Looking for the best vegan mac and cheese recipe? You're in luck! This is truly the best, cheesiest, creamiest, most convincing dairy-free mac and cheese we've ever tasted. But don't take my word for it - check out the reviews below! Enjoy it straight from the stovetop or follow the instructions for baked vegan mac and cheese.
This recipe is simple to prepare and calls for classic ingredients like cashews, plus a few key secret ingredients that take the savory, deeply flavorful vibes to the next level! It's a recipe you'll return to again and again for special occasions or anytime you're craving vegan comfort food! Easily made gluten-free and/or cashew-free.
Recipe Feedback:
"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!"
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Why This Recipe Works
I've been vegan since 2011, 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.
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 - because 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.
After taking a bite it should cause your eyes to go wide while you mumble through a mouthful of food, “Mmmmmmmm omg!”
In fact, the whole reason this recipe came about was because I planned to enter a local vegan mac and cheese competition.
The Inspiration
Our local Vegan Society used to hold a mac and cheese cookoff each year. In 2019 I decided to enter, but 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: it's 2019, and 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.
But for the cheesiest, richest, most convincing vegan mac and cheese, it's helpful to revisit the recipes we're interpreting and start again.
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]
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 7 or 8 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.
- 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 slightly fermented 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
- salt
- white pepper, optional
- nutmeg - freshly grated if possible. Just a few passes over a microplane adds a warmth reminiscent of dairy 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 and Cheese
I experimented with a few different vegan cheeses and found my favorite combination for this recipe.
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
Check out the video below to see the recipe come to life. The basic process looks 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 ones there!
Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese
We usually enjoy the macaroni straight from the stovetop, but you can also use make 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 the pasta water. This is critical for building flavor and enhancing what is usually 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 the creamiest, cheesiest, best vegan mac and cheese. I hope you love it as much as we do!
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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 to 8 cloves garlic, minced - depending on the size of the cloves and how much you like garlic
- ½ cup raw cashews - see Note 1.
- 2 (7 oz) packages of any of the following vegan cheeses, cut into cubes: Violife Smoked Provolone or Mature Cheddar, Chao Creamy Original, or Follow Your Heart Provolone or Smoked Gouda - see Note 2.
- 1 ¾ cups water
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast, optional
- 1 ½ 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
- 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 lacinato kale, chopped, optional
OPTIONAL breadcrumb topping for baked mac and cheese:
- 1 ½ cups panko breadcrumbs - regular or GF
- 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil or melted vegan butter
- pinch of sea salt
- few dashes of 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 posted in 2019, the vegan cheese market has expanded, 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. We calculate this information using the online calculator cronometer.com.
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!!
Anne
I’ve been vegan for ten years, I have four children, this is by far the best Mac n cheese!!!!
Dani
We have been making Vegan Mac n Cheese for the past 4 years for Thanksgiving and this is the best by far. I did not put kale in mine.. Everyone ate it the vegan mac. N cheese vegan or not. YUM
Janet
Hi Lori, I made this mac and cheese and it's so good that I stood over the stove and just ate it from the pot! When you want mac and cheese - you want mac and cheese and this is it! It's just me so I did freeze half of it -- I hope that it will still be great. I used Violife cheese (mature chedder, 1/2 smoked provolone and 1/2 feta (which is kind of creamy) -- perfect. Also, put in some ground pepper and going to try the panko crumbs idea under the broiler.
Thanks for your great recipes -- I am having fun exploring them, and will post on some of the others I have tried.
Nix L
This is definitely the best mac n cheese, and I can't wait to try out more of your recipes! Mine didn't turn out quite as creamy as yours looks in the pictures, so next time I'm going to soak the cashews overnight (I do have a high speed blender, but on the lower end).
Roma
I honestly almost cried after the first bite. After sooo many disappointing mac and cheese recipes (including back when I ate dairy), this is the best mac I have ever made. It tasted like the comforting dairy mac that restaurants make. I threw some panko on top and baked for some extra crisp - heaven on earth! Thank you SO MUCH for this recipe! It has become a staple.
Victoria
I tried this recipe with Miyoko’s cheddar shreds and it was TOO strong. Miyoko’s cheddar is THE best vegan cheddar out there with a sharp taste. So I think with the other umami ingredients (nutritional yeast + miso + cashews + mustard powder etc.) put it overboard.
If you like really strong cheeses, using Miyoko’s cheddar might make you happy. However, if you don’t, like me, then use the recommend vegan cheeses such as Chao and VioLife. I’m sure this recipe is good but I’m afraid to try it again (with Chao) for fear of being disappointed. I appreciate your site Lori!
Lori
Hi Victoria,
I think you'll like it with the recommended cheeses. It's more milky, creamy, and mild with those. I find Miyoko's cheeses to be very strong and much better for other uses!
I highly recommend one package of Chao and one package of Violife smoked provolone, if you can find those. So good!
Thanks for letting us know how yours turned out.
Nicole O
HOLY MOLY. This Mac and cheese is the ABSOLUTE BEST MAC AND CHEESE!!! I CANNOT believe it. It tastes not only exactly like a regular Mac and cheese, but it even tastes like a fancy white cheddar Mac and cheese. This exceeds all expectations. I truly can’t believe it, nor can my husband who isn’t vegan. Thank you SO Much for this recipe. I used a package of chao and a package of violife mature cheddar. Added 1/4 tsp white pepper and the nutritional yeast as mentioned. Just amazing. Thank you!!! 😊😋
Lori
Nicole, you just made my day! I love this so much, and it's especially awesome that even your non-vegan husband is impressed! 🙌 Thank you so much for the feedback!
Rita Casassa
What is chickpea miso and where do I get it? Can I omit this ingredient?
Lori
Hi Rita,
Yes, you can omit it if needed. Chickpea miso is a fermented product that has really nice salty and umami flavor. It's like traditional white miso but made with chickpeas instead of soybeans. It's refrigerated, and you'll usually find it near tofu in the grocery store. It is sort of a specialty product, though, so not all stores will have it.
Feel free to omit it. You can always add another pinch of salt to the sauce if you like.
Ginny Bates
My DH is Southern gentleman from TN. (We live in SC now.) He loves his mac and cheese. We went vegan about 18 months ago when he was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease. He now feels much better and his lab values have steadily improved. Hooray! We are 65+ years old and both of us are good cooks. Replacing cheese has been a hurdle - like it is for so many who want to give up animal products.
I have tried numerous "cheese" sauces: with potato and carrots, with cashews and cauliflower, with oats and who-knows-what-else. This is the BEST!!!!! I did use more nutritional yeast because the brand we like is UNfortified and has a lighter flavor. We think the fortified ones taste too much like B vitamins. I don't know which brand you use.
Two questions: Do you think this will freeze, perhaps whizzing in blender upon thawing? Have you figured out a way to thicken it enough to mold and slice? DH loves grilled cheese sandwiches.
Thank you for reading and MANY, MANY THANKS for this great recipe!
Lori
Hi Ginny, good for you two, going vegan! 😀 I'm thrilled you loved the cheese sauce. That's a good question about freezing. If you mean just the sauce without the pasta in it, yes I think that might work. It will probably be a bit gloopy and inhomogeneous after thawing, but re-heating it should fix that.
As far as a sliceable cheese, no I haven't gotten around to that yet! Of course, you could just go with Violife cheese on its own, which we LOVE. But it won't be garlicky and quite as flavorful as this sauce. Turning this into a sliceable cheese is a really great idea. I'll start pondering! Thank you, Ginny.
Ginny Bates
Lori, I'll be looking for that post on best cheese sauce turned to best slices! Thanks for thinking about this idea and, hopefully, experimenting.
Lisa
Wow!!! I made this, and it tastes just like the real deal using dairy items. Great job. It’s been 3 days and I just warmed up some that was leftover and it still tastes creamy. Next time I make nachos, I’m going to use your cheese sauce. Thanks so much for sharing!
Lori
Yeah! Glad you enjoyed it, Lisa. Thanks so much for the comment!
Emily
Amazing, so delicious! Exactly what I've been missing since going vegan 🙂
Lori
So glad, Emily! Thanks for the awesome feedback! 😀
Nikki
Absolutely my favorite Mac and cheese! I served this during the holidays and I sometimes make it for myself just because! Love it. Thank you!
Lori
That's awesome, Nikki! Thank you for the feedback. 😀
Lisa
This has been my only macaroni and cheese recipe!since I found it a year ago. It’s the best out there by far. Question - other than panko breadcrumbs, what other toppings are recommended to use when making the Mac and cheese? Do you have a preference on a brand of cheese to top it to bake?
Lori
Yay! So glad you love it, Lisa. 😀
For baked mac and cheese, I'm a fan of homemade bread crumbs mixed with melted butter. Panko is really popular and I do like its texture, but it always seems a bit blah and stale to me. You can start with a good quality bread you like, let it dry out a bit, then pulse it into crumbs.
You can also grate some Violife mature cheddar (do you know the block of cheese I'm talking about?) and mix that into the buttery breadcrumbs. Then sprinkle all of that on top and bake. Pre-shredded cheeses are coated with anti-caking agents so they don't always melt as nicely. Hope that helps!
Allie
The best vegan Mac & cheese I've ever had! Also tried the cauliflower gratin, was also very good. New to your site, anxious to try some of your other recipes. Thank you
Lori
Allie, thank you for the awesome feedback! 😀 I'm so glad you loved the mac and cheese and so glad you're here!
Carly
I was cleaning out my pantry/fridge and made a loose version of this for one. I didn’t follow proportions exactly and was missing some ingredients, but either way it turned out truly amazing. I had no miso, but added soy/coconut aminos and felt like it added some good umami flavor. Thanks for a great recipe!
Lori
That's awesome, Carly. Way to go, making it work with what you had on hand. 😀 So glad you enjoyed it!
susan
Definitely kid worthy and for the kid in all of us! Delicious!