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

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! 

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. 

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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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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! 

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. 

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 

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