a rolling boil. Cook for 5 - 7 minutes until just tender, not mushy. Remove from heat and drain in colander.
- Place broccoli, carrots and potatoes in large mixing bowl. Pour about 1-½ cups of the cheese sauce over the veggies (add more sauce if you want your pot pies extra-cheesy). Using a large spoon or spatula, gently toss the veggies in the cheese sauce, thoroughly combining.
- Spoon filling into prepared ramekins and cover with top pie crust. (See instructions for pie crust above).
- Place ramekins on a parchment or foil lined baking sheet and bake at 425° for approx. 35 minutes or until crust is golden brown. I suggest keeping an eye on them after about 20-25 minutes.
- Remove from oven and cool on baking rack. Allow to sit for a few minutes before serving.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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.
🥕 FAQ's
Can I use store-bought pie dough?
Yes, absolutely. While I think a homemade vegan pie crust made from scratch is as good as it gets (and it's fun to make), you can save time by using packaged pie dough or puff pastry. Be sure to check the labels, as not all pre-made pie doughs are vegan.
How do I store vegan broccoli cheese pot pies?
You can store them (baked) covered in a refrigerator for up to three days. They can be reheated in a microwave, or as I prefer, in a preheated oven at 350℉ for about 15-20 minutes or until hot in the middle. I have not attempted to freeze these pot pies, but would love to know if you do.
What can I do with the extra cheese sauce I have leftover?
Our easy vegan cheese sauce is a staple at my house. We always try to keep a batch on hand. It's a great dip for veggies, chips, vegan buffalo cauliflower, asparagus, veggie nuggets, meatballs. It's perfect for mac & cheese. Serve it on top of baked potatoes with fresh chives and vegan bacon bits or on sweet potato fries with a dash of chile lime salt. For nachos, add diced jalapeño or red pepper flakes to make a spicy queso dip. The cheese sauce be served hot or cold. Store refrigerated up to 4 days in an airtight container.
Lisa says
I made this last night and it was a total winner! I added garlic and onion powders and extra nutritional yeast to the cheese sauce for a slightly sharper flavour. I also forgot to double the pie dough quantity to allow for the pie lid and so put filo pastry on the top. It was simply delicious and we will definitely make this again. Thanks for the share!
Connie Edwards McGaughy says
Lisa - So glad you loved the Vegan Broccoli Cheese Pot Pie! Adding garlic, onion powder & extra nooch must have given it a really nice boost. Thanks a bunch for sharing!💚🥕
Connie Edwards McGaughy says
Such a scrumptiously satisfying dish. Perfect as an entree or side.
robin says
Could I ask where you purchased your cast iron pots?
Connie Edwards McGaughy says
Hi Robin! I love those little pots, I use all the time. They even have matching cast iron lids. I buy them at Bed Bath & Beyond. I have several links to them in the recipe post.