Easy Mac and Cheese – Vegan, Gluten-Free & Nut-Free
If you were to ask me 12 years ago (before going fully plant-based and creating dishes like this copycat gluten free kraft mac and cheese recipe) what my must-have pantry staple was, I would be lying if I had said anything other than Kraft Dinner. It’s rather shameful to admit as a lover of very good food. Perhaps my previous love of the infamous blue boxed pasta was built strictly on nostalgia, or maybe it was more about ease, convenience and cost. Either way, I was a KD kid through and through. Thankfully, I have upgraded to a vegan gluten free kraft mac and cheese recipe!
When deciding to eliminate dairy from my diet, I had to say good-bye to one of my most trusted lazy weeknight dinner options. I knew a replacement was in order and fast. Anyone who has ever ditched dairy can attest to how difficult that transition can be. Thankfully, a great deal of improvements have been made in the realm of vegan cheese making over the past decade. The options for quality wanna-be cheese have made the creation of recipes like this easy mac and cheese, SO much easier… and tastier! If it weren’t for these cheesy life savers, the “easy part” of this easy gluten free kraft mac and cheese recipe would be a complete lie. I’m thankful that I was forced to up my cooking game but it’s nice to take the easy way out from time to time!
For the past 4-5 years, I have been making this exact gluten free kraft easy mac and cheese recipe at least once a week for the family and they seriously never grow tired of it. I have served it to omnivores both young and old, with the very fiercest criticism being, “you can tell it’s not real cheese, but it’s still good.” Yup, I’ll take that!
I have included the brands used in this recipe that without question, yield the best and most universally appealing results. If you can’t find a specific brand or just want to use what you have on hand, give this a go anyhow and use the closest counterpart. The swap will give it a slightly different flavour, but will likely be totally delicious regardless! Give this copycat vegan gluten free kraft easy mac and cheese a try and let us know how it goes. Annnd, if you are bored, you may as well give this version of vegan hamburger helper a try!
Easy Mac & Cheese - Vegan, Gluten-Free & Nut-Free
Ingredients
- 1 340g box macaroni - I used gluten-free Catelli
- 1/3 cup butter - I used Earth Balance
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 2 1/2 tbsp 1 for 1 Gluten-Free Flour - Bob's Red Mill or Bulk Barn Brand
- 2 cups non-dairy milk - I used unsweetened oat milk
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1/2 cup shredded cheese - I used Daiya cheddar farmhouse block
- 1/2 tsp yellow mustard
- 1 tsp sea salt - or more to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta to al dente, drain and set aside (do not overcook!)
- In a large skillet or dutch oven, over medium heat, melt butter.
- Add garlic and onion powder to butter. Stir for just under 1 minute, to allow the flavours to blossom.
- Add the flour 1/2 tbsp at a time and stir/whisk into butter, ensuring minimal clumps remain.
- Pour in the milk 1 cup at a time and stir/whisk well to work into butter/flour mix. Again, ensuring no clumps remain.
- Add in nutritional yeast, cheese, mustard and salt. Keep stirring until most of the cheese has melted.
- Remove from heat and add in pasta. Stir well and add additional sea salt if necessary.
Notes
Vegan gluten free recipes, meal plans, wellness, home | Mostly Domestic
Vegan and Gluten free food and cooking | Mostly Domestic
Vegan and Gluten free meal plans, prep and food shopping lists | Mostly Domestic
