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Vegan Southwestern Mac and Cheese

kaydimaggio
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!
4.97 from 28 votes
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Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 30 mins
Course Entree
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings
Calories 418 kcal

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

Serving: 1servingCalories: 418kcalCarbohydrates: 77gProtein: 18gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 895mgPotassium: 1011mgFiber: 11gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 3941IUVitamin C: 51mgCalcium: 98mgIron: 5mg
Keyword entree, Vegan
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