Baked Mac & Cheese

Sam

Creamy, cozy, and secretly healthy, this nut-free and oil-free vegan baked mac and cheese delivers all the comfort you crave with simple whole-food ingredients.

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 15

Cook Time 25

Total Time 40

Course Main Course, Party Dish, Side Dish

Cuisine American, plant-based, Vegan, Whole food plant based

Servings servings

Calories 272 kcal

Ingredients

Pasta

1 pound pasta of choice I like shells, elbow or cavatappi

Cheese Sauce

½ block extra-firm silken tofu (~5oz) or ⅔ cup of any white bean (drained)
1 cup cooked potato Yukon gold or russet; lightly packed
¾ cup nutritional yeast
1 tablespoon miso paste
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
⅛ teaspoon ground mustard
2 cups water start with 2 cups, add a little more only if needed to blend. Using the pasta water can give you a smoother sauce.
½ teaspoon sea salt

Breadcrumb Topping

½ cup panko breadcrumbs whole wheat if available
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
¼ teaspoon sea salt

Instructions

Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook 1–2 minutes under the package recommendation because it will cook further in the oven. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water for the cheese sauce, drain the rest and set aside.
Blend the cheese sauce: Add the tofu (or beans), cooked potato, nutritional yeast, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, paprika, turmeric, ground mustard, miso paste, water, and salt to a blender. Blend on high until completely smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust salt if needed, you want the sauce to be on the salty side to balance out the pasta.
Make the breadcrumb topping: In a small bowl, mix together the panko, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and salt.
Assemble the mac and cheese: Add the drained pasta directly into a deep casserole dish. Pour the cheese sauce over the top, along with the reserved pasta water and mix until everything is well coated. Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture evenly across the top of the pasta.
Bake: Bake at 375°F for 20–25 minutes, or until the top is golden and the edges are bubbling. Enjoy!

Nutrition