This vegan butternut squash mac and cheese is so creamy and has a rich flavor that all your family will love. It is a perfect weeknight dinner as it is simple & quick.
I'm always on the hunt for easy recipes that are nourishing to feed my family and this one is such a hit. This vegan baked mac and cheese is definitively a favorite cheesy meal, but what I like from this squash pasta version is that it is so quick! You only need 15 minutes to cook the squash on the stove, then blend the sauce ingredients together and add to noodles. It also makes for delicious leftovers that we pack as lunches to-go.
For an ultra fast mac and cheese meal, also check out my vegan powdered mac and cheese mix!
And, if you haven't made pasta dishes using vegetables yet, you are missing out! Butternut squash is such a versatile vegetable and I use it a lot when making creamy squash soup for its amazing blended creaminess. It can also be used to make a creamy pasta sauce like in this recipe where the squash gives a nice orange cheezy color to the sauce that's super appetizing.
Ingredients to make vegan butternut squash mac and cheese
This is a very simple recipe using only a few wholesome ingredients.
- Butternut squash. You will need 4 cups of cubed vegetable which is about a small-medium size squash.
- Raw cashews. They help make this sauce creamier and richer.
- Nutritional yeast. Brings all that delicious vegan cheese flavor.
- Lemon juice. A little tang to brighten up the sauce.
- Fresh garlic. The sauce won't taste very garlicky, but will deepen flavors.
- Vegan plain milk. Any kinds work, as long as it is unsweetened and unflavored.
How to make vegan butternut squash mac and cheese
- First, soak your cashews for 8-12 hours (I do overnight), but even a few hours will work. If in a rush, you can also soak them in hot water for 30 minutes. This will make them more blend-able.
- Cook the butternut squash until tender (boil in water or steam), about 15-20 minutes. You can do this while the noodles are cooking.
- Then, blend all the sauce ingredients until very smooth.
- Combine the sauce and noodles and serve!
Watch how to make it
Tips when making this recipe
- I usually blend the sauce right after cooking the vegetable and pour it over warm noodles, so the dish is warmed up enough to eat. If the sauce has cooled down too much before serving, then simply warm some in the microwave, give it a good whisk and combine with the noodles.
- When blending the sauce, start with 1 cup of vegan milk, then taste and check on the texture of the sauce. If too thick, then add a little more milk and blend again until it's just right for you.
- This sauce is best when salted enough. Start with 1 tsp of salt, then taste and adjust. It is a good volume of sauce and the cheesy flavor will really stand out if salted properly.
Vegan butternut squash mac and cheese recipe variations
- Make it spicy: If you love spicy food, try adding any hot sauces, marinated jalapeños and red pepper flakes. It goes really well with the creamy consistency from the sauce.
- Boost it with more veggies: Try adding bright green veggies for a beautiful pop in color (green peas, broccoli, asparagus, etc). Caramelized onions are also surprisingly delicious with this recipe.
- Make it smoky: Have you tried BBQ sauce with a cheezy dish? It is so good. The smoky flavor somehow blends so perfectly with a creamy cheezy dish. Also try topping your pasta dish with this smoky tofu or some vegan TVP bacon bits.
- Make a herbed mac and cheese: If you have some vegan pesto, then add a few dollop at serving to bring interesting flavor.
How to store this vegan pasta dish
Keep the leftovers in a air-tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. This recipe makes a good amount of sauce, so don't hesitates to freeze any extra (without the noodles) for up to 3 months. Let it thaw overnight in the fridge and give it a good whisk before warming it up (I use the microwave).
Try these vegan mac and cheese recipes next!
- Mac and cheese powdered mix
- Baked cauliflower mac and cheese
- Mac and cheese without cashews
- Coconut milk mac and cheese
More pasta dishes you might like
- Garlic cream primavera pasta bake
- Hidden vegetable pasta sauce
- White sauce pasta
- Cauliflower Alfredo
- Vegan cajun pasta
- Tahini pasta
- Pasta with hummus and roasted vegetables
- Vegan avocado pasta
- Homemade vegan squash ravioli
I hope you will love this vegan mac and cheese as much as we do! If you try it, please leave a comment below with a star rating and let us know how it was. Your feedback is so helpful!
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📖 Recipe
Butternut squash Mac & Cheese
Equipment
- Blender
Ingredients
Mac and cheeze
- 4 cup butternut squash - peeled and cubed
- ¾ cup raw cashews - soaked for at least 2 hours, drained and rinsed
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 4 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 clove of garlic
- 1 to 1 ¼ cup plain vegan milk - unsweetened
- 1 tsp salt - or to taste
- pasta of your choice - cooked according to packaging instructions
Instructions
- Boil the squash in water (or steam) for about 15-20 or until soft. Drain well.
- Add the cooked squash, cashews, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, garlic, milk and salt. Blend until very smooth, for about 1 or 2 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
- Combine the sauce with the noodles and top with vegetables. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Store leftover in a air-tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer (without the noodles) for up to 3 months (it makes a good amount of sauce, don't hesitate to freeze the extra!). Thaw in the fridge overnight, then warm up in the microwave or on the stove.
- Adjust the consistency of the sauce to your taste. I recommend you start with 1 cup, then add more, small amount at the time, until just right for you.
- Nutrition: please note that the nutritional information is an estimate per serving provided for informational purposes only (calculated by software) and accuracy is not guaranteed. Consult with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if you need precise nutrition calculations for health reasons.
NUTRITION
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how long does this sauce keep in the fridge, you think and have you frozen it before? just made and tasted and it is perfect in both taste and texture!! very pleased 🙂
Thanks for your comment Suzi! I have kept this sauce for about 4 days in the fridge and yes, I freeze it all the time! Just transfer the sauce without the noodles to a container after it has cooled down and store it in the freezer for up to about 3 months. If the texture is not as perfectly creamy after thawing it, then blend it once more for a few seconds and it will be back to its normal texture. I will add these informations to the blog post, thanks for the question. I'm glad you loved it 🙂
Hi! Can I use soymilk instead of almond milk? I don’t have almond milk on hand right now.
Yes! As long as your milk is unsweetened and does not contain any vanilla flavoring, it should work the same as almond milk. 🙂
Délicieux!! Merci Jess!
Oh yeah! Merci Joanie! 🙂