finished vegan mac and cheese recipe

Nothing says comfort food like a giant bowl of macaroni and cheese. In the middle of summer, though, we tend to crave things a little less heavy. Enter a light, creamy vegan mac and cheese recipe that’s super easy to make.

gluten free macaroni pasta and vegan cashew cheese for mac and cheese recipe

This vegan mac and cheese is so simple to prepare. All you need is a blender to make the sauce and a pot for boiling your noodles. It’s made with a cashew-based, creamy vegan cheese that will melt in your mouth–and become your new favorite queso-dip alternative.

creamy white vegan mac and cheese in white bowl

I even cooked up this mac and cheese with gluten-free chickpea noodles to make this meal a winner for just about everyone. I promise this dish will satisfy all those cheesy pasta cravings, and you may even have some extra sauce to serve on, say, vegan nachos (hint, hint).

creamy white vegan mac and cheese in white bowl

Did you try this vegan mac and cheese recipe? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!

This recipe comes from our food contributor, Christina Evert! With a focus on vegetarian and pescatarian recipes, Christina shares her cooking adventures on her Instagram, @abuelitaeats. There, she shows how easy and tasty it can be to incorporate more fresh fruits and vegetables into your diet via her simple yet scrumptious meals and snacks. 

  • PREP TIME: 20 MINS
  • SERVES: 4
  • vegan mac and cheese recipe

Ingredients

For the sauce:

1 1/2 cups raw cashews

Boiling water (for soaking)

1/2 cup nutritional yeast

1 lemon, juiced

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp cumin

Directions

Step 1:

Soak your cashews in the boiling water for at least an hour (or overnight), then drain them and add them to your high-speed blender.

Step 2:

Add nutritional yeast (for cheesy flavor) the juice of one lemon, 1 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp garlic powder, and 1/2 tsp cumin.

Step 3:

Begin your blender on slow, and gradually speed up, adding water 2 tbsps at a time until you reach a thick but super smooth and velvety consistency. (Seriously, it’s going to get really creamy, so don’t stop until it looks smooth and feels like silk in your mouth when you taste it.)

Step 4:

Meanwhile, bring a pot of salted water to boil and cook your gluten-free noodles (or regular macaroni noodles) as directed on the package.

Step 5:

Drain and immediately pour your creamy cheese sauce over the noodles, then serve up!