Best 5 Vegan Mac And Cheese Recipes

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Embark on a culinary adventure with our diverse collection of vegan mac and cheese recipes, catering to various dietary preferences and taste buds. Dive into the creamy delight of our classic vegan mac and cheese, crafted with a luscious cashew-based sauce that mirrors the richness of traditional cheese. For a gluten-free indulgence, try our chickpea and sweet potato mac and cheese, where tender chickpeas and sweet potatoes mingle in a velvety sauce made from nutritional yeast. If you're seeking a low-fat option, our cauliflower mac and cheese offers a lighter yet satisfying meal, featuring roasted cauliflower florets enveloped in a flavorful vegan cheese sauce. Craving something more indulgent? Our butternut squash mac and cheese beckons with its vibrant orange hue, combining roasted butternut squash with a creamy cashew sauce for a luxurious and comforting dish.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

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.

VEGAN MAC AND CHEESE



Vegan Mac and Cheese image

Many creamy vegan pasta recipes call for an arsenal of expensive ingredients, but this one relies on more approachable ones, like cashews and almond milk for richness, nutritional yeast for tang and soy sauce for complex saltiness. Sautéed onions do double duty: They serve as a thickener and help offset the sweetness of the cashews. This simple stovetop pasta is wonderful on its own, but feel free to add roasted vegetables, fresh herbs, spices, harissa or hot sauce. For a quick-baked version worthy of Thanksgiving dinner, pile the prepared mac and cheese into a casserole dish, top with panko and more nutritional yeast, and broil for a few minutes until golden brown.

Provided by Alexa Weibel

Categories     dinner, weekday, pastas, main course, side dish

Time 30m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 17

Kosher salt
4 ounces raw, unsalted cashews
3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk (or other unsweetened nut milk)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 large yellow onion, finely chopped (about 1 cup)
3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
3/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/4 teaspoon mustard powder
Black pepper
1/2 cup nutritional yeast, plus more to taste
5 teaspoons tamari or low-sodium soy sauce
16 ounces elbow macaroni or medium shells
1 cup panko bread crumbs
3 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for greasing
2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
Kosher salt and black pepper

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.
  • Meanwhile, add the cashews to a large nonstick skillet and heat over medium, stirring frequently, until fragrant, toasty and slightly golden, about 4 minutes. Transfer cashews to a blender and add the almond milk. Wipe out the skillet with a paper towel.
  • Add the oil to the skillet and heat over medium. Add the onion, garlic, onion powder, ground turmeric and mustard powder, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring, until onions are very tender, 8 to 10 minutes, lowering the heat as necessary to avoid scorching. Remove from the heat, stir in 1/2 cup nutritional yeast and the tamari, then transfer to the blender.
  • Blend the cashew mixture on high until thick and creamy, about 2 minutes, scraping down the sides as needed. (This works best with a high-power blender, but any blender will work - just keep blending the mixture 1 to 2 more minutes after the mixture looks creamy; it will emulsify further.) You should have about 1 1/2 cups.
  • Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta cooking water. Drain pasta, then return cooked pasta to the pot. Stir in the cashew cream, then add the pasta cooking water 1/4 cup at a time until you achieve desired sauciness. Season to taste with salt, pepper and additional nutritional yeast, if desired. Serve immediately. (The sauce thickens significantly as it sits. If it starts to coagulate, or if you have any leftover macaroni and cheese, stir in a splash of the remaining pasta cooking water to loosen.)
  • If you'd like a little crunch on top, prepare the optional panko topping: Heat the broiler. In a small bowl, add the panko, olive oil and 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast. Pinch the mixture together gently to combine thoroughly; season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • Transfer the prepared macaroni to a lightly oiled 9-by-13-inch baking dish, arrange in an even layer and sprinkle the panko mixture on top, if using. Transfer to the oven on the shelf nearest to the broiler and broil until just golden on top, about 2 minutes. (The panko toasts quickly, so you'll want to keep an eye on it.) Serve immediately.

VEGAN MAC AND NO CHEESE



Vegan Mac and No Cheese image

A vegan version of macaroni and cheese, sure to please the whole family.

Provided by AZIAZEL

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Pasta     Macaroni and Cheese Recipes     Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes

Time 1h15m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 (8 ounce) package uncooked elbow macaroni
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 cup cashews
⅓ cup lemon juice
1 ⅓ cups water
salt to taste
⅓ cup canola oil
4 ounces roasted red peppers, drained
3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add macaroni, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain. Transfer to a medium baking dish.
  • Heat vegetable oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in onion, and cook until tender and lightly browned. Gently mix with the macaroni.
  • In a blender or food processor, mix cashews, lemon juice, water, and salt. Gradually blend in canola oil, roasted red peppers, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, and onion powder. Blend until smooth. Thoroughly mix with the macaroni and onions.
  • Bake 45 minutes in the preheated oven, until lightly browned. Cool 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 647.5 calories, Carbohydrate 61.6 g, Fat 39.2 g, Fiber 5.2 g, Protein 16.5 g, SaturatedFat 5.3 g, Sodium 329.3 mg, Sugar 6 g

VEGAN MAC AND CHEESE



Vegan Mac and Cheese image

Your family will be none the wiser when you offer up this vegan mac and 'cheese'. The pureed squash mimics the creamy texture a traditional cheese sauce would offer, and since it is made using gluten-free macaroni shells, you could confidently serve it to gluten-intolerant folks as well as those on a calorie-restricted diet. With a supper that will make everyone smile, you are certainly squashing the belief that cheese is necessary at all...

Provided by MyNutriCounter

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Pasta     Macaroni and Cheese Recipes     Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese Recipes

Time 22m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 ½ (12 ounce) packages gluten-free elbow pasta
1 pound butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 ½ cups soy milk
1 cup vegetable broth
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 tablespoons chopped parsley, or to taste

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook gluten-free elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 10 minutes. Drain.
  • Combine butternut squash, soy milk, and vegetable broth in a pot; bring to a boil and cook until squash is tender, about 12 minutes. Puree with an immersion blender. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Stir in cooked macaroni and garnish with chopped parsley.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 283.2 calories, Carbohydrate 60.4 g, Fat 2.1 g, Fiber 2.8 g, Protein 6.8 g, SaturatedFat 0.2 g, Sodium 228.9 mg, Sugar 3.5 g

VEGAN MAC AND CHEESE



VEGAN MAC AND CHEESE image

Categories     Pasta

Number Of Ingredients 18

tablespoon sea salt
1 box elbow macaroni
panko bread crumbs
2 tablespoons + 1/3 cup earth balance
tablespoons shallots, peeled and chopped
1 cup yukon gold potatoes peeled and chopped
1/4 cup carrots chopped
1/3 cup onion, peeled and chopped
1 cup soy milk
1/4 cup raw cashews
1/8 cup tamari
1/4 teaspoon garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne
1/4 teaspoon paprika
2 tablespoons nutritional yeast

Steps:

  • 1. In a large pot, bring water and salt to a boil. Add macaroni and cook until al dente. In a colander, drain pasta and rinse with cold water. Set aside. 2.Mix 1/2 cup panko with 2 tablespoons of butter. Set aside. 3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a saucepan, add shallots, potatoes, carrots, onion, and water, and bring to a boil. Cover the pan and simmer for 15 minutes, or until vegetables are very soft. Drain. 4. In a blender, process the cashews, salt, garlic, 1/3 cup margarine, mustard, tamari, lemon juice, nutr. yeast, black pepper, and cayenne. Add softened vegetables and soy milk to the blender and process until perfectly smooth. 5. In a large bowl, toss the cooked pasta and blended cheese sauce until completely coated. Spread mixture into a 8 x 8 casserole dish, sprinkle with prepared breadcrumbs, and dust with paprika. Bake for 30 minutes or until the cheese sauce is bubbling and the top has turned golden brown.

Tips for Making Vegan Mac and Cheese

Use a good quality vegan cheese. This will make a big difference in the flavor of your dish. Look for a cheese that is creamy and flavorful, and that melts well. Use a variety of vegetables. This will add flavor, texture, and nutrients to your dish. Some good options include broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and spinach. Don't overcook the pasta. You want it to be al dente, or slightly firm to the bite. This will prevent it from becoming mushy. Make sure the sauce is thick and creamy. You can do this by simmering it for a few minutes, or by adding a thickener such as cornstarch or flour. Serve immediately. Vegan mac and cheese is best when served hot and fresh.

Conclusion

Vegan mac and cheese is a delicious and comforting dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a great way to get your daily dose of vegetables, and it is also a good source of protein and fiber. With a little planning and effort, you can easily make a vegan mac and cheese that is just as good as the traditional version. So next time you're craving a cheesy pasta dish, give this vegan recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!

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