Creamy Plant Based Mac and Cheese Without Oil

Seriously addictive, this creamy plant based mac and cheese without oil will give you all those comfort tingles and mouth filling textures. Made with easy vegan pantry ingredients on the stove top and adaptable to incorporate veggies too.

Ingredient Highlights and Variations

The Pasta

Macaroni pasta is the pasta I used in these photos, it is a small short hollow tube.

However, you can elbow pasta, small shell pasta or any type of mouth size pasta.

As I avoid gluten, I tend to use a spiral gluten free pasta. Cook the pasta as instructed on the packet. 

I always undercook the pasta by one minute to ensure it is al-dente (firm to the bite).

Vegan Cheese Sauce

Any type of dairy free milk will work to make the vegan cheese sauce for this dish, I generally go for almond milk.

All purpose flour is what makes this vegan cheese sauce thick and creamy when combined with plant-based milk (think of it as a cheesy bechamel sauce without vegan butter).

I tend to make it with gluten free all-purpose flour, which works perfectly too.

Nutritional yeast is the magic cheezy flavor ingredient. It can be found at your local supermarket in the health food section or at any health food store. 

Tahini creates a deeper flavor in the sauce, it’s mildly nutty. Only a tablespoon is needed. Whilst it isn't an ingredient you would normally associate with mac and cheese, I highly recommend adding it to the sauce.

Tahini is now commonly found at all supermarkets and grocery stores. It is an ingredient I use quite a bit of throughout my recipes.

Optional Veggies

I like to incorporate cooked broccoli florets, peas or even baby spinach leaves, which I will normally mix the vegetables in after mixing in the macaroni pasta.

Topping Suggestions

I love adding a sprinkle of homemade plant based parmesan cheese (as pictured in the images). Sometimes I toast the sprinkles in a pan before topping my plant based macaroni and cheese. (I am in the process of publishing this recipe - stay tuned)

Chopped chives are also great, the flavor compliments this pasta dish.

Toasted bread crumbs add a lovely crunch, however I normally use this on my vegan baked mac and cheese recipe.

Serving Suggestions

Any type of cooked green vegetable goes well with this vegan mac and cheese on the side.

Otherwise, a simple arugula salad, cabbage salad or perhaps even a fennel and orange salad on the side is a great way to up your fiber intake. 

More Vegan Pasta Recipes

I've got some more delicious vegan pasta for you to try, check out my delicious creamy vegan pasta bake, you don't need to precook the pasta for this recipe.

An easy vegan mushroom pasta without cream is great for a quick weeknight meal.

For something different, try enjoying pasta as a snack, like these air fryer pasta chips.