This Vegan Southwestern Mac and Cheese is the perfect weeknight dinner meal! Fast and easy to make, this is a recipe that the whole family will enjoy! This recipe comes together in 30 minutes and is simple and full of delicious flavor!
*Originally published September 5, 2021 and updated with new copy and photos 3/23/23.
I don't know about you, but I always plan my meals the week before and look at my calendar to see what I am going to make based on how busy I am. Let me tell you, I have been making a lotttt of 30-minute meals lately. It seems like this busy season is never ending! However, one of my favorite go-to busy night meals is this Vegan Southwestern Mac and Cheese. It is so creamy and delicious but also hearty and filling.
This vegan mac packs is filled with good for you ingredients in a creamy, non-dairy cheese sauce. You would never guess this meal is vegan honestly. One of the other things I love about this dinner is that it makes a lot of food, which means it is perfect for big families or for meal prep. Seriously, we are on day 3 and are still eating this for dinner. You are going to absolutely love it. Ready to dig in?
For more easy weeknight dinner ideas, check out my Old School Tamale Pie, this Fiesta Veggie Tater Tot Casserole or my Vegan Ravioli Pesto Bake!
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What Makes This Vegan Southwestern Mac and Cheese So Great?
- Easy on the Wallet-Since the base of this mac and cheese is primarily vegetables, this is budget friendly and will feed the whole family.
- Shareable- This mac and cheese recipe makes 8 servings which is perfect for feeding a big family or sharing with friends!
- Full of Flavor-You wouldn't think a cheese-free mac and cheese would pack the flavor but this recipe is part chili, part mac and cheese so it is so delicious.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Cashews- The cashews help to form the base of this cheesy chili mac. The cashews will blend up with the spices, broth, nutritional yeast and vegetables to form a creamy and delicious vegan cheese sauce. If you have a nut allergy, you can make this cheese sauce with cauliflower instead. Check out this Vegan Baked Mac and Cheese without Cashews for some more ideas!
- Beans-I used two different types of beans in this recipe, kidney beans and black beans. However, you can use whatever type of beans are your favorite. I love adding in pinto beans on occasion!
- Nutritional Yeast- Nutritional Yeast is the vegan cheese powerhouse. It helps to make our vegan cheese sauce "cheesy." There really isn't a replacement for this ingrident, however you can skip it if you don't have it on hand, just note that the sauce will not have a cheesy taste.
- Spices-This recipe uses traditional chili spices like cumin, oregano, smoked paprika, salt and chili powder. If you want to make it extra spicy, feel free to throw some cayenne in there too.
- Noodles- I used cavatappi noodles in this recipe but feel free to use your favorite noodle type. You can even use gluten-free noodles to make this gluten-free.
A complete list of ingredients and amounts is located on the recipe card below.
Instructions
Step 1: Fill a small pot with water and add the diced potato, carrots and cashews. Bring to a boil and boil for 10 minutes.
Step 2: Drain the cashews, carrots and potato and add them to a high speed blender along with the nutritional yeast, spices, and vegetable broth. Blend until smooth. The sauce will be thick. Set aside until ready to use.
Step 3: In an 8qt pot or dutch oven, add the onion and bell peppers. Cook until soft, about 7-10 minutes.
Step 4: Stir in tomatoes, tomato sauce, beans, chili powder, paprika ,oregano and cumin; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Bring to a simmer and cook over medium heat for 10-12 minutes until the flavors start to meld together.
Step 5: Bring a pot of salted water to boil and boil the pasta according to the package directions.
Step 6: Add the cooked pasta and the cheese sauce to the pot with the chili. Stir until combined and mixed through. Serve immediately.
Variations
- Spicy - Add some diced jalapeños in with the bell peppers to kick this dish up a notch.
- Nut-Free - You can easily make this cheese sauce nut-free by swapping the cashews with cauliflower!
- Vegan Beef - If you want to give this recipe a heartier feel, you can add some vegan ground beef crumbles with the beans.
Check out this Vegan Philly Cheesesteak for another fun recipe!
Recipe Serving Suggestions
This southwestern mac and cheese is hearty and filling enough on its own, however here are some ideas of what to serve with it if you want a full meal!
- Chopped or Caesar Salad
- Cornbread
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- Air Fryer Peach Cobbler
Storage
Store in airtight containers for up to 5 days. This would be the perfect lunch for meal prep. Just portion everything out into individual containers and store it in the refrigerator and reheat when ready to eat.
I wouldn't recommend freezing this recipe as the cooked noodles will become gummy.
Top Tips
- Load up your mac and cheese with delicious toppings such as vegan sour cream, green onions, sliced jalapeños or crushed tortilla chips!
- If you want to add extra creaminess to your sauce, you can stir in a bag of vegan cheddar cheese with the noodles alongside the sauce. My favorite is the Follow Your Heart brand.
- This Vegan Chili Mac gets even better the next day! Don't hesitate to make this as a meal prep lunch or dinner!
FAQ's
You don't have to use nutritional yeast in this vegan mac and cheese, however, nutritional yeast is what will give it that cheesy flavor. If you don't like using nutritional yeast, you can substitute it by using any other dairy-free cheese that you prefer.
Yes and no. You can make everything in one pot, I suggest a large dutch oven. Adding 4 cups of water or vegetable broth to bean and noodle mixture and cook the noodles with the beans, spices and vegetables, however you will have to use a separate pot and a blender to make the vegan cheese.
Yes! You can make this Vegan Chili Mac in the crockpot. Just combine the beans, onion, jalapeño, tomatoes and noodles to the crockpot and cover with 4 cups broth or water. Cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high for 2-4 hours. Stir in the cheese sauce before serving.
More 30 Minute Meals to Try!
Vegan Southwestern Mac and Cheese
Equipment
- 2 8 quart Dutch Oven or Pot
- 1 High Speed Blender
Ingredients
For the "Cheese" Sauce
- ½ cup Cashews
- 2 medium Carrots chopped
- 1 medium Russet Potato chopped
- ¼ cup Nutritional Yeast
- 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 2 cups Vegetable Broth
For the Chili
- 1 medium Yellow Onion
- 1 medium Green Bell Pepper
- 1 medium Red Bell Pepper
- 28 ounces Diced Tomatoes
- 8 ounces Tomato Sauce
- 4 ounces canned diced green chiles
- 1 can Black Beans 14.5 ounces
- 1 can Red Kidney Beans 14.5 ounces
- 1 teaspoon Ground Cumin
- 1 teaspoon Oregano
- ½ teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- 1 Tablespoon Chili Powder
- 16 ounces Cavatappi Noodles
Instructions
- Fill a small pot with water and add the diced potato, carrots and cashews. Bring to a boil and boil for 10 minutes.
- Drain the cashews, carrots and potato and add them to a high speed blender along with the nutritional yeast, spices, and vegetable broth. Blend until smooth. The sauce will be thick. Set aside until ready to use.
- In an 8qt pot or dutch oven, add the onion and bell peppers. Cook until soft, about 7-10 minutes.
- Stir in tomatoes, tomato sauce, beans, chili powder, paprika ,oregano and cumin; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Bring to a simmer and cook over medium heat for 10-12 minutes until the flavors start to meld together.
- Bring a pot of salted water to boil and boil the pasta according to the package directions.
- Add the cooked pasta and the cheese sauce to the pot with the chili. Stir until combined and mixed through. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Load up your mac and cheese with delicious toppings such as vegan sour cream, green onions, sliced jalapeños or crushed tortilla chips!
- If you want to add extra creaminess to your sauce, you can stir in a bag of vegan cheddar cheese with the noodles alongside the sauce. My favorite is the Follow Your Heart brand.
- This Vegan Chili Mac gets even better the next day! Don't hesitate to make this as a meal prep lunch or dinner!
Nutrition
Food safety
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
Sabrina says
What a unique take on chili, so yummy!
kaydimaggio says
Thank you!
Aditi Jain says
Looks like my dinner is sorted for now!
kaydimaggio says
Hope you enjoy!
Amanda Hay says
Loved the flavors. This will definitely be a recipe to make again. Thank you for sharing!
kaydimaggio says
So glad you liked it!
Jeri says
Fantastic flavor! I'm keeping this recipe in my back pocket for a quick weeknight dinner!
kaydimaggio says
I hope you love it!
Emily Flint says
I love that this is made with cashews, they are such a versatile ingredient! This will be on my fall and winter menu all year long!
kaydimaggio says
Yes they are!
Marinela says
Mmm, how I love this vegan chili mac dish! It's full of flavor, extremely easy to prepare and so nourishing! It's my favorite weeknight plant-based dinner. A real crowd-pleaser, all family loves it!
Natalie says
Ths is such a great dinner idea. Easy to make, delicious and super nutritious. I'm going to give this a try. Yum!
Freya says
Yum! I have some chilli in the freezer and you’ve inspired me to make this for my supper!
kaydimaggio says
I hope you enjoy!
Hollie says
Perfect recipe for the Fall!!
kaydimaggio says
Yes!
Will says
This was so easy to make and tasted great. Thanks!
kaydimaggio says
Glad you liked it!
Emily says
I love this tasty and comforting recipe! It's perfect as the weather is getting cooler!
kaydimaggio says
Yes it is!
Shelby says
This looks so comforting! What an awesome, healthy, twist on a classic!
kaydimaggio says
Thank you!
Luca says
This is was an explosion of flavors! I loved it.
kaydimaggio says
Glad you liked it!
Addie says
So many great flavors! Love this comfort food!
kaydimaggio says
Perfect comfort food!
Kaybee Lives says
Yum! This looks so tasty and a bonus that it is healthy! Thanks for sharing!
kaydimaggio says
Yes! I hope you enjoy!
Jeannie says
This 30 minutes vegan chili mac is what we have, its filling and easy to prepare. Helps us not to over think our meals
kaydimaggio says
I hope you enjoy!
Andrea White says
Such an awesome recipe! Can't wait to try it out!
kaydimaggio says
I hope you enjoy!
Bernice says
Just popping in to say this looks amazing! I love the flavours in this comforting dish.
kaydimaggio says
Thank you!
Gioele says
This was really delicious, amazing recipe!!!
kaydimaggio says
Thank you!
Julia says
This sounds amazing to that's dinner sorted for tonight. It's lots of protein tucked in there and loads of flavour with the spices and the chilli beans. Macaroni is one of our favourite things so I just know that this Chilli Mac is going to be a hit here.
kaydimaggio says
I hope you enjoy! It is bursting with flavor!
Mihaela | https://theworldisanoyster.com/ says
I would not even change an ingredient in this fab spicy mac, not even for the sake of carnivorous at my house:) Will make it this afternoon!
kaydimaggio says
Glad you liked it! 🙂
Anaiah says
Love all the flavors in this vegan chili mac! It's the perfect weeknight dinner and such a breeze to make.
kaydimaggio says
So glad it was a hit!
Joshua says
I could make this every night and my boys would have no complaints. My family loved this vegan chili mac. Great recipe!
kaydimaggio says
So glad everyone loved it!
Julia Y says
This was a brilliant, early autumn dinner that we all really enjoyed. The chilli flavour and the beans made it quite different from ordinary Mac and cheese and really filling and full of flavour. A really good recipe for the colder months ahead.
kaydimaggio says
Thank you! I hope you enjoy!
Natalia says
OMG! There is nothing more delicious than mac and cheese! My favorite pasta dish. Bookmarked to make it soon!
kaydimaggio says
I hope you enjoy!
Natalie says
This looks delicious. I bet my boys would love this. Thanks for the recipe. I will make this for sure.
kaydimaggio says
I hope you enjoy!
Leslie says
I love this recipe!
Shannon says
Made this last week and it’s now a family favorite!
kaydimaggio says
So glad you enjoyed it!
Shannon says
This recipe is a family favorite! Quick, easy, and DELICIOUS!!