The Best Vegan Mac and Cheese Recipes for Every Mood

If there’s one thing I’m going to do, it’s keep making new vegan macaroni and cheese recipes. It’s the first thing I think when I look at any ingredient: will that mac and cheese nicely?

There’s no mystery to it. Vegan mac and cheese is a bowlful comfort. Every creamy bite tastes as yummy as the last one, and for a while the world is calm and you are filled with cheese. I even have a special mac and cheese spoon: a tablespoon with a big orange handle. A therapist might call it self-soothing, I just call it dinner.

But beyond the emotional support spoon, vegan mac and cheese is endlessly adaptable. Want a one-pot vegan mac and cheese loaded with broccoli? Done. Need a nut-free version? Easy. Looking for something baked and cozy for Sunday night? I’ve got you. It’s one of the most flexible comfort foods out there, easy to bulk up with veggies or protein.

But it’s not just me and my orange spoon. According to a national survey, 54% of Americans report eating macaroni and cheese weekly. This is my not shocked face. So if you, too, are standing over the stove thinking about your next bowl, know that we are all in this together.

Which brings us to this round-up of the best vegan mac and cheese recipes on my site. From classic cashew-based to nut-free sunflower, smoky chipotle, baked, allergy-friendly, and everything in between. There’s something here for everyone. And yes, they all contain a little nutritional yeast, because of course vegans are gonna nooch.

Best Vegan One-Pot Mac and Cheese

Broccoli Vegan Mac and Cheese

This is the most popular vegan mac and cheese recipe on my site. An easy one-pot broccoli mac and cheese with a creamy cashew-based sauce and a blissfully short ingredient list. My readers clearly love a veggie-packed comfort meal as much as I do.

Best Vegan Mac and Cheese Without Cashews

Sun-Dried Tomato Vegan Mac and Cheese

What can’t a jar of sun-dried tomatoes in oil do? This creamy mac gets its richness from coconut milk instead of cashews, making it a great option if you’re avoiding nuts or just out of the cashew jar. It’s the most umami of the bunch, thanks to concentrated tomato flavor and a little miso.

Best Vegan Allergy-Friendly Mac and Cheese

Sunflower Mac

A completely nut-free, soy-free mac and cheese made with sunflower seeds. I created this over a decade ago for one of my favorite recipe testers, and it’s still going strong. It’s a slightly more wholesome take, with carrots blended right into the sauce for natural color and thickness. And yes, if you want to swap sunflower seeds into other cashew-based recipes, you absolutely can by using the method in this recipe.

Best Vegan Baked Mac and Cheese

Mac & Shews

The secret is sauerkraut. This baked mac has a deeper, more complex flavor thanks to that tangy backdrop. It’s a little more labor-intensive, but if you want a cozy Sunday-night casserole, this is your girl.

Best Vegan Italian Mac and Cheese

Roasted Red Pepper Mac & Cheese

A bright orange, Italian-flavored mac with roasted red peppers, fennel, thyme, oregano, and tomato paste blended right into the cashew sauce. It tastes like the inside of a really good slice of pizza.

Best Vegan Spicy Mac and Cheese

Smoky Chipotle Mac with Roasted Brussels Sprouts

If you’re craving a hot, smoky bite, this chipotle mac delivers. The creamy cashew sauce gets a kick from chipotle, and roasted Brussels sprouts add toasty texture and depth. Roast them while the pasta cooks, you’ve got nothing else to do.

HAPPY MACKING, EVERYONE!

FAQ FOR THE BEST VEGAN MAC AND CHEESE RECIPES

What makes the best vegan mac and cheese? A creamy sauce that coats every noodle. Cashews, sunflower seeds, and coconut milk all get you there from different angles. Nutritional yeast brings the cheesy funk, miso adds depth, and a little acid (lemon, vinegar, or sauerkraut) keeps things bright.

Can I make vegan mac and cheese without nuts? Yup yup yup. The Sunflower Mac is fully nut-free, and the Sun-Dried Tomato Mac uses coconut milk instead of cashews. Both are great allergy-friendly options.

Is vegan mac and cheese gluten-free? It can be. Use gluten-free pasta and you’re set. The sauces are gluten-free across the board.

Can I make these ahead of time? For sure. Most of these keep for 3 to 4 days in the fridge. Reheat with a splash of water to loosen the sauce back up.

Do I need a high-speed blender? Not really, no. A regular blender works fine, you’ll just want to soak the cashews or sunflower seeds for an hour or two first or give them a 20 minute boil. With a Vitamix or similar, skip the soak and boil.

Is nutritional yeast necessary? Um, yeah. Nooch is what gives vegan mac its cheesy, savory backbone. There’s no good substitute. Buy a big bag and keep it around.

How did I end up here? You searched for the best vegan mac and cheese recipes, and the algorithm sent you to a person with an emotional support spoon. Bookmark this. You’re done looking.