Vegan Mac and Cheese Recipes

If you’re transitioning to a plant-based diet, you’ll be thrilled to know that you can still enjoy a classic, kid-friendly dish like macaroni and cheese. Even though it has dairy in its name, this beloved comfort food has not been left behind in the plant-based food world. In fact, there are plenty of enticing vegan versions of mac and cheese available, including some recipes that were showcased at the 2019 Animal Hero Kids MacnCheeze Challenge to Save the Earth event in Fort Lauderdale.

Truffle Cream Mac & ‘Cheeze’

Chef Sheena of Ohm Woke Meals won the kid’s choice and audience choice awards at the event with her recipe for a delicious truffle cream macaroni and cheese. Here are the ingredients and instructions:

• Elbow noodles
• Sea salt
• Truffle oil
• Unsweetened almond milk or other non-dairy milk
• Vegan cream cheese
• Earth Balance plant-based butter alternative
• Pepper

Boil the noodles, then strain. Blend the vegan cream cheese, vegan butter, salt, and non-dairy milk, and add the sauce to the noodles. Then add truffle oil and salt and pepper to taste. If you’d like, bake it at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes.

Gluten-Free, Soy-Free, Vegan Mac & Cheese

Restaurant owner Rahein Jones shared his winning recipe, which is also a popular dish at his restaurant The New Vegan. Here’s how to make it:

• Jovial brown rice pasta
• Daiya Cheddar Style Shreds
• Veggie burger grilled and crumbled (could also use falafel or another crumbled vegan protein)
• Follow Your Heart Soy-Free Vegenaise (soy-free vegan mayonnaise)
• Sauteed scallion greens
• Salt and pepper
• Garlic powder
• Cilantro

Boil the pasta and run under cold water to help prevent it from breaking apart. Simmer a sauce using the Daiya shreds, water, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Mix the sauce with the cooked pasta. Top servings with chopped bits of grilled veggie burger or other preferred plant-based protein. Finally, drizzle with Soy-Free Vegenaise, and garnish with fresh cilantro and sautéed scallion greens.

Vegan Mac & Cheese Inspired by Flavors of Childhood

Owner Valerie Chelley and Erin Fontes of Vinos Wine Bars created a recipe that reminds them of their childhood. Here’s how they did it:

• 2 tablespoons of King Arthur Gluten Free All-Purpose Flour
• 2 tablespoons of vegan butter
• 1 cup of macadamia milk
• 2 cups Daiya Mozzarella Style Shreds
• 2 tablespoons Violife vegan cream cheese
• 2 slices Follow Your Heart vegan provolone
• 2 slices Violife vegan cheddar
• 2 slices Tomato Cayenne Chao
• 2 more cups of macadamia milk
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon fresh ground black pepper
• 2 cups Daiya cheddar-style shreds
• Bionaturae organic elbows and Ancient Harvest organic quinoa elbows

Whisk together the flour, vegan butter, and macadamia milk over medium-high heat, then whisk in the remaining ingredients and use the sauce with the elbows for a delicious mac and cheese.

Vegan Mac & Cheese With Shiitake ‘Bacon’

Green Bar & Kitchen shared a recipe featuring red lentil macaroni and homemade plant-based cheese, with garlic aioli, sliced scallions, gluten-free breadcrumbs, and shiitake bacon. Here’s how to make the plant-based cheese:

• 1 cup potatoes, diced large
• 1/2 cup carrots, diced large
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 ounces olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/4 cup nutritional yeast flakes
• 1 ounce onion powder, optional
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, optional
• Dash of cayenne, optional

Boil the potatoes and carrots until soft, then blend them together along with the rest of the ingredients until the cheese is extremely smooth. Store in the refrigerator for up to four days.

Savory Mushroom Mac & ‘Cheese’ With Truffle Breadcrumbs

Chef Kyle Knies of From the Garden shared a recipe for a savory mushroom macaroni and cheese with truffle breadcrumbs. Here are the ingredients:

• 1 lb. pasta such as penne, fusilli, or other shaped pasta

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To make the recipe, preheat the oven to 350 degrees, prepare the mushroom mixture, make the cheese sauce, and create the truffle breadcrumb topping. Once everything is ready, mix it all together for a super decadent mac and cheese dish.