This Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese is a delicious and savory pumpkin recipe that's great for fall or any time you need to use up a little extra pumpkin. Rich, creamy, and full of healthy ingredients, this dish is kid-friendly and perfect for everything from holidays and potlucks to quick lunches and easy weeknights.
If you're looking for a savory vegan pumpkin recipe that's easy and delicious, then look no further! This Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese is the perfect combination of creamy and comforting. Plus it's oil-free and kid-friendly. You really can't go wrong.
This dish is luxurious and rich--it's perfect for everything from lunch to Thanksgiving dinner. The creaminess comes from the cashews while the pumpkin adds some color and subtly sweet fall flavors. Yum!
Even though this dish has autumn written all over it, you can enjoy it all year long! Use up your leftover canned pumpkin or substitute with pureed butternut squash.
Looking for a few sweet pumpkin recipes that also use canned pumpkin? Check out these Vegan Pumpkin Muffins, Pumpkin Cookies, Pumpkin Pancakes, and Pumpkin Oatmeal.
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Ingredients
- whole-wheat macaroni pasta: Any type of short pasta like penne or fusilli will work here.
- raw, unsalted cashews: raw cashews make for a much creamier sauce. YOu could easily substitute with raw slivered almonds or sunflower seeds.
- pumpkin puree: From a can or homemade.
- soy milk: Any type of unsweetened plant milk will work here.
- nutritional yeast: This adds a little cheesy flavor but if you're not a fan you can leave it out.
- apple cider vinegar: For just a touch of acidity to brighten the dish.
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- salt
- turmeric: For a little added color.
- nutmeg: Because nutmeg always compliments a cheesy pasta dish! I prefer to use whole nutmeg grated with a microplane becuase it has a better flavor.
- fresh cracked pepper
*See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Boil water for the macaroni in a large or medium pot. Cook the pasta according to the package directions.
In a smaller pot, boil the cashews for 15 minutes.
When the cashews are done, drain them and add them to a blender with all of the other sauce ingredients. Blend until smooth.
Taste the sauce and adjust the seasonings if necessary. If the sauce is too thick, you can add a few more tablespoons of soy milk until it reaches the right consistency.
Drain the macaroni and return to the pot. Add the vegan pumpkin cheese sauce and mix to combine.
Serve and enjoy right away!
Hint: If you prefer, you can let the cashews soak in water overnight, then you can skip boiling them before you make the sauce!
Variations
- You could try pureeing this Air Fryer Butternut Squash in place of the pumpkin puree.
- Add the pasta to a baking dish and sprinkle with breadcrumbs and vegan bacon bits for a delicious Baked Pumpkin Mac and Cheese.
- Or mix with Vegan Italian Sausage Crumbles for a little kick of flavor and spice.
- Add a few dollops of Vegan Buffalo Sauce.
Equipment
For this recipe you'll need a high-speed blender, a large or medium pot to cook the pasta, and a smaller pot to boil the cashews.
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How to serve
Vegan Mac and Cheese makes a perfect lunch, simple supper, or side dish!
If you're serving it as a stand-alone dish, throw in some frozen peas or air fryer broccoli to bump up the nutrition.
Pumpkin Mac and Cheese makes a delicious side dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any night of the week. Some classic pairings include:
- Chick-fil-A Style Tofu Nuggets
- Baked BBQ Tofu
- Vegan Mashed Potatoes
- Air Fryer Green Beans
- Vegan Potato Salad
- Vegan Broccoli Salad
Can I make it ahead?
Yes! You can either make the sauce ahead and then reheat before adding to the cooked pasta. Or you can make the entire dish and reheat. In the case of the latter, I recommend reheating in a baking dish sprinkled with breadcrumbs for a delicious Vegan Baked Mac and Cheese.
Storage
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.Do not freeze.
If you make a double batch of the sauce, it can be stored separately and frozen for up to 3 months. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of water when reheating.
FAQs
Sure! Just use your favorite gluten-free pasta.
Yes! Simply substitute raw sunflower seeds for the cashews. Alternatively, you could try using cooked chickpeas. I've made cheese sauces with chickpeas before and they come out great and are lower in fat.
Vegan fall recipes
📖 Recipe
Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese
Equipment
Ingredients
- 12 oz whole wheat macaroni pasta
Vegan Pumpkin Cheese Sauce
- 1 cup raw, unsalted cashews
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- ¾ cup soy milk
- ⅓ cup nutritional yeast
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons onion powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- fresh cracked pepper
Instructions
- Bring a large or medium pot of water to boil and cook the macaroni according to package directions.
- Meanwhile, boil the cashews for 15 minutes. Drain off the excess water.
- Add the cashews and all of the other pumpkin cheese sauce ingredients to a blender. Blend until smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary. If the sauce is too thick, add another 2 to 4 tablespoons of soy milk, until the right consistency is reached.
- When the pasta is done cooking, drain off the excess water. Return to the pot and add the pumpkin cheese sauce. Mix to combine.
- Garnish with fresh thyme and sage (optional). Serve right away.
Notes
- Make sure to use Pumpkin Puree and not Pumpkin Pie Filling (which is sweetened and wouldn't taste great in this recipe).
- This recipe makes 4 to 6 main course portions or 8 to 10 side portions. Nutritional info is calculated as an estimate for 6 servings (2 oz of pasta plus sauce).
Nutrition
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Ariana says
This sounds amazing, but before I get the pasta out I wanted to confirm this can be done with a regular blender?
Julianne Lynch says
Yes! A higher quality blender might make the sauce smoother, but this will work with any decent blender.
A says
I usually put broccoli with our Mac and cheez. Do you think that would palette well with this recipe?
Julianne Lynch says
There is a pumpkin-y flavor here that some people might prefer to pair with another squash or root vegetable, but I think it would be fine with broccoli. Maybe start with it on the side just in case you don't like the combo.