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The Best Vegan Mac n' Cheese

This vegan mac is creamy, delicious and "cheesy"!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Servings: 5
Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Vegan
Keyword: Cashew Cheese, Dairy-Free, Dinner, Gluten-Free, Mac n Cheese, Pasta, Pasta Dinner, Vegan Dinner, Vegan,, Vegetarian

Equipment

  • High Speed Blender

Ingredients

"Cheese" Sauce

  • 1 cup Russet Potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 1 medium Carrot, peeled and chopped
  • ½ (heaping) cup Cashews
  • 2 large Garlic Cloves, minced
  • 1 tbsp Olive Oil (or another neutral tasting oil, or vegan butter)
  • 1 cup Unsweetened Almond Milk (or another unsweetened plant-based milk, such as soy)
  • ¾ cup Vegetable Broth (low sodium works well too!)
  • 1 tsp. Onion Powder
  • 1 tsp. Salt
  • 1/2 tsp. Paprika
  • 3 tbsp. Nutritional Yeast
  • 2.5 tbsp. Tapioca Starch (cornstarch should work too)
  • 2 tbsp. Lemon Juice
  • 16 oz. Your Favorite Pasta* (gluten-free pasta works well too!)

(Optional) Baked Mac w/ Breadcrumb Topping

  • 1/2 cup Dairy Free Cheese
  • 1 cup Panko Breadcrumbs (gluten-free breadcrumbs could work too!)
  • Herbs to taste, such as parsley and thyme (optional)

Instructions

"Cheese" Sauce

  • Cook the pasta according to the package instructions and work on the steps below while it is cooking!
  • Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the chopped carrots, potatoes, and cashews. Allow these to boil together for about 10-15 minutes, until soft, and drain the water.
  • In the meantime, heat a skillet over medium heat and add the oil. Once hot, add the minced garlic and sauté until golden. Add this to a blender with the remaining oil.
  • Add the boiled veggies, cashews, almond milk, vegetable broth, onion powder, salt, paprika, nutritional yeast, tapioca starch, and lemon juice to the blender. Blend until completely smooth.
  • Transfer the sauce into a pan over medium-low heat. Stir frequently, until it thickens and gets a bit stretchy.
  • Add the sauce to the pasta and combine well.

(Optional) Baked Mac w/ Breadcrumb Topping

  • Optionally, add the pasta to a 9”x13” pan and top with the mixture of breadcrumbs, herbs, and dairy free cheese. Broil in the oven for a few minutes, until the breadcrumbs are golden-brown and crispy.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

*If you want, cook less pasta and keep the leftover "cheese" sauce for nachos!