Tired of being disappointed by vegan mac and cheese recipes? Well, friend, today is your lucky day! This is truly the best, cheesiest, creamiest, most amazing dairy-free macaroni and cheese we've ever tasted. But don't take my word for it - check out the reviews! Enjoy it straight from the stovetop or baked with a golden breadcrumb topping.
The recipe is easy to prepare and calls for classic ingredients like cashews, plus a few key secret ingredients that take the flavor to the next level! It's an award-winning recipe you'll return to again and again for special occasions, holidays, or anytime you're craving vegan comfort food! Easily made gluten-free and/or cashew-free.
Recipe Review:
"I just made this, and it is the absolute best vegan mac and cheese I have ever tasted. It also passed the picky little boy test with flying colors!"
Why This Recipe Works
I've been vegan for almost 13 years now and have tried my share of vegan mac and cheese recipes.
Unfortunately, none of them ever really blew me away. I know that sounds harsh, but the only way I know how to write this post is with total honesty!
And it's not like I'm sharing a national secret. Hang out long enough in any plant-based recipe group online and you quickly realize vegan mac and cheese is one of the most complained about dishes out there.
Jump to:
So let’s get the awkward part out of the way. In my experience, vegan mac and cheese recipes tend to have at least one of these 3 problems:
- Too sweet - because of the addition of vegetables for texture and/or color.
- Too dry - since cashews and liquid don’t necessarily create a sauce that stays creamy.
- And they rarely actually tastes like cheese.
Okay, now that we’ve identified our problems, we can focus on the solutions!
First, I should point out this is a vegan mac and cheese recipe meant to taste as much like its traditional counterpart as possible. I wasn't aiming for "healthy" with this one.
I love healthy recipes as much as the next person. But this mac and cheese? It’s meant to be the best.
In fact, the whole reason I created this recipe was to enter a local vegan mac and cheese cook off.
The Inspiration
Our local Vegan Society announced an upcoming vegan macaroni and cheese competition. The problem was I didn't actually have a favorite vegan mac and cheese yet!
Around that time I happened to see an instagram post by Timothy Pakron (Mississippi Vegan) about his White Truffle Mac and Cheese.
As soon as I read Timmy's recipe I knew he'd cracked the code! For me, the main takeaway was this: we now have delicious, store-bought vegan cheese options, which means it's time to rethink the way we've been making plant-based macaroni and cheese.
When a home cook wants to make traditional, dairy macaroni and cheese what do they do? They go to the store and buy cheese, right? They don't try to make their own cow's milk cheese from scratch (although, if they had to we would probably have a lot more vegans).
So let's rid ourselves of the pressures to make vegan mac and cheese sauce from ingredients like potatoes, carrots, and butternut squash - unless of course we're trying to make a healthy mac and cheese.
Field Roast, Violife, and Follow Your Heart are experts, so who am I to try to create something that tastes cheesier than what they've accomplished? Seriously, this feels so obvious to me now. [cue sound of angels singing]
Key Ingredients
This is a summary to give you an idea of the ingredients you'll need for the recipe. See the recipe card below for full instructions.
- garlic - depending on their size, I usually use 6 or 7 cloves. If they're very large, go with 5 or 6. I know it sounds like a lot of garlic but trust me, it's part of the magic! If you don't love garlic feel free to reduce it.
- vegan butter - you'll need 2 tablespoons for sautéing the garlic.
- olive oil - this is also to saute the garlic, which softens and deepens the flavor.
- raw cashews - if you have a cashew allergy, substitute raw sunflower seeds, or omit and add another ½ package of cheese.
- vegan cheese - see my specific brand recommendations below.
- chickpea miso - or mellow white miso. Adds umami, saltiness, and a hint of cultured flavor.
- nutritional yeast - we're using a small amount here because most of the cheese flavor comes from other ingredients. Feel free to omit.
- apple cider vinegar - contributes acidity and tang.
- mustard powder - adds just a little something special in the savory department.
- onion powder - adds a touch more savory flavor.
- salt - obviously salt is crucial for building cheesy flavor.
- white pepper, optional
- nutmeg - freshly grated if possible. Just a few passes over a microplane adds a warmth reminiscent of classic cheese sauce.
- pasta of choice
Sometimes I also like to add one bunch of sautéed kale. Include it if you're in the mood for a green veggie. Or try broccoli florets or spinach.
Best Vegan Cheese for Mac & Cheese
I experimented with a few different vegan cheeses and found my favorite combination for this recipe.
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I like to use 1 package of Violife Smoked Provolone slices and 1 package of Field Roast Chao Original.
If you don't have access to either of these, Follow Your Heart's slices are also great. Try their Provolone or Smoked Gouda for this recipe.
I decided to use one package of smoked cheese because it adds a little something extra in the savory/umami department without actually coming across as smoky.
If you're sensitive to smoke flavor or just don't care for it, feel free to double up on the Chao Original OR use Violife's Mature Cheddar (this one is seriously yummy, and I've used it in this recipe several times).
For the most real deal mac and cheese vibes avoid flavored cheeses like Chao's Tomato Cayenne or Garden Herb.
Instructions
Be sure to watch the video below to see the recipe come to life. The basic process goes like this:
- Saute garlic slow and low in vegan butter and olive oil.
- Cook the pasta in salted water according to package directions.
- Transfer the garlic to a blender. Add the remaining cheese sauce ingredients and blend until completely smooth. Not sure if the cashews are fully blended? Blend it again!
- While the pasta is draining, pour the blended sauce into the pot. Cook until bubbling and slightly thickened. Add the pasta and stir well.
- Let stand for about 10 minutes. The sauce will thicken as it rests, and the pasta will also absorb tons of flavor.
Oh! Back to the results of the mac and cheese cookoff. I won! And based on the words of the announcer, "by a long shot." I'm only telling you this because I want you to know exactly how well this mac and cheese was received.
Strangers were coming up to me during the event, telling me with utmost seriousness that they needed the recipe.
I was blown away! I mean, I felt pretty confident about the recipe but honestly didn't know what to expect from the competition. And there were some seriously amazing dishes there!
Variation: Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese
We usually enjoy the macaroni straight from the stovetop, but you can also prepare baked vegan mac and cheese with this recipe. For the breadcrumb topping you'll need:
- 1 ½ cups panko breadcrumbs
- 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil or melted vegan butter
- few dashes of Italian seasoning or paprika
- Optional: 1 cup shredded vegan cheese
Baking Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. After combining the pasta and cheese sauce in the pot, transfer to a 13 x 9 baking dish.
- Mix together the panko and oil (or butter). Add a pinch of salt, a few dashes of Italian seasoning or paprika, and shredded vegan cheese, if using. Sprinkle over the mac and cheese.
- If you included shredded cheese, cover the dish with foil. Otherwise, bake uncovered for 15 to 18 minutes. If covered, remove the foil. Broil for a few minutes or until the breadcrumbs are golden.
Top Tip
Always salt your pasta water. This is critical for building flavor and improving what is often the most bland part of any pasta dish, the pasta itself!
I hope you have a store near you that carries Violife, Field Roast and/or Follow Your Heart cheeses. Of course, more brands are coming out all the time!
So if you try a different cheese be sure to comment below and let us know.
Cheers to life-changing vegan mac and cheese. I hope you love it as much as we do!
More Cheesy Recipes We Love
- Pourable Vegan Mozzarella
- Vegan Crockpot Mac & Cheese
- Nut-Free Vegan Mac & Cheese
- Vegan Feta Cheese
- No-Cook Vegan Cheese Sauce
- Vegan Pimento Cheese
- 5-Minute Vegan Ricotta
- Vegan Parm 3 Ways
Recipe Video
Tap to play the video and see how it's made.
Recipe
The Best Vegan Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons vegan butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup raw cashews - see Note 1
- 14 ounces Violife Smoked Provolone or Mature Cheddar, Chao Creamy Original, or Follow Your Heart Provolone or Smoked Gouda - see Note 2
- 1¾ cups water
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast, optional
- 1½ tablespoons chickpea miso - or white miso; see Note 3
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon dry mustard powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 pinch of freshly grated nutmeg - just 4 or 5 passes over a microplane zester
- 16 ounces dry macaroni or other pasta - gluten-free, if needed
- 1 large bunch kale, optional, thick stems removed, chopped
OPTIONAL breadcrumb topping for baked mac and cheese:
- 1½ cups panko breadcrumbs - regular or GF
- 3 tablespoons olive oil or melted vegan butter
- pinch of sea salt
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning OR paprika
- 1 cup shredded vegan cheese - such as Violife mozz
Instructions
- Preheat a large saute pan over medium/low heat (if not including kale, you can use a small pan). Add the butter, olive oil, and garlic and sauté slowly, for about 5 minutes. Lower the heat if necessary so the garlic doesn't brown.
- In a high speed blender combine the garlic mixture, cashews, cubed cheeses, water, miso, nutritional yeast, vinegar, mustard powder, onion powder, salt, and nutmeg. Blend until completely smooth. Then blend for another 20 seconds for good measure!
- Heat a large pot of water for the pasta. Generously salt the water, and cook pasta according to package directions.
- If including kale in your mac and cheese, saute it in the same pan used to cook the garlic. Stirring occasionally, cook the kale over medium heat for about 5 minutes or until softened and dark green. Remove from heat.
- While the pasta drains in a colander, pour the cheese sauce into the pasta pot. Bring to a simmer. Stirring occasionally, cook until hot and slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.
- Add the pasta and kale to the cheese sauce, and stir to coat. Remove from heat, and let stand 10 minutes (for baked version, skip the 10 minute rest). Stir again, serve and enjoy!
For Baked Vegan Mac & Cheese:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and oil a 13 x 9 baking dish. After combining the pasta and cheese sauce in the pot, transfer to the prepared dish.
- Combine the panko and oil (or butter). Add a pinch of salt, a few dashes of Italian seasoning or paprika, and shredded vegan cheese, if using. Mix well. Sprinkle over the mac and cheese.
- If you included shredded cheese, cover the dish with foil (this helps it melt). Otherwise, bake uncovered. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes. Remove foil. Switch the oven to broil, and arrange oven rack so the top of the dish is about 8 inches away from the broiler. Broil for 3 to 5 minutes or until the breadcrumbs are golden.
Notes
If allergic to cashews, sub ⅓ cup raw sunflower seeds (or an extra ½ package of cheese). Note 2 - I like to use one package Chao Original and one Violife smoked provolone.
Since the recipe was originally posted, the vegan cheese market has grown, with more store brands and other options available. Unfortunately, I can't vouch for the end result of the mac and cheese with any other cheeses than the ones listed.
If you don't have access to these brands, choose mildly flavored vegan cheeses similar to the ones listed. And let us know in the comments how it turns out! Note 3 - Miso Masters brand is certified gluten-free, but others may not be. Check labels. Store leftover vegan mac & cheese in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Estimated Nutrition (per serving)
Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary depending on the exact amounts and specific products and ingredients used.
Dana
Oh my goodness, I’m so happy to have found your site. This is my second recipe of yours that I’ve made and both have been exceptional replicas of what I ate before giving up dairy and eggs. Your pastry is amazing, your lemon tart is sublime and now I’ve found the Mac & Cheese that I believe will satisfy my whole picky family!!! Thank you so much for sharing your fantastic recipes, I can’t wait to try more 😋
Lee Kaplan
This is my second time making your mac and cheese. First time was with Daiya Smoked Gouda. This time with Violife Mature Cheddar (I just diced up the slices). Another winner! And it’s so freakin’ easy!
Since I don’t believe you have a cookbook yet, I’m going to print out the recipes I’m interested in, and put them in a binder, for easy access.
Lori Rasmussen
Yeah! I'm glad you love it, Lee. And thank you so much for the compliment!
Lee Kaplan
I made this with a block of Daiya smoked Gouda (the only Daiya flavor I like). I subbed apple cider vinegar for lemon juice (I kept forgetting the acv, even though it was on my list).
Omg! Especially the next day! A rather sophisticated flavor, perfect for “adult mac ‘n’ cheese”, with lots of additions. I made 8oz of medium shells, for four servings (I live alone). Definitely trying the cheddar Chao next.
Nicola Montgomery
This sauce is amazing! Thank you for sharing! I used Original Chao slices and bow tie pasta.
David
This is the best vegan Mac and Cheese recipe I have ever tried. I only had a package and a half of Violife Mature Cheddar Slices on hand and it was delicious. I also eliminated the vegan butter and olive oil. I have been trying to cut back on fats and sautéed the garlic in vegetable stock making sure the pan never got dry so it didn't burn. Lori, you really should have your own cook book and cooking show. (I watched an old episode of the "Jazzy Vegetarian" on my PBS station recently and was amazed at how awful her recipes are and for some reason she has her own televised program.)
Mary C
Another amazing recipe from Lori. This was the first and only time I've made a vegan mac and cheese recipe and I did what I have done with every recipe I've tried from Lori...I walk around the kitchen in circles exclaiming, "I can't believe how delicious this is!" I did the baked version with panko topping which makes for excellent leftovers. Honestly, the quality of the recipes from My Quiet Kitchen has given me a joy in vegan cooking and baking that really surprises me. I try out new recipes with such confidence. Thank you Lori!
Lori Rasmussen
Oh my goodness, Mary. You just made my day! This means so much to me, and I'm thrilled you love the mac and cheese. Thank you so much for this feedback!
Viv
I would love to try this recipe but have no idea how much weight is in the cheese not being able to purchase through Amazon. Plenty of vegan cheeses available in New Zealand so just need to know how much to use, by weight or measurement please.
Lori
Hi Viv,
The ingredient list specifies the amount, two 7 oz. packages. So you'll need 14 ounces (around 400 grams). Hope you enjoy it!
Marty
I am SO GLAD I found this recipe!!! My family enjoys trying different vegan Mac and cheeses and this one EASILY and unanimously ranks right up at the top of the list. I can't wait to make it again and try some smoky flavors, baked with crumbled crackers on top, and with broccoli. The sauce really is milky (in a good way) and has such depth of flavor. Thank you so much for this recipe!
Sharon B
What a great recipe! I appreciate how easy and versatile the cheese sauce is. Love the idea of using it for nachos, as Lisa (another commenter) suggested.
Greta
Wonderful dish. Have a vegan daughter ( forever vegan ) n she request this for Thanksgiving. All my kids are nut allergic so I just used the extra cheese for creaminess and it was spot on. Also had to use regular soy miso and cut garlic in half. Used Chao creamy original and Follow your heart Gouda and they work together well. Thank you for this recipe.
Isabel
This is by far the BEST vegan Mac and cheese I have ever made; it taste just how I remembered! I used two packs of the Chao creamy and UHHH! All of my non-vegan friends could not believe this was vegan, they loved it and wanted more!!