• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
I'm Hungry For That
  • Home
  • Breakfast Recipes
  • Casserole Recipes
  • Copycat Recipes
  • About Us
  • Social
    • Instagram
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Breakfast Recipes
  • Casserole Recipes
  • Copycat Recipes
  • About Us
  • Social
    • Instagram
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Vegan Mac and Cheese | The Best Dairy Free Mac and Cheese

    Published: May 20, 2021 · Modified: Jul 21, 2021 · By: Brendan Cunningham

    Jump to Recipe

    This vegan mac and cheese is the real deal. The macaroni noodles covered in a creamy cheese sauce with vegan cheddar on top gives this healthy mac and cheese an unmatched flavor. And anyone who tries this recipe, vegan or not, just loves it! 

    Vegan mac & cheese in a white bowl on a gray tablecloth.

    THE BEST VEGAN MAC AND CHEESE

    Mac and cheese is such a nostalgic and delicious meal. But of course, regular mac and cheese is not vegan.

    And a lot of the vegan-friendly mac and cheese you can get at the store just doesn't do this classic food justice.  

    Well, this vegan mac and cheese recipe will make you forget all about the "regular" kind. And I'll go as far as saying that this vegan mac n cheese is even better than ones made with real cheese. 

    The ingredients used in the sauce for this recipe create a creamy and cheesy flavor that is irresistibly good. 

    And the best part about this recipe might be that it's as quick and easy to make as the version that comes in a box! 

    I think it's safe to say that this is easily one of the best vegan lunch recipes you can make - and dinner too. 

    [lwptoc]

    Vegan mac & cheese in a white bowl. A spoon is hovering over the bowl with a scoop of mac & cheese on it.

    INGREDIENTS FOR VEGAN MAC AND CHEESE

    So, as you already know, we will be making dairy free mac and cheese. 

    And we will be using all simple ingredients that will totally upgrade the flavor of traditional mac and cheese.

    Here are the ingredients you'll need:

    • 1 cup of raw cashews (soaked)
    • 2 tbsp. lemon juice
    • ½ cup of water
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • Just over 3 tbsp. nutritional yeast
    • 1 clove garlic
    • ¼ teaspoon turmeric
    • ½ teaspoon mustard
    • Pinch of pepper
    • 12 ounces of pasta
    • Vegan cheddar for sprinkling 

    Pretty simple, right?

    Now, if you don't have one of these ingredients on hand, I highly suggest picking it up. Everything listed compliments each other so well and combines to make this dish dream-worthy. 

    Vegan mac & cheese sauce being poured into a white bowl filled with macaroni noodles.

    WHAT IS NUTRITIONAL YEAST

    So, the only ingredient you may not be familiar with is nutritional yeast. 

    Nutritional yeast is a dairy-free savory seasoning that has a cheese-like and slightly nutty flavor.  

    You can essentially use nutritional yeast the same as grated cheese - sprinkle it over salads, veggies, pasta, or even things like popcorn for a deliciously cheesy addition. 

    And nutritional yeast is super low in calories with a good amount of protein - just another reason to love it. 

    For this recipe, the nutritional yeast will give our vegan mac and cheese sauce its cheesy flavor. So to make this as authentic tasting as possible, I highly suggest using it. 

    With that said, you can make this recipe without it, and the sauce will still be flavorful and creamy - it just won't have that cheesy flavor that makes this recipe so tasty. 

    A white bowl filled with vegan Mac and cheese.

    HOW TO SOAK CASHEWS

    As you may have noticed, we will be using raw cashews that have soaked in water - this softens them up so they blend easily into the creamy sauce. 

    And I have three methods that you can use to soak your cashews.

    The first one is soaking cashews in hot water - this is my go-to method because it's easy and only takes 30 minutes. So you can make this recipe on short notice when the cravings hit. 

    For the hot water soak, bring a pot of water to a boil. Once it boils, turn off the heat, toss in the cashews, and cover the pot. Keep them in the pot for about 30 minutes, and you're good to go. 

    The second option you have is to soak the cashews overnight. All you have to do is put the cashews in a bowl of room temperature water and leave them overnight. 

    And the third option is to boil the cashews - this is the fastest option and is perfect if you are in a hurry. Put your cashews in a pot and fill it with enough water to cover them. Then bring the water to a boil and continue boiling for about 15 minutes. Drain and rinse the cashews, and they're ready for the recipe. 

    A white bowl with vegan mac & cheese in it.

    HOW TO MAKE VEGAN MAC AND CHEESE

    As I mentioned earlier, this vegan mac n cheese recipe is super easy to make. And it will only take you about 15 minutes from start to finish! 

    So gather your ingredients, and let's make turn classic mac and cheese vegan. 

    PREP WORK FOR THIS HEALTHY MAC AND CHEESE

    The first thing you will want to do is drain your cashews from the water and set aside. 

    Then prepare the pasta of your choice according to the directions on the box. I used macaroni for this recipe, but you can use anything you want, like spirals, penne, or elbows. 

    While the pasta is cooking, you can make the creamy sauce. First, put all of your ingredients - the cashews, lemon juice, salt, nutritional yeast, garlic, turmeric, mustard, pepper, and water - in a blender.

    Then blend these ingredients on the highest speed setting until you have a silky smooth mixture. If it is too thick, you can add 1 tablespoon of water at a time and continue blending - only add up to 4 tablespoons. 

    Vegan mac & cheese sauce being poured on macaroni noodles that are in a white bowl.

    COMPLETING YOUR VEGAN MAC AND CHEESE

    By now, your pasta should be ready. Once it is tender and cooked to your liking, drain your pasta, rinse it, and then return it to the pot.

    Next, pour your cheese sauce mixture from the blender into the pot. Stir the sauce to cover all of the noodles thoroughly, then season to taste. 

    Lastly, sprinkle as much vegan cheddar cheese on top as you want and serve warm. 

    Enjoy! 

    A white bowl filled with vegan mac & cheese. Behind the bowl of mac & cheese is a small white bowl of vegan cheddar cheese.

    STORING YOUR VEGAN MAC AND CHEESE

    Every time I make this recipe, I find myself craving mac and cheese for the next few days. So good thing this recipe makes 6 servings! 

    And it is just as delicious leftover as it is the first day you make it. 

    You can store your leftover vegan mac and cheese in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. 

    To keep it even longer, you can store it in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Just thaw in the refrigerator before reheating. 

    Then to reheat your mac and cheese, you can either pop it in the microwave or heat it on the stovetop. 

    For the microwave, reheat in 1 minute increments until it reaches your desired temperature. And for the stovetop, heat in a pan over medium heat for a few minutes until warm. 

    A white bowl filled with vegan mac & cheese and a spoon is over the bowl with mac & cheese in it.

    WRAPPING IT ALL UP 

    That is how you make the creamiest, cheesiest, and most delicious tasting vegan mac and cheese.

    Whether you're eating this for vegan lunch, dinner, or a mid-day snack, your taste buds will thank you. 

    Serve this to your family and friends - I guarantee they won't be able to tell there is no real cheese in it! 

    Anyways, I hope you enjoy this vegan mac and cheese recipe as much as I do. And if you make it, make sure to leave a comment and let me know how it was - I'd love to hear. 

    MORE VEGAN RECIPES

    If you liked this vegan mac and cheese, I have a some more recipes on the blog that I think you'll like too. 

    Check out these vegan recipes:

    • Biscuits
    • Waffles
    • Donuts 
    • Cauliflower Steak 
    • Cinnamon Rolls 
    Print

    Vegan Mac and Cheese | The Best Dairy Free Mac and Cheese

    Vegan mac & cheese in a white bowl on a gray tablecloth.
    Print Recipe

    ★ 5 Stars ☆ ★ 4 Stars ☆ ★ 3 Stars ☆ ★ 2 Stars ☆ ★ 1 Star ☆

    No reviews

    This vegan mac and cheese is the real deal. The macaroni noodles covered in a creamy cheese sauce with vegan cheddar on top gives this healthy mac and cheese an unmatched flavor. And anyone who tries this recipe, vegan or not, just loves it! 

    • Author: Brendan Cunningham
    • Prep Time: 5 Minutes
    • Cook Time: 10 Minutes
    • Total Time: 15 minutes
    • Yield: 6 Servings 1x
    • Category: Dinner
    • Method: Stovetop
    • Cuisine: Vegan

    Ingredients

    Scale

    1 cup (150g) of raw cashews (soaked)

    2 tbsp. lemon juice

    ½ cup (120ml) of water

    1 teaspoon salt

    Just over 3 tbsp. (30g) nutritional yeast

    1 clove garlic

    ¼ teaspoon turmeric

    ½ teaspoon mustard

    Pinch of pepper

    12 ounces (340g) of pasta

    Vegan cheddar for sprinkling 

    Instructions

    Prepare the cashews using one of these two methods:

    SOAK OVERNIGHT

    1. Put the cashews in a bowl of room temperature water and soak them overnight.

    BOIL THE CASHEWS

    1. Put your cashews in a pot and fill it with enough water to cover them.
    2. Then, bring the water to a boil and continue boiling for about 15 minutes. Drain and rinse the cashews, and they're ready for the recipe. 

    Making Vegan The Mac & Cheese:

    1. Drain the cashews. Prepare the pasta according to package directions.
    2. While the pasta is cooking, combine the cashews, lemon juice, water, salt, nutritional yeast, garlic, turmeric, mustard and pepper in a blender at highest speed. Blend until silky smooth. If the mixture is too thick, add 2-4 more tablespoons of water and blend again.
    3. Once the pasta is tender, drain and rinse, then return the pasta to the pot and stir in the cheese sauce.
    4. Season to taste and sprinkle with some vegan cheddar and serve warm!

    Notes

    The scale up function does not change the gram measurements.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 Serving
    • Calories: 330
    • Fat: 9
    • Carbohydrates: 48
    • Fiber: 4
    • Protein: 20

    Keywords: vegan mac and cheese, vegan mac n cheese, vegan mac and cheese recipe, the best vegan mac and cheese, best vegan mac and cheese, dairy free mac and cheese, dairy free mac and cheese recipe, healthy mac and cheese, healthy mac and cheese recipe, healthy vegan mac and cheese recipe, healthy vegan mac and cheese, vegan mac and cheese nutritional yeast, vegan mac and cheese sauce, vegan mac and cheese recipe easy, vegan mac and cheese recipe nutritional yeast, vegan mac and cheese recipe with cashews

    Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo and tag us @ImHungryForThat — we can't wait to see what you've made!

    « Vegan at Taco Bell Menu Items To Order | The 10 BEST Taco Bell Vegan Options
    Vegan Alfredo Sauce | The Best Vegan Fettuccine Alfredo »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating ★ 5 Stars ☆ ★ 4 Stars ☆ ★ 3 Stars ☆ ★ 2 Stars ☆ ★ 1 Star ☆

    Primary Sidebar

    Two men in a kitchen smiling.

    Hey, we're Brendan & Joe! We love making delicious quick and easy recipes. Most of them take under 30 minutes to whip up and require less than 10 ingredients and 5 steps as well.

    More about us →

    Latest Recipes

    • A baking dish of cheesy Mississippi mud potatoes garnished with sliced green onion. The dish is on a white counter with a spoon in the potatoes. The dish is next to a ramekin of garnishes and a brick of cheddar cheese.
      Cheesy Mississippi Mud Potatoes Recipe
    • A white plate with scrambled pancakes served with strawberries and whipped cream. The plate is on a white counter with a plate of pancakes and white cloth napkin.
      Scrambled Pancakes Recipe
    • A plate with a slice of crepe cake topped with blueberries, grapes, and a mint sprig.
      Crepe Cake Recipe (Mille Crepe Cake)
    • A hand holding a marijuana shot above a countertop which has a second marijuana shot on the surface. A shaker is in the right side of the background and the shaker top is on the countertop.
      Liquid Marijuana Shot Recipe

    Popular Recipes

    • A plate with egg fried rice on it.
      Uncle Roger's Fried Rice Recipe
    • A sausage, meat, and cheese McGriddle on a wire rack on a white tablecloth on a wooden board on top of a counter. There is a knife through the top center of the McGriddle.
      Homemade McGriddle In Under 30 Minutes (Sausage, Egg, And Cheese)
    • A plate with a slice of taco casserole on it.
      Taco Casserole With Tortillas
    • Two lamb breasts and a few slices of lamb breast to the right of them all on a rectangular white plate on a wooden counter.
      Lamb Breast Recipe | Just 15 Minutes To Prepare
    • A chicken breast sliced in half stuffed with filling. The chicken is on a white plate and behind it is part of a white bowl with cheddar cheese in it.
      Ruth Chris Stuffed Chicken Recipe
    • A piece of fried dough with a bite out of it on pieces of fried dough.
      Fried Dough Made In 15 Minutes | Tastes Like The One From The Fair

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About Us

    • About

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    YouTube

    • Subscribe

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.

    Privacy Policy Copyright © 2024 Terms & Conditions