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One-Pot Mac & Cheeze

20 min

Main

10 ingredients or less

One-bowl / one-pot

Crafted for the refined tastes of adulthood while embracing the playful kid within, this is our vegan twist on the classic comfort dish. Tender noodles are coated in an ultra-creamy sauce. It all comes together in one pot and takes only 20 minutes.

Servings

Total

20 min

Prep

3 min

Cook

17 min

Contains

Gluten symbol

gluten

Swap out

Soy symbol

soy

Free from

Peanut symbol

peanut

Treenut symbol

tree nut

Sesame symbol

sesame

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (240 mL)
    water, plus more as needed
  • 1 cup (240 mL)
    unsweetened soy milk
  • 1 cup (122 g)
    dry macaroni pasta
  • 1
    vegetable bouillon cube, crumbled
  • ½ cup (120 g)
    plain vegan cream cheese
  • 1 tsp (5 mL)
    dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp (5 mL)
  • ½ tsp
    onion powder
  • ¼ tsp
    ground turmeric, for colour (optional)

Optional toppings

Directions

  1. Add the water, milk, pasta, apple cider vinegar, and bouillon to a saucepan. Cook uncovered at a gentle simmer until al dente, about 10 mintues. Stir throughout to prevent sticking.
  2. Add the remaining ingredients and stir until thick and glossy. The sauce will also continue to thicken as it cools.
  3. Garnish as desired, and enjoy!

Notes

  • For best results, stick with the traditional macaroni shape since the cooking time and liquid ratio is best.

Storage

Let us know what you think

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Plate method

The Plate Method is a visual tool that helps us ensure our dietary needs are on track. Touch the image below to see how this recipe measures up.

Grains & Starches 55%

dry macaroni pasta

Proteins 45%

unsweetened soy milk

nutritional yeast flakes

Fruits & Veggies 0%
Calcium

unsweetened soy milk

Fat

plain vegan cream cheese

Nutrition info

Focusing on numbers can harm our relationship with food. Instead, our philosophy is to Nourish the Cells & the Soul. For specific nutrition needs due to a medical condition, consult a dietitian or physician. While we strive to provide accurate nutritional information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy. See our disclaimer for details.

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Linda - Nov. 6, 2024, 6:13 p.m.

One of my favorite recipes 😊


Phillipa - Oct. 22, 2024, 11:59 p.m.

I prefer the longer version but this recipe did the job. I added in peas and used emmer pasta so I needed more water and cooking time. I would definitely do this again but I might use a higher heat.


Lucile Munster - Oct. 13, 2024, 7:43 p.m.

The only thing you should worry about with this recipe is how much you make because this is easy and delicious that you will start crying when the pit is empty and you want some more !
10/10, wish I could bathe in it

PUL small logo PUL Team - Oct. 14, 2024, 8:34 p.m.

Gosh thanks a bunch for the glowing review and vote of confidence, Lucile! It means so much that the mac and cheeze recipe was enjoyed 🤩


Gabrielle - Oct. 1, 2024, 7:53 p.m.

I love this recipe ! It is so quick and easy but also feels like a more wholesome option for mac n cheese. I used trader joes vegan cream cheese if anyone needs a suggestion for which brand to use.


Sandra - Sept. 19, 2024, 10:20 p.m.

Loved it!


Antara Mageshwaran (Antu) - Sept. 15, 2024, 9:39 p.m.

This is a great recipe! I found the nutritional yeast to be a bit too much, so I halved it and it was a lot better.


Mikayla - Sept. 10, 2024, 1:42 a.m.

This is my favorite go-to comfort meal! I keep making it over again


Michelle - June 28, 2024, 1:25 a.m.

I'm normally a huge fan of PUL recipes (I make them often!), but this one was kind of gross to me. I'm not sure if it's just personal taste, but the texture, color, and the mustard were really off-putting.

PUL small logo PUL Team - June 28, 2024, 5:04 a.m.

Hey Michelle, thank you for your feedback! The mustard helps to add a bit of a cheezy-"funkiness", but can be omitted for this recipe. The brand of nutritional yeast will also affect the colour and taste. In case you're interested, we have a different style Vegan Mac & 'Cheese' recipe here: https://www.pickuplimes.com/r…. It's a less creamy and yellow in colour 😊


Mareike - June 13, 2024, 12:02 p.m.

This is one of my new favorites! Didn’t expect it to be so gooooood!! 😍


sharvani - May 29, 2024, 10:11 p.m.

Yummm!! Love that’s it’s a one pot! I omit the cream cheese and just use some vegan cheese sprinkled. And I add a little bit of salt and sriracha - voila!


Pascale - May 15, 2024, 3:56 a.m.

I absolutely love this recipe! The flavour is great and I love it with a side of roasted broccoli. I’ve done it multiple times and it has replaced my previous vegan mac and cheese recipe. However, I personally find there is way too much water. It’s more like soup. I’ve done it with less water and it was perfect. I did it again this evening and forgot to reduce the amount of water. Oups! It’s a little disappointing. At least the taste is great!

PUL small logo PUL Team - May 15, 2024, 8:24 p.m.

Hey Pascale, thanks so much for taking the time to share this. We've had another couple of comments about the pasta being too liquidy as well, so we've just updated the recipe and dropped the amount of water. I suspect it's because different pasta brands absorb water differently, so it's safe to start with less and add more as needed. Thanks so much for helping us improve what we do, and hopefully the update ensures it turns out perfectly next time :)

Pascale - June 7, 2024, 3:09 p.m.

I made it with the new measurements and it was so much better! Thank you for adjusting it. 😊


Hummus Queen - May 13, 2024, 8:32 a.m.

Very tasty, easy and comforting recipe. I was a little bit afraid of the pasta to liquid ratio, and I had to stir it for a while before it reached a saucy consistency. I also used good quality bronze cut pasta so the sauce would stick better, and it worked like a charm. I'm not a nooch fan so I omitted it, but added pepper, nutmeg and garlic powder to elevate the flavors. The best was this was all in one pot, and it was so delicious I couldn't wait for it to cool down and burned my tongue eating it 🤭

PUL small logo PUL Team - May 15, 2024, 1:02 a.m.

Hey friend, thanks for sharing your experience with the one-pot mac and cheeze! It means so much that it was enjoyed :D


Ekim Stevens - April 30, 2024, 2:57 a.m.

I m not sure but it tastes weird. I used cashew milk,miyakos cream cheese,nooclicious nutritional yeast . I dont like the taste

PUL small logo PUL Team - April 30, 2024, 3:37 a.m.

Hey Ekim, aw we're sad to hear this! Was your cream cheese plain and cashew milk unsweetened? If the cream cheese or milk have a pronounced taste it can impact the recipe's taste.

Ekim Stevens - April 30, 2024, 7:17 p.m.

It was a plain miyakos cream cheese. I will give it a shot another time since other receipes calls a flour which i dont agree since macaroni is a starch itself

PUL small logo PUL Team - April 30, 2024, 8:40 p.m.

Hey Ekim, ah gotcha - in case you're interested our other vegan mac and 'cheese' recipe has a different base: https://www.pickuplimes.com/r… 😊


Alexis Bushnell - April 29, 2024, 8:12 p.m.

My sauce didn't thicken for some reason.
I'm was never a mac and cheese fan and this hasn't changed that. I'm sure if you enjoy mac and cheese though I think this would be a great recipe.


Alex - April 29, 2024, 8:15 a.m.

Comforting and easy recipe to make! The sauce definitely thickens up, as mentioned in the directions. However, the ratio of sauce to pasta makes the meal feel more like a soup rather than a pasta dish. I ended up adding one and a half more cups of pasta and that seemed to do the trick!


Jenny - April 28, 2024, 8:04 p.m.

This is a very tasty and comforting ONE POT Mac and cheese. No, it’s not the creamiest or cheesiest vegan Mac and cheese you’re ever going to have, that’s not the point. It’s super easy and super simple to make and it uses only ONE POT. It’s super tasty and delicious. I’ll be making this again! It’s definitely easier than making a vegan boxed mac!

PUL small logo PUL Team - April 30, 2024, 6:59 p.m.

So happy to hear you're enjoying the recipe, Jenny! In case you're interested and haven't seen it already, we also have a more hearty version here: https://www.pickuplimes.com/r… ☺️


Talia - April 17, 2024, 2:56 p.m.

This dish was great, very tasty, but even more important, it was super easy to make! I scaled up to 4 servings and had no issues. The trick is to make sure and listen when the recipe says that it will thicken as it cools. It still looked so soupy when the pasta was done and I almost left it on the stove for longer because of that, but I trusted the directions, took it off the heat and let it sit for several minutes. Sure enough, it thickened up and was perfect. This is definitely going in my rotation for quick, easy late night meals.

PUL small logo PUL Team - April 17, 2024, 4:42 p.m.

Hey Talia, aw we're so glad that the mac & cheeze was enjoyed! The sauce for this one totally thickens more as it cools 🙌


Luana - April 9, 2024, 5:14 p.m.

Simple, quick and super delicious !


Stacey - April 7, 2024, 10:15 p.m.

I have never made mac and cheeze like this, but this turned out beautifully!


Neha Jeevan - April 5, 2024, 12:24 a.m.

Okay the scaling of the ingredients did not work at all. I used all the same ingredients in the exact quantity mentioned for 4 servings and it was a fail. I waited forever for the milk and water to blend with the pasta. I’d really suggest not giving an option to scale or double the portion if it only scales / doubles the ingredient quality but does nothing about the cooking time. I can do the math myself, if a recipe is scaling, I expect it to adjust everything accordingly. The taste was okayish, but it took over an hour to make and the pasta ended up mushy :( This was my first PUL recipe, hope the others work out

PUL small logo PUL Team - April 5, 2024, 1:15 a.m.

Hey Neha, aw we're so sad to hear this! We appreciate the feedback to help us improve. Indeed for recipes when we scale up or down the cooking time will change, but it's hard to estimate. We hope you love our other recipes if you give any a try 💛


Natassa Tsapanidou Kornilaki - March 30, 2024, 4:58 p.m.

Delicious and easy ! Amazed by the amount that was so correct !


SR - March 12, 2024, 12:42 p.m.

We loved it!! Will be making again for sure!


Natalie - March 7, 2024, 8:39 p.m.

This is comfort food at its best!
We recently moved to our new flat and don’t hava a kitchen yet. This recipe was simple enough to cook on the small electric stove we have put on our dinner table to fill in the time until our kitchen is installed.
(It’s probably a great camping recipe, too 😊)

PUL small logo PUL Team - March 8, 2024, 10:49 p.m.

So thrilled to hear that the Mac and Cheeze was enjoyed, Natalie! Congrats on your move as well. We hope you're settling in as smoothly as possible 🙌


Barbara - March 7, 2024, 1:44 a.m.

Will it be okay to use almond milk in place of the soy? Love your content and your vibe.

PUL small logo PUL Team - March 7, 2024, 7:31 p.m.

Hey Barbara, yes you can use any unsweetened plant-based milk in place of the soy milk. Hope you love the Mac & Cheeze!


Freyha - March 3, 2024, 9:34 a.m.

A welcome change from the things I cook in generell


Agata - Feb. 22, 2024, 1:03 p.m.

Yummy


Chloé Saint-Pierre - Feb. 20, 2024, 11:23 p.m.

Wow, this recipe is perfect! My 1 year old LOVES it too 😍


Alexis - Feb. 19, 2024, 2:16 p.m.

This was really delicious, I loved discovering how the blend of the tang from the Cider with the onion powder really works to give the dish a realistic cheddar like flavour.
I deviated a bit from the recipe and used brassed dye cut Spaghetti and also made it extra saucy by mixing the sauce ingredients with the pasta water and boiling away the water down into an extra creamy sauce...a bit like Risotto style. I hope this makes sense. Again, it was really delicious and the whole family loved it. Thank you PUL

PUL small logo PUL Team - Feb. 19, 2024, 9:46 p.m.

Ooo love the modification, Alexis, thank you!


mia - Feb. 4, 2024, 9:27 p.m.

Love this. Such a quick and simple recipe. Even better that it’s all in one pot. i have made it a few times. Also an especially helpful foundation as I’ve had to improvise on ingredients and each time it’s come out super delicious. This last time, I ended up replacing cream cheese with a quick blend of pine nuts, warm water, milk, lemon juice and salt…and because I didn’t have enough almond milk, I mixed with leftover coconut milk. My 9 yr old has enjoyed all variations (always asks for seconds :-)) Thank you!!!!

PUL small logo PUL Team - Feb. 4, 2024, 10:49 p.m.

Ooo love all of the experimenting, Mia! So happy that your kiddo is enjoying it too 🤩


Stacey S - Feb. 3, 2024, 9:01 a.m.

Yummy really creamy and tastier than I thought it would be.


Sophie - Feb. 2, 2024, 2:05 p.m.

Best PUL reciepe yet! Going to add some veg to it next time though and maybe some crispy onions on top?

PUL small logo PUL Team - Feb. 2, 2024, 6:17 p.m.

Crispy onion is a lovely idea, Sophie 🙌


Rachel - Feb. 1, 2024, 11:55 a.m.

This was sooo delicious and really easy to make. It's lovely to have some vegan comfort dishes that are easy to make on a weeknight. Thanks PUL team for another brilliant recipe!!

PUL small logo PUL Team - Feb. 1, 2024, 7:24 p.m.

Yess love comfort dishes, especially on weeknights! So glad this one was enjoyed, Rachel 😊


Emma - Jan. 31, 2024, 12:29 a.m.

This was brilliantly simple and delicious. Unfortunately for my family of 4 the vegan cream cheese alone was €8, so we can’t make it a regular meal at that price for just one ingredient. Trips away may need to include cheaper vegan cream cheese in the suitcase home :P

PUL small logo PUL Team - Jan. 31, 2024, 6:14 a.m.

Hey Emma, thanks for taking the time to share your experience with the recipe! In case it helps, Evie shared that blended cashews worked well as a substitute for the cream cheese 🤗


Evie - Jan. 30, 2024, 3 a.m.

Creamy with great flavor. I substituted blended cashews for the cream cheese. I believe it added a subtle hint of sweetness which was good with the savory ingredients.


Connor - Jan. 29, 2024, 4:07 a.m.

This recipe hit the spot. It was reminiscent of hamburger helper flavors, but in the BEST way. I loved the savory-ness and the ease of making. Will absolutely be making this again

PUL small logo PUL Team - Jan. 29, 2024, 8:02 a.m.

Woohoo! So happy that the Mac and cheeze was enjoyed, Connor, happy cooking 🫶✨


Danielle - Jan. 28, 2024, 9:43 p.m.

Loved this. Creamy and really flavoursome. Only issue I had was the liquid didn’t evaporate so it wasn’t a thick sauce.


SH - Jan. 26, 2024, 1:12 p.m.

We loved it!


Jessica - Jan. 24, 2024, 2:08 p.m.

I used sweetened soydrink which worked just fine! We didn't have any vegan cream cheese, so used some Oatly oatgurt, vegan butte and added some tapioca instead to make it creamy and get some tangy flavour!


Tess - Jan. 24, 2024, 1:22 a.m.

It’s probably the best plant based mac and cheese I’ve had, but there’s still an element missing. However I was unable to get my preferred brand of vegan cream cheese, so I will try again. However I will admit, when I think of mac and cheese, I think of the classic blue box from my childhood. That brand has joined forces with my favorite non-dairy milk, so I’m waiting for that to be available in my area. This is a good grown up mac and cheese.

PUL small logo PUL Team - Jan. 24, 2024, 9:57 p.m.

Hey Tess, thanks for sharing your experience with the Mac and Cheeze, and how exciting to head about the new product! Love that plant-based options are being more available 🙌


Peter RÓŽA - Jan. 22, 2024, 6:50 p.m.

Very simple and delicious. 👍


Deborah - Jan. 22, 2024, 2:08 p.m.

Came together super easily and fast! I was using a rice and corn pasta because I am gluten-free and I would recommend bringing the liquid to a boil without the pasta and then putting the pasta in if you are using something similar. My pasta cooks a lot faster and was done in four minutes once the liquid was simmering. I had to add some corn starch slurry to thicken things up a bit because my liquid didn't have a chance to evaporate on its own. A great comforting meal!

PUL small logo PUL Team - Jan. 23, 2024, 5:17 a.m.

Thanks for the tip with gluten free pasta, Deborah! We're so happy the recipe was enjoyed ☺️


Katie - Jan. 21, 2024, 9:53 p.m.

Creamy!


Tessa - Jan. 20, 2024, 1:37 p.m.

So good! Best plant based mac and cheese I’ve ever had. Easy to change portion size if need. Perfect Saturday night comfort food.

PUL small logo PUL Team - Jan. 20, 2024, 7:31 p.m.

Aw we're so thrilled that the Mac and Cheeze is being enjoyed, Tessa - what a compliment!


Joy - Jan. 19, 2024, 6:27 p.m.

Absolutely delicious and quick and easy on top of that :)
The sauce didn't really thicken for me but I did use a little less vegan cream cheese and whole wheat macaroni, maybe that's why. I just added some starch and that did the job. Also added some frozen peas at the end and they went perfectly with the pasta and sauce.
I will definitely be making it again!

PUL small logo PUL Team - Jan. 20, 2024, 7:32 p.m.

Thanks a bunch for taking the time to share your experience with the modifications, Joy. Happy cooking 😃


Merinda Puz - Jan. 18, 2024, 4:14 a.m.

Love how quick, tasty, and easy this recipe is! As someone with a nut allergy, I also appreciate the nut-free cheese sauce. Thanks Sadia!


Katherine - Jan. 18, 2024, 3:09 a.m.

We used chick pea pasta and added cauliflower florets with a few minutes left on the pasta, and stored in frozen peas at the last. It’s great!!

PUL small logo PUL Team - Jan. 18, 2024, 3:39 a.m.

Mmm sounds lovely, Katherine! Thanks for the glowing review 🤗


cam D - Jan. 17, 2024, 9:08 p.m.

Too sour for our taste, not our favorite cheesy sauce but it did the job ☺️

PUL small logo PUL Team - Jan. 17, 2024, 9:19 p.m.

Hey Cam, we appreciate the honest review! If it helps and you give the recipe another try, we can reduce the sourness by using less (or omitting completely) apple cider vinegar or Dijon mustard in the cheesy sauce. We hope you enjoy some of our other recipes!


Jack Turner - Jan. 17, 2024, 8:40 p.m.

Easy and yummy. Served with some roasted broccoli just to add some veg.


Becca - Jan. 16, 2024, 1:27 a.m.

Just made this for dinner tonight, and it was a delicious total hit. Even my picky 1 year old wolfed it down! To make it more of a full meal I added some small diced steamed carrots and shelled edamame. I also added some salt and mild miso paste. I really loved the glossy sauce. I will say you can definitely taste the undercut of mustard so if you're not a huge mustard fan this may not be for you. I am though and it added a lovely tanginess. Thank you Sadia for another fantastic recipe!!! Will definitely make again:)

PUL small logo PUL Team - Jan. 16, 2024, 10:29 p.m.

Thanks for taking the time to share your experience with the mac and 'cheeze', Becca - it's so appreciated! 🤩


Eliz - Jan. 16, 2024, 12:12 a.m.

It’s a great simple dish!


ash - Jan. 15, 2024, 9:46 p.m.

Didn’t turn out like in the video but will definitely be making again. Love your recipes thanks

PUL small logo PUL Team - Jan. 15, 2024, 11:57 p.m.

Hey ash, aw we're disappointed to hear! Did you substitute any ingredients or their portion sizes?


Alexis Bushnell - Jan. 15, 2024, 8:13 p.m.

Not my favourite cheesy sauce recipe but handy for a one pot, quick and easy meal.