This is the best dairy free mac and cheese recipe! So creamy and rich, not only is this cheese sauce dairy free but it’s also gluten free, vegan, paleo and Whole30 compliant. Made with carrots, cashews, coconut milk and nutritional yeast it is really easy to make in under 5 minutes!
Why you will love this recipe:
- Move over Amy’s, Daiya and Trader Joe’s. This is the best dairy free Mac and cheese recipe!
- The dairy free cheese sauce in this recipe is so thick and creamy and delicious.
- Not only is this vegan Mac and cheese dairy free but the sauce is also gluten free, lactose free, paleo, plant based and Whole30 compliant.
- It’s so easy to make and the sauce is ready in less than 5 minutes.
- This Mac and cheese makes great leftovers.
- This is a healthy version of the classic dish we all know and love.
- it’s made with carrots, cashews, coconut milk and nutritional yeast.
- Turn this dish into a complete meal by adding cooked chicken, tofu, beef or pork!
Key ingredients and substitutions:
- Carrots – carrots not only add a healthy vegetable to this plant based cheese sauce, but they also help give this Mac and cheese a beautiful orange color, just without any cheese!
- Coconut milk – full fat coconut milk gives this lactose free Mac and cheese such a rich and creamy flavour, while keeping it dairy milk free. Be sure to use full fat and not low fat coconut milk for the best flavour. You could swap this for cashew milk or almond milk.
- Cashews – raw cashews are such a great substitute for milk in dairy free recipes. They blend beautifully to give this milk free cheese sauce the most delicious creamy texture. I have not tried swapping cashews with any other nuts or making this recipe nut free, and I do not recommend trying it.
- Nutritional yeast – nutritional yeast is used to give this sauce a cheesy flavour, without any cheese or dairy.
How to make this recipe:
You will love how easy this recipe is to make!
Step one:
First, make your pasta as per the instructions on the package.
Step two:
While the pasta is cooking make the cheese sauce by placing all the ingredients into your high speed blender and blending well until smooth.
Step three:
Once the pasta is done cooking, drain and rinse it and pour the cheese sauce over the noodles and stir it well to coat the noodles in the sauce. Then serve and enjoy!
Tips and variations:
- Turn this into a complete meal by adding cooked chicken, tofu, pork or beef.
- If you don’t have a Vitamix blender you will likely need to soak the cashews for a few hours before blending.
- Add some vegetables such as cooked broccoli or cauliflower for some extra vitamins and minerals!
- If you can’t have coconut milk, I would try substituting cashew milk or almond milk instead.
- If you like a thinner sauce, add a bit more water or coconut milk to the recipe.
- The carrots in the sauce are used to give this vegan cheese sauce a nice orange color.
- To make this Mac and cheese paleo: use noodles that are grain free. Some options include zucchini noodles, carrot noodles, sweet potato noodles or these heart of palm noodles.
- To make this into Whole30 Mac and cheese: Use vegetable noodles. Options include carrot noodles, sweet potato noodles, parsnip noodles or zucchini noodles. These noodles made from heart of palm would also work!
How to store:
Store any leftover sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days.
Frequently asked questions:
What’s an alternative for milk in Mac and cheese?
Instead of dairy milk you can make Mac and cheese with coconut milk, almond milk, cashew milk or oat milk. This will give the sauce a nice and creamy texture while keeping it dairy free and lactose free.
Is Velveeta Mac and cheese dairy free?
No. Velveeta cheese is made with modified milk ingredients as well as cheese so it is not dairy free or lactose free. It is also not vegan as it contain animal products.
Is Kraft Mac and cheese dairy free?
No. Kraft Mac and cheese contains whey and milk fat so it is not dairy free or lactose free. Because it contains animals products it is also not vegan.
Is Annies Mac n cheese dairy free?
No. Annie’s Mac and cheese contains cheese, milk, whey, butter and cream meaning it is not dairy free or lactose free. It is also not vegan as it is made with animal products.
Is this Mac and cheese recipe gluten free?
Yes! As long as you use gluten free noodles this Mac n cheese recipe is gluten free and dairy free.
Other dairy free recipes you will love:
- Paleo Teriyaki Chicken and Broccoli
- Mexican Cauliflower Rice with Shrimp
- Vegan Alfredo Sauce
- Whole30 Meatloaf with Blueberries
- Teriyaki Vegetable Stir Fry
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Dairy Free Mac and Cheese
This dairy free mac and cheese is so creamy and rich. The perfect comfort food that is also vegan, paleo and Whole30 and ready in less than 15 minutes.
Ingredients
Pasta Ingredients
- 16 oz pasta of choice
Dairy Free Cheese Sauce Ingredients
- 2 cups raw cashews
- 1 cup full fat coconut milk
- 3/4 cup water
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 1/2 cup chopped carrots
- 1/3 cup nutritional yeast
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp mustard powder
- 1 clove garlic, minced
Instructions
Pasta Instructions
-
Prepare the pasta as per the instructions on the package (while the pasta is cooking make the cheese sauce).
Cheese Sauce Instructions
-
Place all the ingredients into your high speed blender.
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Blend well until smooth.
Assembly Instructions
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Pour the sauce over the cooked pasta and stir well to combine and coat all the noodles.
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Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
- If you like a thinner sauce feel free to add extra water or coconut milk.
- You can substitute cashew milk or almond milk for the coconut milk.Â
- Nutritional values are an estimate and will vary depending on the exact ingredients used.Â
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