4.8 from 129 votes
20-Minute Mac and Cheese (Vegan)
EASY homemade vegan mac and cheese. Creamy, cheesy, and SO comforting! Ready in 20 minutes with 9 simple whole food ingredients. Gluten-free optional.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings: 4 (Servings)
Calories: 480 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Vegan
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups raw cashews
- 8 ounces shell pasta (gluten-free as needed // we like Banza GF shells)
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice (~1/2 lemon as recipe is written)
- 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast
- 2 medium cloves garlic, peeled
- 1/4 tsp ground turmeric
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 healthy pinch black pepper
- 1/2-1 cup reserved pasta water (from step 2)
FOR SERVING optional
- Vegan Parmesan Cheese
Instructions
- Place cashews in a heatproof bowl and cover with boiling water. Let soak for 15-20 minutes, until very soft. Drain and rinse the cashews and set aside.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil and generously salt. Add the pasta, stir, and cook according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup (240 ml) of pasta water (amount as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size), then drain and return the noodles to the pot, off of the heat.
- After soaking, transfer the cashews to a high-speed blender. Add the lemon juice, nutritional yeast, garlic, turmeric, chili powder, salt, pepper, and 1/2 cup (120 ml // amount as recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size) reserved pasta water. Blend until smooth. Add more pasta water if necessary to reach your desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed, adding nutritional yeast for cheesiness, lemon juice for acidity/brightness, turmeric for more vibrant color, and salt to taste. It should be very flavorful!
- Pour the cheese sauce over the pasta and toss to coat. Add more pasta water as needed to coat the noodles.
- Serve immediately as is or garnish with vegan parmesan cheese (optional). Leftovers will keep in a sealed container up to 3-4 days. Reheat leftovers in the microwave or on the stovetop over medium-low heat until hot, adding a little plain unsweetened dairy-free milk (almond typically works best) to rehydrate as needed. Not freezer friendly.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- *Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with Banza GF chickpea shells and without optional ingredients.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1serving
Calories
480
(24%)
Carbohydrates
49.5g
(17%)
Protein
24.2g
(48%)
Fat
25.1g
(39%)
Saturated Fat
3.8g
(19%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
3.9g
Monounsaturated Fat
1.6g
Trans Fat
0g
Cholesterol
0mg
(0%)
Sodium
647mg
(27%)
Potassium
936mg
(27%)
Fiber
7.8g
(31%)
Sugar
5.1g
(10%)
Vitamin A
100IU
(2%)
Vitamin C
3.7mg
(4%)
Calcium
67mg
(7%)
Iron
7.6mg
(42%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4(Servings)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 480
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1serving | |
| Calories | 480 | 24% |
| Carbohydrates | 49.5g | 17% |
| Protein | 24.2g | 48% |
| Fat | 25.1g | 39% |
| Saturated Fat | 3.8g | 19% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3.9g | 23% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1.6g | 8% |
| Trans Fat | 0g | 0% |
| Cholesterol | 0mg | 0% |
| Sodium | 647mg | 27% |
| Potassium | 936mg | 20% |
| Fiber | 7.8g | 31% |
| Sugar | 5.1g | 10% |
| Vitamin A | 100IU | 2% |
| Vitamin C | 3.7mg | 4% |
| Calcium | 67mg | 7% |
| Iron | 7.6mg | 42% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.