This post contains affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.
This Easy Vegan Mac and Cheese Powder is perfect to whip up mac and cheese within minutes when needed. It also makes a great gift! Add flavors and herbs for variations. Soyfree Vegan Mac and Cheese Mix Recipe. Glutenfree Nutfree Option. Jump to Recipe
You know when you need some mac and cheese fix super quickly and without having to think much about what to add when and how much! Or a Creamy Cheese Sauce to dip some veggies, This mix comes in handy!
Just mix or blend with non dairy milk, simmer and done. Add cooked pasta, sauteed veggies or salsa for a dip!
Saute some onion, garlic and veggies such as mushrooms to the cheese sauce for variation. Add some flavors such as chipotle pepper or cajun or garam masala. Play away!
You can use the mix to make a fabulous cheese sauce to dress roasted veggies or bowls or use as a dip! You can also make a casserole with it. Add more herbs of choice. Lots of options!
Vegan Mac and Cheese Powder
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup cashews, raw, (see notes for nutfree)
- 1/2 cup nutritional yeast
- 3 tbsp flour, ( all purpose or use oat flour for glutenfree. rice flour will work too, but it adds a slight grittyness)
- 2 tbsp tapioca starch or other starch
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp ground mustard
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1.5 tsp salt, (2 tsp for saltier or adjust later when you make the sauce)
- 2 to 3 tsp paprika, , a mix of smoked and regular or all smoked
- 1/2 to 1 tsp black pepper
To make Mac & Cheese:
- 1 cup mac or other small pasta
- 1 cup non dairy milk or water
- 1/3 to 1/2 cup of mac and cheese powder from above
Instructions
To make the Powder Mix:
- Process everything in a food processor or blender until powdered. It takes 2-3 mins. Blend/process or a minute, scrape sides and blend again. (Check in between to feel the mixture if it is too gritty with pieces of nuts. Process more until the mixture becomes more powdery with just a slight grittyness.)
- Add other flavor profiles such as chipotle, cajun, garam masala and mix in (optional). See notes for options.
To make mac:
- Cook 1 cup of dry pasta according to instructions on the package in salted water. Drain and set aside.
- Combine 1/3 to 1/2 cup of mix with 1 cup of water or (not hot) non dairy milk and 2-3 tsp olive oil or vegan butter (optional) in a saucepan or blend and add to saucepan for creamier, start heat over medium, and bring to a boil. Add cooked pasta (and optionally sauteed veggies such as mushrooms, broccoli etc) and cook for a min, taste and adjust salt and flavor. (You can add 1 tsp miso or soy sauce and/or lemon juice for additional flavor. Garnish with oregano, pepper flakes if needed.) Cover and let sit for another 2 mins. (For saucier, use 1/2 cup mix. You can add a tbsp more of the powder to the simmering sauce, if it isnt as thick as you like).
- To make cheese sauce to drizzle over roasted veggies or salad or baked potato, blend 1/2 cup mix with 1 cup non dairy milk.Add to a pan and bring to a boil. Simmer for a few mins to thicken.
- To Store: Store in a glass jar or ceramic airtight container. On the counter away from heat for upto a month. Refrigerate for freshness and longer life.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
When the sauce is simmering, you can add additional flavors like some miso, lemon and/or soy sauce. Add some sriracha or chili garlic sauce or Gochujang for variation. Fold in some salsa and taco spice for a fajita style cheese sauce. Perfect to have around while travelling/camping!
If you want to use nuts other than cashews, such as almond, use a 1/3 cup nuts and add 2 tbsp more flour as most other nuts are not as creamy.
Tips to make a smooth cheese sauce
- You want to process or blend the mixture a few times with scraping and mixing in between. Check in between to feel the mixture if it is too gritty with pieces of nuts. Process more until themixture becomes more powdery with just a slight grittyness.
- Blend the mixture with the non dairy milk in a blender so the nuts blend in even more, before adding to the saucepan.
More gifts for the Holidays
- Cowboy Cookies in a Jar.
- Kitchari Mix in a Jar – Put in instant pot or saucepan and done.
Lets make this easy mac mix and gift it out to everyone who loves a good cheese sauce! This recipe is adapted from Miyoko’s Cheese Mix.
Above is scant 1/2 cup chipotle mac mix with non dairy milk. Below is 1/3 cup mac mix with water. 
I can’t eat nutritional yeast. Can you suggest any substitution for it? I’d love to be able to make a gf vegan Mac and cheese that’s safe for me, and tasty enough to make my kids happy. Thanks! I just found your site and I’m excited to try your recipes. I’m especially excited to try the vegan Malai kofta! Yum!
Can you eat miso? Add 2-3 teaspoons miso while making the sauce. Or your other best bet is mixing in some vegan cheese shreds. There are quite a few brands that don’t container nutritional yeast
So I weighed my cashews, & 1/2 cup was 64.5 g. Then I weighed my nutritional yeast and a level 1/2 cup gave me 36g, 1/3 cup gave me 24g and 1/4 cup gave me 18g. Is there a typo in the recipe?
I use a widget and it uses some standardized values. Also nutritional yeast flakes va powder would differ in weight. Which one did you measure
Can I use almond flour in place of white flour? I hate using white flour.
Use a mix of almond and cashew. Almond won’t thicken as much as regular flour and will be gritty. Some more cashew will help thicken
This was a comfort food staple for me during lockdown! Thanks to a comment from another reader I tried it with hemp seeds, also delicious. I always use pumpkin seeds and will play with other nuts seeds now too 🙂 Love having a big jar of this in the pantry at all times. Amazing how creamy it turns out! Omnivores love it too. Thank you Richa!
Awesome!
This is a game-changer for me. Very easy, very tasty, and so much wiser than my usual convenience food tendencies. Definitely a new pantry staple.
Yummy, yummy! Served it over steamed cauliflower. To die for!
Thank you, Richa!
sounds delicious sylvia
Oooh that’s a great idea Sylvia!
It’s nice for mac & cheez but I am finding different uses for it too. Sliced some extra-firm tofu, coated with egg replacer and dipped in cheez powder, fried it up. Yum. Also, added to mashed potatoes with a touch of vegan butter, soy milk, lemon and cracked pepper as filling for perogies!
Awesome
Just to clarify, to make this GF i used oat flour and cornstarch and followed everything else for the recipe is that okay?
perfect
Can you sub almond flour for the flour? I don’t have rice flour to go with oat flour.
sure – use the same amt as the cashews instead
So 1/2 cup of almond flour vs 3 tbsp regular flour? Just asking because it seems like a LOT more!
yes because it’s replacing the other
Thanks for your wonderful recipes 🙂
Awesome!
This recipe is brilliant! I have subbed in half cashews for sunflower or pumpkin seeds. Thanks for creating this. You have made the convince of boxed mac and cheese possible with whole ingredients to make a nice cheese sauce for anything but especially a noodle. I make large batches to keep when the urge for a cheesy craving arrives.