Name: Vegan Baked Mac and Cheese
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 16 oz gluten-free elbow pasta; 1 cup raw cashews; 2 cups unsweetened non-dairy milk; 1/4 cup chopped bell pepper (yellow, orange, or red); 1/4 cup nutritional yeast; 2 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar; 3/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste; 1/2 tsp garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon onion powder; 1/2 teaspoon paprika; 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric; 1 cup gluten free breadcrumbs; 2 Tablespoon nutritional yeast; 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1/2 teaspoon onion powder; 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning; 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

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Vegan Baked Mac & Cheese is a gluten free and oil free plant based recipe that is easy to make, kid-friendly, and healthy. Whether you are looking for a healthy family dinner idea or a weekday lunch meal-prep, give this vegan mac and cheese recipe a try, and you won’t be disappointed!

Why You'll Love This Baked Mac & Cheese

Easily gluten-free. Choosing gluten-free pasta and gluten-free breadcrumbs makes this recipe gluten-free. There is no flour in the cheese sauce.
Oil-free. I use oil sparingly in my recipes and love when I can make an epic creamy pasta recipe without any oil.
Meal-prep friendly. This pasta dish is great to divide into meal-prep containers with steamed veggies for quick meals that reheat in minutes.
Customizable. Add some veggies or protein to this recipe easily for a more complete meal. You can add anything you like, I think it pairs well with chickpeas, peas, broccoli, vegan sausage (click here to learn to make your own seitan sausages – video), or vegan beefless crumbles.
Healthy comfort food. Because this recipe is oil free and made with plants, this baked mac and cheese each serving is under 500 calories with 11g fat, 15g protein, and 6g fiber.

Equipment Needed

Medium or large stock pot
Colander
Measuring cups and spoons
Cutting board
Chopping knife
Blender. I use a Vitamix blender and it makes the smoothest cheese sauces!
Ceramic baking dish, like a lasagna casserole dish.
Serving bowls

Ingredients for Vegan Baked Mac & Cheese

Pasta of choice. I used gluten-free elbow pasta. For a higher protein and fiber version, you can use chickpea pasta.
Cashews. Make sure to use unsalted raw cashews. For a smoother and silkier sauce, soak the cashews in water for at least 2 hours or boil them for 5-10 minutes.
Non-dairy milk, unsweetened and plain. I prefer to use soy milk or extra creamy oat milk for cheese sauces.
Red bell pepper
Nutritional yeast. This provides the dairy-free cheesy flavor to the pasta sauce.
Apple cider vinegar
Spices including salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, smoked paprika, Italian herb seasoning, and turmeric (for the yellow color).
Breadcrumbs. Choose gluten-free breadcrumbs if desired. I used gluten-free panko breadcrumbs.

Hungry for more delicious vegan recipes?

Discover flavorful and easy-to-make vegan recipes from quick weekday breakfasts to wholesome, comforting dinners, and everything in between. All recipes are organized by meal type and made with everyday ingredients to help make your everyday life more fresh and enjoyable!

How to Make Plant Based Baked Mac & Cheese

Step One – Prepare Oven

Preheat the oven to 425F (220C).

Step Two – Boil Pasta

Fill a medium to large stockpot with water and bring to a boil for the pasta. Cook the pasta according to the package directions to al dente. Do not overcook, since it will also be baked. Drain and rinse with cold water so it stops cooking. Transfer to a 9×13 inch baking dish, or similar.

Step Three – Make Vegan Cheese Sauce

While the pasta boils, combine all of the Vegan Cheese Sauce ingredients in a blender and blend on high until very smooth and creamy.

Step Four – Prepare the Breadcrumbs

In a bowl, whisk together the breadcrumbs, nutritional yeast, onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and smoked paprika.

Step Five – Bake

When the pasta is finished cooking, rinse with cold water and transfer to a 9×13 inch baking dish, or similar. Pour the Vegan Cheese Sauce over the pasta and gently mix until well coated in sauce. Evenly sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture over the top of the mac and cheese. Bake for 15 minutes. If the breadcrumbs are not browning, set the oven to broil for 2-3 minutes, keeping an eye on it so it doesn’t burn. Let cool 5-10 minutes before serving.

Serving Suggestions

As a side dish: Pasta dishes make great side dishes when paired with steamed veggies and a protein source. This baked vegan mac pairs deliciously with steamed broccoli or roasted Brussel sprouts with a Lentil Meatloaf or Crispy Cauliflower Steaks.
With a salad: This cheesy pasta is great with a salad. Try it with my Crispy Tofu Caesar Salad for a healthy high-protein lunch or dinner.
As a meal base: Add plant based protein from a can of chickpeas or my Eggplant Meatballs on top with some steamed greens for a hearty meal in one bowl.
Part of a lunch box: Make a fun lunch with a bowl of this Mac and Cheese, a side of fruit, veggies with dip, like my Smoky Artichoke Dip, and add some fun protein with my Tofu “Chicken” Nuggets.

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This Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese is the ultimate plant-based comfort food! The thick and creamy cheese sauce pairs perfectly with the crispy breadcrumb topping that brings this mac to the next level. I hope you love this easy vegan pasta recipe as much as I do!

If you try this plant based mac and cheese, please leave a comment and rating to support this blog and help others find easy vegan recipes. For more meal inspiration and recipes, follow @RootyFruityVegan on social media.