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With hundreds of 5-star reviews, readers agree this is the best Vegan Mac and Cheese. It’s quick to prepare and tastes just as delicious as the traditional version.

vegan mac and cheese lifted close up on a fork.

This recipe comes together as fast as the boxed version, but it’s made without dairy. While the pasta cooks, you can quickly whip up the plant-based sauce in a blender.

When you stir the vegan cheese sauce into the pasta, it becomes a creamy side dish. It’s perfect for those looking for dairy-free comfort food.

Ingredients You’ll Need

You only need a handful of pantry ingredients plus nutritional yeast for a “cheesy” flavor.

Spices like garlic powder, onion powder, and chili powder can add extra flavor to the sauce. I also like to add a pinch of turmeric for an orange color. (But that’s optional!) Feel free to add a dash of smoked paprika or black pepper.

See the variation ideas below if you’d like to try another flavor combination.

This recipe is gluten-free when you use gluten-free pasta. Brown rice pasta and chickpea pasta are both easy options! If you need a cheese sauce without cashews, try sweet potato mac and cheese or my nut-free vegan cheese sauce.

bowls of cashews, noodles, spice jars, and a bottle of nutritional yeast on a marble board.

How to Make Vegan Mac and Cheese

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, and cook the pasta according to the package directions. 

While the noodles are cooking, combine the cashews, water, lemon juice, mustard, salt, nutritional yeast, and spices. Secure the lid and blend until very smooth.

Detoxinista Tip

If you don’t have a high-speed blender, cover the cashews with 1 cup of boiled water and let them soak for 10 minutes. This should help to soften the cashews. Pour the soaked cashews (along with the warm soaking water) directly into the blender, then add in the rest of the ingredients to blend.

cashews, water, nutritional yeast, and spices blended together to make a creamy sauce.

When the noodles are done cooking, drain and return the warm noodles to the large pot.

Pour the sauce into the pot, and stir over medium heat until the mac n’ cheese is warmed and the noodles are well coated. Adjust the seasoning to taste, adding more salt as needed.

If necessary, add a few tablespoons of water to help loosen the sauce and make it creamier.

vegan cheese sauce poured over noodles and stirred in a white pot.

Serve this vegan mac and cheese warm with any extra toppings you love. It’s delicious with veggies added in, such as steamed broccoli or roasted butternut squash, or you can add any other toppings you love.

Leftover mac & cheese can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You may need to add an extra splash of water when you reheat it on the stovetop since the cheese sauce will thicken when chilled.

vegan mac and cheese served on a white plate with a fork.

Flavor Variations

Baked Mac & Cheese: Add an extra 1/4 cup of water to this recipe to thin out the sauce (because it will thicken when baked), then pour the cooked pasta and sauce into a greased 9-by-13-inch baking dish. For a crumb topping, stir together 3/4 cup of breadcrumbs with 1/4 cup of melted vegan butter and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a small bowl, then sprinkle the mixture over the top of your mac and cheese. (Use gluten-free bread crumbs if you need to.)

Bake the casserole in an oven preheated to 350ºF for 10 minutes. When the timer goes off, turn on your oven’s broiler and let the breadcrumbs brown for 1 to 2 minutes, just until the topping looks golden brown. Watch closely so it won’t burn! Try chopped almonds or other crushed nuts for a gluten-free topping.

Green Chile Mac and Cheese: Replace a 1/2 cup of water with a 4-ounce can of green chilies. You can also add in a few slices of jarred jalapenos, for extra flavor and spice. (This is inspired by vegan nacho cheese, which is my favorite vegan cheese dip ever!)

Miso Mac and Cheese. Did you know that white miso tastes similar to Parmesan cheese? If you don’t have nutritional yeast on hand, you can add a teaspoon of white miso to this recipe to help bring out all of the cheesy flavorings in this recipe. It’s always a good idea to start small with miso, as it can overpower a recipe quickly, so start with just a 1/2 teaspoon if you aren’t sure about the flavor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this nut-free?

Try using hemp hearts instead of cashews if you like. (This works great for vegan ranch dressing, so it might work here, too.) Otherwise try Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese, as an alternative. 

Can I use milk instead of water?

Of course! I recommend using non-dairy milk with no added sweetener, but you can use oat milk, almond milk, or even soy milk if you’d like to add extra protein to this recipe. I don’t recommend using coconut milk unless you don’t mind the added coconut flavor.

 Looking for more vegan comfort food? Try Vegan Quesadillas, the Best Veggie Burgers, Vegan Pad Thai, or Lentil Bolognese for more ideas.

vegan mac and cheese served on a white plate with a fork.

Vegan Mac and Cheese

4.75 from 410 votes
Vegan Mac and Cheese is as quick to prepare as the boxed version! Featuring a creamy cashew sauce, this dairy-free alternative is loved by everyone.
prep10 mins cook10 mins total20 mins
Servings:8

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 ½ cups cashews (not roasted or salted)
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • ¾ cup water
  • 1 ½ teaspoons fine sea salt
  • ¼ cup nutritional yeast
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric
  • pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
  • ½ teaspoon spicy brown mustard (optional)
  • 16 ounces Elbow or shell pasta of choice (gluten-free, if needed)

Instructions

  • Prepare the pasta according to the package directions. Add a teaspoon of salt to the cooking water to make the noodles well-seasoned.
  • While the pasta is cooking, combine the cashews, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, water, salt, nutritional yeast, chili powder, garlic, turmeric, cayenne (if using), and mustard in a high-speed blender. Secure the lid and blend until silky smooth. If the mixture is too thick, add another tablespoon or two of water and blend again. You can taste the sauce, but remember that pouring it over a pound of pasta will dilute the flavor significantly.
  • Once the pasta is tender, drain and return it to the pot. Stir in the cheese sauce and adjust the seasoning to taste. Add another tablespoon of lemon juice to brighten the flavor if needed. Serve warm with any toppings or add-ins you like, such as steamed broccoli.
  • Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. The mac and cheese will thicken when chilled, so you may need to add a splash of water when reheating it on the stove top, plus an extra sprinkle of salt.

Video

Notes

Nutrition information is for roughly 1 cup of prepared mac and cheese. This information is automatically calculated, and is just an estimate, not a guarantee.
Don’t have a high speed blender? Use 1 cup of boiled water in that case, and let the cashews soak in the hot water for at least 10 minutes before blending. This will help them break down more smoothly.
Looking for a nut-free recipe? Try Southwest Sweet Potato Mac & Cheese, or my nut-free vegan cheese sauce.
Video Note: I made a mistake in the video for this recipe and used only 1 cup of cashews. The result was still delicious, so if you are short on cashews, feel free to try using that amount without changing the amount of other ingredients.
Update Note: This recipe was updated in November 2024 with new photos and the option to use 1 less tablespoon of lemon juice, based on reader feedback. You can see the original recipe here.

Nutrition

Calories: 352kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Sodium: 449mg | Potassium: 325mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 38IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 3mg
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: vegan mac and cheese

If you try this Vegan Mac and Cheese recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below, letting me know how you like it.

Megan Gilmore leaning on her white countertop.

Megan Gilmore

Hi, I’m Megan. A former fast food junkie turned best-selling cookbook author. I create healthy recipes made with simple ingredients to make your life easier.

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Comments

  1. This is so good. Very satisfying in taste and texture. Believably cheesy tasting, I could easily eat this and not miss dairy mac & cheese. I wouldn’t say it’s exactly the same but the fat from the nut base makes it just as satisfying. My computer is acting up so the star rating isn’t working but I give this recipe 5 STARS!

  2. I have made this twice already – it is amazing! I don’t think it really tastes like the regular old mac & cheese, but being brought up in a “foodie” household, I don’t mind at all. It’s just a fantastic dish. I actually have cravings for this! The 2nd time I made it, I didn’t bake it and it was still just as good. I made it for my immediate family and they loved it, now I want to bring it to a family reunion!
    Again, great recipe!!

  3. I’m in my second trimester of pregnancy and about a month ago I started craving mac and cheese like crazy. I mean, obsessed about it for days. So much so that I broke down once and got some at Boston Market. Given that I stopped eating dairy several months before (plus all the other chemicals that are surely in their concoction), I was desperate to find a healthy vegan option that would satisfy these killer cravings. Which means it had to taste cheesy. This recipe does that and my husband loves it too. Now I can eat my “mac and cheese” without guilt the rest of my pregnancy, thank you!

  4. Make it for my family tonight. I think my kids would have liked it better with the veggies on the side. There were no leftovers.

  5. Made this last night! Even my roommate who whines when I make anything vegan ate three bowls. Did tweak it a bit (flax milk, and a little bit more cayenne). Was very satisfied, took it to work for lunch today and even my students wanted to try it and loved it.