With the weather getting colder and the winter season upon us, is there anything cozier and more satisfying than diving into a warm bowl of gooey, creamy and delicious macaroni and cheese?
Macaroni and cheese is the ultimate North American comfort food. The combination of pasta and the creamy, cheesy sauce is crave-worthy, especially in these cold winter months.
Typically, macaroni and cheese recipes involve milk (often whole milk) as a staple ingredient and it is added after making a roux, which is the basis of the sauce made by cooking equal parts of butter or oil with flour. Milk is then added to the roux and the cooked flour helps the sauce to thicken. However, now there are so many ways to make mac and cheese without milk. Whether you want to make a vegan macaroni and cheese version, have dietary restrictions or allergies, just ran out of milk and cravings strike, or you want a more indulgent version made with cream, today’s post is giving you a round-up of all kinds of recipes for macaroni and cheese.
Traditional Recipes that don’t use Milk
I love this recipe from fellow food blogger The Fast Recipe for when you’re in a pinch and just REALLY craving macaroni and cheese. This easy and quick variation of the classic recipe doesn’t use milk but instead combines three cheeses – cheddar, mozzarella and cream cheese to make a gooey sauce. We hardly think you will miss the milk in this one with all that cheesy goodness.
If you want another traditional yet decadent option, this recipe from Two Cloves Kitchen combines cream and cream cheese in place of milk to create a rich, velvety sauce along with white cheddar and mozzarella cheese. Adding a crispy breadcrumb topping with some garlic, parsley and lemon zest adds a touch of brightness for another classic element. This crowd-pleasing dish is ready in 30 minutes making it a great weeknight meal option.
Vegan Mac and Cheese Recipes with Cashews
Going vegan or even being dairy free shouldn’t mean having to cut out your favorite dishes. This recipe from nutritionist VNutrition comes together in 20 minutes and uses cashews and a little bit of coconut cream to create a velvety “cheese” sauce! And if you are looking for a healthier or lighter version, this recipe comes in at 240 calories per serving which is much lower than traditional recipes. It is also going to be loaded with healthy fats from the cashews.
If you’re not a fan of coconut cream or just don’t have, here is an alternative vegan recipe to try from culinary nutritionist and fellow dietitian Jackie Newgent. This recipe makes a “cream” sauce using a base of soaked cashews, butternut squash, and nutritional yeast along with some spices and a few other simple ingredients.
Vegan Recipes without Nuts
Not all vegan mac and cheese recipes use cashews to emulate the creamy, cheesy texture we all know and love of mac and cheese. These vegan, nut-free options are great for anyone with nut allergies and if you have leftovers, they can be sent to kids for lunch at school without any issues.
This plant-based recipe from CookEatLiveLove uses cauliflower and tofu, which adds not only a source of protein, but also lends a smooth velvety texture to your sauce. The “cheesy” umami flavour comes from nutritional yeast and seasonings, so you get that mac and cheese flavour you crave. And this recipe also gets bonus points for a crispy topping using panko crumbs. The crunchy topping is arguably one of the best parts of mac and cheese.
Award-winning registered dietitian Amy Gorin has a mouth-watering gluten-free, Plant-Based Mac and Cheese that use coconut milk, nutritional yeast and dairy-free cheddar to make a “cheese” sauce. Her recipe also uses quinoa pasta which is gluten-free and high in fibre but you can use any pasta you like. Adding a touch of turmeric at the end helps create that classic bright orange colour.
High Fibre Mac and Cheese
This Almond Milk Mac and Cheese with Butternut Squash from a fellow Registered Dietitian Fannetastic is a fantastic way to sneak some nutrients in for the picky vegetable eaters. It incorporates fiber dense whole wheat pasta, butternut squash, and kale. It uniquely uses cannellini beans for more fibre and to add some protein. Adding cannellini beans and pureeing them is a great way to get a “creamy” texture without using cream. This recipe is the perfect combination of comfort food and nutrition!
Mac and Cheese in a Hurry
When your mac and cheese craving hits and you can’t want to wait, try these recipes that are perfect for when you are in a hurry and hungry!
This super easy vegan recipe from Planty of Eats only uses 5 ingredients and takes only 15 minutes to make. The “cheese” sauce is made with coconut milk and nutritional yeast. Feel free to add in some frozen veggies too for more colour and added nutrition.
While this family-friendly Slow-Cooker Mac and Cheese recipe from Dinner at the Zoo isn’t necessarily fast, it is great for a weeknight because it is made in the slow-cooker. Take 15 minutes to prep it in advance before heading out to your kiddos after-school activities and have dinner ready when you get home. This decadent recipe calls for evaporated milk which is great pantry staple, as well as half and half, cheddar cheese and American cheese. American cheese helps create an ultra-smooth and creamy sauce. Yum!
When you are really in a hurry, the Instant Pot is always a great option. This Mac and Cheese recipe from Little Sunny Kitchen is ready in under 15 minutes and is super creamy and rich – instead of milk, the sauce is made from vegetable broth and heavy cream. And for my fellow cheese lovers, this recipe calls for three cheeses – mozzarella, sharp cheddar and Parmesan.
That is the end of this mac and cheese without milk recipe roundup! I hope you’ll try one of these delicious recipes! From decadent recipes made with cream and three types of cheese, to lightened up vegan options with loads of veggies, you certainly have a lot to choose from depending on what you are craving. There is something for everyone. Whichever recipe you choose, you can expect that warm, gooey bowl of delicious mac and cheese that is oh so comforting on a cold night.
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