Why is boxed mac & cheese so good? Because it’s convenient, quick, it patiently waits for you in the cupboard until hunger strikes, and it tastes gooooood. I’ve miss boxed mac & cheese in my life. Now there are definitely vegan boxed mac & cheese’s available in health food store and online, and I’ve tried a few myself but I was always underwhelmed and thought I could probably do better. And so I did. I played around in my kitchen until I perfected my recipe for Homemade Vegan Mac & Cheese Powder!
How fun is that!? It’s all the fun. And it’s oh so creamy, cheesy, vegan yummy, pasta perfection. ~drool~
Homemade Vegan Mac & Cheese Powder is super duper easy to make. Just add all the ingredients to a jar and shake. That’s it! You can make as much or as little as of this mac and cheese powder as you like, and store it in the cupboard until a vegan mac and cheese craving strikes.
My recipe makes about 1 cup of powder which is enough for 4 cups of uncooked macaroni noodles (about 4 boxes). But feel free to multiply or reduce the recipe as you see fit. Then just store your jar of Homemade Vegan Mac & Cheese Powder in your pantry until ready for use.
Bonus points: my Homemade Vegan Mac & Cheese Powder recipe is completely nut free, soy free, oil-free, and with a gluten-free option. Making this recipe very allergy and whole food plant based friendly (just depending on what flour, non-dairy milk, and pasta you choose to use).
The secret ingredient in this recipe is lemon pepper which adds a nice little sharpness to the creamy sauce, which really makes for a cheesy taste. Mix that with cheesy nutritional yeast, flour for thickening and for creaminess, and spices for flavouring and colour. Oooeee is this so simple and SO tasty.
It’s convenient, quick, cupboard stable, and it tastes really, really, gooooood!!
Turn the heat back on to medium-high heat and whisk while cooking until the sauce thickens, 2 – 5 minutes. Add the cooked pasta to the pot along with the cheese sauce and stir to combine.
Makes about 1 cup of powder which is enough for 4 cups of uncooked macaroni noodles (about 4 boxes). But feel free to multiply or reduce the recipe as you see fit. Then just store your jar of Homemade Vegan Mac & Cheese Powder in your pantry until ready for use.
- 3/4 cup nutritional yeast
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (sub whole wheat or all-purpose gluten-free flour if preferred)
- 1 tablespoon white sugar
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon lemon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 cup uncooked macaroni noodles (gluten-free if preferred)
- 3/4 cup non-dairy milk (such a s soy or almond)
- 1/4 cup prepared Homemade Vegan Mac & Cheese Powder
Add all of the ingredients to an air-tight container. Stir or shake well to combine. Store in your pantry until needed.
Cook the macaroni noodles according to package directions. Drain and rinse the pasta. Return the pot to the stove (heat off) and pour in the non-dairy milk and 1/4 cup of Homemade Vegan Mac & Cheese Powder and whisk together. Turn the heat back on to medium-high heat and whisk while cooking until the sauce thickens, 2 - 5 minutes. Add the cooked pasta to the pot along with the cheese sauce and stir to combine.
Bon appetegan!
Sam.
Oh my gosh. This is SO.DANG.GOOD. I’ve been a vegetarian for a decade, tried to switch to vegan about two years ago but got discouraged because the vegan cheese was less than stellar (maybe there are better brands, but in this part of the East Coast all I could find was Daiya). Two weeks ago, I decided to try again and on my first day discovered your site, watched some of your videos, bought your cookbook and tried all your cheeeese. And they’re all so yummy and satisfy. Not looking back!! Thank you!!
Oh wow!!! Melt my vegan cheesy heart!! I’m so thrilled you are enjoying my cheese recipes so much. That’s so incredibly awesome that you’re sticking to veganism this time!! Let me know if you ever have any recipe requests, questions, or need any support 🙂
I’ve bought your cookbooks and I’m your biggest fan. I’ve made most of your recipes but this one is the BEST! It’s so easy! I never thought I would get an easy Mac and cheze that I would love. Thank you!
Thank you so much for all of your support, Debbie! I’m so happy that I’m able to continue to wow you! 🙂
What brand of lemon pepper do you use?
I don’t have a preference but I currently have Presidents Choice brand which is a Canadian grocery story brand.
Omg I’ve made this for my lunch three days in a row now, it’s incredible! Ketchup for the win
Haha, that’s awesome, Wendy. Yay ketchup!
Hi,
Any ideas for a substitution for the all purpose flour? I have oat flour, tapioca flour and buckwheat flour but I’m not sure how any of them will react.
I’m not an expert in gluten-free but out of those, I would go for oat flour. Enjoy!
Love this. You topped with ketchup. Not weird. I topped mine with vegan ranch and also sriracha 😉
Haha! Love it 🙂
BAM! The comfort food of my childhood that I can be happy to eat as a more ethically aware adult. Thank you so much, Sam. I had some tapioca powder to increase the factor. I am really happy to have a jar of this in my pantry. It even makes cauliflower, when subbed in for the noodles, taste good.
So happy you love it!! 🙂
I added a teaspoon of dry Mustard powder – it intensifies the cheesy bite.
Glad you enjoyed!
Hi,
Quick question. Making your mac&cheese right now and I’m feeling that 1/4 cup of the powder for 1 cup maceroni seems a too small amount?! Am I wrong?
The measurements are correct as written. Enjoy!
This is fantastic!! I made with almond milk. It was great. Just wondering if you have a preferred non dairy milk for this recipe. And yes please to a second book!!
Haha, thank you! My go-to non-dairy milk for everything is always soy (unless I specify). It’s just my fave. But if you don’t like soy then I wouldn’t recommend it! Haha.
I made this for dinner twice this week! The first time I followed your recipe exactly. The second time I decided to add a little more nutritional yeast and a sprinkle of cumin, which I think made it even better! Thanks for the recipe- it’s so quick and easy!
Glad you enjoyed
Do you think this would work with almond flour? I’m doing vegan keto but I reaaaaally want to try this over zoodles!
I believe it should work fine. Enjoy!
Thank you so much Sam!!! My hubby and I have been desperate for some quick, tasty, warm go-to lunches and you nailed it!!! So yummy – I can see it being a new staple in our kitchen. Cheers from BC!
Wonderful!! So thrilled you loved it so much, Beth 🙂
You are such a genius, Sam! I am so excited to try this!!!
Aww thank you so much!
I can’t believe how delicious this mac sauce is! The first batch I used liquid plant based milk. The next batch I decided to test out dehydrated plant based milk. Both worked great! All set to have mac and cheese on my next backcountry hiking trip! Thanks so much for the creative recipes!
Oh what a great hiking food idea!! So happy you enjoyed it so much, Joanna!
Yum! I’d love to see this adapted to do a single serve microwave/ Easy Mac style portion.
Hmmm…. I must get a microwave one day…
I just made this and it’s definitely the best vegan mac & cheese I’ve made and it’s so easy! Even my picky fiance enjoyed it. It’s also less calories & way more filling than boxed mac, plus it has good ingredients, so overall, this one’s a winner. Thanks for making such an awesome recipe!
That’s so awesome, I’m so thrilled you enjoyed it so much, Madison!!
Hi Sam,
Just last week I made a batch of Miyoko’s “well-crafted mac and cheese mix.” It was okay, not mind blowing but not awful. Hers has cashews, so it’s not shelf stable. I’m eager to try yours and do a side by side comparison!
I love to toss some broccoli florets into the water for a few minutes before the pasta, pull them out and add back in at the end. Om-nom! 😀
Hi Karen, yes, I have had Miyoko’s and I too thought it was just ok. I hope you love my version so much more as I sure do!!
What an amazing thing. You are so clever!!!!!!!!
Thank you!
Would it work with water instead of milk? Like maybe add water and some vegan butter/margarine? Thanks! I can’t wait to try
The creaminess from a non-dairy milk is ideal, but you could use water for a less creamy version in a pinch. Enjoy!
Is there a substitute for the white sugar?
You could use any powder sweetener you enjoy.
Is brown sugar is OK?
Yes, but the moisture in it might clump up the mix a little. Enjoy!
Holy Sam-oly you’ve done it again!! This took the shortest amount of time to put together and then cook. I didn’t have lemon pepper so added… A squeeze of lemon and black pepper and it seemed to taste just great. Using it as lazy lasagne topping for tonight!
Wonderful!!! So thrilled you love it so much, Emily!!
How long would you say to microwave the cheese sauce? I’m thinking after school snack here.
I actually don’t own a microwave (I know, crazy), so I am not sure the correct time.
Hello there!
Thanks for this really handy recipe.
Just a quick question… I’m in England and I’m wondering how much cooked pasta does a cup of dry macaroni make please? Would that serve one or two people?
Thank you in advance!
According to this guide, 1 cup uncooked noodles would make about 2 1/4 cups cooked. Enjoy!
Thanks Sam!
Hi Sam
Thanks for this amazing sounding recipe. Would you mind please clarifying if the paprika is sweet or smoked?
Thanks again!
You’re most welcome, Inna, I used sweet, but you could use smoked if you wanted a smoky mac and cheese. Enjoy!
Thanks for your prompt reply, Sam. I think a tiny pinch of smoked paprika could take it to another level!
Another amazing recipe! Thank you for all of your fun and delicious recipes. My family and I have been vegan for over 6 years and I know I can still look for you for inspiration! I hope another cookbook will be in the works soon 🙂
Aww thanks so much, Susan, that means a lot!! I do my best to continue to come out with new fun recipes 🙂 Fingers crossed for a second book!
Yay! Yay! Yay! Thank you! I love being vegan. I love the food I eat. I adore Mac and cheese of All kinds, but I grew up eating the boxed stuff. Sometimes I want the yum, quickly! And the $4 box of vegan mac and cheese from the natural food store did not impress. This was ONE thing that was missing in my pantry. Delicious.
Awesome! I am so happy I was able to fill the hole in your pantry for you, Julie 😀
Great recipe. My family loved it.
Awesome!! 🙂
I made this for dinner tonight. It turned out well, and I have lots of leftovers for a lazy dinner night. 🙂
Wonderful! Happy you enjoyed it, Jen!
With a gluten free mix, is a gum needed or not?
Hi, I’m not Sam, so you might want to wait for her reply, but I think that you wouldn’t need to add any thing else if you are using the All Purpose Gluten free flour. The one I’ve used handled just like the regular AP flour.
Nope, it should work just fine. The flour just needs to thicken the sauce a bit which any gluten-free mix will do. Enjoy!
Bless you Sam Turnbull; this is definitely on my “to try” list.
Wonderful!