Healthy Dairy free Mac and Cheese Recipe (vegan, oil free)

Who doesn't love a rich and creamy mac & cheese? That cheesy, comforting deliciousness that fills your belly with warmth and always brings you back for one more bite. What if we told you that there is a healthier way to experience the same flavor without all the dairy products that can be hard on your stomach?

Well, here it is! Our plant-based Healthy Dairy Free Mac and Cheese recipe will tantalize your taste buds while nourishing your body at the same time with whole food ingredients. Let's get ready to get cozy!

This recipe pairs well with a vegan meatloaf, roasted brussels sprouts, sloppy joes.

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Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Substitutions
• Variations
• Equipment
• Storage
• Pro Tip
• FAQ
• 📖 Recipe

Ingredients

This easy vegan mac used simple ingredients and is made pretty quickly. A quick list of the ingredients, no need for real cheese.

You can find the ingredients with quantities and the recipe to print out on the recipe card below.

• Pasta of your choice
• raw cashews
• nutritional yeast
• garlic powder
• onion powder
• Dijon Mustard
• sea salt or pink salt
• tapioca starch
• psyllium husk powder
• coconut bacon
• Apple Cider Vinegar or Lemon Juice
• Black Pepper Seasoning

Crunchy Topping:

• Crispy Chickpeas
• Coconut Bacon

Instructions

First thing, put all the ingredients for the sauce in a high-speed blender and blend until a creamy consistency is obtained. And season with the above spices again.

In the meantime, prepare the coconut bacon and cook the pasta al dente according to package directions.

Heat the sauce in a saucepan on medium heat. Until you get this cheese-like consistency.

Mix the cooked pasta with the sauce and arrange on plates. Sprinkle coconut bacon over it. 

Make this creamy vegan mac, you can check out my pumpkin mac and cheese, mac and cheese instant mix and my other vegan pasta recipe for easy dinners.

Substitutions

• Pasta: You can use elbow pasta like in the classic mac or use gluten-free pasta like brown rice pasta, lentil pasta. You can also make zoodles.
• Cashews: To make a creamy sauce you can either use cashews, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds. Try a combo of seeds/ nuts with white beans, those will make a creamy texture as well.
• Nutritional Yeast: We will not use vegan cheese, so we need something to add that cheese taste. This is why I cannot recommend substituting nooch.
• Water: We will blend cashews with water, but you can also use veggie broth, almond milk or coconut milk.
• Psyllium Husk Powder: You can omit this, this ingredient will add a nice stringy cheesy texture to your vegan cheese sauce.

Variations

• Nacho Mac and Cheese: Add some smoked paprika, chipotle powder, green chilies. Top it with some crushed tortilla chips.
• Cheeseburger Style: Add some dill pickles, dried dill and tomato paste to your vegan macaroni.
• Greek Style: Add oregano, dill or some Greek seasoning.
• Cajun: You love it a little spicy? Add some Cajun Seasoning or chili powder, paprika powder.
• Spinach: Add some spinach to the blender, and you will get a nice green sauce for your healthy vegan mac.

Equipment

Some kitchen tools that will help you to make this ultimate vegan mac.

• High Speed Blender
• Large Pot

Storage

Leftover of dairy-free mac? Luckily, those store pretty well in an airtight container in the fridge for about 4-5 days. Warm it up on the stove top with some almond milk or other non-dairy milk to make them creamy again. You can also freeze this creamy cheese sauce. I recommend only the sauce and cook some fresh pasta to make a quick, simple vegan mac.

FAQ