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    You are here: Home / Vegan Recipes / Vegan Baked Mac and Cheese

    Vegan Baked Mac and Cheese

    Published Mar 22, 2021 by Lauren · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Making a mac and cheese that's vegan friendly is so simple and way healthier than traditional Mac and cheese. The best part is this vegan baked mac and cheese recipe is naturally dairy free, nut free and gluten free - did I mention it's healthy?

    Although this recipe calls for elbow noodles, any noodles will work fine. The real star of this recipe is the vegan cheese sauce. It can be used for pasta, nachos or in any recipe that calls for cheese sauce or queso. Finding a vegan mac and cheese without cashews is hard but especially important for people with nut allergies.

    2 plates of baked vegan Mac and cheese with the whole baked dish in the background
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients and Substitutions
    • FAQs and Other Tips
    • 📖 Recipe

    When I was a vegan high school student in a household of omnivores, this was my easy peasy recipe I went to often. Although I'm no longer vegan, I still reach for it frequently because I love Mac and cheese and can't eat it as much as I want to with how high calorie the sauce is.

    This recipe was based around a few different recipes I love for vegan mac and cheese - find my inspiration sources here, here and here.

    Ingredients and Substitutions

    The star of this vegan baked Mac and cheese is the sauce. The bulk of the sauce recipe is carrots, potatoes and onions - which makes it incredibly healthy and pretty low calorie compared to a traditional Mac and cheese.

    The only ingredients that aren't pantry staples are potatoes, carrots and onions. The best part about this ingredient list is that it doesn't call for raw cashews - which not only adds lengthy soaking but it makes it not allergy friendly.

    Substitutions

    What if I don't have carrots and potatoes? You could use butternut squash in equal amounts to replace the carrot and potato, but I prefer the balance the carrot/potato duo brings. If you're feeling fancy, you can even add butternut squash or sweet potato to the carrot, potato and onion mix but I don't like taking the extra step of baking the squash.

    What can I use instead of nutritional yeast? Honestly - not much. Nutritional yeast is an amazing pantry staple to have in a vegan household. It's a bonus that it's relatively inexpensive. If you have vegan parmesan on hand, you can sort of substitute this, though it will change the texture and taste slightly.

    I don't have x seasoning... What can I use instead? Although the ingredient list on this looks fairly long, a large portion of this recipe is spices and seasonings. In my opinion, they're all necessary to complete this recipe, but the one you could leave out is turmeric. Other than that, if you don't have mustard powder, you can use the same amount of dry yellow mustard for a slightly less potent taste.

    The whole dish of baked vegan Mac and cheese with a scoop missing to show how crispy and creamy it is

    FAQs and Other Tips

    What is vegan mac and cheese made of?

    This depends on the recipe, but most vegan cheese sauces include nutritional yeast as an ingredient as it's similar to parmesan cheese and also high in B12 - a nutrient many vegans lack.

    Can you freeze vegan mac and cheese?

    Absolutely! If you're going this route, I recommend cooking the noodles al dente and/or separating the noodles and the sauce before freezing. As for reheating, it's best cooked in the oven or an air fryer. Bonus that the reheating method gives you a great baked vegan mac and cheese.

    How long does vegan mac and cheese last?

    In the fridge, vegan mac and cheese will last for up to 5 days. If you freeze the pasta, it can last for up to 3 months.

    How to make vegan mac and cheese without cashews?

    Cashews are a great agent to make a creamy base for soups and sauces. It also has a high fat content. To make this vegan cheese sauce without cashews, you need to replace the creaminess (enter the carrots, potatoes and onion) and use something else for the fat (the olive oil).

    How can I make a vegan crispy topping?

    Although you don't have to bake the final product, it really does add to the flavour of a classic Mac and cheese. The star is the panko bread crumbs for the breadcrumb topping - enhanced by nutritional yeast, olive oil and spices.

    Can I not bake this baked vegan Mac and cheese?

    Yes - this question sounds silly to ask but if you don't want to dirty a baking dish, you can just as easily skip the topping entirely for a slightly less complex flavour. Alternatively, you can take the "topping" ingredients and toast them in a nonstick pan until golden and fragrant.

    Want more delicious vegan recipes? Check out some of my favourites!

    • Vegan Asparagus End Soup
    • Vitamix Butternut Squash Soup

    📖 Recipe

    Vegan Baked Mac and Cheese [Nut-Free, Healthy]

    Prevent your screen from going dark
    The ultimate nut-free vegan cheese sauce. Low calorie but high flavor. The creamiest mac and cheese recipe that even non-vegans will love.
    5 from 12 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 25 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes
    Servings: 10 people
    Calories: 311kcal
    Author: Lauren

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound dried elbow noodles 450g
    • 2 medium potatoes (or 300g) peeled and diced
    • 3 large carrots (or 250g) peeled and diced
    • 1 white onion (150g) peeled and chopped
    • ½ cup reserved water from boiling veggies
    • ¼ cup olive oil extra virgin recommended
    • ⅓ cup nutritional yeast
    • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
    • ½ teaspoon paprika
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • ¼ teaspoon turmeric optional
    • pepper to taste

    Baking

    • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
    • ¼ cup nutritional yeast
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder

    Instructions

    Cheese Sauce

    • Place potatoes, carrots and onion in a saucepan filled with water. Boil the vegetables until cooked through and tender, about 15-20 minutes. Reserve ½ cup of the water and remove the vegetables with a slotted spoon. Set aside.
    • In the same water, cook the noodles as per the instructions on the package. This step is optional - you may also strain the vegetables and use new water, but this step infuses the noodles with more flavour.
    • While the vegetables and reserved water are still hot, place all ingredients except the noodles into a high powered blender. Blend on high until completely smooth.

    Assembly

    • Preheat the oven on your broil setting (usually 500 degrees).
    • Mix together all of the ingredients for the topping in a medium bowl. Set aside.
    • Stir the sauce into the cooked pasta until well incorporated. Cover with the topping ingredients and broil until the top is browned. Serve immediately.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 311kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 420mg | Potassium: 442mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 3708IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @MaritimeGlutton or tag #maritimeglutton!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Dannii

      April 07, 2021 at 1:13 pm

      5 stars
      Mac and cheese is my favourite comfort food and this vegan version looks delicious.

      Reply
      • Maritime Glutton

        April 07, 2021 at 1:16 pm

        Thank you so much, Dannii! I hope you love it.

        Reply
    2. Jess

      April 07, 2021 at 1:37 pm

      5 stars
      A healthy twist on a favorite classic dish! Love it.

      Reply
      • Maritime Glutton

        April 07, 2021 at 1:39 pm

        Thank you so much, Jess!

        Reply
    3. Beth

      April 07, 2021 at 1:47 pm

      5 stars
      Yum! This looks fantastic and so delicious! My hubby and son are going to be so excited to try this out!

      Reply
      • Maritime Glutton

        April 07, 2021 at 1:48 pm

        Thank you so much, Beth! Can't wait to hear about how you like it!

        Reply
    4. Linda

      April 07, 2021 at 1:55 pm

      5 stars
      I've never tried cooking with nutritional yeast but if it mean having my mac and cheese without all the calories, bring it on! It sounds delicious and I bet using the potatoes gives it a nice creamy texture. I'll have to give this one a try.

      Reply
      • Maritime Glutton

        April 07, 2021 at 2:05 pm

        Thank you so much Linda! It's a different taste than traditional Mac and cheese, but it truly is delicious and creamy. I hope you love it!

        Reply
    5. Michelle

      April 13, 2021 at 2:30 am

      5 stars
      So yummy and creamy! You would never guess there's no dairy in it!

      Reply
    6. Katherine

      April 17, 2021 at 10:35 am

      5 stars
      This is such an exciting vegan mac n cheese to try! I love that the sauce is made with carrots and potatoes.

      Reply
      • Maritime Glutton

        April 17, 2021 at 11:34 am

        Thanks so much Katherine! Hope you loved it 🙂

        Reply
    7. Kristina Tipps

      April 17, 2021 at 11:13 am

      5 stars
      We are trying to eat less meat, dairy, and animal products so this is a great recipe to try!

      Reply
      • Maritime Glutton

        April 17, 2021 at 11:35 am

        We’re omnivore at the house and still go to this often! Thanks Kristina 🙂

        Reply
    8. Julia

      April 17, 2021 at 12:50 pm

      5 stars
      I am so trying your version of mac and cheese! It looks so good!

      Reply
      • Maritime Glutton

        April 17, 2021 at 1:12 pm

        thank you so much, Julia!

        Reply
    9. Jen

      April 17, 2021 at 2:05 pm

      5 stars
      I'm so glad I got out of my comfort zone of cooking to try this! So creamy and delicious. Even my picky kids were cleaning their plates. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Maritime Glutton

        April 17, 2021 at 2:23 pm

        Thanks so much Jen! Glad the family enjoyed it!

        Reply
    10. Beth

      April 17, 2021 at 2:52 pm

      5 stars
      Perfect for my son! Absolutely delicious and very tasty! This was a big hit here and I’ll definitely be making this again!

      Reply
      • Maritime Glutton

        April 17, 2021 at 3:19 pm

        Thanks so much, Beth! So happy to hear you liked it!

        Reply

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    Welcome to Maritime Glutton, I'm Lauren and I'm the face creating recipes around here. I'm passionate about supporting local, eating great food and finding new ways to cut back on food waste and save money. Learn more about me here.

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