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Home » Recipes » Side Dish

Vegan Macaroni and Cheese - No cashews

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Modified: Nov 27, 2025 · Published: May 24, 2017 by Melissa · This post may contain affiliate links · 5 Comments
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A very veggie filled cheese sauce made with cauliflower, potato, and nutritional yeast makes this Vegan Macaroni and Cheese perfectly creamy and delicious.

Overhead view of Vegan Macaroni and Cheese on a small white plate. There is a fork partially visible in the lower left.

Creamy, cheesy and satisfying this Vegan Macaroni and Cheese is a great alternative to traditional dairy versions. We love this mac and cheese as a side dish to these tofu sticks for a yummy kid friendly dinner.

This recipe was inspired by a nacho cheese at veganyumminess.com. The key to her nacho cheese is potato. And it works perfectly for the sauce in this macaroni.

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  • Ingredients
  • Substitutions & variations
  • Instructions
  • Equipment
  • Recipe

Ingredients

Cauliflower and potatoes along with plenty of nutritional yeast make this thick, creamy sauce with a cheesy flavor. I won't say this mac 'n cheese is an exact replica of the flavor of conventional macaroni, but the creamy texture more than makes up for it.

Top view of a small measuring cup of vegan cheese sauce.
  • olive oil
  • garlic
  • potato
  • cauliflower
  • unsweetened non dairy milk
  • nutritional yeast
  • lemon juice
  • dijon mustard
  • pasta

See recipe card for quantities.

Substitutions & variations

  • Gluten free - use your favorite gluten free pasta
  • Spicy - add cayenne or red pepper flakes to the sauce for a bit of spiciness
  • Veggies - add peas or cooked spinach to macaroni, if desired

Instructions

The cheese sauce for this macaroni and cheese is simple to whip up. Start by boiling the vegetables to soften. Then blend everything up. Follow the package instructions for cooking your desired pasta. Combine the cooked pasta with the cheese sauce and enjoy!

Equipment

You will need a blender to make the cheese sauce. A high powered model is preferable for a smoother, creamier sauce.

Side view close up of Vegan Macaroni and Cheese on a small white plate.

If you try this recipe, let me know how it turns out! Leave a comment below or snap a pic and tag it @weelittlevegans on Instagram so I'll be sure to see it!

Recipe

Vegan Macaroni and Cheese Feature Image

Vegan Macaroni and Cheese

Melissa
A very veggie filled cheese sauce made with cauliflower, potato, and nutritional yeast make this Vegan Macaroni and Cheese perfectly creamy and delicious.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 25 minutes mins
Total Time 35 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American

Equipment

  • blender

Ingredients
  

  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 medium potato, chopped into 1 inch pieces
  • ½ -¾ tsp salt
  • 1 small cauliflower, core removed and chopped
  • 1 ½-2 cup plain unsweetened almond milk *see note
  • 10 -13 oz pasta
  • ¼ -½ cup nutritional yeast depending on your taste
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard

Instructions
 

  • Heat 1 tsp. olive oil over medium heat.
    1 teaspoon olive oil
  • Add garlic and sauté for 2-3 minutes.
    1 garlic clove, minced
  • Add cauliflower, potato, salt, and 1 ½ cup almond milk and bring to a boil.
    1 medium potato, chopped into 1 inch pieces, 1 small cauliflower, core removed and chopped, ½ -¾ teaspoon salt
  • Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until tender 15-20 minutes.
  • Prepare pasta according to package directions.
    10 -13 oz pasta
  • Remove cauliflower, potatoes and milk from heat and transfer to a blender.
    1 ½-2 cup plain unsweetened almond milk
  • Add nutritional yeast, lemon juice and dijon mustard. Blend until smooth and creamy.
    ¼ -½ cup nutritional yeast depending on your taste, 2 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • Taste and adjust salt and nutritional yeast to your liking.
  • Pour sauce over pasta and stir to combine.

Notes

I like the sauce very thick, but you can adjust the thickness of the sauce by adding up to ½ cup more almond milk during the blending process to suit your tastes.
Keyword dairy free, vegan

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Hi, I'm Melissa!

Longtime vegan and mom of four little vegans. I share simple recipes our family loves and my tips for raising healthy, happy vegan kids.

About me

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