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Home Ā» Recipes

Nut Free Vegan Mac And Cheese

February 21, 2023 by Katie 8 Comments

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This Nut Free Vegan Mac And Cheese is the perfect weeknight dinner recipe. It's packed full of vegetables, flavor and whole grains. This recipe is vegan, oil-free, gluten-free, nut-free, and refined sugar-free!
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nut free vegan mac and cheese
close up of the nut free mac and cheese to show the creamy texture underneath the crispy top

This creamy baked Nut Free Vegan Mac And Cheese is the ultimate plant based dinner. It's packed full of veggies and whole grains, and super simple to make. This recipe is sure to be a favorite amongst vegans and non vegans alike!

Vegan Mac and Cheese is great. There are thousands of recipes online. Many of them taste just like the real thing, or have a creative twist like my Sweet Potato Mac And Cheese.

More often than not these vegan recipes contain nuts. This is perfectly fine unless you are nut-free. That's exactly why I created this sunflower seed butter mac and cheese! Whether you have an allergy, are looking for a more affordable option, or are just looking for a delicious recipe, this one's for you!

Jump to:
  • Ingredients For This Nut Free Vegan Mac And Cheese:
  • How To Make This Nut Free Vegan Mac And Cheese:
  • Easy Substitutions:
  • Nut Free Vegan Mac And Cheese Variations:
  • What You Will Need To Make This Nut Free Mac And Cheese:
  • How To Store This Nut Free Vegan Mac And Cheese:
  • Top Tip For Making Nut Free Vegan Mac And Cheese:
  • Frequently Asked Questions:
  • Related Vegan Main Courses:
  • Nut Free Vegan Mac And Cheese
  • Food Safety
  • Recent Recipes:
close up of the sunbutter mac and cheese to show the creamy texture on the inside

Ingredients For This Nut Free Vegan Mac And Cheese:

This Nut Free Vegan Mac And Cheese is the perfect allergen friendly meal that features clean and simple ingredients.

  • SunButter Organic Sunflower Seed Butter - This is the key ingredient to achieving the perfect creamy nut-free vegan mac and cheese. It's made with simple and clean ingredients, is certified organic, and is SO much more affordable than nut butters such as cashew butter. It has a delicious flavor that elevates this recipe to the next level.
  • Golden Potatoes - Any potato variety will work for this vegan mac and cheese. However I prefer to use golden potatoes. They have a creamier and richer flavor which makes them perfect for this recipe.
  • Baby Carrots - It's important that you use baby carrots, and not regular carrots. Baby carrots have a sweeter flavor, and will compliment the other flavors in this recipe. Regular carrots don't have much flavor, they will work if that's all you have, but I prefer not to use them.
  • Garlic - You may adjust the garlic to your taste. Since this is not a traditional mac and cheese recipe, you can play around with the flavors quite a lot. I personally don't love traditional mac and cheese, because I think it lacks flavor. Therefore I add lots of garlic to this recipe.
  • Sweet Onion - You can use a sweet onion, or a regular onion. Much like the carrots, this will just affect the flavors slightly. Regular onions will work. However I find that sweet onions work better.
  • Nutritional Yeast - This is what gives this recipe the perfect plant based cheesy flavor. Nutritional yeast is a natural ingredient that is high in B vitamins and protein.
  • Nut-Free Vegan Yogurt - If you're not nut-free, you can use any vegan yogurt. However if you want to make this recipe nut-free, use a soy, flax, coconut, or oat based yogurt.
  • Smoked Paprika - This gives this nut free vegan mac and cheese the perfect warm smoky flavor. Smoked paprika is great, because it's not too overwhelming, but it's still super flavorful.
  • Sea Salt - One of the key ingredients to achieving cheese like vegan flavors is using lots of salt. You can leave this ingredient out if you eat a low sodium diet, but I highly recommend including it.
  • Gluten-Free Macaroni Noodles - If you don't eat a gluten-free diet, you can use regular, whole wheat, or even bean based noodles for a high protein and high fiber option.
  • Broccoli - Is the perfect vegetable to include in this recipe. You can use fresh broccoli, or use frozen broccoli for a quicker option.
  • Gluten-Free Panko - Just like the pasta, if you are not gluten-free, you do not need to use gluten-free panko. I like using the Panko brand, because it has minimal ingredients.
  • Fresh Thyme - Makes for the perfect garnish on top of this mac and cheese recipe.

See recipe card for quantities.

the nut free vegan mac and cheese with the sunbutter container and fresh thyme

How To Make This Nut Free Vegan Mac And Cheese:

This Nut Free Vegan Mac And Cheese is guaranteed to be a new favorite plant based dinner recipe. It's incredibly easy to make and it is packed full of vegetables and flavor.

steaming the vegetables

Begin by peeling the garlic and roughly chopping the onions and the potatoes. Add to a steamer with the baby carrots and steam until soft. About 25 minutes.

combining all the ingredients together in the blender

Add the steamed vegetables to a blender with the nutritional yeast, smoked paprika, plant based yogurt, salt, and Sunbutter sunflower butter.

blending the vegetables into a creamy cheese sauce.

Blend the ingredients on high for about 2 full minutes. You want to make sure that it becomes a smooth and creamy liquid without any clumps. Boil the gluten-free macaroni noodles according to package instructions.

combining the broccoli and macaroni noodles

Combine the cooked gluten-free macaroni noodles and broccoli together in an oven safe dish.

the nut free vegan mac and cheese after baking

Remove from the oven and top with fresh thyme. Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

blanching the broccoli

Lightly blanch the broccoli. Once it turns bright green, strain. Preheat the oven to 375.

adding the cheese sauce to the pasta

Pour the cheesy sauce over the gluten-free macaroni noodles and broccoli. Top with gluten-free panko and place in the oven for 15 minutes.

@theallnaturalvegan

NEW! 🌟Nut Free Vegan Mac And Cheese 🌟 Happy Tuesday friends! I’ve got the perfect healthy weeknight dinner recipe for you guys today. This rich and creamy vegan Mac and cheese is made completely nut free thanks to @sunbutter Organic Sunflower Seed Butter! I love this seed butter because it’s made with clean ingredients, has no added oil, has a delicious flavor, is super affordable, and of course because it’s organic! It adds the perfect rich flavor and creamy texture to this baked Mac and cheese recipe. This recipe is quick and easy, and perfect for vegans and non vegans alike! This recipe is: vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, oil-free, and refined sugar-free! Recipe: https://theallnaturalvegan.com/nut-free-vegan-mac-and-cheese/ Enjoy šŸ’• #veganmacncheese #veganmacandcheese #vegandinner #vegandinnerideas #nutfreevegan #nutfree #nutfreevegancheese #oilfreevegan #glutenfreerecipes #glutenfreevegan #plantbasedfood #plantbasedrecipes #plantbasedpasta #pastarecipe #macandcheese #healthydinner #healthydinnerideas

♬ original sound - Katie

Hint: Don't overcook the macaroni noodles or broccoli before adding to them to the to the oven safe dish with the sauce. The liquid in the sauce will cook the noodles and broccoli even more. By slightly undercooking them before baking you will end up with perfect noodles and broccoli.

close up of the crunchy top of the nut free vegan mac and cheese

Easy Substitutions:

If you have an allergy, don't have a certain ingredient on hand, or are just looking to use something else, there are plenty of easy substitutions that can be made in this nut free vegan mac and cheese.

  • Vegetable - instead of broccoli, you can use any cruciferous vegetable. Kale and cauliflower are my top picks.
  • Noodles - There are so many noodles catered towards so many diets nowadays, that the noodle substitutions are truly endless for this recipe. Use bean based noodles for a grain-free option, gluten-free for a gluten-free option, konjac noodles for a low calorie option, the list goes on!
  • Garnish - This recipe can be garnished with any fresh herb. I personally love thyme, but you can also use parsley, sage, chives, etc.
the nut free vegan mac and cheese right out of the oven to show the crispy top

Nut Free Vegan Mac And Cheese Variations:

This Nut Free Vegan Mac And Cheese is a go-to healthy vegan weeknight dinner recipe for me. Although it is absolutely delicious as is, there are a couple variations I love to make to mix it up.

  • Spicy - add chili pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to the sauce to make an extra spicy mac and cheese.
  • Deluxe - add plant based protein, extra vegetables, and vegan cheese on top for a fully loaded nut free mac and cheese.
  • Noodles - Just because this is a mac and cheese recipe does not mean you have to use macaroni noodles. You can use any noodle shape for this recipe. I recommend using bite sized noodles with some sort of shape and form that can hold the sauce.

See my Sweet Potato Mac And Cheese for another vegan mac and cheese variety!

What You Will Need To Make This Nut Free Mac And Cheese:

This Nut Free Mac and Cheese is great, because it doesn't require any crazy equipment. You will need:

  • Blender - Any blender will work for this recipe. However if you eat a plant based diet, I strongly recommend using high speed blender such as a Vitamix. It's a game changer when it comes to making creamy cheese sauces like the one in this recipe.
  • Steamer/Pot - You will need a steamer and a pot to steam the vegetables and boil the pasta. There are plenty of pots out there that do both.
  • Oven Safe Dish - Any oven safe dish will work. I love using my cast iron, because it's beautiful, and it cooks evenly.

How To Store This Nut Free Vegan Mac And Cheese:

This recipe is one of my favorite meal prep friendly meals to make. It will last all week if stored correctly, and tastes great all throughout the week.

If you're planning on meal prepping this nut-free vegan mac and cheese, I recommend using air tight storage containers. Any meal prep container will work, however air tight containers will keep the pasta from drying out best.

This vegan mac and cheese recipe can also be frozen. Again, I recommend using air tight containers when freezing. If stored properly this recipe can keep in the freezer for up to two months.

I recommend reheating it in the oven if frozen. Heat your oven to 350 and bake for 25 minutes.

the nut free vegan mac and cheese with the sunflower butter

Top Tip For Making Nut Free Vegan Mac And Cheese:

Make sure that the vegan cheese sauce is extra creamy and smooth before adding it to the macaroni and broccoli. If the mixture is even slightly chunky, it can mess up the recipe. When in doubt, blend more. It's pretty much impossible to over blend the sauce.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What Is Vegan Mac And Cheese Made Of?

Typically vegan mac and cheese is made up of cashews and nutritional yeast. However this recipe features SunButter Organic Sunflower Seed Butter for a nut-free alternative. It gives the mac and cheese that perfect creamy texture, a delicious flavor, and it's way more affordable!

What Is Nutritional Yeast?

Nutritional Yeast is a very common ingredient in vegan recipes, but what exactly is it? Nutritional yeast is an inactive form of yeast that is used to leaven bread. It's high in B vitamins, and has the perfect cheese flavor that is completely vegan!

Related Vegan Main Courses:

Looking for other vegan weeknight dinner recipes like this? Try these:

  • vegan buffalo chickpea quesadillas
    Oil-Free Buffalo Chickpea Quesadillas
  • pizza nachos
    Pizza Nachos
  • sunflower seed risotto
    Sunflower Seed Risotto
  • spinach artichoke salad
    Spinach Artichoke Salad
nut free vegan mac and cheese

Nut Free Vegan Mac And Cheese

This Nut Free Vegan Mac And Cheese is the perfect weeknight dinner recipe. It's packed full of vegetables, flavor and whole grains. This recipe is vegan, oil-free, gluten-free, nut-free, and refined sugar-free!
5 from 14 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Casserole, Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4 people

Equipment

  • 1 High speed blender
  • 1 steamer
  • 1 oven safe baking dish

Ingredients
  

  • 1 box gluten-free macaroni noodles
  • 2 crowns broccoli
  • ½ cup gluten-free panko
  • ½ sweet onion
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 3 golden potatoes
  • 1 cup baby carrots
  • ½ cup nut free vegan yogurt
  • ā…“ cup sunbutter organic sunflower seed butter
  • 1 teaspoon miso paste
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ā…“ cup nutritional yeast
  • Fresh thyme to garnish

Instructions
 

  • Begin by peeling the garlic and roughly chopping the onions and the potatoes. Add to a steamer with the baby carrots and steam until soft. About 25 minutes.
  • Add the steamed vegetables to a blender with the nutritional yeast, smoked paprika, plant based yogurt, salt, and Sunbutter sunflower butter.
  • Blend the ingredients on high for about 2 full minutes. You want to make sure that it becomes a smooth and creamy liquid without any clumps. Boil the gluten-free macaroni noodles according to package instructions.
  • Lightly blanch the broccoli. Once it turns bright green, strain. Preheat the oven to 375.
  • Combine the cooked gluten-free macaroni noodles and broccoli together in an oven safe dish.
  • Pour the cheesy sauce over the gluten-free macaroni noodles and broccoli. Top with gluten-free panko and place in the oven for 15 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven and top with fresh thyme. Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Keyword easy dinner, fall dinner, healthy dinner, mac and cheese, nut free vegan mac and cheese, nut-free
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Food Safety

It's important to make sure you are always practicing safe habits in the kitchen. When making this Nut-Free Vegan Mac And Cheese, make sure to:

  • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
  • Never leave cooking food unattended
  • Wash hands before touching food
  • Use hot mitts when touching hot objects

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

recipe card stating this recipe is vegan, oil-free, gluten-free and refined sugar-free

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Reader Interactions

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    Recipe Rating




  1. April

    February 22, 2023 at 12:41 pm

    This was delicious! So creamy and cheesy! My kids loved it too!

    Reply
  2. Christina's Bread Bakes

    February 22, 2023 at 2:28 pm

    5 stars
    Such a unique recipe! I have never used the sunflower butter before in a savory recipe but will do so more often now. Thanks!

    Reply
  3. nancy

    February 22, 2023 at 7:00 pm

    5 stars
    finally a tasty Nut Free Vegan Mac And Cheese ! every time i look for a vegan mac it tells me to use almond flour. thanks for this creamy and easy recipe

    Reply
  4. Kalin Williams

    February 23, 2023 at 1:28 pm

    5 stars
    This mac and cheese is absolutely beautiful!! It's amazing this is vegan!

    Reply
  5. Erin

    March 27, 2023 at 5:29 pm

    5 stars
    This was so good and creamy! I've been looking for a nut-free vegan mac and cheese and this hit the spot ... thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
  6. Andrea White

    March 27, 2023 at 11:51 pm

    5 stars
    this vegan mac turned out so good! love that it's nut free too!

    Reply
  7. Tina

    March 28, 2023 at 12:26 am

    5 stars
    I love that this mac n cheese recipe is nut free and packed with veggies! Definitely adding this one into my dinner rotation!

    Reply
  8. Tavo

    March 28, 2023 at 2:18 pm

    5 stars
    we tried this recipe yesterday fro brunch, and no one could believe it was vegan. Everyone ran for seconds!

    Reply

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Hi! Welcome to The All Natural Vegan, I am so happy you're here! I'm Katie and I created, photographed, and wrote every recipe here just for you! You can read more about my story, and what to expect here on The All Natural Vegan here. Read More…

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