Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese (easy recipe) (2024)

Published on 47 Comments

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Diesen Beitrag gibt es auch auf:

  • Deutsch

This Creamy Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese is the perfect healthy comfort food! It’s super delicious, cheesy, low-fat, and filled with plant-based ingredients. The recipe is very easy and quick to make.

Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese (easy recipe) (2)

To me, nothing is more autumnal than pumpkin. So, the first thing that came to my mind was making a creamy Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese since I saw all these big pumpkins at the market. There is nothing better than enjoying a big bowl of creamy, dreamy pumpkin pasta on cozy fall days, right? This dish is also absolutely perfect for any time – no matter the weather or season.

Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese (easy recipe) (3)

Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese with healthy ingredients

This healthy Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese recipe is adapted from my classicVegan Mac and Cheese recipe, which contains basically vegetables, such as potatoes, carrots, onions and garlic. For this recipe, I simply used pumpkin instead, but you could also use butternut squash or sweet potatoes if you like.

Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese (easy recipe) (4)

Creamy, plant-based vegan cheese sauce

Further ingredients are cashews, spices, and nutritional yeast flakes which are essential for a creamy sauce with a cheesy flavor. If you’re allergic to cashews or nuts in general, you can swap out to sunflower seeds or simply use plant-based cream. Macadamia nuts are a good choice too, but it may alter the taste and color. For both alternatives make sure to soak the nuts/ seeds before.

Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese (easy recipe) (5)

Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese (easy recipe) (6)

Vegan Pumpkin Pasta with Hokkaido (Red Kuri Squash)

My favorite type of pumpkin is Hokkaido. It has a delicious, flavorful taste and becomes super creamy when it’s puréed. Another great thing about using Hokkaido, you don’t have to peel it. Simply cut in a half, remove the seeds with a tablespoon, and roast in the oven or cook/ steam according to this recipe -> Pumpkin Purée – 3ways to make it.
I like roasted pumpkin best because it has a more intense flavor than cooked. To save time, I use to make a big batch of pumpkin purée ahead and store in the fridge or freeze leftovers for further meals. Of course, you could also use canned pumpkin or squash as an option.

Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese (easy recipe) (7) Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese (easy recipe) (8)

This Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese recipe is:

  • Healthy
  • Plant-based
  • Dairy-free
  • Flavorful
  • Creamy
  • Cheesy
  • Easy to make
  • Super delicious
  • The perfect quick lunch or dinner pasta dish!

Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese (easy recipe) (9) Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese (easy recipe) (10)

Serve with any veggies you like!

This pasta recipe is super versatile because you can add any vegetables you like to this dish. For example, you could add sautéed garlic mushrooms, courgettes, egg-plants, tomatoes, or any other vegetables you like. I usually add spinach and mushrooms, and vegan parmesan because they make the perfect toppings for this creamy pumpkin pasta. This dish makes about 4 servings and it’s perfect for company or meal-prep or just when you need an easy weeknight meal this fall.

Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese (easy recipe) (11)

If you try this vegan pumpkin mac and cheese recipe, please leave me a comment and star rating below sharing how you liked it! And if you take a picture of your creamy pasta dish and share it on Instagram, please make sure to tag me @biancazapatka and use the hashtag #biancazapatka, so I won’t miss your post! Enjoy your meal!

Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese (easy recipe) (12)

Author: Bianca Zapatka

This Creamy Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese is the perfect healthy comfort food! It’s super delicious, cheesy, low-fat, and filled with plant-based ingredients. The recipe is very easy and quick to make.

4.85 von 20 Bewertungen

Print Pin Review

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Course Hauptgericht, Lunch & Dinner, Main Course

Servings 4 servings

Calories 549 kcal

Ingredients

  • 14 oz gluten-free pasta* (400 g)
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 2-3 cloves garlic minced
  • 14 oz pumpkin purée or squash (400 g) cooked or canned
  • 2/3 cup cashews* (100 g) presoaked in water (for at least 3h)
  • 3-4 tbsp nutritional yeast flakes
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • about 1 cup water (or vegetable broth)
  • salt, pepper (to taste)

Toppings (optional):

  • dairy-free parmesan cheese
  • parsley chopped

Instructions

*Note: Watch the recipe video for visual instruction!

  • Soak Cashews for at least 3 hours (or up to overnight). Then drain and rinse with fresh water. (Alternatively, simply cook them in a pot for about 10-15 minutes).

  • Prepare pumpkin purée (if using homemade). It's ready in only 2-3 minutes when cooking in the microwave.

  • Cook pasta according package instructions to 'al dente'.

In the meantime, make the sauce:

  • Heat up oil in a small pan and roast garlic for about 1-2 minutes.

  • Add softened cashews along with water, pumpkin, roasted garlic, nutritional yeast, and spices to a high-speed blender. Blend until smooth and creamy. Add more water, if the sauce is too thick.

  • Drain pasta, put back into the pot, pour sauce over and heat everything up while stirring occasionally.

  • Season again to taste, and top off with fresh chopped parsley and vegan parmesan, if desired.

  • Enjoy!

Notes

  • To make this dish GLUTEN-FREE, you can use gluten-free pasta.
  • If you’re NUT ALLERGIC, you can sub sunflower seeds or just use plant-based cream. Read more suggestions in the text above.
  • To make a PASTA BAKE, you can fill your pumpkin pasta in a baking dish, sprinkle with bread crumbs and bake at 355°F (180°C) for about 15 minutes, until golden-brown and crumbly.
  • The vegan pumpkin cheese sauce can be stored in a closed jar and refrigerated, for about 3-4 days. It is also suitable for freezing.

Nutritions

Serving: 1Serving | Calories: 549kcal | Carbohydrates: 90g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 10mg | Potassium: 815mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 8466IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutrition is calculated automatically and should be used as estimate.

Did you make this recipe?Mention @biancazapatka or tag #biancazapatka!

IF YOU HAVE PINTEREST, YOU CAN FIND ME HERE AND PIN YOUR FAVORITE PICTURE, IF YOU LIKE!

Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese (easy recipe) (13)

©Bianca Zapatka | All images & content are copyright protected. Please do not use myimages without prior permission. If you want to republish this recipe, please link back to this post for the recipe. More info here. Thank youfor supporting biancazapatka.com!

Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese (easy recipe) (14)Disclosure for affiliate links with asterisk(*):
Thispage may contain affiliate links that earn me a small commission, at no additional cost to you. You can find more information here.

Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese (easy recipe) (2024)

FAQs

What is vegan mac and cheese made of? ›

The super creamy sauce still contains a small amount of cashews, but its base is blended yellow potato and sweet potato. The yellow potato gives it a delightful gooey texture, and the sweet potato makes it vibrant orange. Apple cider vinegar, garlic, onion powder, and nutritional yeast perfect its cheesy taste.

Does vegan mac and cheese taste the same? ›

Vegan mac and cheese is essentially the same thing as regular mac and cheese, so… pasta with a cheese sauce, duh. BUT it isn't made with cheese. That being said, it still tastes like macaroni and cheese AKA the ultimate comfort food.

What is a vegan substitute for milk in mac and cheese? ›

Almond milk is a popular plant-based milk that's a great substitute for regular cow's milk. It has a nutty flavor, which can add a subtle richness to your mac and cheese. As it's used as a common milk substitute, you can simply put the same amount of almond milk as you'd put regular milk.

What is most vegan cheese made of? ›

The ingredients used in vegan cheese vary depending on the type of cheese being made and the desired texture and flavor. The most commonly used ingredients include plant-based milk, nutritional yeast, agar agar, tapioca starch, coconut oil, cashews, and chickpea flour.

How do they flavor vegan cheese? ›

Nutritional yeast – It gives this dairy-free cheese the nutty, savory flavor of the real thing! Garlic and onion powder – They add delicious depth of flavor. Apple cider vinegar – It gives this vegan cheese a bright, tangy finish.

What is the best non-dairy cheese? ›

  • Treeline Cream Cheese. ...
  • Parmela Shreds. ...
  • Miyoko's Mozzarella. ...
  • Violife cheeeeeese. ...
  • Follow Your Heart Slices. ...
  • Kite Hill Ricotta. ...
  • SriMu. Founder Julie Piatt makes the Rolls Royce standard of dairy-free cheeses. ...
  • 4-Ingredient Parmesan. Yes, you can purchase store-bought dairy-free parmesan, but making it is faster and cheaper.
Feb 21, 2024

What ingredient is in vegan cheese? ›

What Ingredients Are in Vegan Cheese? Vegan cheeses are 100% animal-free and made using vegetable proteins. Usually, they're made from soy; nuts, such as cashews and macadamias; and vegetable oils, such as coconut oil. You can also find cheeses that derive from agar, tapioca, peas and arrowroot.

What is a vegan cheese made of? ›

Vegan cheese is usually made from soy, nuts, vegetable oils, and various other natural ingredients like peas or arrowroot. Vegan cheese is seen as a healthier alternative to cheese by some, and may reduce your risk of heart disease due to its lower content of fat.

What is vegan cheese out of? ›

The ingredients used in vegan cheese vary depending on the type of cheese being made and the desired texture and flavor. The most commonly used ingredients include plant-based milk, nutritional yeast, agar agar, tapioca starch, coconut oil, cashews, and chickpea flour.

What is vegan butter made of? ›

Vegan butter is a non-dairy butter substitute made from plant-based ingredients. It is typically made from a blend of vegetable oils such as coconut, palm, or soybean and other natural ingredients such as nuts, seeds, and even algae. This makes it a great alternative for those who: Follow a vegan diet.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Fredrick Kertzmann

Last Updated:

Views: 5811

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (46 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Fredrick Kertzmann

Birthday: 2000-04-29

Address: Apt. 203 613 Huels Gateway, Ralphtown, LA 40204

Phone: +2135150832870

Job: Regional Design Producer

Hobby: Nordic skating, Lacemaking, Mountain biking, Rowing, Gardening, Water sports, role-playing games

Introduction: My name is Fredrick Kertzmann, I am a gleaming, encouraging, inexpensive, thankful, tender, quaint, precious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.