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Homemade Vegan Boxed Mac and Cheese

September 20, 2019 By Sarah 30 Comments

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This Homemade Vegan Boxed Mac and Cheese comes together in the same amount of time as the store bought version!

overhead view of Vegan Boxed Mac and Cheese with text overlay on a blue background

This post was originally published in March 2015. | As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Vegan Boxed Mac & Cheese

In our pre kid days Kraft boxed mac and cheese was a weekend lunch ritual for Irving and I.  Just about every weekend, without fail.  After I became vegan the easy boxed options were more limited (this was before easy store bought vegan mac and cheese), and I wanted something I could share with my kids to keep our weekend routine.  Slowly different vegan boxed mac and cheeses came on the market, and I do like them (I’m looking at you, Annie’s!), but it turns out that you can make homemade vegan boxed mac and cheese at home just as easily!  

close up of two bowls of Vegan Boxed Mac and Cheese with blue background and black silverware

How my Boxed Macaroni and Cheese Came to Be

A few years ago David and I planned early in the day that we would have our old favorite convenience food—Earth Balance Macaroni and Cheese (RIP)—for dinner that night.  We usually picked up a box when we went to Whole Foods, so I had assumed we had some in the pantry and went about my day.  You can imagine the sinking feeling I had when at 6 o’clock I went to grab the box in the pantry and found that we were all out!  Yikes!  With no plan B, and very hungry kiddos I decided to improvise with what I had on hand and see if I could replicate the taste of boxed macaroni.  Turns out that it’s not that hard to do, and it comes together just as quickly as the boxed variety, with pantry staples.  David would call this a “mom brain” moment—he uses “mom brain” to mean when a mom remembers a specific preference of one of her kids, or figures out a good mom hack!  I love his positive spin on it!  

serving bowl of Vegan Boxed Mac and Cheese with rainbow colored serving spoons in the background

How do you make boxed vegan mac and cheese? 

Making vegan boxed mac and cheese at home is actually really easy!  The first time I did it I just glanced at the ingredients you’d find in a boxed mix, and tried to replicate the flavor mix at home.  I use nutritional yeast (see below), salt, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, and turmeric to make a “cheese powder” mix.  The nutritional yeast gives a cheesy flavor, and the paprika and turmeric give the mac and cheese it’s signature orange color.  Once you have your cheese mix you proceed like you would with any box of mac and cheese.  Boil the pasta, melt the butter, add the milk, mix in the cheese powder, and then add the cooked pasta.  Seriously easy, and fast!  

ingredients used for making Vegan Boxed Mac and Cheese sauce

What is Nutritional Yeast?

Nutritional yeast, affectionately referred to as nooch by vegans, is an inactive strain of yeast.  It’s the same type of yeast you’d using in bread making, but it’s been pasteurized to dry the yeast and bring out it’s nutritional benefits.  And while you might think it looks like fish food (spoiler alert: it does), it has a cheesy taste!  It’s perfect in mac and cheese, but also great for sprinkling on top of pasta!  

close up of powdered cheese mix for Vegan Boxed Mac and Cheese

Kids’ Meal

This vegan boxed mac and cheese might be one of my kids’ favorites!  I made it earlier this week to photograph and they immediately devoured half of it when they got home from school!  I packed the leftovers in their thermoses for school lunches two more times this week—they’re obsessed!  For a full meal at home I like serving it up kid style—with a side of gardein nuggets and whatever fruit or veggie that I have on hand.  

triptych of images featuring Vegan Boxed Mac and Cheese with young boy in blue shirt

^^^ Kid approved by baby David, circa 2015!

Other Kid Favorites you will love!

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overhead shot of serving bowl of Vegan Boxed Mac and Cheese with two bowls of mac and cheese on a blue background with rainbow striped serving spoons

Let’s make homemade vegan boxed mac and cheese!

Whip up this easy homemade vegan boxed mac and cheese sometime this week!  It’s sure to be a hit with both the little and big kiddos in your life!  Be sure to drop me a note in the comments below, along with a 5 star rating if you love it!

fried dandelions

Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Homemade Boxed Mac and Cheese

This Homemade Vegan Boxed Mac and Cheese comes together in the same amount of time as the store bought version!
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time15 mins
Total Time25 mins
Author: Sarah De la Cruz

Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons nutritional yeast
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika (not smoked)
  • 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
  • 4 Tablespoons vegan butter plus extra for serving if desired
  • 1/2 cup non dairy milk
  • 1 pound pasta (use gluten free if needed)

Instructions

  • Bring a medium pot of water to boil on the stove. Prepare pasta according to package directions.
  • In the meantime, mix all dry ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside.
  • Drain the cooked pasta.
  • While it is draining, place butter into the now empty pot over low heat. Once melted add the non dairy milk. Mix together and then add the dry mix. Mix well.
  • Add the pasta back into the pot and toss to coat the pasta with the sauce.  Add an extra pat of butter if desired.  Serve right away!

Filed Under: Entree, Fun for Kids, Recipe Tagged With: macandcheese, macaroni, pasta, vegan

Previous Post: « Vegan Pumpkin Spice Latte — Dairy Free!
Next Post: Pumpkin Pie Chia Pudding »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. J says

    January 27, 2019 at 12:12 pm

    This turned out great!! My kids and I both enjoyed it a lot. I didn’t have annatto powder, so I used a bit of turmeric instead and achieved a nice golden color. It only took a tiny bit for it to work.

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      January 27, 2019 at 12:19 pm

      I’m so glad to hear that! It’s such a yummy, easy meal for the kiddos! Turmeric is a perfect sub!

      Reply
  2. Starr says

    January 17, 2017 at 5:20 pm

    I kind of miss boxed mac & cheese. I regularly scan the shelves when I walk down those isles, but I guess vegan brands haven’t made their way up here yet. Can’t wait to try your recipe!

    Reply
  3. The Vegan 8 says

    January 10, 2017 at 9:52 pm

    My daughter absolutely loves broccoli too! I put it on so many things…mac ‘n’ cheese, soups, rice, etc. I can see how this cheesy pasta and broccoli was a hit! Looks delicious!

    Reply
  4. Alisa Fleming says

    January 7, 2017 at 12:12 pm

    Yum! I don’t think people realize how easy “boxed” mac and cheese is, and how close it tastes to the “real thing”! I made a version like this often for my cheese-loving niece.

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      January 8, 2017 at 4:44 pm

      Yes, it’s so easy! The boxed stuff isn’t really cheese anyway—it’s just a cheesey blend of spices 🙂

      Reply
  5. Dianne says

    January 5, 2017 at 2:32 pm

    I love how easy this is! (And I love that your recipe will never be recalled!)

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      January 8, 2017 at 4:44 pm

      Ha, no recalls here 🙂

      Reply
  6. Linda @ Veganosity says

    January 5, 2017 at 5:51 am

    How awesome that this doesn’t have the typical cashew/potato ingredients! I can’t wait to try this.

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      January 8, 2017 at 4:44 pm

      Yes! It’s super quick and easy to make!

      Reply
  7. Sophia | Veggies Don't Bite says

    January 4, 2017 at 10:15 pm

    Love your cute pics with the kiddos! Isn’t it the worst when you need something and they are out? Glad you came up with a solution and an awesome one at that!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      January 4, 2017 at 11:40 pm

      Thank you! Yes—the worst is when you’ve already promised said item! Yikes! Thankfully this stand in worked just as well, or maybe better!

      Reply
  8. Ginny McMeans says

    January 3, 2017 at 9:08 pm

    Okay, I’m trying this out on the hubby! It sounds really good! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      January 3, 2017 at 11:44 pm

      Oh good! I bet he’ll like it—mine does!

      Reply
  9. Mel | avirtualvegan.com says

    January 3, 2017 at 11:00 am

    I have never tried boxed mac n cheese but would definitely give your version a go. It looks awesome. I love the look of the pasta you used too!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      January 3, 2017 at 11:45 pm

      Never? Ever?!? Wow! I love this pasta too—and it’s from Costco and organic!!!

      Reply
  10. Jenn says

    January 3, 2017 at 7:26 am

    I am not a fan of the store bought vegan mac and cheese…and my kids aren’t either. So, this is perfect! It looks totally legit!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      January 3, 2017 at 11:45 pm

      Yes! This is the homemade, control your own ingredients version!!! My boys love it!

      Reply
  11. Becky Striepe says

    January 3, 2017 at 6:05 am

    Oh my gosh, this looks great! Darrol loves boxed Mac – I bet he’d love this! Maybe we will make it tonight.

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      January 3, 2017 at 11:46 pm

      Yum! I want a full report from Darrol once he tries it!

      Reply
  12. Amy Katz from Veggies Save The Day says

    January 2, 2017 at 7:56 pm

    I used to love boxed mac and cheese! Yours looks amazing. I can see why the kiddo is so happy to eat it!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      January 3, 2017 at 11:46 pm

      Irving and I ate so much of that in our pre-kid days. All. The. Time. So good!

      Reply

Trackbacks

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  2. 6 Back to School Lunches That Aren't PB&J - Fried Dandelions says:
    December 26, 2017 at 11:43 pm

    […] love sending leftovers in a thermos!  So convenient, and a favorite of David’s.  My not from a box Mac & Cheese is especially […]

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  3. Mac and Cheese with Pumpkin - Fried Dandelions says:
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  4. Tempeh Chili | The Misfit Baker says:
    August 26, 2017 at 6:21 pm

    […] particularly likes this served along side Homemade “Boxed” Macaroni and Cheese from Fried Dandelions (apparently then it tastes like Hamburger Helper Chili Macaroni). But I like […]

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    July 27, 2017 at 11:48 pm

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    June 18, 2016 at 2:07 pm

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