Let’s face it, a really good gluten free vegan macaroni & cheese recipe is hard to come by. Sure there are a couple boxed mixes, but nothing to look forward to, and certainly none that’s remotely healthy.
But THIS … this gluten free vegan macaroni & cheese recipe is something special! The key is in the vegan cheesy sauce that’s just as good served as a vegan nacho “cheese” sauce. I could seriously eat it out of the bowl.
Let’s get realistic here folks, the boxes of processed macaroni noodles and fake cheese powder aren’t really “real” anyway, so don’t start turning your nose up at my GFCF version. You’re going to have to trust me on this, though. Take a look at the ingredients — no way could this work, right!? Wrong! It’s MAGIC!
We served this magical gluten free vegan mac and cheese dish again this weekend to a group and after they had all gone back for seconds we asked if anyone could guess what was in it. That stopped folks in their tracks because they had of course assumed it was cheese. Or vegan cheese, I suppose.
Hardly! “There was no cheese or vegan cheese harmed in the production of this dish!”, we announced. Which stumps people who have just enjoyed a plate of something called macaroni and cheese (and loved it.). After some worthy guesses about spices and such, they pretty much gave up, which is the way it should be with magic, don’t you think?
Like I said, you’re going to have to trust me and try it for yourself! It’s actually a much healthier dish all around, and all the parents who’ve tried it have loved it too! (We actually ran out of chips to dip in the cheesy sauce at my cooking demonstration – everyone loved it!)
Cheesy texture, great taste, GFCF and healthier?! What’s not to love?!
Oh and it’s basically whipped up in your blender or food processor, so there’s that.
It’s pretty fun to throw this recipe together.
There’s lots to love here, folks! Your new favorite gluten free vegan macaroni and cheese recipe is just waiting for you to try it!
Gluten Free Vegan Macaroni and Cheese Recipe
This gluten free vegan macaroni and cheese recipe is one of those recipes you could call MAGIC. There's just no way these healthy ingredients could actually combine together -- without cheese -- to make these savory cheesy sauce, but somehow they do. I guess you'll just have to try it for your self!
Ingredients
- 2 medium white potatoes (14.5 ounces/420 grams), peeled and diced
- 1 large carrot (2.5 ounces/75 grams), peeled and diced
- 1/2 cup yellow onion, diced
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 cup cashew, almond, peanut or sunflower nut butter
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil of choice (I used safflower)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon or spicy brown Mustard
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon yellow mustard powder
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
- 4 teaspoons gluten-free nutritional yeast or brewer’s yeast*
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
- ¾ cup water
- 12-16 oz. gluten-free macaroni noodles (Bi-Aglut® GF Elbow Noodles; Ancient Harvest Quinoa® Elbow Noodles; Barilla® Gluten Free Elbow Noodles; Tinkyada® Brown Rice Elbow Noodles, etc.)
- OR corn chips for nachos (or to crush and sprinkle on top or baked macaroni)
Instructions
In a large non-stick skillet, cook the potatoes, carrot and onion in olive oil and 1 cup water. Cover and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
Do not let the vegetables dry out; if they are cooked but water remains in the skillet, remove the lid to allow the excess water to cook off. Once they are fork tender, transfer to a blender or food processor and pulse until smooth.
Add nut or seed butter, salt, garlic, oil, mustard and dried mustard, lemon juice, nutritional yeast pepper and water. Pulse until fully integrated. Taste and add more of any particular ingredient to adjust taste to your preference. Thin with more hot water, if necessary.
Prepare noodles according to package directions. Drain. Add sauce, stirring to evenly coat noodles. If desired, sprinkled crushed corn chips on top and bake for 10 minutes at 400° F to crisp the top.
Serve warm, tossed with gluten-free macaroni noodles or use as a nacho cheese dip or spread!
To drizzle over chips, thin the sauce with hot water until it is the consistency you desire.
(Approximate nutrition for each serving: 192 calories, 15g total fat, 2g saturated fat, 0g trans fat, 0mg cholesterol, 307mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate, 2g fiber, 2g sugars, 3g protein, 5Est GL.)
Notes
*Be sure to buy only gluten free nutritional yeast or brewer's yeast. Brewer's yeast is only gluten-free if made from molasses.
I have linked a few brands for you below:
Anthony's Gluten Free Brewer's Yeast (from molasses)
Bragg Gluten Free Nutritional Yeast
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Oh my, why I’d like a good blender? Because there’s so much more this can do than what I’ve got. I’m always scared of burning the motor on the mini one I have and the other one is rather impractical and not make to have logical settings.
This blender would be AWESOME to make so many recipes that I’ve come across & loved {especially this mac & cheese}, but they use blenders or food processors, which I dont have. I have now “liked” Kitchen Aid, and have been loving your blog
I also liked Kitchen Aid!
I liked Kitchen aid on facebook – would love to win the blender for my family of 6, 5 of us are gluten free dairy free!!!!
I would love to win this blender for my gluten free dairy free cooking!!
I already liked you on Facebook, and I will definitely try this recipe for Mac & Cheese. I have missed eating it. I would love to have the blender. I have one but not near as powerful as the kitchen Aid. I am a lonely GFCF living in a household of all Gluten and Cheese eaters. It is tough to say the least, plus I prepare all meals.
I would LOVE this KitchenAid blender as I am dealing with living GFCF and try to make as much as possible from scratch at home. Making a cheesy sauce for mac and cheese would be pure HEAVEN!!
I liked you on facebook a while ago. Love your GF flour!!! Have ordered several times already . . . .
I already “like” you on FB and follow your blog thru email and google reader.
I just now pinned this to my pinterest page.
I just now “liked” Kitchen Aid on Facebook, and I really do like my kitchen aid mixer!
I’d love to win this blender to blend flours!
Already liked you on facebook, liked KitchAid, pinned recipe and tweeted about it. I would like this blender simply because I have to prepare and cook every single meal my family consumes (every day!), going out is much to difficult with the laundry list of food intolerences my family has, someone always feels bad after we get home. My current blender is starting to wear out and it’s only a matter of time before it goes. Anything that would reduce the amount of time I spend in the kitchen would be awesome, since I also work full-time. Thank you for your consideration!
I pinned!
I tweeted!
I pinned this from your page to share the great recipe and contest info. Thanks, Jules!
I like your page on Facebook. Thanks for all the gluten-free recipe inspiration! Would love a chance at the KitchenAid blender. It would be so great to make my own almond meal, almond butter, smoothies, etc.
I already “like” KA on facebook!
I already “like” Jules AND the blog on Facebook… wish there was a “love” button!
I need to win this blender! I have “killed” my Magic Bullet and another blender by frequent usage trying to make dairy free sauces and veggie burgers, so I’ve been in the market for one for several months!
My family loves mac and cheese, but since doing wheat and dairy free, I haven’t found a tasty cheese. My hubby cannot have onions or any mustard seed related items – do you think the recipe will still work if I omit those ingredients? Any suggestions should be great.