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    Home » Pasta and Noodles » Vegan Baked Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

    Vegan Baked Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

    Published: Jan 1, 2022 · Modified: Jul 22, 2022 by Jessica

    JUMP TO RECIPE PIN SHARE

    This homemade vegan baked mac and cheese is outrageously DELISH! Featuring a vegan cheddar sauce made from scratch, pieces of cauliflower and a crunchy panko topping. Plus, it hides a good load of healthy veggies! Such a keeper, both kids and adults will love it!

    Close up on a spoon that's taking a portion of a vegan baked cauliflower mac and cheese out of a dish. You can see clearly the creamy filling and the crumbly topping.

    This classic vegan baked mac and cheese checks all the boxes to be the BEST and DREAMIEST cheesy vegan comfort food! It is saucy, sooooooo creamy and topped with a crispy cheesy breadcrumb topping. Dangerously delicious.

    We have made this healthy butternut squash mac and cheese more than often, especially during busy weeknights, but I'm happy to now add one more mac and cheese yumminess recipe on the blog!

    And I have to say that this version gets even closer to a classic 'bechamel + cheddar cheese' mac and cheese, at least in terms of flavor. The mostly tasteless cauliflower florets are blended to smooth with cashews. This magically mimics a basic bechamel sauce, without having to stir and cook the sauce in the pot. Then, lots of flavoring ingredients are incorporated, plus some extra vegetables for texture and color (oh and nutrition too). It is so unbelievably cheesy!

    And I love the fact that no vegan cheese was used in this recipe at all. Only wholesome ingredients, and the sauce is all made from scratch! This is a must-try next time you crave a cozy bowl of pasta!

    Also, keep this vegan mac and cheese mix in your pantry at all time to be able to make a quick and last minute bowl of cheesy noodles.

    Overhead view on a table containing a baked vegan lac and cheese with a portion taken out and a side plate containing some of the cheesy noodles.

    This family favorite pasta casserole is:

    • Unbelievably gooey and flavorful.
    • Approved by kids (top notch yummy per my 3 and 5 y/o mini-eaters) and hides extra veggies no one will notice.
    • Dairy-free, entirely plant-based and easy to make gluten-free.
    • Perfect crowd-pleaser.
    • The vegan 'cheddar' sauce can be made ahead for easy meals during the week.
    • ...and just so darn satisfying!

    Ingredients you'll need

    For the saucy mac and cheese:

    • Macaroni elbow noodles: actually, any short noodles will work well, so choose your favorite.
    • Cauliflower: you will need a small head for this recipe or about 4 cups.
    • Raw cashews: they are rich in healthy fats, which makes the sauce irresistibly rich and creamy, even if dairy-free.
    • Potato: just like in this vegan queso, blending cooked potatoes adds a little bit of a stringy feeling or a pull to the cheesy sauce.
    • Carrot: mostly for color, but also boost the nutrition.
    • Plant-based milk: choose any kinds, as long at it is unflavored and unsweetened.
    • Garlic: for flavor.
    • Nutritional yeast: essential ingredient for a cheesy flavor.
    • Apple cider vinegar: lemon juice works too. Brightens up the overall cheesy taste.
    Showing are the ingredients needed to make a vegan baked mac and cheese.

    For the breadcrumb topping:

    • Regular breadcrumb + panko breadcrumb: the combo makes for a perfectly textured topping.
    • Onion and garlic powder: flavoring ingredients.
    • Nutritional yeast: just to add a cheesy little something.
    Showing are the ingredients needed to make a crumbly topping for a vegan baked mac and cheese.

    How to make it

    Make the vegan cheddar cheese sauce

    Start by soaking the cashews in boiling water for about 10 minutes or until ready to use. This will make the nuts more 'blend-able'. Also, cook the noodles al dente, drain and set aside.

    While the cashews are soaking: Transfer the cauliflower, potato and carrot pieces in a medium pot and cover with water. Then, bring to a boil and let it simmer for about 15 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Drain well.

    Use tongs to remove about 2 cups of the cauliflower florets and set them aside.

    Transfer the remaining vegetables to a blender alongside the drained cashews, nutritional yeast, apple cider vinegar, garlic clove, salt and plant-based milk. Blend on high until smooth. Take a break or two to scrape the walls and make sure all pieces are blended. You are looking for a uniform and very creamy consistency.

    Now, taste and adjust saltiness, cheesiness and add more vinegar if you like a more tangy sauce. This is a lot of sauce! So add enough salt!

    • In process picture: there is boiling water pouring over raw cashews.
    • In process picture: there are vegetables cooking in a pot.
    • In process picture: there are milk and vegetables and spices in a blender.
    • In process picture: there is a creamy sauce in a blender.

    Make the breadcrumb topping

    In a small bowl, combine the regular and panko breadcrumbs with the nutritional yeast, salt, onion and garlic powder.

    Combine and bake in the oven

    In a large pot, combine the noodles, the 2 cups of cauliflower florets that you set aside and the blended cheese sauce. Stir well to combine and transfer to a large baking dish.

    Sprinkle the breadcrumb topping uniformly over the whole dish and bake in the oven at 375º until golden brown, about 25-30 minutes.

    Let the dish rest for about 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy while still warm.

    • In process picture: there is a creamy sauce pouring over noodles and cauliflower.
    • In process picture: there are macaroni noodles tossed in a vegan cheddar sauce in a large pot.
    • In process picture: showing is a bowl with ingredients needed to make a breadcrumb topping.
    • In process picture: a savory breadcrumbs topping is spreading over a mac and cheese in a baking dish.

    Watch how to make it

    Cooking tips

    • Be sure to cook the noodles al dente, even slightly undercooked. They will keep cooking in the oven.
    • When preparing the cauliflower, keep the florets large enough so they are easy to grab when setting the 2 cups aside. You can then chop them smaller in bite size as needed.
    • This is a large dish and a good mac and cheese loves salt! So, depending on your diet, don't hesitate to add more salt to really enhance the flavor.
    • For a crispier topping, add about 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the breadcrumb mixture before spreading over the noodles.
    Long tall picture shows a large scoop that's serving a portion of a vegan baked mac and cheese with the large dish in the background.

    Add-on ideas

    • Spices: try adding smoked paprika or a pinch of turmeric to the blender when making the sauce. Turmeric would add nutrition, but also make the result more 'yellow'. Careful not to add too much, you don't really want to taste it, a tiny pinch goes a long way!
    • Vegetables: you can use less noodles (about 12 oz), but add more veggies such as broccoli, red pepper, mushrooms or green peas. Cook the veggies first.
    • For a spicy mac and cheese: add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a few dashes of spicy sauce to the blender. OR, try adding some spicy jalapeño or a can of spicy green chiles to the dish.
    • For a smoky flavor: add some vegan TVP bacon bits!

    Storage

    Like most baked pasta dishes, it is better and saucier when freshly baked. The noodles soak up the sauce over time, making the noodles softer and the dish less saucy. It still makes for amazing leftovers, but just something to keep in mind.

    Keep leftovers very well covered (it dries easily) in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or in the oven (covered and at 350º until warmed up).

    Overhead view on a plate containing a portion of a vegan baked mac and cheese with a side fork.

    FAQs

    Can I omit the nutritional yeast?

    I don't recommend it. It is essential for a cheesy flavor, which is what you are looking for in a mac and cheese. If you don't use it, then you will still have a nice creamy sauce, but it might lack in flavor.

    How to make it gluten-free

    Use gluten-free noodles and look for gluten-free panko and gluten-free regular breadcrumbs.

    Can I make it nut-free?

    No. Cashews are a main ingredients in this recipe and cannot be swapped for any nut-free ingredients (I don't think seeds would work well here). If looking for a creamy and nut-free pasta sauce, then check out this cauliflower Alfredo sauce.

    Can I freeze the leftovers?

    You may, although the texture will change significantly after thawed: the noodles will be softer and the dish much less saucy.

    Close up on a creamy rich vegan mac and cheese that was baked in the oven and topped with a crumbly panko garnish.

    More vegan mac and cheese recipe you might like

    • Nut-free vegan mac and cheese (no cashews)
    • Vegan mac and cheese mix
    • Butternut squash mac and cheese

    Other vegan pasta casserole dishes

    • Vegan baked ziti
    • Garlic cashew cream pasta bake
    • Vegan lasagna roll-ups
    • Vegan white sauce lasagna

    I hope you like this vegan baked mac and cheese as much as we do! If you try it, please leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let me know how it was.

    Let's stay in touch with Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. Also, don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter to be sure not to miss anything.

    Close up on a spoon that's taking a portion of a vegan baked cauliflower mac and cheese out of a dish. You can see clearly the creamy filling and the crumbly topping.

    Vegan Baked Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

    5 from 2 votes
    This homemade vegan baked mac and cheese is outrageously DELISH! Featuring a vegan cheddar sauce made from scratch, pieces of cauliflower and a crunchy panko topping. Plus, it hides a good load of healthy veggies! Such a keeper, both kids and adults will love it!
    PRINT RECIPE PIN RECIPE
    Prep Time20 mins
    Cook Time30 mins
    Total Time50 mins
    Servings 6 people
    Author Jessica Laroche

    Equipment

    • Blender

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 ¼ cups raw cashews
    • 4 cups cauliflower florets (about 1 small head)
    • 1 large carrot - peeled and roughly chopped (for color)
    • 1 medium size potato - peeled and sliced in quarters
    • ½ cup nutritional yeast
    • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar - lemon juice works too
    • 1 clove of garlic
    • 1 ½-2 tsp salt - or to taste
    • 2 cups plant-based milk - plain and unsweetened
    • 16 oz macaroni noodles - cooked al dente

    Crispy topping

    • ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
    • ½ cup regular breadcrumbs
    • 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
    • ½ tsp onion powder
    • ½ tsp garlic powder
    • ½ tsp salt
    • black pepper - to taste

    Instructions
     

    • Soak the cashews in boiling water for about 10-15 min. Then, drain and set aside. Also, cook your noodles al dente and pre-heat the oven to 375º.
    • Transfer the cauliflower florets to a large pot alongside the carrots and potatoes. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Keep simmering for about 15 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Then, drain well.
    • Using a fork or tong, carefully remove about 2 cups of cooked cauliflower from the vegetable mix. Set aside (they will be combined within the sauce later).
    • Transfer the drained cashews and remaining vegetable mix to a blender alongside the nutritional yeast, apple cider vinegar, clove of garlic, salt and milk. Blend on high until smooth and uniform. Adjust salt to your taste.
    • Combine the al dente noodles with the 2 cups of cauliflower florets that you set aside and pour the cheddar sauce over. Stir to combine and transfer to a large baking dish.
    • In a medium bowl, combine the crispy topping ingredients and distribute over the whole dish.
    • Bake for 25-30 min or until golden brown. Can also do a few minutes on broil at the end (watch closely). Let the mac and cheese sit for about 10 minutes before eating, enjoy!

    Video

    Notes

    • Storage: the dish is saucier when freshly baked as the noodles keep soaking on the sauce while resting. Keep leftovers in the fridge covered for up to 4 days and reheat using the microwave or the oven.
    • Be sure to cook the noodles al dente, even slightly undercooked. They will keep cooking in the oven.
    • When preparing the cauliflower, keep the florets large enough so they are easy to grab when setting the 2 cups aside. You can then chop them smaller in bite size as needed.
    • This is a large dish and a good mac and cheese loves salt! So, depending on your diet, don't hesitate to add more salt to really enhance the flavor.
    • For a crispier topping, add about 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the breadcrumb mixture before spreading over the noodles.
    • Feel free to add smoked paprika, cayenne peppers, more veggies such as steamed broccoli or peas or even diced jalapeño or canned green chiles. You might want to use less noodles if adding lots of veggies (to keep the dish as saucy).
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Astrid says

      January 14, 2022 at 1:15 pm

      5 stars
      Yum! I used a sweet potato because I didn't have a regular potato but left everything else the same and it was delicious. Perfect for meal prep. I ate this mac and cheese for the whole week and it didn't turn mushy. This recipe will go in my regular rotation. Thank you.

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        January 14, 2022 at 2:22 pm

        Oh that's great, I'm glad to hear that! Thank you so much for your comment 🙂

        Reply
    2. nancy says

      January 14, 2022 at 8:00 pm

      5 stars
      I made these tonight and they did not disappoint. The sauce is so creamy and good and it makes enough so that the noodles are creamy when they come out of the oven. I halved the recipe as there are only 2 of us and baked it in 3 single casserole dishes. Delicious. Thank you Jess!

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        January 15, 2022 at 7:07 pm

        Thanks for sharing Nancy 🙂

        Reply

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    ABOUT JESS


    Profile picture for Plant Based Jess in the kitchen.

    Hi there! I’m Jessica, a pasta obsessed French Canadian now living in beautiful Maine. I’m a mom of two, experienced foodie and ninja meal planner. I believe everyone can make stress-free plant-based meals with wholesome ingredients that your family and friends will love. 

    Join me in my kitchen to discover fun and creative recipes or click to find out more. Welcome!

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