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Easy Cheesy Chili Mac (dairy free)

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Chili Mac – Super easy and, oh, so cheesy! Make it as mild or spicy as you like. 

Easy Cheesy Chili Mac

Family Favorite

Cooler temps call for heartier meals. A stick to your ribs dish that will warm your belly. This Easy Cheesy Chili Mac is a recipe I’ve been making for years and checks off that criteria. My kids love this chili mac and never leave the table without having a second helping.  It’s nutritious – full of protein and packed with vitamins and minerals – and tastes rich and flavorful. Give this chili mac recipe a try and it might just become one of your family’s favorites like it is ours.

Easy Cheesy Chili Mac

Make It Cheesy!

I have served this more often than not without the cheese sauce and it’s still fabulous and a huge kid favorite. So, if you are running low on time and would prefer to make this an under 20 minute meal, you can leave out the cheese sauce from the Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese recipe. The cheese sauce takes it over the top, though, and I highly recommend trying it at least once this way!

Easy Cheesy Chili Mac

Just look at the creamy cheesy sauce! Not an speck of dairy in sight! No oil or soy either!

Easy Cheesy Chili Mac

Make It Spicy or Mild

We love this with a big slice of Pumpkin Maple Cornbread on the side. Sweet and spicy together is so good! Of course, you can make this chili mac as spicy or mild as you like. The cayenne pepper and jalapeño are totally optional. Grab a spoon a dig in!

Easy Cheesy Chili Mac

Easy Cheesy Chili Mac

I hope you guys love this Chili Mac recipe as much we do. Give it a try today and leave me a comment below with your feedback. You can also find me on social media. Be sure to tag @veggie_inspired and #veggieinspired so I’m sure to see it! Enjoy!

5 from 1 vote
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Easy Cheesy Chili Mac
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
40 mins
Total Time
50 mins
 
An easy, hearty, nutritious chili mac. Completely dairy free and oil free and made with only whole food ingredients. It's a family favorite of ours and sure to be yours too!
Course: Entree, Pasta
Cuisine: dairy free, egg free, gluten free, oil free, refined sugar free, soy free, vegan
Servings: 6
Calories: 538 kcal
Author: Jenn S.
Ingredients
Toppings, optional
  • avocado, cilantro, lime, crushed tortilla chips, etc.
Instructions
  1. Start the Butternut Mac recipe: Cook the veggies, start soaking the cashews, and bring the pasta water to a boil. Set the veggies aside when tender.
  2. In a large pan, heat 1/4 cup vegetable broth over medium heat and add the onion and green pepper, and jalapeño, if using. Saute for 6-7 minutes until softened.
  3. Add the diced tomatoes, 1 cup vegetable broth, chili powder, cumin, oregano and cayenne, if using. Let simmer for 8-10 minutes to let flavors develop and the sauce to thicken.
  4. Meanwhile, drop your pasta from the Butternut Mac recipe in the water and cook until al dente. Set aside 1/4 cup of the cooking water (for the Butternut Mac sauce) and drain the rest.
  5. Add Butternut Mac sauce ingredients to your high speed blender and puree for several minutes until perfectly smooth.
  6. While the Butternut Mac sauce is pureeing, add the corn and kidney beans to the tomato mixture and stir.
  7. When the sauce is smooth, pour it into the tomato mixture and stir to combine. I use the whole sauce recipe, but feel free to add less if you like.
  8. Add the noodles and stir to combine
  9. Serve warm with garnishes of choice.
Recipe Notes

~This Chili Mac is delicious without the cheese sauce as well. If you are tight on time, leave it out and you've got yourself a 20 minute meal!

~The cayenne pepper and jalapeño are totally optional. Leave them out for a mild flavor, use both if you like heat. If your tastebuds fall somewhere in the middle, use just 1/2 of a jalapeño.

 

 

Nutrition Facts
Easy Cheesy Chili Mac
Amount Per Serving
Calories 538 Calories from Fat 117
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 13g 20%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Sodium 509mg 21%
Potassium 683mg 20%
Total Carbohydrates 89g 30%
Dietary Fiber 9g 36%
Sugars 13g
Protein 16g 32%
Vitamin A 97%
Vitamin C 68%
Calcium 55%
Iron 26%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Easy Cheesy Chili Mac - A family favorite! Dairy free and oil free, but super creamy and cheesy. Loaded with flavor and protein too. Dig in!

 

 

*This post is linked up to Tinned Tomatoes: Meat Free Mondays.

Comments

  1. Christine says

    How do you think this would hold up being reheated in the crockpot for a few hours? Planning to take this to a potluck and worried that the pasta will get mushy.

    Reply

    • Jenn S. says

      Can you take the pasta in a separate container? They wouldn’t really have to be kept warm as long as the sauce was – they would warm up quickly in individual bowls once the sauce was poured on.

      Reply

      • Christine says

        Oh that’s a great idea! Or I can add the pasta to the crockpot shortly before serving so it can warm through a little.

        Reply

        • Jenn S. says

          That should work too! I keep leftovers all together in the same container and it’s still great the next day – definitely a little softer, but still delicious. I hope everyone enjoys it!

          Reply

  2. RLSCM says

    Thank you for this super yummy vegan meal. It was a hit with the whole family. It’s not always easy to find a vegan recipe that satisfies my meat eating guys, but everyone had second and third helpings of this chili mac & cheese. The cheese sauce is by far the best vegan cheese sauce recipe I’ve tried so far. I added a carrot for extra orange color and a bit of nutritional yeast for extra cheesy flavour. Delicious!

    Reply

    • Jenn S. says

      Thank you so much!! I’m so happy to hear everyone loved it! I agree that feeding the guys is the hardest – in my house anyway. 🙂 Thank you so much for stopping by to leave your feedback!! Have a great week!

      Reply

  4. Willow says

    Vegan Mac and Cheese and Chili – yes please! I wish I had the ingredients to make some right now, because it sounds way better than what I am having for dinner!

    Reply

  5. Paige @ Where Latin Meets Lagniappe says

    I absolutely love the idea of this recipe!I love how you’ve combined the beans with the corn…and that cheese sauce sounds divine! I’m going to make this for my kids! Pinning!

    Reply

    • Jenn S. says

      Thank you so much, Paige! I hope you and your family love it! Please stop back and let me know how it turns out!!

      Reply

    • Jenn S. says

      Thanks, Linda! It is a HUGE hit around here! Seems so indulgent, but it’s healthy!! Love when that happens!

      Reply

  9. Levan Wee says

    It’s easy to be cheesy 😀 But GOOD vegan cheese is not easy to make. Your recipe, however, throws all of that out the window! LOOKS PERFECT and simply TEMPTING!

    Reply

    • Jenn S. says

      Thank you, Levan! So true about good vegan cheese. I have tried SO many recipes and have been disappointed SO many times. This is a winner though!

      Reply

    • Jenn S. says

      Thanks, Lydia! It’s definitely more about the butternut squash than the cashews. I hope you love it!

      Reply

  16. nancy says

    How many ways can you say yum? I just tried it and it is delicious and the photos are awesome too. Thanks for sharing and look forward to more of your recipes!

    Reply

  17. veggiesdontbite says

    I’ve made a version of this with my cheese sauce and my bolognese (one I’ll post sometime soon) but I need to try it with chili! I’d seriously eat a whole bowl of this stuff. It looks so tempting to just curl up with it and devour it on the couch…comfort. Yup.

    Reply

    • Jenn S. says

      Mmmm, Sophia, cheese sauce and bolognese sounds delicious too! This Chili Mac is totally comfort food at its best!

      Reply

  20. The Vegan 8 says

    Looks sooooo good Jenn! I love chili cheese mac ‘n’ cheese and have been working on a recipe myself based off of my chili cheese fries recipe! I need to try your butternut cheese sauce since it’s been so popular, looks so good!!

    Reply

    • Jenn S. says

      Thanks, Brandi! I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to post it. We’ve seriously been eating this for years! Except just recently with the Butternut Mac sauce. It’s a family pleaser for sure!

      Reply

  21. Natalie says

    Gimme that spoon, I want to dive in right now!!! I can totally see it being a delicious dish without the cheese sauce too, but with that cheese it’s kind of a next level, mouth-watering, it’s only breakfast but I want this sorta situation! Love it Jenn <3

    Reply

    • Jenn S. says

      I may have eaten leftovers for breakfast before. I don’t judge! Do it! HaHa! Thanks, Natalie!!

      Reply

    • Jenn S. says

      Yes, Rebecca, I think you are right! It’s almost 7:30am here and it’s still super dark outside. Very dreary and cold. 🙁

      Reply

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My name is Jenn. This is my blog where I share delicious plant based recipes for the whole family. I love to cook; I can read cookbooks like novels; and I enjoy experimenting in the kitchen by making standard American favorites healthier.

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