Vegan Mac and Cheese (without cashews)

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This rich and creamy vegan mac and cheese without cashews is made completely plant-based, vegan and nut free thanks to a combination of sweet potatoes, nutritional yeast and a few spices. This easy pasta recipe will become a favourite weeknight meal!

Close up of mac and cheese in a white bowl with a grey napkin. and fresh sage

This recipe was originally published in April 2019 and has been updated with new photos and content.

There is honestly nothing more comforting than a big bowl of mac and cheese and this recipe yields a velvety sauce without the dairy and without cashews or any nut as a substitute.

We’re using a few ingredients in this one to make sure that there is big flavour in each mouthful. This is much more than your everyday hidden vegetable pasta sauce!

The secret to making a really ‘cheesy’ mac and cheese without using actual cheese is the addition of nutritional yeast. This magic ingredient gives the sauce a rich, deep, cheesy flavour that will make you want to lick the bowl clean.

One thing I do love about this recipe is that while it ticks all the boxes of being the ultimate comfort food that a traditional mac and cheese does, I can enjoy this one and feel a little bit better about my choices thanks to the abundance of healthy ingredients that it contains.

All ingredients needed for vegan mac and cheese laid out in small bowls.

Key Ingredients

This vegan mac and cheese is made without cashews (or cheese!) using the following ingredients, all of which you’ll find at your local grocery store.

Sweet potato – this is the star of the sauce adding creaminess, flavour, and vibrance.
Nutritional yeast – this adds the cheesy taste without the cheese. Plus it gives the meal some added nutritional value which is a little bonus.
Coconut milk – just enough to make it super creamy without giving it any ‘coconut’ flavour. You could also use oat milk or soy milk if coconut wasn’t an option due to allergies.
Dijon mustard – to balance out the sweetness of the sweet potato and give the meal that classic mac and cheese flavour.
Soy sauce – this ‘cheese’ sauce really needs a strong hit of salt to balance out all the flavours and soy sauce is where that’s at. Use a gluten free option if needed.
Paprika – for a little spicy, smoky flavour that just elevates the whole dish. Seriously do not leave this out.
Garlic powder and onion powder – essential for flavour! I like using powder in this recipe as it eliminates a step of cooking the onion and garlic first that you’ll find in other recipes.
Pasta – I’m using elbow pasta for that classic look, but any small pasta like shells or spirals work well. You can also use gluten free pasta as a substitute to make this a gluten free mac and cheese.

Vegan mac and cheese in a bowl from above garnished with sage.

Step-By-Step Instructions

To make this recipe you’ll need a pot to boil your sweet potatoes and pasta in and a blender to create that ultra smooth sauce.

Start by peeling and chopping up the sweet potatoes into smaller cubes. This helps speed up the cooking time and makes them easier to blend up later.

Chopped, cooked sweet potatoes in a small saucepan, and cooked pasta in a pot.

Add the cubes to a saucepan with water and bring to the boil, cooking until the potatoes are soft and tender. Drain and set aside.

Next, you can put your pasta on and cook it according to the package instructions while you make the sauce.

Making the vegan cheese sauce in a blender, before and after.

To your blender, add the cooked sweet potatoes and all of the other ingredients. Blend until the sauce is super smooth and creamy.

Once the pasta is cooked, drain and add back into the pot. Pour over the sauce and mix through, adjusting the salt as needed to taste.

And that’s it! This recipe is honestly so easy making it a great option for weeknights when you need something easy, flavourful and comforting.

Vegan cheese sauce being poured over cooked pasta.

Recipe FAQs

What is vegan mac and cheese made of?

There are so many options for making a vegan mac and cheese with the most common having a base of either cashews or root vegetables such as potatoes, pumpkin or carrots. To get that truly cheesy taste, most recipes including this one will also use nutritional yeast, or ‘nooch’ as it’s commonly called to get that rich, savoury, cheesy flavour without the dairy.

This version is nut free, so it’s made without cashews and instead uses a base of sweet potatoes and other flavour additions to create a luscious creamy ‘cheesy’ sauce.

How do I store and freeze this recipe?

You can keep any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days without any issues, making it a great option for meal prep. You can also freeze the leftovers or just the vegan cheese sauce on its own for up to 3 months.

Storing the vegan cheese sauce separately will ensure the leftovers are just as smooth and creamy as freshly made so I recommend this option if you’re intentionally making this recipe ahead of time.

How do I reheat vegan mac and cheese?

To reheat the vegan cheese sauce alone, either microwave in 1 minute bursts, stirring between each or add it to a small saucepan over low heat and stir until the sauce is smooth and creamy.

To reheat any leftover mac and cheese, you can again do this on the stove in a small saucepan or in the microwave, just add a splash of extra plant based milk to help loosen up the sauce and ensure it gets creamy again as you stir.

Vegan mac and cheese in a white bowl on a white plate with a fork.

More vegan pasta recipes:

Vegan Vodka Pasta
Creamy Pumpkin Rigatoni
Lentil Bolognese
Kale and Walnut Pesto Pasta
20 Minute Bow Tie Pasta