The Best Vegan Gluten-Free Mac 'n' Cheese
User Reviews
4.9
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Prep Time
5 mins
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Cook Time
55 mins
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Total Time
1 hr
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Servings
4
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Calories
523 kcal
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Course
Main Course
The Best Vegan Gluten-Free Mac 'n' Cheese
Description
The Best Vegan Gluten-Free Mac 'n' Cheese starts by roasting a whole head of garlic to deepen its natural sweetness and aroma. Meanwhile, gluten-free penne is cooked until tender. The sauce begins with olive oil and minced fresh garlic lightly browned, then arrowroot starch is whisked in to create thickness. Unsweetened almond milk is gradually added, thickening to a creamy consistency. Nutritional yeast and vegan parmesan cheese contribute a cheesy flavor, while salt and pepper adjust seasoning. Combining the roasted garlic into the sauce enriches the taste further.
This dish offers a smooth, creamy sauce coating gluten-free pasta for a comforting and allergy-aware meal. The roasted garlic gives a mellow, rich depth beyond raw garlic’s sharpness. Unlike typical heavy cream-based mac and cheese, this version is lighter while maintaining satisfying texture.
The recipe can be adapted by substituting regular pasta and all-purpose flour if gluten is not a concern, providing flexibility for dietary needs.
Ingredients
- 1 head garlic see instructions for method, roasted
- 10-12 ounces penne pasta I love Bionaturae penne found at Whole Foods, gluten-free
- 4 Tbsp olive oil or grape seed oil
- 4 cloves garlic 4 cloves yield ~2 Tbsp, minced
- 4 1/2 Tbsp arrowroot starch
- 2 cups almond milk plus more as needed, unsweetened plain
- ~1/4 tsp each salt to taste, sea salt
- ~1/4 tsp each black pepper to taste, sea salt
- 5 Tbsp nutritional yeast (plus more to taste)
- 1/2 cup vegan parmesan cheese (plus more for serving)
Instructions
- To roast garlic, preheat oven to 400 degrees F (204 C) and cut off the very top of a head of garlic. Drizzle the top with a bit of oil, a sprinkle of salt and loosely wrap in foil.
- Place directly on oven rack and roast for 45 minutes - 1 hour, depending on size of garlic. You'll know it's done when the garlic is very fragrant and the bulb is golden brown. Remove from oven, slightly unwrap, and let cool.
- At the 40-minute mark, bring roughly 10 cups (2400 ml // use more or less if altering batch size) water to a boil in a large pot and salt generously. Once boiling, add pasta and stir to prevent noodles from sticking. Cook according to package instructions (usually about 8-10 minutes). Once fully cooked, drain and set aside.
- In the meantime, begin preparing sauce. Heat a large, oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add oil and minced fresh garlic. Stir and cook for 1-2 minutes, or until light golden brown. Immediately add arrowroot starch and whisk - cook for 1 minute.
- Slowly add almond milk while whisking, then cook for 2 minutes over medium heat, stirring frequently. The sauce will likely look a little clumpy - that’s OK! We’re going to blend it.
- Transfer mixture to a blender, along with the roasted garlic. To extract garlic, simply push up from the base and the softened cloves should come right out - so gratifying (and delicious).
- Next add salt and pepper, nutritional yeast, and vegan parmesan cheese and blend on high until creamy and smooth, scraping down sides as needed.
- Taste and adjust seasonings as needed - you want it pretty well salted + cheesy, so don't be shy with the nutritional yeast, salt, and vegan parmesan cheese.
- Return sauce back to skillet from earlier and cook over low heat until warmed and slightly thickened - about 2-3 minutes - whisking occasionally. As it warms back up, it will thicken and get super cheesy (see photo). For a thicker sauce, leave it as is. To thin slightly, add almond milk 1 Tbsp at a time until desired consistency is achieved. Turn off heat if it starts bubbling too aggressively.
- Add cooked, drained pasta to the sauce and toss to coat. Then top with 1 more Tbsp vegan parmesan cheese (amount as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size).
- Optional: Heat oven to high broil and position a rack at the top of the oven. Broil pasta on high for 1-2 minutes (optional), or until golden brown (see photo). Watch closely as it can burn quickly.
- Serve immediately. I love topping mine with an extra pinch of vegan parmesan cheese - I can never get enough of that stuff.
- Leftovers keep covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, though best when fresh. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop - add extra almond milk if it's dry.
Notes
- If not gluten-free, you may substitute regular pasta and all-purpose flour for arrowroot starch.
- Roasting the garlic mellows its flavor and adds sweetness to the sauce.
- Adjust nutritional yeast and vegan parmesan to taste for desired cheesiness.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 523 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1serving | |
| Calories | 523 | 26% |
| Carbohydrates | 67g | 22% |
| Protein | 13.5g | 27% |
| Fat | 23.2g | 36% |
| Saturated Fat | 3.7g | 19% |
| Trans Fat | 0g | 0% |
| Cholesterol | 0mg | 0% |
| Sodium | 316mg | 13% |
| Fiber | 8.6g | 34% |
| Sugar | 1.9g | 4% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.9
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