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Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese – The PERFECT vegan mac and cheese! You will not believe how good this is!!! No soy, fake cheese or nutritional yeast.
Update January 2017: This recipe was featured on CBS’ The Doctors tv show. Watch me talk about the recipe with Dr. Travis and see the results of a LIVE kids taste test here!
The only dairy free Mac and Cheese recipe you’ll ever need!
It’s made with 100% whole food ingredients – No soy. No processed cheese. No oil. No nutritional yeast.
Just good for you healthy food!
The kids love it. Husband, family, friends, and neighbors…they all love it.!
Pleasing vegans, omnivores, adults, and kids alike, this Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese is one creamy pasta dish you don’t want to miss!
Kid Approved
My kids (who are not vegan) love Mac and Cheese…you know, the store bought blue box kind of mac and cheese. They don’t even like the yellow box with shells stuff. It has to be the small elbow macaroni noodles with a thin golden yellow-orange color. I switched to an organic brand a long time ago, but let’s face it, it’s still processed and not healthy.
In the past, every time I tried to make a homemade vegan mac and cheese, the kids would groan. And to be quite honest, I didn’t like most of them either.
I finally made a plant based version that I thought was absolutely delicious. The kids liked it a lot, too. Well, I’ve made several tweaks to that recipe to make it quicker and easier and I’m telling you it looks just like the Kraft stuff.
I actually told my kids when I first made it that it was mac and cheese. M said, “the one I like”? “Yup!” I said, holding my breath as he tried it. He asked for seconds…and thirds! The girls both had seconds as well.
And now it’s in the weekly rotation!
What is Vegan Mac and Cheese Made From?
This Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese is super healthy and is made from only whole food plant based ingredients.
Butternut Squash is the main ingredient. It’s high in Vitamin A, C, several B’s, K and fiber. It has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and may help regulate blood sugar.
Paired with sweet onion, protein packed cashews and some spices, it’s a match made in vegan heaven!
Love Butternut Squash? Don’t miss these delicious recipes:
- Vegan Butternut Squash Soup w/ Corn
- Vegetarian Cottage Pie
- Butternut White Bean Purée with Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- Slow Cooker Black Bean Butternut Squash Chili
- Cinnamon Squash Bread with Cinnamon Squash Icing
This Dairy Free Cheese Sauce is So Versatile
I love this sauce so darn much, that I’ve created several other recipes with this sauce as an inspiration. So, if you’re a fan of this creamy, dreamy, dairy free mac and cheese, you’re also gonna love my
- Baked Buffalo Chickpea & Artichoke Vegan Taquitos
- Vegan Broccoli Cheese Soup
- Easy Cheesy Chili Mac
- Vegan Queso
Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
You guys must try this Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese. I promise you will love it!
Please come back after you try it and leave me a comment below with your feedback and star rating!
You can also find me on social media. Be sure to tag me @veggie_inspired and #veggieinspired so I don’t miss your post!
Now run to the kitchen and make this now! Enjoy!
Butternut Mac (Dairy Free, Soy Free, Vegan)
Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese - this is the BEST vegan mac and cheese you'll ever have! Made from all whole food plant based ingredients, it's healthy for you too! Kid approved!
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups butternut squash, (peeled and chopped into cubes)
- ½ large sweet onion, (peeled and chopped)
- 12 oz package small macaroni noodles, (cooked according to package directions) (use gluten free noodles, if desired)
- ¼ cup reserved cooking liquid, (from the squash/onion or the noodles...either one will work)
- ¼ cup raw cashews, (soaked in hot water for 30 minutes)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp dijon mustard
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ⅛ tsp black pepper
- ⅛ tsp smoked paprika
- ⅛ tsp turmeric
- ⅛ tsp nutmeg
Instructions
- Add butternut squash and onions to a pot and cover with water by at least an inch or two. Bring to a boil, turn down heat to medium and simmer until vegetables are tender (about 15 minutes or so).
- Meanwhile, cook macaroni noodles according to package directions. Reserve ¼ cup cooking liquid once noodles are done cooking and before draining. Place noodles back in pot and set aside.
- When squash and onions are tender, drain (reserving ¼ cup liquid - unless you are reserving the liquid from the noodles), and add them to a high speed blender with the cashews, lemon juice, salt, dijon, garlic powder, black pepper, smoked paprika, turmeric, nutmeg and reserved cooking liquid from either the noodles or the squash. Blend until completely smooth. Use a tamper if necessary to push ingredients to the bottom of the blender.
- Add butternut squash sauce to the macaroni noodles and stir, making sure every noodle is covered in sauce. Warm through if needed.
- Dig in!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
gAmount Per Serving: Calories: 383Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 392mgCarbohydrates: 78gFiber: 5gSugar: 4gProtein: 10g
Sue says
I made this pasta dish.. it was very good, however required about a cup or more of liquid
I used unsweetened cashew milk.
Jenn Sebestyen says
Glad you liked it, Sue. Did you need more liquid in order to blend properly or was it too thick after mixing with the pasta?
Sue says
I needed more liquid in the blender as it was too thick to mix. Using the cashew milk made it really creamy. I also added extra nutritional yeast and garlic powder.
Carrie says
I’m sorry if you have answered this but how long will this sauce keep in the fridge? Thanks!
Jenn Sebestyen says
Hi, Carrie. It will keep for several days in the fridge. You can also freeze it!
Melissa says
I’d love to try this, but my partner is allergic to all nuts. What about hemp seeds?
Jenn Sebestyen says
Hemp seeds would probably work great, though I haven’t personally tried it. Many readers have subbed in white beans in place of the cashews with great success, too. Enjoy!
Kathleen says
Thank you for the recipe without nutritional yeast! Can I use mustard powder instead of mustard?
Jenn Sebestyen says
Yes, that should work just fine! Let me know how it turns out!
Kathleen says
Thank you!!
Ashley says
Anything that can replace cashews? My stepson has an allergy to cashews, peanuts, and pistachios.
Jenn Sebestyen says
Hi, Ashely. Quite a few people have mentioned using white beans in place of the cashews with great success. Try that! Hope you enjoy!
Ali says
Can you use cashew flour (ground cashew) instead of soaked cashews? If so, what quantity?
Jenn Sebestyen says
Hi, Ali. I’ve never worked with cashew flour before so I can’t say how much, but I would assume it would work just fine. I would suggest starting with 2 tablespoons and adding more to thicken if necessary. Let me know how it turns out!
Ali says
I used two tablespoons of cashew flour and the sauce was thick enough… seemed to work really well! My 14-month-old devoured the macaroni and we will definitely keep this on rotation. It’s a much healthier option than the boxed dairy-free macaroni. Thank you so much!
Jenn Sebestyen says
I’m so glad it worked out, Ali, and that you both loved it! Thank you for your feedback!
Lily says
Could you use roasted but unsalted cashews for this recipe?
Jenn Sebestyen says
Hi, Lily. Roasted cashews will work. Enjoy!
Hillary says
I made this recipe for my baby (okay, and me). We loved it!
I would put the 1/4 cup of extra liquid in the blender last, so you can control the consistency. If you want a thicker, creamier sauce, you might want to withhold a little liquid…and maybe add another 1/4 cup of (soaked) cashews.
Finally, if you don’t want to use nutritional yeast, this recipe is great. But if you DO want nutritional yeast, it adds that little extra something that makes the mac n’ cheese taste more like, well, cheese.
Jenn Sebestyen says
I’m so glad you like it. Thanks for your feedback, Hillary!
Ashley Butler says
How much nutritional yeast do I use to make it more like cheese?
Jenn Sebestyen says
Start with 1 to 2 tablespoons. Taste and add more as needed. You may need to adjust the liquid amount, as well, depending on how much nooch you add.
Gisela says
Hi Jen. Came across this blog via a google search. I live in South Africa and we don’t often get butternut squash here. What else do you think I could use to get this consistency ?
I was wondering if cauliflower would work?
Jenn Sebestyen says
Hi, Gisela. Pumpkin or sweet potato would be closest in flavor. Cauliflower will work, but it would be more like an Alfredo sauce. Just be sure to taste and adjust seasonings as necessary. Let me know what you try!
Nikki says
Can I freeze the cheese
Jenn Sebestyen says
Hi, Nikki. Yes, you can freeze the cheese sauce. Just make sure to whisk it really well or re-blend it after thawing to ensure a smooth consistency. Enjoy!
Stephanie says
I just made this for the first time today, and my boyfriend and I loved it. Thank you for this great recipe.
Jenn Sebestyen says
I’m so happy to hear that, Stephanie. Thank you!