CREAMY VEGAN MAC AND CHEESE

CREAMY VEGAN MAC AND CHEESE

Creamy Vegan Mac and Cheese is the ultimate dairy-free comfort dish tailored perfectly for one. This recipe takes the classic mac and cheese experience and gives it a wholesome plant-based twist. The sauce blends soaked cashews, nutritional yeast and turmeric into a luscious, velvety cream that coats every curl of elbow pasta. Using just a handful of pantry staples, this single-serve dish is ideal for quick lunches, busy evenings or simply satisfying that cheese-craving moment more healthily. With no processed vegan cheese, it’s clean and nourishing yet indulgent in texture and flavour. Turmeric adds a gentle golden hue while enhancing its anti-inflammatory benefits. Ideal for vegans and anyone embracing a low-dairy or plant-forward lifestyle, this recipe is quick, comforting and entirely crave-worthy.

RECIPE CATEGORY

Dinner

SERVING SIZE

1

CUISINE

American

PREPARATION/TECHNIQUES

Boil, One-Pot Wonders

OCCASION/HOLIDAY

Fall, Winter, Back to School

SPECIAL CONSIDERATION/DIETARY CONCERNS

Vegan, Vegetarian, Healthy, Low Fat, Quick & Easy, Dairy-Free, High Fibre

DISH TYPE

Pasta

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup cooked elbow pasta

• 2 tbsp cashews, soaked in hot water for 15 minutes

• ¼ cup unsweetened plant milk (such as almond or oat)

• 1 tbsp nutritional yeast

• ¼ tsp turmeric

• Salt to taste

FULL NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

• Calories: 542.6 kcal

• Fat: 10.4 g

• Saturated Fat: 1.9 g

• Carbohydrate: 89.9 g

• Sugar: 4.8 g

• Sodium: 463.4 mg

• Fiber: 8.5 g

• Protein: 25.3 g

• Calcium: 148.2 mg

• Iron: 3.9 mg

• Potassium: 405.5 mg

PREPARATION

These steps are followed for the preparation of Creamy Vegan Mac and Cheese:

• Soak Cashews: Place cashews in hot water and soak for 15 minutes. Drain before using.

• Cook Pasta: Boil pasta in salted water according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.

• Blend Sauce: In a blender, combine soaked cashews, plant milk, nutritional yeast, turmeric, and salt. Blend until completely smooth and creamy.

• Heat Sauce: Pour the sauce into a saucepan over low-medium heat. Stir continuously for 2–3 minutes until warmed through and slightly thickened.

• Combine Pasta And Sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the sauce, stirring to coat evenly. Heat for another minute if needed.

• Serve: Pour into a bowl and serve hot. Garnish with a sprinkle of paprika or parsley if desired.

PREP TIME

10 minutes

COOKING TIME

10 minutes

TIPS

Here are some helpful tips for Creamy Vegan Mac and Cheese:

• Quick Soak Hack: If it takes too long, boil the cashews for 5 minutes instead of soaking them.

• Blender Tip: Use a high-speed blender for the smoothest sauce texture.

• Texture Control: Add more plant milk, a tablespoon at a time, for a thinner sauce.

• Flavour Boost: Add a small clove of garlic or a dash of mustard powder to intensify the flavour.

VARIATIONS

• Add Veggies: Stir in steamed broccoli or peas for added fibre and colour.

• Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free pasta to cater to coeliac or wheat-sensitive diets.

• Protein Upgrade: Mix in a spoonful of hemp seeds or crumbled tofu for extra protein.

• Spicy Version: Add a pinch of cayenne or a dash of hot sauce for heat lovers.

PREPPING AND STORAGE

• Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat on the hob with a splash of plant milk to loosen the sauce.

• Freezer: The sauce can be made in advance and frozen for up to 1 month. Defrost in the fridge overnight and re-blend if needed before reheating.

• Batch Tip: Double the sauce recipe and store extra for a quick meal later in the week.