Tahini mac and cheese is seriously addictive with its creamy, plant-based goodness. This comfort dish delivers rich textures using simple vegan pantry staples. Cooked on the stovetop, it’s easy to customize by adding your favorite veggies!
I can honestly say that the creaminess of this tahini mac and cheese is incredibly satisfying.
Just as you'd expect, you can hear the macaroni mixing with the creamy cheese sauce. My baked vegan mac and cheese is just as good but doesn't use tahini like this version, instead the sauce is based off my gf vegan béchamel sauce.
I've got some more delicious vegan pasta recipes for you to try! Check out my creamy vegan pasta bake, there's no need to precook the pasta for this recipe.
If you're looking for something quick and easy, a vegan mushroom pasta without cream makes for a great weeknight meal. For a fun twist, consider enjoying pasta as a snack, like these air fried pasta bites.
Key Ingredients and Variations
The complete list of ingredients with measurements, can be found in the full recipe card below.
Let’s talk ingredients for this tahini mac and cheese, it’s all about keeping things simple yet flavorful.
The Pasta
For these photos, I used macaroni pasta, those little hollow tubes we all love. But honestly, you can go with elbow pasta, small shells, or any bite-sized shape you prefer. Since I avoid gluten, I usually opt for a gluten-free spiral pasta. Just make sure to cook it al dente, I always shave off a minute from the recommended cooking time to keep it firm.
Vegan Cheese Sauce
The cheese sauce is where the magic happens. Any plant-based milk works here, though I often grab almond milk. For thickening, I use all-purpose flour, gluten-free all-purpose works just as well and keeps things creamy. Nutritional yeast is the MVP for that “cheezy” flavor, and it’s easily found in health food sections or stores.
Now, let’s talk tahini, it might sound unconventional for mac and cheese, but trust me, it adds a subtle nuttiness that elevates the dish. Just one tablespoon does the trick, and you can find tahini pretty much everywhere these days.
Optional Veggies
I like sneaking in veggies like cooked broccoli florets, peas, or even baby spinach. I mix them in after combining the pasta with the sauce, it’s an easy way to level up the dish, check out the next pic which contains broccoli.
Toppings
For the finishing touch, I love a sprinkle of homemade vegan cashew parmesan (next pic), sometimes I toast it in a pan for extra flavor. Chopped chives are another favorite, adding a nice fresh note
Storage
Once the plant-based mac and cheese cools down to room temperature, transfer it to an airtight container and place it in the fridge for up to five days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Reheat the portions that you need.
Did you make this? I'd love to know! Leave me a comment below with a ★★★★★ star rating or tag @plantbasedfolk on social media.
Recipe
Tahini Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 250 grams Macaroni pasta or elbow pasta or small shells
Plant Based Cheese Sauce
- 1½ cups Almond milk
- 3 tbs all purpose flour or GF all purpose flour
- 1 tbs Tahini
- ½ cup Nutritional yeast
- ¼ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon White Pepper
- 1 tbs Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon Salt or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon Turmeric powder
Optional
- ½ small head Broccoli cut into small florets
- 1 handful Chives finely sliced
Instructions
- Cook pasta as instructed on the packet. Make sure your pasta is al dante (firm to the bite).
- In a nonstick saucepan, add all the vegan cheese sauce ingredients. Whisk together until everything is well combined. Then turn the stovetop on to medium-high, and continuously whisk for about 2½-3 minutes, until a thick cheesy consistency has been achieved. Turn the heat off.
- Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and mix together to create the plant based macaroni and cheese. Serve warm. Optional, mix in some small cooked broccoli florets with the pasta, garnish with sliced chives or as you please.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
N.B., nutrition info is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. This will vary based on the specific ingredients you use.
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