Name: Vegan Mac & Cheese Powder Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: Vegan
Ingredients: ¾ cup nutritional yeast; 2 tbsp plain flour; 1 ½ tsp salt; 1 tsp sugar; 1 tsp garlic powder; 1 tsp onion powder (or granules); 1 tsp smoked paprika; ¼ tsp ground black pepper; ¼ tsp turmeric (for color); 2 ½ cups macaroni (uncooked, approx. ½ cup per person); 1 ⅔ cups plant milk (⅓ cup per person, e.g. almond or soy milk); 1 cup Vegan Mac & Cheese Powder (3 tbsp per person); 2 tbsp olive oil (1 tsp per person); 1 tbsp lemon juice (½ tsp per person)

Description

This Vegan Mac & Cheese recipe creates a creamy, dairy-free version of the classic comfort food using a homemade mac & cheese powder made from nutritional yeast and spices. Perfect for a quick and satisfying meal, the sauce is rich, flavorful, and easy to prepare with simple pantry ingredients and plant-based milk.

Ingredients

Mac & Cheese Powder

¾ cup nutritional yeast
2 tbsp plain flour
1 ½ tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder (or granules)
1 tsp smoked paprika
¼ tsp ground black pepper
¼ tsp turmeric (for color)

Vegan Mac & Cheese

2 ½ cups macaroni (uncooked, approx. ½ cup per person)
1 ⅔ cups plant milk (⅓ cup per person, e.g. almond or soy milk)
1 cup Vegan Mac & Cheese Powder (3 tbsp per person)
2 tbsp olive oil (1 tsp per person)
1 tbsp lemon juice (½ tsp per person)

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Instructions

Make Mac & Cheese Powder: In a bowl, measure and mix together the nutritional yeast, plain flour, salt, sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, ground black pepper, and turmeric until well combined.
Store Powder: Transfer the mixed powder into a dry, airtight jar and store it in a cool, dark place for long shelf life until ready to use.
Cook Pasta: Cook the macaroni according to package instructions, then drain. For a camping or no-milk version, reserve some pasta cooking water to substitute plant milk.
Mix Sauce: Put the drained pasta back into the saucepan, then add the plant milk (or reserved pasta water), Vegan Mac & Cheese Powder, olive oil, and lemon juice.
Thicken Sauce: Stir the mixture over low heat until the sauce thickens and coats the pasta evenly, reaching your desired consistency.

Notes

Use reserved pasta water instead of plant milk for a dairy-free option when camping or when plant milk is not available.
Adjust the amount of mac & cheese powder to taste for a stronger or milder cheese flavor.
Store the mac & cheese powder in an airtight container to maintain freshness and flavor for several weeks.
Use any plant-based milk of your choice such as almond, soy, oat, or cashew milk for best results.
The turmeric adds color but does not impact flavor significantly—adjust as preferred.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: Stovetop
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Vegan, American-style comfort food