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Crispy Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese

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This Crispy Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese is the ultimate comfort food. An incredibly creamy (and easy) vegan cheese sauce gets paired with elbow macaroni, covered in a crispy and buttery breadcrumb, and then baked in the oven.
Prep 1 hour
Cook 15 minutes
Total 1 hour 15 minutes
4.9 from 205 votes

Today, Iโ€™m sharing my vegan spin on the ultimate comfort food: Crispy Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese!

This recipe features an easy cheese sauce that is ridiculously creamy and cheesy (and even secretly wholesome…hi, butternut squash!). Once mixed with elbow macaroni, it gets topped with a buttery bread crumb topping and baked until crunchy and browned. The textural contrast of creamy and crispy is irresistible and every bite is packed with flavor, indulgence, and nostalgia.

baked mac and cheese on a plate

What you need to make the best Vegan Mac and Cheese

Butternut Squash. Butternut squash adds a velvety body to the cheese sauce and (2) it brings that nostalgic orange-yellow color you associate with mac and cheese.

Cashews. Soaked raw cashews, when blended up, rival the creamiest of dairy sauces. I’ve tried vegan cheese sauces without them and they never compare.

Nutritional Yeast. A potent source of savory flavor and helps mimic the taste of cheese. In order to get this to really taste cheesy, I use a generous ยฝ cup of nutritional yeast.

Miso Paste. One of the reasons people love cheese is that it naturally umami. To bring in more umami without using dairy, I add a bit of white miso paste.

Lite Coconut Milk. Mac and cheese is meant to be indulgent, so to amp up the creaminess, I add in some โ€œliteโ€ coconut milk. It has a high enough fat content to bring the creaminess, but it’s not too heavy.

Tapioca Flour. This ingredient helps thicken the cheese sauce and give it the texture you associate with a mac and cheese sauce. 

Panko. The light, flaky texture brings an irresistible snappy crunch to the topping and works much better than standard breadcrumbs.

sliced of crispy baked vegan mac and cheese on plate

How to make Crispy Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese 

Coat the butternut squash halves with olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast at 425ยบF for 45-55 minutes, or until completely fork tender and lightly browned. Scoop out 1 ยฝ cups of butternut squash flesh.

Add the butternut squash flesh to a blender with the soaked cashews, miso, nutritional yeast, spices, coconut milk, and tapioca flour. Blend until thick, creamy, and smooth.

For the topping, mix together the panko, nutritional yeast, salt, paprika, and melted vegan butter.

Sprinkle the breadcrumb topping over the mac and cheese. Bake at 400ยบF for 15-20 minutes until the topping is crispy and golden brown.

tray of vegan mac and cheese with crispy topping

Tips for making this recipe

How to easily slice butternut squash

If you find it difficult to slice your butternut squash in half, pop it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes to help soften and make it easy to slice.

How to soak cashews

If you have a high-powered blender, you can soak your cashews in boiling water for just 30 minutes. But if you have a standard blender, soak them in cool water for 8 hours or overnight so the sauce is smooth and not gritty.

Taste the cheese sauce

Taste the cheese sauce before you pour it onto the macaroni. Add more salt, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, mustard powder, or miso paste as needed. If you’re planning to use this cheese sauce to make regular mac and cheese (i.e., not baking it), omit the tapioca starch. It’ll taste chalky if not cooked.

Let the mac and cheese rest

If you want your mac and cheese to almost solidify into a mass (see photo below), allow it to cool for 15-20 minutes before slicing into it.

crispy vegan baked mac and cheese

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I substitute the tapioca flour?

You can sub in cornstarch (or arrowroot powder) with fairly similar results, but I find that tapioca flour works best.

How to store and reheat leftovers (and make ahead of time)

If you want to save time, you can make the cheese sauce and macaroni 1-2 days in advance, and toss them together in the baking dish; cover and refrigerate. On the day of serving, take it out of the fridge so it’s not super cold and make the topping (takes 2 minutes). Sprinkle the topping on and bake it off.

Or, you can just make the cheese sauce 2-3 day ahead of time and store it in an airtight container. Or even just roast the butternut squash 2-3 days in advance and store the flesh in the fridge.

Once baked, allow to cool and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat, add your mac and cheese to an oven-safe dish. If very thick, add a spoon or two of plant milk and toss to combine. Cover the dish with foil and bake at 375ยบF for 15-20 minutes, or until warmed through. If desired, take off the foil and bake for another 5 minutes.

Can I substitute the coconut milk?

For me, mac and cheese is an indulgent treat, not a health food, which is why I use coconut milk. But, if you’re allergic to coconut, substitute with full-fat oat milk or cashew milk. Almond milk is too thin IMO and soy milk (even unsweetened varieties) leaves a subtle but strange sweet aftertaste.

How can I make this vegan mac and cheese gluten-free?

  • Use gluten-free macaroni (or any small-medium pasta shape you can find) and gluten-free panko-style bread crumbs likeย this.
  • Can I use use something besides butternut squash?

    You can use (1) canned pumpkin puree or (2) canned butternut squash puree if youโ€™re in a rush. That said, using whole butternut squash adds more flavor, as it’s fresher and gets more flavor baked into it with the roasting and the salt and pepper.

    Can I make vegan mac and cheese without the nutritional yeast?

    My answer would be no, as it brings a significant amount of the cheesy flavor. Otherwise, it’ll be more of a creamy pasta bake (delicious but won’t have the mac and cheese flavor).

    Watch! How to make Crispy Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese

    TASTIEST VEGAN MAC AND CHEESE | easy recipe
    TASTIEST VEGAN MAC AND CHEESE | easy recipe

    If you give this Crispy Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese recipe a try, be sure to tag me on Instagram with your recreations and please comment with your feedback below.

    Big Vegan Flavor

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    Crispy Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese

    4.9 from 205 votes
    This Crispy Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese is the ultimate comfort food. An incredibly creamy (and easy) vegan cheese sauce gets paired with elbow macaroni, covered in a crispy and buttery breadcrumb, and then baked in the oven.
    Prep Time: 1 hour
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
    Course: Dinner, Lunch
    Cuisine: American
    Diet Vegan
    Serving size: 6

    Ingredients

    • 1 small-medium butternut squash (about 2 1/4 pounds or 1 kg)
    • Olive oil or avocado oil, for roasting and tossing pasta
    • 1/2 cup (~70g) raw cashews, soaked in cool water overnight or in boiling water for 1 hour and then drained*
    • 3/4 cup (60g) nutritional yeast (makes for an extra cheesy flavor, but you can use 1/2 cup or 40g and it will still be good)
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
    • 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard powder (optional but adds a nice sharp tangy flavor)
    • 1 tablespoon mellow white or yellow miso paste
    • 1 (13.5 ounce/ 400 mL) can โ€œliteโ€ coconut milk
    • 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
    • 1 tablespoon tapioca flour (see the โ€œfrequently asked questionsโ€ section for substitutes)
    • 12 ounces (340g) elbow macaroni (see the โ€œfrequently asked questionsโ€ section for notes on how to make this recipe gluten-free)
    • 1 ยฝ teaspoons kosher salt + more to taste
    • Freshly cracked black pepper to taste

    Crispy Topping

    • 3/4 cup + 2 tbsp (60-65g) panko bread crumbs
    • 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
    • Scant 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika
    • 2 1/2 tablespoons vegan butter, melted

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 425ยฐF (218ยฐC). Use a very sharp knife to slice the butternut squash in half, then scoop out the seeds using a spoon.
    • Bake the squash. Place each squash half, cut side up, on a baking sheet and rub each with a bit of the olive oil or avocado oil and season well with salt and pepper. Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until the flesh is completely fork tender and lightly browned.
    • Meanwhile, make the crispy breadcrumb topping. In a small bowl, combine the panko bread crumbs, nutritional yeast, salt, paprika, and melted vegan butter until well combined.
    • Meanwhile, cook the elbow macaroni. Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil and salt generously. Cook the pasta according to the box directions until al dente and drain in a colander. Toss with a little bit of olive oil to prevent sticking.
    • Once the squash is done roasting and cool enough to handle, scoop out the flesh and discard the skin. Measure out 1 1/2 cups (310-330g) of the flesh. Reserve the rest for another use, such as a curry, soup, or side dish.
    • Reduce the oven temperature to 400ยฐF (205ยฐC). Lightly grease a 3-quart/3-liter baking dish with oil or melted vegan butter.
    • Make the cheese sauce. In a high-powered blender, add the 1 1/2 cups (310-330g) of the squash flesh. Add in the soaked and drained cashews, nutritional yeast, mustard powder, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, miso paste, tapioca flour or cornstarch, lemon juice, lite coconut milk, 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, and black pepper to taste. Blend until the sauce is completely smooth and creamy, about 1-2 minutes, scraping down the sides as you go. Taste for seasonings and adjust accordingly, adding more salt as needed, more miso paste for more umami, more nutritional yeast for more cheesiness, or more lemon juice for more acidity.
    • Return the cooked and drained pasta back to its saucepan and pour in the cheese sauce. Toss until well combined. Transfer the mac and cheese to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the crispy breadcrumb topping evenly over the top.
    • Transfer to the oven and bake for 18-20 minutes, until the topping is crispy and brown. Allow to cool for 10-20 minutes to help set up, then slice into it and serve.

    Calories: 538kcal | Carbohydrates: 80g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 845mg | Potassium: 1045mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 17907IU | Vitamin C: 36mg | Calcium: 113mg | Iron: 4mg

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @rainbowplantlife and hashtag it #rainbowplantlife

    4.94 from 205 votes (69 ratings without comment)

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    312 comments on Crispy Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese

    1. Melissa

      Every vegan website claims to have the best macaroni and cheese recipe, but this really is the best vegan mac and cheese recipe. I didn’t use the smoked paprika this time and I didn’t bake it, either, but it was great.

      1. Kaitlin @ Rainbow Plant Life

        Thank you so much for such a lovely review, Melissa! :) Next time, would you mind leaving a rating alongside your review? Star ratings are big help to readers who are thinking of making the recipe. Thanks!

    2. Emma

      5 stars
      Hi, this is probably a silly question – I’ve read through the recipe three times and can’t figure out how to incorporate the cooked squash once it’s scooped out. Do I stir it in with the pasta and cheese sauce? Insight would be greatly appreciated!

      1. Rox

        That step does seem to be missing. I would think that you include the squash in the blender with the rest of the sauce ingredients. That’s what I plan to do.

      2. VIJAY

        See step 7. It goes in the blender. Also, she has a YouTube video posted that was helpful to making the recipe.

    3. Alec

      5 stars
      Genuinely the best vegan Mac & cheese recipe out there. I doubled this recipe and made it for friends who are all non-vegan and everyone LOVED it. Couldn’t stop talking about how good it was.

      This will be the only Mac & cheese recipe I’ll use. Nothing compares. โค๏ธ๐Ÿ™Œ

      1. Kaitlin @ Rainbow Plant Life

        Thanks for the amazing review, Alec! I need to remake this one myself ASAP! :)

    4. Heather

      5 stars
      My picky children love this dish, I’m so glad you do what you do!

      1. Kaitlin @ Rainbow Plant Life

        Your positive feedback is the best reward for our hard work. Thank you, Heather!

    5. Lauren

      5 stars
      Hi Nisha! This is one of our favorites; we have been making it for a few years now! Have you had experience with how well this freezes?

      1. Kaitlin @ Rainbow Plant Life

        Hi Lauren, we’re thrilled to hear that! :) The sauce freezes great! We havenโ€™t tried freezing the entire dish, as pasta doesnโ€™t freeze that well. If you really want to, freeze a small piece to see how it turns out. When you freeze pasta with sauce, the noodles will absorb a lot of the sauce. When defrosted, the sauce may separate and become grainy when reheated.

    6. Emma

      5 stars
      Really loved this. Used soy sauce instead of miso because my miso seemed perished. Still tasted great. I would say it gives me 3 dinners worth, so I laughed when it said 6 servings. I am a big eater though. Paired it with a salad for two nights, but I ate a ton of it the first night with just a few brussel sprouts on the side.

    7. Tiffany

      Hi!

      I have about 9 cans of coconut milk but none of them are lite. Would regular coconut milk work? If not I can go grab one since there are a few unrelated things I need from the store but just wondering.

      1. Asa

        I was in the same boat as you. I found the sweetness from the coconut & squash combined to be too much. That despite the fact there’s negligible sugar on the label.

        I imagine the intention of using coconut is to add fat, to help it taste better, but unless I can find a way to eliminate the sweetness, I don’t think my kids will be on board to try it again.

      2. Kaitlin @ Rainbow Plant Life

        Hi Tiffany, yes you can use regular coconut milk, it will just be richer and higher in fat content. Should still be tasty but if you have the opportunity to stop by a grocery store for the lite version, we’d say go with that!

    8. Jane Orcutt

      5 stars
      My favorite vegan Mac n cheese recipe, and I have tried them all

      1. Kaitlin @ Rainbow Plant Life

        Your positive feedback is the best reward for our hard work. Thank you, Jane!

    9. Frederick G Tilley

      5 stars
      I’ve recently read a negative article about nutritious yeast which I’ve just recently started using. Do you have any concerns with it and could you offer an alternative.

      PS I tried your African peanut stew recipe. It is absolutely scrumptious. I can’t wait to try more of your recipes.

      1. Kaitlin @ Rainbow Plant Life

        Hi Frederick, hmmm weird, because we haven’t heard anything about nutritional yeast having any negative aspects.

        And we’re happy to hear you enjoyed the stew :)

    10. Stephanie Velea

      5 stars
      My family had these for Christmas and they were such a big hit!! I want to thank you since I havenโ€™t always been the best cook, but this Mac and cheese really hit homeโ€ฆeveryone is obsessed, 10/10 recommend!

      1. Kaitlin @ Rainbow Plant Life

        Your positive feedback is the best reward for our hard work. Thank you, Stephanie!

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