Vegan Broccoli Mac and Cheese
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This vegan broccoli mac and cheese is so creamy and cheesy, you won’t believe it’s dairy-free! It’s comfort food made easy and healthy.
Mac and cheese minus the guilt? This vegan mac and cheese with broccoli skips the dairy and keeps everything plant-based!
It’s made with simple ingredients and can be tweaked to be gluten-free.
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Going vegan doesn’t mean letting go of creamy and cheesy pasta dishes like this mac and cheese. Surprise yourself and try our substitute for heavy cream in pasta and vegan parmesan cheese on your favorite recipes!
Vegan Broccoli Mac and Cheese
Broccoli mac and cheese is the vegan version of one of the most comforting foods known to man: mac and cheese.
Yes, the cheesy and oh-so-creamy bowl of macaroni and cheese can be made with just plant-based ingredients!
Instead of dairy, vegan broccoli mac and cheese gets its delicious flavor and irresistibly thick consistency from cashews, vegan butter, plant-based milk, and nutritional yeast.
Adding broccoli also makes the dish extra hearty, perfect if you don’t want to fill yourself up with just pasta.
Why You’ll Love This Vegan Mac and Cheese Recipe
- This vegan broccoli mac and cheese is super saucy and oh-so-creamy! Kids and adults alike are guaranteed to love this plant-based version.
- Who says it’s hard to make a healthy vegan mac and cheese that tastes as good as the traditional version that uses dairy? This recipe is ready in no time with simple ingredients and minimal prep work!
- Vegan mac and cheese with broccoli is meal prep-friendly and easy on the wallet! Enjoy it for a pick-me-up on a busy weekday, or make a big batch for a party and give everyone a hug for the soul through their stomachs.
Ingredients And Substitutions For Vegan Mac and Cheese With Broccoli
Dried elbow macaroni – For a gluten-free vegan broccoli mac and cheese, just use your favorite gluten-free pasta!
Broccoli – A delicious and wholesome way to use less pasta on your vegan mac and cheese. Finely chopped kale is another option if you don’t like broccoli.
Water – For steaming the vegetables.
Carrots – Once the carrots are blended with the other sauce ingredients, you won’t be able to tell it’s there. This healthy broccoli mac and cheese is a yummy way to sneak veggies into your diet. Not a fan of carrots? Swap them with zucchini!
Potato – Makes the cheesy dairy-free sauce thick and hearty.
Raw cashews – The secret for getting the perfectly creamy sauce for the broccoli mac and cheese. Looking for a nut-free option? Here’s our vegan cheese sauce recipe.
Garlic cloves – Garlic adds depth of flavor to the comforting vegan cheese sauce.
Vegan butter – Butter enriches classic mac and cheese; vegan butter is just as perfect for this plant-based version of the macaroni dish.
Unsweetened almond milk – Milk is important to emulate traditional mac and cheese’s rich and creamy appeal. The good news is that any non-dairy milk of choice will work for this cashew-based vegan cheese sauce.
Vegetable broth – Adds flavor and helps with the consistency of the sauce.
Onion powder – Adds a delicious layer of sweet and savory without being overpowering.
Salt – To season the creamy cheese sauce.
Smoked paprika – This is optional, but trust me, the touch of smokiness is a game-changer for any mac and cheese recipe.
Nutritional yeast – Gives the vegan broccoli mac and cheese a crave-worthy cheesiness without dairy.
Tapioca flour – Tapioca flour and arrowroot powder are amazing thickeners for the dairy-free vegan cheese sauce.
Lemon juice – Adds a delicious pop of flavor. The acidity balances the richness of the broccoli mac and cheese.
Want to take your vegan macaroni and cheese to the next level? Add spinach and jalapenos to the mix! Italian seasoning is also perfect for this dairy-free pasta.
For texture variation, top the guilt-free mac and cheese with veggie crumbs.
Tips For Making Healthy Vegan Mac and Cheese
Add More Protein
Add more protein to this healthy vegan mac and cheese for a balanced and more satisfying meal! Chickpeas, lentils, crumbled tempeh, and black beans are some protein-packed add-ins you might love.
Blend Until Smooth
What makes this vegan macaroni and cheese great, even for the pickiest kids, is the sauce is so smooth and creamy you won’t be able to tell it’s made with veggies! Use a powerful blender, scraping down the sides if needed. You can also soak the cashews a few hours in advance to make them easier to blend.
Storage Tips
This vegan broccoli mac and cheese stores well and can be made ahead! It can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. However, freezing won’t be ideal because the noodles might get mushy after thawing.
Vegan Mac and Cheese FAQs
Can you make vegan mac and cheese without nutritional yeast?
While nutritional yeast is the top choice for the best-tasting vegan mac and cheese, you can still make the recipe without it. Instead, use vegan cheese to give the dish a cheesy flavor.
Can vegans eat macaroni?
Yup. Just check the label to ensure the macaroni noodles are not made with eggs.
Can I make this vegan mac and cheese gluten-free?
Of course. For a gluten-free, vegan mac and cheese, look for gluten-free macaroni.
What’s a good substitute for the cashews in this vegan broccoli mac and cheese recipe?
You can substitute cashews with almonds or any nuts of your choice. Or, for a nut-free vegan broccoli mac and cheese, swap nuts with pumpkin seeds.
Can I reheat vegan mac and cheese leftovers?
Of course! You can reheat it over the stovetop, stirring in some almond milk to help the sauce thicken a bit.
More Delicious Vegan Comfort Foods
- Vegan Chicken Noodle Soup
- Lentil Shepherd’s Pie
- Vegan Pot Roast
- Vegan Scalloped Potatoes
- Vegan Pasta Puttanesca Without Anchovies
I found this recipe for Vegan Pasta alla Vodka that I HAVE to try!
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Vegan Broccoli Mac and Cheese
Equipment
Ingredients
- 16 oz dried elbow macaroni
- 2 cups broccoli, chopped
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 cup carrots, peeled and roughly chopped
- 1 cup potato, peeled and chopped
- 1/2 cup raw cashews
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp vegan butter, melted
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 3/4 cup vegetable broth
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 3 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 2 1/2 tbsp tapioca flour
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Cook the elbow macaroni according to package instructions. Five minutes before you take the pasta off the heat, add the broccoli. Drain the macaroni and broccoli. Set aside.
- Add two cups of water and insert a steamer basket in a medium saucepan. Place in the carrots, potatoes, and cashews. Cover with a lid and steam for 15 to 20 minutes until the vegetables are fork-tender.
- Add the steamed carrots, potatoes, and cashews to a blender. Add the garlic cloves, butter, almond milk, vegetable broth, seasonings, nutritional yeast, tapioca flour, and lemon juice to the blender as well. Blend on high speed for 1 minute or until the sauce mixture is smooth and combined.
- Place the cooked pasta in a large pot. Pour the vegan cheese sauce on top and stir until the pasta is well coated. Don’t worry if the sauce starts thin because it will thicken up as you stir.
- Allow your vegan mac and cheese to rest for 5 minutes and stir again to allow the sauce to thicken more.
Notes
- Add more protein to this healthy vegan mac and cheese for a balanced and more satisfying meal! Chickpeas, lentils, crumbled tempeh, and black beans are some protein-packed add-ins you might love.
- What makes this vegan macaroni and cheese great, even for the pickiest kids, is the sauce is so smooth and creamy you won’t be able to tell it’s made with veggies! Use a powerful blender, scraping down the sides if needed. You can also soak the cashews a few hours in advance to make them easier to blend.
- This vegan broccoli mac and cheese stores well and can be made ahead! It can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. However, freezing won’t be ideal because the noodles might get mushy after thawing.
