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    Recipes » Recipes » Lunch & Dinner

    Vegan White Bean Mac and Cheese (GF)

    Last updated - July 15, 2021; Published - May 27, 2017 By Rhian Williams 30 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
    A collage of two Vegan White Bean Mac and Cheese photos

    This Vegan White Bean Mac and Cheese is luxuriously rich and creamy, so comforting and quick and easy to make. The sauce is not starchy or cloying and is a good source of protein and fibre. It takes just 30 minutes to make and is gluten-free and nut-free optional, too!

    Vegan white bean mac and cheese with green peas on a black plate with a side salad

    I've experimented with so many different creamy vegan pasta sauce recipes, including this creamy pesto sauce and this creamy pumpkin one.

    I used almond milk thickened with cornflour (cornstarch) as a base for the creamy pesto sauce, but I found that using just almond milk and cornflour for a mac and cheese-type sauce didn't work as well because there wasn't enough flavour and I wasn't able to create a thick and creamy sauce without using a lot of cornflour, which, used in large quantities, can make the sauce kind of custard-like, which isn't really what you want.

    I also experimented with using blended vegetables like cauliflower, but couldn't get rid of the cauliflower taste.

    I also tried using blended potatoes and even mochi, but both of these were far too starchy.

    I then tried blended white beans and it really hit the spot! Beans were happily one of the healthiest ingredients I experimented with and the taste and texture was perfect!

    How to make this recipe

    Full recipe at the bottom of the post.

    • Cook the pasta.
    • Fry the onion and garlic for around 10 minutes until softened.
    Fried onions and garlic in a silver saucepan
    • Add the almond milk, nutritional yeast, miso, vinegar, white beans, salt + pepper.
    • Bring to the boil and simmer for a couple of minutes.

    Tip: Use a measuring jug to measure out the milk.

    White beans, fried onions and almond milk in a silver saucepan
    • Transfer to a food processor or blender.
    White beans, fried onions and almond milk in a food processor
    • Whizz until completely smooth.
    Vegan white bean cheese sauce in a food processor
    • Mix with the cooked pasta and enjoy immediately!

    How long does this White Bean Mac and Cheese keep for?

    Once you have mixed the sauce into the pasta, it's best eaten immediately as the pasta will become mushy. However, the sauce itself can be kept covered in the fridge for up to a few days or can be frozen too. Reheat in a pan on the hob (stove), adding a little extra plant-based milk or water to thin it out if necessary.

    Substitutions you can make

    • You can use any type of pasta - brown rice pasta, quinoa pasta or green pea pasta are my favourite gluten-free ones.
    • You can replace the white beans with chickpeas (but the texture will be slightly more 'grainy').
    • You can replace the almond milk with cashew milk or oat milk for a nut-free version.
    • You can add herbs to the sauce much as rosemary or sage.
    • You can add any vegetables - I added green peas, but you could add spinach, broccoli, kale etc.
    Photo of mac and cheese with green peas on a black plate with a side salad against a marble background

    More vegan cheese recipes

    • Vegan Stretchy Melty Grilled Cheese
    • Vegan Stretchy Melty Cheese Nachos
    • Vegan Queso
    • Vegan Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
    • Vegan Stretchy Melty Cheese Quesadillas

    If you try out this recipe or anything else from my blog, I’d really love to hear any feedback! Please give it a rating, leave a comment, or tag a photo @rhiansrecipes #rhiansrecipes on Instagram! Thank you.

    Watch how to make this recipe

     

    Vegan white bean mac and cheese with green peas on a black plate

    Vegan White Bean Mac and Cheese (Gluten-Free)

    This Vegan White Bean Mac and Cheese is luxuriously creamy, so comforting and most importantly, quick and easy to make.
    4.23 from 31 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: dairy-free mac and cheese, vegan mac and cheese, white bean cheese sauce
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings: 2
    Calories: 621kcal
    Author: Rhian Williams

    Ingredients

    • 200 g (7 oz) pasta (gluten-free if necessary)

    For the sauce:

    • 1 tablespoon oil (olive, rapeseed or vegetable)
    • 1 onion , diced
    • 1 garlic clove , roughly chopped
    • 170 ml (¾ cup) unsweetened almond milk (or sub unsweetened oat milk if nut-free)
    • 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
    • 1 heaped teaspoon miso (ensure gluten-free if necessary)
    • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar ensure gluten-free if necessary
    • 400 g (14 oz) tin of white beans , drained and rinsed (haricot beans, cannellini beans or butter beans)
    • Salt + pepper to taste

    Instructions

    • Cook pasta according to instructions on packet.
    • Heat up oil in a separate saucepan.
    • Once hot, add onions and garlic and cook for around 10 minutes until soft.
    • Add milk, nutritional yeast, miso, vinegar, white beans, salt + pepper.
    • Bring to the boil and simmer for a couple of minutes.
    • Using a hand-held blender, blender or food processor, whizz the sauce until completely smooth. Add more milk or water to thin out if necessary.
    • Mix with the cooked pasta, taste and adjust seasonings if necessary.
    • Enjoy immediately - best served alongside salad.

    Video

    Notes

    Once you have mixed the sauce into the pasta, it's best eaten immediately as the pasta will become mushy. However, the sauce itself can be kept covered in the fridge for up to a few days or can be frozen too. Reheat in a pan on the hob (stove), adding a little extra plant-based milk or water to thin it out if necessary. 
    Nutrition Facts
    Vegan White Bean Mac and Cheese (Gluten-Free)
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 621 Calories from Fat 90
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 10g15%
    Saturated Fat 1g5%
    Sodium 155mg6%
    Potassium 775mg22%
    Carbohydrates 113g38%
    Fiber 15g60%
    Sugar 4g4%
    Protein 20g40%
    Vitamin C 4.5mg5%
    Calcium 202mg20%
    Iron 4.2mg23%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Made the recipe?Tag @rhiansrecipes on instagram and use the hashtag #rhiansrecipes!

    Disclosure: This posts contains affiliate links to Amazon. If you purchase any of these products, a small percentage will come to me with no extra cost to you! This income will go towards the running of this blog – thank you.

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    Comments

    1. Joan

      November 05, 2018 at 7:52 pm

      5 stars
      This was easy and really tasty. We served it with steamed cauliflower and herbed and roasted orange squash. We have come to love whole grain pastas so we used a whole grain macaroni here. Couldn't ask for a healthier recipe for mac n' cheese. Thank you so much for the share!

      Reply
      • Rhian Williams

        November 05, 2018 at 8:10 pm

        Thank you so much, so glad you liked it! The way you served it sounds delicious!

    2. Andy Bruck

      December 31, 2018 at 7:12 pm

      5 stars
      This dish is delicious!! I have heard that miso works best when used after boiling, so I waited until turning the heat off before adding it. I also ate some of the recipe without blending, and it was very delicious they way with some greens thrown in!!

      Reply
      • Rhian Williams

        January 02, 2019 at 5:51 am

        Yay thank you so much, so glad you liked it!

    3. Lex

      January 20, 2019 at 8:45 am

      I’m looking forward to making this ! I’ve just realised I’ve run out if nutritional yeast! 🙁 any suggestions for substitute? Or how do you think it will it be without?

      Reply
      • Rhian Williams

        January 20, 2019 at 1:56 pm

        Thank you! You can make it without shouldn't be too much of a problem!

    4. Christina

      February 20, 2019 at 2:32 am

      5 stars
      Great recipe. I am recently dairy free, and although I wish I could still eat "real" homemade mac and cheese, this was a tasty substitute!

      Reply
      • Rhian Williams

        February 20, 2019 at 11:21 am

        Thank you so much so glad you liked it!

    5. Lee

      May 09, 2019 at 6:39 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious! I subbed homemade cashew milk because I had to use it up, and added 1 tbs of turmeric and a half squeezed lemon instead of the salt. My family enjoyed it, thanks!

      Reply
      • Rhian Williams

        May 09, 2019 at 7:01 pm

        Thank you so much, so glad you liked it! And thank you for sharing your substitutions.

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    Photo of Rhian Williams from Rhian's Recipes

    Hi, I'm Rhian! I make easy, undetectably vegan + gluten-free recipes, including healthy comfort food and naturally sweetened desserts using plant-based ingredients.

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