Does anything scream comfort food more than a big, piping hot bowl of mac and cheese? Combine that with the fall flavors of pumpkin, and you have the ultimate meal to make this fall for you and your family. This Pumpkin Mac and Cheese is easy, cheap to make, vegan, and can be made in just one pot.

❤️ Why You’ll Love Pumpkin Mac and Cheese

• Quick: This Pumpkin Mac and Cheese only takes 30 minutes to make. It tastes gourmet, and it’s quick to whip up.
• Vegan-Friendly: You won’t believe this delicious and creamy Mac and Cheese is made without dairy and is entirely vegan-friendly.
• One Pot: The best part about this dish is that it can be made in one pot. I love a one-pot meal because the clean-up takes no time at all.

🍲 Ingredients

Pumpkin – Pumpkin is seriously the flavor of fall. You see pumpkin spices everywhere you go. This recipe is a unique way to utilize pumpkin in your cooking, especially when you have a can of leftover pumpkin puree you need to use up. But did you know pumpkins are unreal for you? It is rich in vitamin A, high in antioxidants, and helps boost your immunity.

Nutritional Yeast – Nutritional yeast is deactivated yeast that has a flaky, powdery consistency. It has a rich nutritional profile. It’s a great source of protein and contains amino acids and B vitamins. It’s a great addition to vegan and vegetarian dishes, and it has a cheesy, nutty flavor.

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👩‍🍳 How to Make Pumpkin Mac and Cheese

1. Preheat the oven to 400F or set it to broil.
2. Add all your ingredients apart from the toppings to a medium-sized pot and bring it to a light boil, then simmer for 10 minutes.
3. This sauce serves 4 people, so when cooking pasta, keep this in mind.
4. After 10 minutes of simmering, simply add the cooked pasta to the same pot and the sauce and stir to combine.
5. Transfer to an oven-safe pan and broil for 3-5 minutes (keep a close eye).
6. Before serving, top with the crushed chips, walnuts, and fresh herbs! And of course, enjoy with ketchup!

🗒 Tips and Tricks

• Nutritional Yeast: Don’t skimp on the nutritional yeast! It provides that essential cheesy, nutty flavor.
• Add Spice: Experiment with spices like garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, nutmeg, and a pinch of cayenne pepper for depth of flavor.
• Sauce Thickness: If the sauce is too thin, simmer it gently to reduce it, or add a slurry of cornstarch or arrowroot powder.
• Pasta: Shapes like shells, cavatappi, or elbow macaroni are ideal for capturing the creamy sauce.

🗒 Substitutions

Here are some easy substitutes you can make to this recipe:

• Cheese: If you aren’t vegan, you can use regular cheese in this recipe. A sharp cheddar works nicely!
• Butter: Swap regular butter for the vegan butter if being plant-based isn’t required.
• Nutritional Yeast: If you don’t have nutritional yeast, you can just add some more cheese or even use a different kind of cheese like parmesan cheese.
• Chips: I LOVE adding crumbled salt and vinegar chips on top of this Mac and Cheese for flavor and crunch, but you can swap for breadcrumbs or panko.
• Protein: If you aren’t vegan, you can add your favorite protein, like chicken, to this recipe.

🗒 Best served with

• Twist Bread
• Italian Chopped Salad
• Chicken Souvlaki

👝 How to Store Leftovers

Store leftovers of Pumpkin Mac and Cheese in an airtight container for up to 4-5 days.

🤔 Common Questions

Pumpkin Mac and Cheese

5 from 1 vote

This Pumpkin Mac and Cheese is one for the books. It's so darn comforting, cheap to make, and is perfect for fall!

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Vegan Meals, Vegan Comfort Food, Vegan Pasta Recipes

Servings 4

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 2 cups pureed pumpkin
• 1 tbsp. tomato paste
• 2 tbsp. ketchup
• 3 large garlic cloves
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp onion seasoning
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes optional
• 3 tbsp. nutritional yeast optional
• 3 tbsp. vegan butter of choice
• 1 cup soy milk
• 1 cup cheese of choice
• Cooked pasta of choice, sauce serves 4

Toppings:

• 1/2 cup salt and vinegar chips
• 1/4 cup crushed walnuts
• fresh thyme
• fresh sage

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Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 400F or set to broil.
• Add all your ingredients apart from the toppings to a medium-sized pot and bring it to a light boil, then simmer for 10 minutes.
• This sauce serves 4 people, so when cooking pasta, keep this in mind.
• After 10 minutes of simmering, simply add the cooked pasta to the same pot and the sauce and stir to combine.
• Transfer to an oven-safe pan and broil for 3-5 minutes (keep a close eye).
• Before serving, top with the crushed chips, walnuts and fresh herbs! And of course, enjoy with ketchup!

Notes

If you do not have vegan butter, regular will be fine.

If you do not have a milk alternative, regular will be fine.

Use whatever cheese makes you happy.  If using a vegan kind, try and find a brand that is meltable.  Daiya is great!

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