Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese
Whether you're hosting a holiday dinner, looking for a comforting meal on a chilly evening, or simply curious about plant-based cooking, this baked vegan mac and cheese is sure to impress.
Ingredients
Mac and Cheese
- 1 pound pasta your choice, cooked. Opt for whole grain if possible (macaroni, fusilli, or shells work well).
- 4-5 cups Vegan Cheese Sauce doubled batch
Breadcrumb Topping
- 2 slices toasted bread OR 1 cup breadcrumbs, gluten-free if needed
- 1 tablespoon melted vegan butter OR olive oil
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon pepper or to taste
Instructions
- Start the cheese sauce if making from scratch. While it cooks, move on to the pasta and topping.
- Cook the pasta until al dente. Drain and add to a large bowl.
- Make the breadcrumb topping (see below).
- Preheat the oven to 350°F once everything is ready to assemble. Lightly oil a 9×11 baking dish.
- Combine pasta with 4–5 cups cheese sauce over the cooked pasta and stir until well-coated. If the mixture seems too dry, add a bit more cheese sauce or pasta water.
- Transfer to baking dish.
- Top with breadcrumbs and a sprinkle of paprika. Drizzle lightly with olive oil or dot with vegan butter if desired.
- Cover with foil or parchment and bake 15–20 minutes, until golden and bubbly.
- Optional: Broil uncovered for 1–2 minutes for extra crisp topping. Watch closely to prevent burning.
Breadcrumb Topping
- If using toasted bread, pulse into coarse crumbs.
- In a bowl, mix crumbs with butter/oil, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Sprinkle evenly over mac and cheese before baking.
Notes
- If you’re transitioning to healthier eating, try a blend of half whole-grain and half white pasta. It keeps the texture familiar but adds a little extra goodness.
- If you’re making the cheese sauce from scratch, start with that first. While it cooks, prep the pasta and topping. Preheat the oven once everything is ready to assemble.
- Timing: If making the cheese sauce from scratch, total time is closer to 45 minutes since you can prep the pasta and topping while it cooks.
- Try not to overbake. Baking too long can dry it out and mute the flavor. Once it’s bubbly and lightly golden, it’s ready.
Nutrition
Calories: 329kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Sodium: 258mg | Potassium: 213mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 0.2IU | Vitamin C: 0.02mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1mg
