Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese

This Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese is everything you want your mac and cheese to be.

It really is the epitome of comfort food – gorgeously cheesy, creamy, saucy, and baked until the breadcrumb topping is golden brown and crispy. 🤤

It’s intentionally developed for you to go back for seconds (and thirds!), and will happily feed a family of four, making it perfect for midweek dinners. Today, we’re showing you how to make it!

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There are hundreds of Vegan Mac and Cheese recipes out there on the Inter-webs, but I have never found one that has truly done it for me.

They’re either too heavy or too unhealthy or too “I’m trying hard to taste cheesy”. Do you know what I mean?

I obviously haven’t tried them all, but I have tried quite a few, and I have also tried making my own versions.

But they were all just OK. With this recipe, everything has changed!

Is Baked Mac and Cheese Vegan?

The word ‘cheese’ should reveal that traditional baked mac and cheese is not vegan. Of course, this is because dairy cheese and butter are often involved.

So, we replace any dairy ingredients with plant-based alternatives, making our recipe completely vegan without compromising on flavor or satisfaction.

Is this Baked Mac and Cheese Vegan Gluten-Free?

While the pasta we use is gluten-free, the breadcrumbs we use are not.

However, to make the recipe gluten-free, just use breadcrumbs made from gluten-free bread (homemade or store-bought).

How Do You Make a Vegan Cheese Sauce?

It’s no secret that the key to mac and cheese is the sauce. It’s all in the sauce.

And the Internet has certainly shown us that there are many ways to make a vegan cheese sauce. Some swear by cashews and nutritional yeast, others say it’s all in the spices used, some like to use miso or dijon, others like to stick to flour and vegan butter. The list goes on.

One thing they do all have in common is the use of a high-speed blender. The result is a quick and easy, ultra creamy sauce that can be used for just about any pasta.

For today’s Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese sauce, you only need 9 ingredients (including salt).

Bonus: there are hidden veggies lurking in the sauce. So, if you’ve got picky eaters in the house, shh… don’t tell them. They’ll never know!

What is Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese Made Of?

Here’s what you need to make this cheesy sauce:

• Onion
• Garlic
• Butternut squash
• Veggie broth
• Cashews
• Nutritional yeast
• Vegan butter
• Vegan parmesan (I like this one and this one)
• Salt

To complete the recipe, you will also need:

• Pasta shells (227g) – see below for recommendations
• Breadcrumbs (we used homemade)
• Fresh oregano
• Vegan parmesan
• Vegan butter, melted

FAQ

Is Baking Necessary?

If you’re feeling lazy, don’t worry. You don’t have to bake this vegan mac and cheese.

Skipping the crumb topping is totally ok. Just make the cheesy sauce, pour it over your cooked pasta, and voila!

It’s delicious either way.

How Long Can I Store This For?

If you have leftovers of this Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese, keep it covered and refrigerated, and it will last for up to 3-4 days. Reheat it thoroughly before serving.

What is Nutritional Yeast?

Nutritional yeast, also known as “nooch”, is similar to the yeast that people use in baking, but it goes through a heating and drying process that kills the yeast cells, making it inactive.

It’s a great source of protein, B vitamins (it can help prevent vitamin B12 deficiency in vegans), and trace minerals. It’s not called nutritional yeast for nothing!

According to Healthline, “studies have shown it has a wide range of potential health benefits, ranging from lowering cholesterol to protecting the body from free radical damage.” It’s also “naturally low in sodium and calories, as well as fat-free, sugar-free, gluten-free and vegan.” Not too shabby, ay?

Nutritional yeast is not only beneficial for you, it’s also key in making vegan cheesy sauces. It offers a nutty, cheesy, savory flavor, and adds an appealing yellow color to the sauce.

It’s usually sold as flakes or powder, and is typically found in the spice section of health food stores.

You can read more about nutritional yeast and its benefits here, or check out our article called What is Nutritional Yeast and How to Use It for everything you need to know!

Is Vegan Butter Bad for You?

Our homemade Vegan Butter is certainly healthier than some of the butters you will find on the shelves of your local grocery store.

In our vegan butter recipe, we use natural ingredients like lemon juice and nutritional yeast, with no preservatives.

It’s still not a health food, but it is healthier than the majority of vegan butters you will find on the market. This is because lots of them contain things like palm oil, coloring, flavors, and more.

If you want to buy one for convenience, I recommend checking ingredients and finding one with minimal, clean ingredients.

My personal favorite is Miyokos Cultured Vegan Butter. The only ingredients are: Organic Coconut Oil, Filtered Water, Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Cashews, Organic Sunflower Lecithin, Sea Salt, Cultures.

Many cities nowadays also have small, local shops that sell homemade vegan butters that are super clean and made with very few ingredients! If you have that option, why not go with that?

What is Vegan Parmesan Made Of?

Just like vegan butter, there are plenty of vegan parmesan options to choose from, and some are far from healthy.

You can use dried vegan parmesan or “fresh” vegan parmesan. Let’s start with some great dried options.

It’s always best to check ingredients to ensure you find one with clean, minimal ingredients, like Nooch It! The only ingredients are: Organic Cashews, Organic Nutritional Yeast, Organic Garlic Powder, Organic Hemp Seeds, Organic Brown Rice Flour, Sea Salt.

Another option is Parma Vegan Parmesan. Ingredients: Nutritional Yeast, Organic Sunflower Seeds, Walnuts, Himalayan Crystal Salt, Organic Hemp seeds. This one’s texture is a little crunchier, but you won’t even notice once blended.

Now, for the “fresh” varieties!

The first great option is Violife Just Like Parmesan Wedge. Ingredients: Water, Modified potato starch, Coconut oil, Potato starch, Rice starch, Sea salt, Rice protein, Flavor, Olive extract, Carotene.

Another option is 365 Plant-Based Parmesan. Ingredients: Modified potato starch, water, expeller pressed coconut oil, sea salt, natural flavors, rice protein concentrate, olive extract.

What Kind of Pasta Should I Use?

There are so many healthier alternatives to pasta nowadays. Don’t you just LOVE options?

Some alternatives do take trial and error to learn how to deal with that particular pasta (like brown rice pasta), while others behave almost the same way as regular pasta, so you don’t have to think about it!

Here are a couple of my favorites that I recommend for this dish:

Banza Chickpea Shells. Ingredients: Chickpeas, Tapioca, Pea Protein, Xanthan Gum. This is the brand you see in the photos of this post.

Tolerant Foods Green Lentil Elbows. Ingredients: Organic Green Lentils.

If you’re looking for more delicious plant-based pasta recipes, check out:

Vegan Alfredo Fettuccine

Spaghetti and Vegan “Meatballs”

The Best Vegan Mac and Cheese

If you try this recipe, let me know! 

Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag your photos with @healthiir on Instagram! It helps more than you know. 🙂