Creamy Mac & Cheese Dishes to Make You Ditch Dairy

Mac and cheese is a popular addition to millions of dinner tables across the country. Following a plant-based, dairy-free diet does not mean you can never enjoy this creamy, cheesy treat. With a few clever substitutions, you can make a vegan mac and cheese that tastes even better than the original. Even your veg-curious friends will love it.

Made-From-Scratch Vegan-Friendly Mac & Cheese Recipes

We have put together a few plant-based mac and cheese recipes for you to consider. Many have similar ingredients, but each recipe has its own reasons for standing out. Still, everyone claims their version is the best. Some even name their recipes “The Best”, but you be the judge.

25-Minute Cauliflower Mac and Cheese from Two Spoons

The Farm Buzz’s previous article, 19 Versatile Cauliflower Recipes that will Wow Your Palate, shares 19 ways you could showcase cauliflower’s versatility. Here is one more. The base of this simple sauce is cauliflower, cashews, and nutritional yeast.

The Best Vegan Mac and Cheese from Nora Cooks

Make Nora Cooks’ version of vegan mac and cheese on the stove top or bake it in the oven with a tasty breadcrumb topping. Raw cashews, nutritional yeast, and optional vegan cheese are at the heart of this cheesy sauce.

Classic Vegan Mac and Cheese from Loving it Vegan

Loving it Vegan creates a cheesy bechamel sauce without any vegan cheese. It starts with vegan butter, flour, and coconut milk. Then Dijon mustard, nutritional yeast, smoked paprika, and other seasonings add a nice, cheesy flavor.

The Best Vegan Mac and Cheese from Crowded Kitchen

Many recipes for cheese sauce rely on raw cashews and nutritional yeast to achieve that perfect, cheesy goodness. This recipe steers away from those ingredients in favor of vegan butter, vegan milk, and vegan cheese.

The Best Vegan Mac and Cheese from Pasta-Based

This vegan mac and cheese still uses the nutritional yeast and cashews but throws a few veggies into the mix. Sweet potatoes and sweet onion bring a lot of flavors to the dish. Veggie broth and plant milk bring even more to the table.

As you can see, most vegan mac and cheese recipes call for similar ingredients with minor differences. They are all delicious, though. It is up to you to choose the right recipe for you and your family.

Store-Bought Vegan-Friendly Mac & Cheese

If you would rather use a store-bought mix to prepare some delicious vegan mac and cheese, there are quite a few to choose from. Give some of these a try and let us know which you like best.

Kraft

Kraft Original Flavor Plant-Based Mac & Cheese
Kraft Plant-Based Mac & Cheese, White Cheddar
Kraft plant-based products can be found at many major retailers such as Walmart, Amazon, and Target.

Annie’s

Annie’s plant-based products can be purchased at major retailers including Target, Walmart, Publix, Whole Foods, and Amazon.

Goodles

Goodles Vegan is Believin’ Plant-Based White Cheddar with Spirals
Goodles Vegan Be Heroes Plant-Based Cheddar with Gluten-Free Mac
Goodles plant-based products are at major retailers such as Walmart, Target, Whole Foods, Amazon, and more.

Daiya

Daiya’s plant-based products can be found in many major retail stores including Whole Foods, Kroger, Publix, Safeway, Walmart, and Amazon.

Pastabilities

Pastabilities plant-based products are found in Target, Whole Foods, Amazon, and Walmart.

365 by Whole Foods Market

365 by Whole Foods Market Plant-Based Mac & Cheese
365’s plant-based products can be purchased at Whole Foods or Amazon.

Banza

Banza’s plant-based products are on shelves at many major retailers like Kroger, Target, Walmart, Sprouts, Amazon, and Whole Foods.

Amy’s

Amy’s plant-based products can be bought at major retailers such as Walmart, Target, and Amazon.

Jovial

Jovial Organic Gluten Free Vegan Mac

Jovial’s plant-based products are sold at retailers such as Walmart, Amazon, and Target.

Upton’s Naturals

Upton’s Naturals Deluxe Ch’eesy Mac with Vegan Cheese Sauce

Upton’s Naturals plant-based products are available at Sprouts, Publix, and Amazon.

Grown As* Foods

Grown As* Foods Classic Mac & Cheese

Grown As*’s plant-based lineup can be purchased primarily via their official website or in stores such as Walmart, Amazon, Kroger, Sprouts, and Costco.

Living Jin Foods

Living Jin Foods: Vegan Cheese Powder

Living Jin Foods’ plant-based products are most easily purchased on their official website or via Amazon.

Field Roast

Field Roast plant-based products can be purchased from retailers such as Amazon and Walmart.

Enjoy a Creamy Yet Compassionate Mac & Cheese Meal

As you can see, there are many options when you are looking for easy, boxed, vegan macaroni and cheese products. It is just a matter of trying them out and finding your favorite. Which will you choose? Will you try some of the at-home recipes, try some off-the-shelf brands, or create your own mac and cheese magic?