Author: I played around in my kitchen until I perfected my recipe for Homemade Vegan Mac & Cheese Powder! And it it the best!!
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.
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 which flour, plant-based 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.
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Homemade Vegan Mac & Cheese Powder
Servings: (makes 1 cup of powder)
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Ingredients
To make homemade vegan mac & cheese powder:
- ¾ cup nutritional yeast
- ½ 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
- ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
To prepare vegan mac & cheese:
- 1 cup uncooked macaroni noodles, (gluten-free if preferred)
- ¾ cup plant-based milk, (such a s soy or almond)
- ¼ cup prepared Homemade Vegan Mac & Cheese Powder
Instructions
To make the 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.
To prepare vegan mac & cheese
- 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 plant-based milk and ¼ 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.
Nutrition
⭐ Did You Make This Recipe?
I’d love if you left a rating and comment, it helps others find the recipe and makes my day! 💕Bon appetegan!
Sam.
Sonya says
This sounds really good. Im lactose intolerant and this is virtually fat free. Thank you
Sam Turnbull says
You're most welcome 🙂
Amanda says
I’ve made this many times and always enjoy it. I went to make it tonight and couldn’t find my lemon pepper but decided to try it without it anyways and it was still super delicious! I also don’t add the salt as I try to eat very little sodium and just add a bit to the finished dish. I love how versatile this is as you can add vegan cheese on top, bake it with breadcrumbs on top, add veggies or vegan ground “beef”. Thanks for this recipe Sam, you never disappoint!
Sam Turnbull says
Thrilled you enjoyed it, Amanda 🙂
Ashley says
I thought this was good! My 4 year old proclaimed after first bite, "This tastes weird!" I think it's a little nutritional yeast-forward on the flavor, which I'm usually not a fan of and may be why she didn't care for it. She was slow to eat it and 2 year old scarfed it down. I think it's a great quick recipe when I don't have time to make our usual cheese sauce and hopefully 4 year old will come to like it.
Anjie says
This is my go to recipe for just about anything requiring a cheese sauce or cheese flavor. My husband and I love it. We both have started cutting out dairy from out diet. So thanks Sam for sharing!!!
Sam Turnbull says
That's wonderful, Anjie! Thrilled you enjoyed it.
Lynn says
Hi Sam! Happy eater over here! 🙂 Newly vegan, the first time I made this accidentally with sweetened almond milk. Oooops! The second time I was more careful. I tried to use your spice mix to replicate what I suspect is the original mac & cheese that we eat here in Italy - just butter or olive oil and parmesan. So I just sauteed your spice mix with a little water, olive oil and vegan butter. Simple, fast, savory, easy BLISS. Next level challenge: I'll test it with my little son who's born and raised Italian...he doesn't even like the boxed Kraft mix... but I really think he'll like this. Keep you posted! And thank you for your brilliant and creative recipes! <3
Sam Turnbull says
So happy you enjoyed it Lynn and congrats on your new veganism 🙂
Sam says
Hey Sam. Love this recipe! Convenient AND delicious! I have a mac n’cheese event (yah, I know) at the office and I’m wondering if I can make it completely the morning of and bring it to work in a casserole dish to reheat. Do you think it’ll dry out if it isn’t made right before serving? Know anyone who has tried it? I won’t have access to full kitchen. Any tips are appreciated! Thanks.
Sam Turnbull says
You can but I would make sure the pasta is al dente so it doesn't over cook when heated, and you might need to add an extra splash of non-dairy milk. Enjoy!
Sarah says
This is awesome and super easy! Best vegan Mac n cheese I’ve tried! Thank you!
Sam Turnbull says
You're most welcome 🙂
Heather says
What brand nutritional yeast do you use? The one I picked on Amazon I think hasn't been a great choice. It has a very strong smell and distinct flavor my family can't seem to get past.
sarah says
Hi Heather,
I'm using Red Star nutritional yeast (Amazon). 🙂
CK says
Braggs is much better in quality and taste. Plus RedStar puts less Nooch inside the bottle than they claim on the front of the bottle. I switched from RedStar to Braggs and and am quite happy with the change
Carlie Alvarez says
Great Recipe Thank You!!!!
I am a vegan teenager and needed some mac and cheese its been so long!!!
Been vegan for 5 months and this makes me like vegan even more!
Sam Turnbull says
Amazing!! Congrats on 5 months, Carlie 🙂
Carlie says
Thank you!
Shar Lise says
Yum! I'm eating it now. Next batch I'll roll back the onion and garlic powder and use a dry soup bullion instead.. I added a bit of mustard powder as another person mentioned and I also added a glob of vegan mayo to make it really creamy.
Thanks for the great recipe!
Sam Turnbull says
You're most welcome! SO happy you enjoyed 🙂
Lauren Harvey says
THE BEST. The first time I made this I told my husband "I'm making vegan mac n cheeze, do you want some" and he said no. Then I made it. And he tried it. And ate all of it!
Seriously, I always keep a batch of this in my pantry. I make it 2-3x the recipe so I always can have it on hand. I put it in everything! Sometimes I just make the cheezy sauce according to the recipe and add it to different dishes.
Recently, I baked a spaghetti squash and made this cheezy sauce for it. SO DELICIOUS.
I can't give this recipe enough stars. This website is full of vegan magic but this one might be the top of the list.
YUM.
Sam Turnbull says
Hahaha! Love that story! Thanks so much for the rave review, Lauren 🙂
Mary says
I haven’t found a recipes for Mac and cheeze that I like. This one is out of this world delicious. So easy too. Thank you. No carrots or potatoes involved. Yay!
Sam Turnbull says
Haha! You're most welcome, Mary! Carrots and potatoes don't taste like cheese to me... haha
Garrett says
I seriously don't know how you do it. This isn't just the best mac and cheese for vegans; it's one of the best mac and cheese recipes all around. I've made it twice. It's super easy and consistently great. Thank you so much.
Also, pro tip: it makes a great sauce for cheddar broccoli also!
Sam Turnbull says
Aww melt my heart! So happy to hear you love it, Garrett. And I love the broccoli idea 😉
Kristin says
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! My super picky, 4 year-old dairy allergy child can finally have Mac and Cheese again! She hasn't had any in two years since her diagnosis and tonight I made this and she LOVED it! It's so simple and easy to keep on hand.
Sam Turnbull says
Aww that's so awesome, Kristin!! All of my recipes are 100% dairy-free so I hope you and your daughter will enjoy many more 🙂
Shauna says
Just made this for the first time last night. It’s definitely my new go-to vegan Mac and cheese recipe. It was so good, my four-year-old twin boys gobbled it up! Thanks for helping to make my life a little easier and a lot more delicious
Sam Turnbull says
You're most welcome, Shauna! I'm so happy everyone enjoyed it 🙂
Tammy says
I am new to plant based. This is a great recipe. Cant wait to try more of your dishes. Thank you.
Sam Turnbull says
Thank you so much, Tammy! Thrilled you love it and congrats on your new plant-based lifestyle 🙂
Cathy L Ballenger-Apolo says
Hi! I haven't tried your recipe yet, but I was just wondering if you've ever made it with any alternative flour sources such as coconut, almond, etc?
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Cathy! I haven't but as the flour is just for thickening the sauce, any flour that has that ability should work just fine. Enjoy!
Sophia says
OMG!! Just made this and I’m in love! Definitely will be a weekly dish!! Thank you so much ❤️
Sam Turnbull says
So happy to hear that, Sophia! Glad it's a new fave for you 🙂
Laura says
Very tasty... added a little vegan cheese and some vegan worcester sauce.. next time I will omit the sugar! I really liked this and will make it again! Thankyou!
Sam Turnbull says
Glad you enjoyed 🙂
Jenn A. says
My 4 year old son just ate this & he is the pickiest eater. I am impressed! I definitely plan to have a jar of this on hand at all times. Great recipe!
Sam Turnbull says
So happy you loved it, Jenn 🙂
Katie says
Is the lemon pepper a must? I don’t have any and I’m craving Mac and cheese!
Sam Turnbull says
The lemon pepper adds that tang that makes it taste like cheese. If you don't have any you could add a squeeze of lemon when preparing the mac and cheese and that should help. Enjoy!