This one-pot vegan mac and cheese recipe transforms comfort food using plant-based ingredients, ensuring a delicious alternative that kids will enjoy without sacrificing flavor.

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Vegan, plant-based mac & cheese

Why You’ll Love One-Pot Vegan Mac and Cheese

  • I am SO excited to finally have a plant-based Mac & Cheese that my kids will eat.
  • The truth is that all the recipes I was trying with squash, carrots, potatoes, cashews, or nutritional yeast were just too “healthy.” Mac & Cheese is not a health food. It is comfort food. So I decided I needed to just go back to basics; take a regular, dairy-filled Mac & Cheese recipe and veganize it with plant-based alternatives.

Ingredients/Equipment Notes

To make this delicious vegan mac and cheese, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements are in the recipe card below):

  • 2 cups water
  • 2 cups of unsweetened, plain plant-based milk (I use organic soy milk)
  • 2 Tbsp. plant-based butter (I use Earth Balance or Miyokos)
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1 1/2 cups of grated plant-based cheddar (I use Violife)
  • 1/2 cup of grated plant-based parmesan (I use Violife)
  • 12 oz of elbow pasta (I use Jovial gluten-free elbow pasta)

You will also need the following equipment:

  • One pot!

How to Make the Best Vegan Mac and Cheese

  • Slowly bring the water, plant-based milk and butter, and salt to a boil in a medium pot. I recommend stirring occasionally to prevent a skin forming from the milk. If it does, just spoon out.
  • Add 12 oz of pasta, and stir until the water and plant-based milk come to a boil again.
  • Lower the heat to keep a slow boil, stirring occasionally. Cook the pasta for about 2-3 minutes longer than the indicated cooking time for the pasta. If using the Jovial gluten-free elbows, I cook for about 12-13 minutes.
  • Turn off the heat and add the plant-based cheeses. Stir until mixed well.

How to Serve Vegan Mac and Cheese

This vegan mac and cheese is delicious on its own, or served as a side during the holidays or a plant-based BBQ. Try these other holiday or BBQ recipes:

Recipe Tips

– I recommend plain, unsweetened soy milk for a creamier mac and cheese.

– I recommend stirring occasionally to prevent a skin from forming from the milk. If it does, just spoon out.

Vegan, plant-based mac & cheese

Did you make this recipe? Take a picture and tag us on Instagram @plant_basedpersian or share it on Pinterest!

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Vegan Mac & Cheese

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One-pot Vegan Mac and Cheese

Recipe by Plant-Based Persian

Easy, one-pot vegan mac and cheese


  • Total Time20 minutes
  • Yield4 people 1x
  • DietVegan

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 cups of unsweetened, plain plant-based milk (I use organic soy milk)
  • 2 Tbsp. plant-based butter (I use Earth Balance or Miyokos)
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1 1/2 cups of grated plant-based cheddar (I use Violife)
  • 1/2 cup of grated plant-based parmesan (I use Violife)
  • 12 oz of elbow pasta (I use Jovial gluten-free elbow pasta)

Instructions

  1. Slowly bring the water, plant-based milk and butter, and salt to a boil in a medium pot. I recommend stirring occasionally to prevent a skin forming from the milk. If it does, just spoon out.
  2. Add 12 oz of pasta, and stir until the water and plant-based milk come to a boil again.
  3. Lower the heat to keep a slow boil, stirring occasionally. Cook the pasta for about 2-3 minutes longer than the indicated cooking time for the pasta. If using the Jovial gluten-free elbows, I cook for about 12-13 minutes.
  4. Turn off the heat and add the plant-based cheeses. Stir until mixed well.
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Cuisine: American