Vegan Green Chili Mac ‘n’ Cheese

GFVGVDFNS
Jump to Recipe
Cast-iron skillet filled with Vegan Green Chili Mac n Cheese

I’m sure we all have horror stories of the mac n cheese of our yesteryear. For me it was almost always boxed, but in the rare chance that it wasn’t, it was certainly made with that processed block of horror known as Velveeta (*shiver).

This is not that kind of mac n cheese. This is unprocessed, wholesome, dairy-free goodness for those of us who still crave a bit of our childhood favorites without all the junk.

Macaroni shells for making Easy Vegan Mac n Cheese
Soaking cashews in a jar for Vegan Mac n Cheese

Don’t be intimidated by vegan mac n cheese. I was a little skeptical at first because my initial attempts at cashew sauces were unsuccessful. But I’ve learned a few tricks here and there (how long to soak, how long to blend, what spices/seasonings to add) and I’m now a HUGE fan. It’s unbelievable how a jar of soaked cashews can turn into rich sauces, luxurious ice creams and bonafide cheesy goodness.

Plus, this particular recipe requires just 10 ingredients (minus the tortilla chips) and 30 minutes! It doesn’t get any easier than that.

Blender filled with ingredients for Green Chili Mac n Cheese

This sauce is infused with plenty of flavor thanks to cumin, chili powder and green chilies. Half of the chilies go into the sauce, while the other half get stirred into the final product. The result is oh-so dreamy.

Pouring vegan cheese sauce onto skillet of macaroni noodles

Skillet of Vegan Green Chili Mac n Cheese ready to be mixed
Using a wooden spoon to stir a batch of our Vegan Green Chili Mac n Cheese recipe

Once you stir the sauce with the noodles and the green chilies, it’s time for a little crunch. I toasted up some tortilla chips until golden brown then sprinkled them on top for another layer of flavor and texture. I was in love. Swoon.

You’re going to love this mac n cheese. It’s:

Creamy
Luxurious
Savory
Super Cheesy
Velvety
Perfectly spiced from the green chilies
Mega satisfying
& Altogether dreamy

Oh, and by the way, each serving has 19 grams of protein! WHAT?!!

Skillet Vegan Mac n Cheese made with Green Chilis and Toasted Tortilla Chips
Skillet filled with Green Chili Mac n Cheese for a simple vegan dinner

I personally think you could serve this to a non-vegan and they would totally dig it. They may be able to tell it’s not “true mac n cheese,” but it’s so creamy and flavorful and satisfying that they’ll have to be won over. This makes enough for 4, or 3 very generously, so invite a few friends and take them to vegan cheese heaven. Cheers!

Holding up a bite of Green Chili Mac n Cheese on a fork
Holding a bite of healthy vegan Green Chili Mac n Cheese
Fork full of Vegan Mac n Cheese resting on a cast iron skillet

Vegan Green Chili Mac ‘n’ Cheese

10 ingredient, 30 minute vegan mac n cheese infused with green chili and topped with crispy baked crushed tortilla chips!
Author Minimalist Baker
Print
Using a fork to lift a bite of Vegan Green Chili Mac n Cheese from a skillet
4.80 from 136 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4
Course Entrée
Cuisine Gluten-Free, Vegan
Freezer Friendly No

Ingredients

  • 10 ounces large macaroni shells (gluten-free for GF eaters // I used pipe rigate)
  • 1/2 medium white onion (diced)
  • 3-4 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 cup raw cashews (soaked for 4-6 hours or overnight, then drained)
  • 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth (DIY or store-bought)
  • 1 Tbsp cornstarch
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 3/4 tsp chili powder
  • 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 1 4-ounce can diced chills (scoop half into the sauce, reserve half for the finished mac n cheese)
  • 1 cup tortilla chips (optional)
  • Fresh cilantro (optional // for topping)

Instructions

  • If topping with tortilla chips, crush chips into fine crumbs and add to a baking pan lined with parchment paper or foil. Spritz with olive or avocado oil, sprinkle with salt and stir. Then bake in a 350-degree F (176 C) oven for 10 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Boil macaroni according to package instructions.
  • In a medium skillet over medium-low heat, sauté onion and garlic in a bit of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, stir and cook until soft and fragrant – about 7 minutes. Set aside.
  • Add onions and garlic to a blender with remaining ingredients, omitting the tortilla chips and adding only half of the green chilies. Blend until smooth, using the “liquify” setting if you have it to get it really smooth. Otherwise just blend for up to a minute, scraping down sides as necessary, until smooth and creamy.
  • Drain the noodles, set aside, and cover (with a towel). To the same pot you boiled the noodles in, add the cashew cheese and cook on low stirring frequently until slightly thickened.
  • Add the macaroni noodles to the cheese, along with the remaining green chilies and stir. Serve immediately, topping with crushed toasted tortilla chips and cilantro (optional).

Notes

*Adapted from the amazing Isa Chandra.
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated without tortilla chips.

Nutrition (1 of 4 servings)

Serving: 1 serving Calories: 516 Carbohydrates: 72 g Protein: 19 g Fat: 17 g Saturated Fat: 3.5 g Trans Fat: 0 g Cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 380 mg Fiber: 5.6 g Sugar: 4 g

Did You Make This Recipe?

Tag @minimalistbaker on Instagram and hashtag it #minimalistbaker so we can see all the deliciousness!

If you love this recipe...

Get Our Fan Favorites eBook Here!

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment & Rating!

Have a question? Use ctrl+f or ⌘+f on your computer or the "find on page" function on your phone browser to search existing comments! Need help? Check out this tutorial!

My Rating:




  1. Ben says

    This was delicious! I just gave it a try about an hour ago. No changes necessary; delicious as-is. This was my first attempt at mac-n-“cheese” since going vegan and it was a simple, quick recipe that turned out fantastic. The added bonus is that I don’t have the after dinner sweats, which used to be a given with homemade mac-n-cheese. It’s so clean! Thank you

    • Ben says

      That’s too bad. Do you think you cooked the sauce long enough on low-heat? I’ve only made it once, but it seemed to come out right. It might be worth trying again and seeing if you have better luck.

  2. Janie says

    Wow! I just made this pasta recipe and love it. The creaminess is so much better than even I was expecting. Plus, it was SO SIMPLE and easy to whip together! I added roasted broccoli and brussels sprouts. As a college student, this is definitely going to become a staple recipe, since I almost always have all of the ingredients on hand anyway. Thank you!

  3. Laurel says

    I have a bunch of hatch chiles in my fridge that I’m dying to use. Any ideas on how to use them instead of the canned chiles without setting my mouth on fire? I can’t do anything beyond your typical medium salsa spiciness level, and I don’t have a scale, so volume measurements would be great!!

  4. Kristen says

    Welp, the family has asked for this AND your vegan dinner rolls(AHMAZINGGGG) for the second night in a row. Probably because they hate it…

    Thanks so much lady!!!! You’re behind the majority of our meals here in my home :)

  5. Satu says

    Having never eaten real american mac n cheese, I can’t compare this to the “real stuff”, but Oh My how creamy and delicious! We don’t have canned chilies here, at least not in my regular grocery store, so I used fresh ones. Yummy!

  6. Pros a says

    I’m severely allergic to nuts and I really want to try this. What can I replace the cashews with?

  7. Lekan says

    This recipe is so creamy, tasty, and filling. I don’t usually feel like that after eating mac and cheese. I was def worried eating a vegan mac and cheese for a meal but this was well worth it.

  8. Erin says

    Umm, WOAH. Let me preface this by saying I am not vegan. I LOVE MEAT. (I love vegan recipes because of the amazing creativity& added health benefits) By unfortunate luck, my mom doesn’t like cheese & my boyfriend is lactose (woe is me, I know). I tested this out on my mom tonight and she & I LOVED it. So much flavor!!! I subbed roasted yellow & red peppers since I forgot chile’s, loved the flavor it added. Putting it in regular rotation. Thank you! (I also made your black bean brownies the other day and cannot stop eating them)

  9. Libby says

    OMG love this idea- will be making a giant pot tonight

    You’re killing me with your spelling of Green Chile though :( The New Mexican in me is cringing!!!

  10. Alex B says

    This was amazing. For the sake of actual minimalism, I didn’t use the omniprocessed corn starch, I replaced it with arrowroot powder. I didn’t have chiles, so I just sauteed some fresh habaneros with the garlic and onion. I tossed a few green onions in while I was heating up the “cheese” sauce too. Very happy with this!!!

  11. Shawna says

    Hi!
    I don’t have canned chillis. I do have some fresh Serrano chillis. How many of those should I use? Earlier you mentioned that roasting them would improve the flavour so how long and at what temperature should they be roasted!
    Thanks for your help!

  12. Ginger says

    This curled my toes! I loved this recipe and made it for myself for my day after bday celebration! Sooo delicious! You guys are great! Thank you!!!

  13. Tams says

    I was so very skeptical that this would be good. Mostly because a week earlier I had tried a vegan Fettuccine Alfredo recipe (source shall go unnamed) that wasn’t the least bit convincing. You could have sealed drywall cracks with it.

    Oh me of little faith! Tested this out for some vegan-ish friends last night and was stupefied by the results. Tried it right out of the blender. Absolutely delicious. I took a few detours with the seasonings (I added garlic powder, half a chipotle pepper, some oregano and added some creamy refried pinto beans for a next level thickness and body) but I remained loyal to the rest and the final product was a showstopper. Not only did my friends enjoy it with gusto, but when my discerning meat-devouring fiancée returned home after work, tired and famished, he had one bite and could not stop until the rest was devoured. He had THIRDS. If there was any more remaining, he wouldn’t have stopped.

    So thank you, truly, for a spectacular recipe – one that will go into heavy rotation for many meals to come!

  14. Angie says

    Does it say somewhere how to make cashew cheese? Or could you tell me how long you soak it, and how to make it?

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

      the directions should be there. Simply soak your cashews overnight in cool water or for 1 hour in very hot water. then drain and proceed as instructed. good luck, angie!

  15. Jacque says

    This was great! I mixed it with frozen hash brown potatoes and baked it into a green chili has brown casserole. I too love Isa’s recipe and ended up adding a little bit of white miso for some tangy goodness. Thanks for a new family favorite!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

      Soak your cashews overnight in cool water, or top with boiling hot water and soak for 1 hour. Then drain thoroughly and you’re good to go!

  16. MPaula says

    Is it just me or do those pasta shapes seem tortured? Recipe looks great but I do not want to inflict danger on innocent pasta!

  17. Krystle says

    Thanks for the recipe. Made it this week for work lunches and it was delicious!! I’ve never attempted a vegan cheese sauce but I’m very impressed with the flavor!
    I added some blanched slivered almonds for the crunchy topping (Since I didn’t have chips).
    I think next time I’ll add Some jalapeno for an extra kick and chipotle pepper!

  18. size lately says

    Thanks for a marvelous posting! I definitely enjoyed reading it, you are a great author.I will remember to
    bookmark your blog and may come back later in life.
    I want to encourage one to continue your great posts,
    have a nice evening!

  19. Simone says

    Just made this for lunch & loved it. Lots of flavour & as well as nice & creamy. Have tried lots of different recipes that have ranged from “yuck’ to “its not to bad”.
    Only made half a batch in case I didnt like it. Will definitely be making a full batch next time.

  20. Rica says

    Hi there.
    Thank you for this great recipe.
    I’ve been vegan for 5 months now and I absolutely love it. I have never made anything like vegan mac and cheese before, but it turned out great. The recipe was super easy and delicious.
    Both my non-vegan brother and mother loved it. I will definitely make this again :)
    Thank you!!

    Best wishes from Germany ;)

  21. Claire says

    What kind of blender do you use? I used my Cuisinart food processor and had the same problem as a few others. Thanks!

  22. Meiko Haushalter says

    Just a nitpick, but having lived in New Mexico for 20+ years…where the chile is the state vegetable. It’s green chile, not chilie or chili. Plural would be chiles. Chili is your classic Texas bean-and-meat stew (chili con carne).

  23. Celeste says

    I really want to make this, but we just found out our daughter is allergic to nuts (Especially cashews. I know, I’m devastated). Do you think sunflower seeds could work in place of the cashews?

      • Celeste says

        It was great! It worked perfectly and everyone loved it. I forgot to soak the sunflower seeds in time though so I just boiled them for about 30 minutes. I’ll probably make this more than once. Thank you!

  24. Olemarlese says

    Looking forward to making this tomorrow.
    I’m curious though, why did you leave out the miso paste used in isachandras?
    I find that it has a really cheasy flavor on it’s own (tastes like fondue) and the recipe could propably benefit from it.
    Just asking if there is a specific reason why I should avoid it?

  25. caitlin says

    I’m an enormous Minimalist Baker AND vegan mac fan, but this was just a big thumbs down. It was the kind of recipe where I blended everything and then kept returning to the recipe to see what I must have left out ’cause it had to be missing something to be as bland as it was. I’ve had enormous luck with mac recipes from The PPK and Isa Does It, so I’ll probably stick to those in order to save my cash in cashews.

  26. Sherry (BTLover2) says

    This was delicious! Every single recipe I have ever made from your site has been incredible! My Pinterest board is filled with your recipes. Every time I pin one, I laugh and think, “Of course it’s from Minimalist Baker!” The photos and the food — so darn fabulous!!

  27. Vicki Montague - The Free From Fairy says

    I am wondering if you need the nutritional yeast as I avoid yeast? Otherwise this looks like a wonderful recipe!

  28. Jacquie says

    Could I omit the green chiles? I know my fiancé won’t even try it if there is anything green! Can I add something else to still give it a spice/kick!?

  29. Alex says

    I was wondering why none of the vegan mac and cheese recipes I’ve tried had the right texture…it’s all about soaking the cashews! GENIUS.
    and the texture of this sauce is PERFECT.

  30. Emma says

    I made this today, and good lord was it wonderful! My non-vegan family ate it and all went back for seconds. I added the tortilla chips on top, and that combined with the green chilis had my sister calling it a “vegan Mexican bake” (I didn’t bother to tell her that it wasn’t actually baked; I’ll let her think I worked harder than I did). Definitely a winner, thank you!

  31. Lorissa says

    I just finished making this and it’s really great! Good flavor and texture. My 4 year old (who’s pretty picky) ate it up. Fantastic! Thanks so much for a delicious recipe!

  32. Felicia says

    Okay, this looks AMAZING and I want to try it immediately! Only, I have a problem.

    I want to make this for me and the bf, but I hate cashews and he can’t eat them. Is there another nut that could be substituted? Or maybe a mix of sometimes like another nut and mashed potato or something? I’d really love to make this.

    Thanks!

  33. Emily Rose says

    Hi, do you think it would also work with cashew meal instead of whole cashews (I have cashew meal already in the cupboard)? When making cheese sauces I usually have a hard time getting the cashew meal to smooth out and it ends up somewhat gritty which I don’t like, the taste is there just not the texture, although I haven’t tried blending it. What do you think? This recipe will be my next attempt by the way :)

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

      I’m not sure, but it’s worth a shot! I’m sure it’s fine. Just don’t soak it for as long since it’s so fine. Then rinse it through a fine mesh strainer.

  34. Jess says

    I’ve been cooking more lately instead of just eating frozen meals. I wanted to try this out, but was unsure about my cooking abilities (and my itty bitty old blender). But I just made this, and it turned out fabulously tasty! And now I’m excited to find more recipes that use cashews as a substitute. Thanks y’all!

  35. Chioma says

    Love love this recipe! So simple, so cheesy, so good!! We’re making it again tonight….husband requested, so I know it’s just that good. Thanks Dana. I truly have a healthy obsession with your blog. ; )

  36. Stephanie says

    Is there any way to use cashew butter instead of soaking cashews over night? Don’t have a blender :(

  37. Kendell says

    I made this today, and it is amazing! Didn’t add the tortilla chips, though, which may be why I had to add quite a bit of salt to taste. I also served it wtih sriracha for some extra heat. Thank you for the awesome recipe!!

  38. Elizabeth says

    I’m allergic to yeast… are there any alternatives to the nutritional yeast that I can use? I saw that people have suggested using miso in other recipes, but I’m allergic to soy as well.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hmm, just use a lot of spices. That’s the only thing I can think of. If I think of something else. I’ll let you know!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

      Diced green chilies typically come in a can in the Mexican section of most grocery stores. But you can also buy green chilies and roast them yourself :D

  39. Leslie says

    I have a dairy intolerance, and have been “cheese-free” for over a year now. I just wanted to say “thank you” – Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing this recipe because – OMG – it totally satisfied that cheese craving I have had for the past year! I ate two huge plates of it – I was so full, I thought I would have to roll myself away from the table. It is honestly one of the best dishes – ever! I can’t stop talking about it. I even shared it on Facebook! The only thing is, I soaked too many cashews, so I am hoping I can save them for another recipe – and I also used too much pasta (12 oz instead of 10 oz) so it wasn’t as creamy looking as in your photos. But still – even my boyfriend who had been poo-pooing the recipe for a week (took me that long to convince him to let me make it) ate 3 plates and deemed it a winner. Thanks again!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

      haha, he was “poo pooing” the recipe. So funny! SO glad to hear you guys enjoyed this recipe. It’s literally one of my favorites to date! Thanks for sharing your experience. SO glad that it satisfied that deep down cheese craving you were having. Cheers!

  40. Phoebe Lapine @FeedMePhoebe says

    This looks fantastic-hopefully I’ll get a chance to test it out soon. :) Have you ever tried adding sweet potato/squash/pumpkin? I wonder if that would work, also.

  41. Michal says

    I swapped the veggie stock with a Thai culinary stock sold at Wegmans, and was out of cumin and subbed in curry powder. added salt to taste and it was amazing.

  42. Mia says

    Made this last night (it was my first time using cashews as a substitute) and LOVED it. It reheated well for lunch too! Thanks for giving me the push to try to get some vegan and GF recipes in my diet!

  43. sarah says

    I just made this and it is deeeeeeeelish. However, grainy like texture from the cashews even though it blended forever. They soaked for 8 hrs. I guess next time I will soak for a day.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hmm, it may have something to do with the quality of your blender? Is it a high powered one? I’ve found Ninja’s specifically not to work too well with fine pureeing…Otherwise, maybe it just needed more liquid to help it go. Either way, glad you enjoyed the flavor!

        • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

          Yeah, ninjas – not sold on them. They’re great for a lot of things but not liquifying cashews. I also don’t like the way they make falafel and hummus.

          • Crystle says

            I had a problem with this due to my lazy ninja, too! Great flavor, poor cheese texture. My cashews soaked for a full day and I still got the runny/gritty texture.

            I’m currently priming my husband for a blender upgrade. Mama needs a vitamix!

    • Mo says

      I had the same issue with my cuisinart… Think it’s work noting my vegan friends all swear by their vitamix or super high speed blenders. My food processor sort of didn’t cut it. I was thinking to add turmeric to make this yellower too… But not sure if that would change the flavor.

  44. Marly says

    I had to come back to tell you something. I made this. It was the bomb! Well, we didn’t have green chiles, but otherwise followed it as written…which is really not like me at all. But there’s a first time for everything. Loved, loved, loved this. I should also tell you that I decided to make this in honor of a friend. She used to tell me stories about Mac & Cheese from her childhood days…and I would laugh. She was the coolest. Now I can’t have Mac & Cheese without thinking about her. She died recently and all of us who knew her are saddened by the loss. And I’m finding that when a friend dies it’s comforting to think about them. So we will be having a lot of Mac & Cheese for awhile. See? Sometimes it’s not just a recipe…it can be so much more.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

      This made my day, Marly. Thanks so much for sharing! Especially the sentimental value it held in light of your friend’s passing. If you try it again, be sure to add the green chilies! I think it makes all the difference!

  45. Leslie - Definitely not Martha says

    This looks amazing. I love the idea of adding green chilies – I’m not vegan so I’m often a bit meh on vegan cheese sauce but I think the spice in this would be so good.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

      Yeah, I think you’d like the sauce! i’m not huge on cashew sauces either. Also, I have a cashew-less queso sauce coming soon! Stay tuned :D

  46. Jennifer says

    This was awesome!! Kids (age 4 &6) gobbled it up. Great flavour! Will be adding this to our recipe collection for sure. My son can’t have wheat or dairy, and of course misses Mac and cheese. Thanks! Looking forward to trying your other recipes. :)
    Jennifer

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

      Oh that’s great to hear, Jennifer! So glad you and your family enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing! Cheers!

  47. cyn says

    I´m wondering what exactly canned chili is? Is is just a plain diced jalapeño can? or is it something less spicy? I´m curious because I´m from Mexico, and that´s the only kind of chili you can find in a can, but I dont know if it sometimes tend to be too spicy.

    • Charles says

      I’m wondering this too. I have a 4oz can of jalapeños, but I want to make sure I’m not making the dish too spicy.

      • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

        It’ll make the dish spicy for sure. I’d use green chilis – they’re much milder than canned jalepenos in my experience. But if they’re all you have, use 1/4 to 1/2 the amount recommended.

        • cyn says

          thank you, I have actually never heard of this, I will make sure to look out for them in my next grocery trip…

  48. Laura says

    Dana, Do you have any suggestion on what you can replace the cashews with because of a nut allergy. Do you think sunflower or pumpkin seeds would work? This looks amazing! Thanks Laura

  49. Leigh says

    It’s been done. This graced our table last night it and it was fantastic! I felt my sauce colour was not as beautiful as yours though ~ not sure what I need to do to up the umph?

    I have tried butternut squash and pumpkin sauces but the sweetness changes things. Liquid smoke can help cut the sweetness and bring another level of flavour in case you want to try it!

    Thank you SO MUCH for this recipe it will definitely be made again and again…

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

      Yay! So glad you and your family enjoyed it, Leigh. I think for the slightly brighter color I added a pinch of paprika at the last moment (not for any flavor, mainly for photos). Thanks for sharing your experience! Hope you enjoy it again and again.

  50. Lisa | Je suis alimentageuse says

    OH MY GOD. THIS LOOKS AMAZING. I’m literally so hungry and I made the mistake of going through my blog reader around dinner time. I love how creamy that looks, and the addition of chilis makes my heart sing. I’m definitely going to have to try this. Great photos as usual!

  51. Katie @ Produce on Parade says

    Green chili mac and cheese?! OMG! You’re a genius. I’ve done cashew versions and sweet potato and butternut squash versions of mac and cheese. Have you tried the other two and if so, which is yours? I prefer the sweet potato version! :)

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

      I haven’t tried other versions! But I was really pleased with this version. I don’t know if I’d like the sweetness of the sweet potato….but if you like it perhaps it’s worth a shot! Email me a recipe!

  52. sara says

    i am so excited to try this! i tried out a sweet potato vegan mac’n’cheeze (not fantastic) + another recipe ohdeardrea’s blog that i loved but this looks amazing too! thanks for sharing :)

  53. Tracy | Pale Yellow says

    Mac and cheese is my weakness and favorite comfort food! This dairy free version couldn’t have come sooner; every grocery trip I pass by the boxes of shells and cheese and will myself not to pick any up; this will be the perfect replacement!

  54. Finn says

    Awesome! I will cook this for sure! It looks amazing!
    Three questions tho. I’ve never heard of nutritional yeast. Do I really need it?
    What kind of broth do you use? Just some “powder” ? By soaking you mean just putting them in water? :D

    Keep up the good stuff :)

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

      I would say yes, yo do need nutritional yeast. It’s what gives it that cheesy taste. I use a powder veggie broth that’s vegan/GF. And yes, by soaking I mean soaking them in water. Hope that helps!

  55. Shikha @ Shikha la mode says

    By the looks of it, I’d never be able to tell that it’s vegan. I love putting spicy things in anything (including chocolate) so loving the green chiles in it. Maybe some breadcrumbs on top to finish it off?

  56. Eileen says

    Well, this is now officially what I want to eat for lunch today. :) There definitely haven’t been enough green chile and creamy sauces on my plate!

  57. Steph T. says

    Made this last night and it was delicious!!! I definitely don’t think I could pass it off as real cheese to a non-vegan, but it was amazing nonetheless. It was more of a creamy alfredo, in my opinion. I ended up making my veggie broth more concentrated, to add more flavor (Orrington Farms broth base). Also added some frozen peas for some sweetness + an extra protein punch. Next time, we may even top it with a teaspoon of salsa. Great recipe, thank you!

  58. Mary says

    Have your photos always been on the site? I love that you added them/I found them! Prompted me to click and read more about you and I love how genuine your story is. I also am so encouraged to find others who try to live out what’s important in life, all the while being laid back and chill about it. So many people make assumptions about anyone who’s different these days.

    And thanks for always tackling these intimidating vegan recipes! I have never been disappointed and this mac looks awesome! The chili’s are a nice touch :) Can’t wait to try it!

  59. Katherine B says

    Yummm! One of my favorite recipes is for “mac’n’squash,” which uses a sauce from cashews, butternut squash, nooch, and seasonings, tossed with pasta and baked. Now I am sure I need to try this one!!! However, I like to call it something other than “mac’n’cheese” so non-vegans will recognize its true deliciousness instead of being stuck on the fact that it doesn’t taste exactly like cheese.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

      I think this one does taste like cheese! It is notably different, but definitely close. Hope you give it a go, Katherine!

  60. Christina says

    Just made this–love how pantry-friendly it is! I upped the spices and it is extremely creamy and delicious. Thanks for the recipe!

  61. Maria says

    I just made this sauce without the green chilis because I forgot to buy them and my god, this is delicious!! I’m definitely going to be making this again.

  62. xan says

    Saw this and said to Husband, “Husband, this is what’s for dinner.”

    Followed the recipe, but felt it needed a bit more oomph in the flavor department. Husband said “umame”, I felt maybe some salt, and maybe some more chili … and maybe some chopped tomato. I ended up grinding in some African Smoky Spice mix from Trader Joe’s, and the tomato. Somehow, we have no leftovers (alas!) Next time, I think I’ll salt the pasta water. The pasta diluted the sauce too much, I think. Or maybe boil the pasta in the veggie broth, and then use it to make the sauce. Yeah. Next time could be pretty soon! Thanks for this!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

      Thanks for leaving such a helpful comment! So glad you played around and made it your own.

  63. Helen @ Scrummy Lane says

    Well, I very much enjoyed scrolling through all the beautiful pictures! ;-)
    Genius idea to make a vegan mac and cheese! So I guess it’s the nutritional yeast (UK Marmite? Australian Vegemite?) that makes it taste ‘cheesy’? Nice idea that I’d like to try!

    • VeganPunkgirl says

      Hi Helen – Marmite is not the same as nutritional yeast. It is far more bitter – nutritional yeast flakes have a slightly sweet nutty cheesey flavour. If you put in Marmite it will be more bitter and too salty. It is also not the same as what in the USA is called “brewer’s yeast” but looks a lot like it. Brewer’s yeast. In Australia and New Zealand, nutritional yeast is also called “savory yeast” or “savory yeast flakes”.

  64. Iosune | Minimal Eats says

    Wow! I’m a big fan of vegan cheese sauces, I need to try this recipe! It looks soooo amazing, and I love the idea of adding tortillas to make this mac and cheese more crunchy, yum!

  65. Jessica (bakecetera) says

    this is dinner tonight. thank you! this recipe looks great. and SO FAR AWAY from velvetta.

  66. V. says

    Being from Germany, I didn’t know about Mac’n’Cheese until I traveled to the US in 2006 for the first time. I don’t think I ever tried it either. But I love that there is a vegan take on it. I cannot eat dairy, so if I ever want to try Mac’n’Cheese, I’ll come back to this :)

  67. Medusa says

    Greetings! I just discovered your blog & it’s my new favorite! Looking over your various recipes, it’s evident that you MUST open a restaurant! I am not vegan, but I cannot tolerate dairy & there are very few good options out there. I would also like to eat less gluten & become vegan at some point. Cashews are so wonderful & in fact, I just finished eating some! Pecans are great too & blended (preferably in a Vita-Mix!) with banana, ice cubes & organic raw blue agave makes a most wonderful “ice cream”! Cheers!

  68. Alex Caspero MA,RD (@delishknowledge) says

    So happy I have all the ingredients for this! Making it as we speak :) Love the idea of green chili in it!

  69. Melissa @ Nourish By Melissa says

    Yum yum yum! I’ve been seeing vegan mac and cheese using cashews everywhere lately but I think this chilli variation might just be the one that gets me to finally give it a try! Looks incredible!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

      No, I say in a previous step to all onions, garlic and all remaining ingredients (including the cashews/excluding the tortilla chips) to a blender and blend to make the cashew cheese. So when I say cashew cheese, it’s an actual cheese sauce by that point. Hope that helps!

  70. Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says

    This sounds fantastic! I only cook for myself, so I’m wondering if you know how it reheats. Should I just cut the recipe in half instead?

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

      I would say halve the recipe if it’s just you, although it does reheat pretty well. It doesn’t reheat like regular mac n cheese in that the sauce loses a bit of its texture/looks, but it still tastes good!

  71. Susan Pantle says

    What timing I am having barbequed ribs tonight & wanted to make mac-n-cheese with it! Cashews are soaking!

  72. Maryea {happy healthy mama} says

    I’m not going to lie, I have very fond memories of macaroni and cheese from my childhood. The Velveeta kind? My favorite. I do kind of cringe when I think about the ingredients now, but man, that stuff was good. I haven’t had it in years so it probably wouldn’t taste as good as I remember it, though. Anyway, this vegan mac and cheese looks lovely. I don’t think you can have too many versions of mac and cheese (real or vegan) in your arsenal!

  73. Kate @Almond Butter Binge says

    Just bought nutritional yeast for the first time yesterday — can’t wait to try this! Pretty sure I love cheese too much to be vegan (and I don’t have an intolerance), but maybe I can cut down with the help of sauces like this one! Thanks for sharing :)

      • Colleen McCauley says

        There are seriously soooo many vegan cheeses (cashew-based, soy-based, everything!) nowadays that at this point, you really don’t have to miss out on anything!

    • Grant Keller says

      Try some nooch toast.

      Toast some bread, butter one side and sprinkle with nutritional yeast (nooch). Put it under a broiler until the butter bubbles and the nooch darkens a little. I use margarine because I’m vegan and usually add a little garlic powder to the mix.

    • Mary says

      Since you’ve already got nutritional yeast in your pantry now… try it on popcorn with sea salt!!! And I used to have kitties, and when I put a spoonful into a bowl they’d lick it, then furiously clean their whiskers and paws, then eat more and furiously groom some more… and then their breath smelled like Cheerios. I always use it to enrich my ramen soup every evening. And it’s good on corn on the cob, after I moisten the corn with water or oil…. or white miso instead of salt entirely. Miso and nutritional yeast both have umami.

  74. Sam says

    Oh my god this sounds amazing. I want to lick the screen. You should put a warning, must not read when hungry ;)

  75. Steff says

    I am sure the vegan community appreciates your vegan recipes a lot, and I do, too, with colleagues allergic to gluten and egg – however, I am wondering if you know that most kinds of cheese are naturally lactose free? So being lactose intolerant you do not have to miss out on all the dairy products. The general rule is: the more fat they have, the less lactose. Parmesan for example is naturally completely lactose free.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

      Steff, thanks for the insight! I am aware of the various levels of lactose in dairy products, but regardless of that I still find that they upset my stomach. Therefore, I try and avoid them at all costs!

      • LynnGirl2000 says

        You can buy 100% lactose-free cheese and milk. I recommend Lactaid. I like it because unlike soy or almond milk, in a blind taste test you can’t tell the difference from the real milk. They also make other lactose-free dairy products, but the milk is the easiest to find in your average grocery store (i.e. walmart).

        • Jennifer says

          I agree . Only recently have I learned of how dairy farming is so cruel in the way that you describe. I am working toward vegan, and I must say that foregoing meat is not so hard for me. Cheese is different. I am making the effort though. Dairy tends to be high in cholesterol anyway.

          P.S. I think that maybe by “puss” you actually meant “pus.” Pus is what is inside an infection. Puss is an old term for face, and a derogatory term for part of the female human anatomy.

      • Jordan says

        It’s most likely the milk protiens (casien) that are concentrated in cheese. As a whole dairy products are very difficult to digest, so even if you arn’t lactose intolerant you can still suffer indigestion. Enzymes in milk also cause more mucus formation, resulting in a stuffy/runny nose and phlegm in your throat.

        ALTHOUGH milk products do contain a vitamin A that is very easily assimilated. It’s tough to decide whether dairy products are good or bad in the end (good= vitamin A and protien, bad = indigestion and mucus formation). Generally I try to avoid dairy products, but I do cook with ghee (clarified butter. It is butter minus the milk solids… so no casien or lactose).

        • Diane says

          Dairy IS scary and horrible! Our family has been vegetarian for over 30 years but we ate dairy because I thought cows don’t suffer….little did I know the horrors and cruelty that abound in the dairy industry. Now I am aware we are almost 100% vegan. No eggs for us either as that is another story of unspeakable suffering. This recipe is simply delicious and easy. Our new ‘Mac and cheese’ right here! So great to see the comments that people are avoiding these products because of the suffering and not just because it doesn’t agree with them…love! it!

      • Robyn says

        Thanks for this recipe! My son has a dairy and soy allergy and I am still breastfeeding so I am acting as I do. I miss creamy delicious Mac and cheese! This doesn’t taste exactly like cheese, but my 2.5 year old, 11 month old and myself couldn’t get enough!!! I had extra sauce and froze it. We will see if it freezes well! Thanks again!

      • Vicki says

        Thank you for posting this recipe. I am not lactose intollerant, i am cruelty intollerant. If people would just google the ” truth about the dairy industry ” and learn how many baby cows are murdered within minutes of being born just so a human can consume the milk that was intended for that baby, i really think that most would stop and switch to all of the delicious and healthy alternatives. Cows is so unhealthy, we are the only species that drink the milk of another species and we are the onlly species that drinks milk into adulthood. The entire ” got milk ” campaign was cooked up by the dairy industry. You can turn your health around just by giving up dairy. Please check out the Documentaries ” Earthlings ” and ” Cowspiracy “

      • mary e. from Ohio says

        My guess is that this is because lactose is not the only thing in dairy products that upsets some people’s systems…it’s the casein. More and more is coming out about the TYPE of casein. Certain types of cows produce alpha 1 and others alpha 2. One type is more more likely to cause stomach upset than the other. Still, the higher fat cheeses shouldn’t have as much of that either, but just say’n…. it’s not all about lactose.

    • VeganPunkgirl says

      Looks like a nice variation on Isa Chandra’s recipe. Does it work just as well with fresh chilis or only canned ones do you know ? I am not a fan of the vinegar taste in the canned ones, which is why I ask. I will make it tonight with fresh ones but will just slowly add them into the mix until it tastes OK (assuming that 14 oz of fresh chilis might be too strong ?).

      For Steff – the lives of cows are what I am concerned about when it comes to not having any dairy products. There is no physical imperative for a human to eat cow’s milk – only selfish reasons cause us to do this. The factory farming industry that abuses cows and calves for their artificially shortened miserable lives to produce veal, milk and cheese products is really truly immoral. I like most vegans, refuse to participate in that killing of these gentle creatures any longer. I just wanted to point out that it is more often for moral reasons that vegans avoid dairy products, and not merely for intolerance of digesting it.

      • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

        You could totally use fresh. I’d just roast them beforehand to intensify their flavor and soften their texture.

      • Steff says

        I know that there are good reasons to avoid milk if you are vegan – I did not want to say that you should not avoid dairy products at all costs. Just that if you are lactose intolerant and NOT vegan you do not need to avoid all dairy products. I have the highest of respects for vegans.
        However, I strongly dislike the missionary ones who try to tell everyone how animals suffer because of them. I do not think that it is necessary as the facts are well known and, in fact, it is the kind of behaviour that makes people get irritated and hating vegetarians and vegans. It does not help your purpose at all.

          • mallory says

            I think that’s is pretty funny considering most people who are vegetarian/vegan became so after finding out information that was not well known to them about the suffering of animals.

            Most people do not have a clue about what actually goes on in factory farming practices, especially in regards to the dairy industry. Some people do know, and don’t care. but for other people, that information changed their lives and how they consume food permanently.

        • Jan says

          It’s true; irritating people never works *cough* first-wave feminist revolution *cough* black rights movement *cough*. We should all just be really nice and calmly tell people what they’re doing is wrong. I mean, it worked for apartheid in Africa, right? I’m pretty sure the whole thing was sorted out over a cup of tea.

          But seriously, though. I’m trying this recipe tonight! I’ll be back with my feedback and if I’m able to change my rating I will. Right now, I’m giving it 4 stars based simply on the pictures!

          • Afro-American says

            I agree to what you say but the correct terminology is the civil rights movement. Not the “black” rights movement

          • Vicki says

            Love your response !!! Right on !! Isn’t it funny how even when you are nice that it still pisses off meateaters.

          • Mary says

            What about the animal rights movement? You forgot them, one of the big reasons to go vegan. The ones who cannot speak for themselves, the ones we’re supposed to be stewards of.

    • Sarah says

      Despite not having lactose – many cheeses still contain various forms of animal products. So it’s important to us vegans! Also, I didn’t have any chillis but I used cayenne and red pepper flakes which worked out pretty well!

      • Mary says

        Am pretty sure you can get little cans of Old El Paso chopped chilies everywhere in the U.S. All groceries have an “ethnic” section now that includes a few other canned brands, as well. Mexican and Latino foods are very “in.” Major groceries also sell fresh jalapeños and other chiles in fresh produce, and frozen roasted chiles in the frozen food section, especially the brand Bueno. If not, you can use one Anaheim plus one jalapeño… roast, peel and seed, and chop. I’m lucky, I live in New Mexico, Hatch grows the best, most famous chiles in the world.

    • Mary says

      The fact that some cheeses are lactose-free doesn’t address some of the other issues people become vegans because of: how expensive mammal cheese is; the environmental impact of cows: his much more potable water they require and that half of our potable water is used to raise cows, methane production which is shorter-lived than CO2 but more dangerous, how much more energy it requires to produce animal protein and dairy than plant protein, how much farm animals suffer, the pollution and runoff cows produce, what happens to the calves when cows are impregnated so they’ll make milk, and the fact that animal proteins are inflammatory… so it may be lactose-free for you, but not happy or healthy for cows, calves or the environment.