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    Home » Simple Vegan Recipes » Casseroles

    Dairy free mac and cheese with broccoli

    Published: Apr 18, 2021 · Modified: Apr 28, 2022 by Becky Striepe · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Recipe Video Print
    pan of dairy free mac and cheese with a serving spoon
    pan of dairy free mac and cheese with a serving spoon
    pot of vegan macaroni and cheese

    This dairy free mac and cheese is a lightened up version of the classic dish, and it's just as rich and creamy. No added flour or vegan butter needed!

    pan of dairy free mac and cheese with a serving spoon

    Y'all, I am so excited to share this fully revamped vegan baked mac and cheese recipe with you! It's a lightened-up version of my family's favorite, and this new dairy free mac and cheese has been a huge hit with the kiddo.

    Jump to:
    • Oat milk magic
    • Recipe notes
    • How to serve, store, and reheat
    • 📖 Recipe

    seasoned oat milk ingredients on a marble table

    Oat milk magic

    I lucked into this method when I was out of oat milk to make our usual Friday night pot of mac. 

    Instead of scrapping the whole meal, I decided to make things work. My friend Kathy Hester hipped me to this lazy oat milk method, and friends, it makes magic in mac and cheese.

    Because the oats thicken on their own, there's no need to make a roux! 

    The homemade oat milk thickens up into the perfect base for vegan cheese sauce, no extra oil, butter, or flour needed!

    pot of dairy free macaroni and cheese before baking, so you can see the creamy cheese sauce texture

    Not only does it add a dash of fiber and eliminate the need for adding flour and vegan butter, but it cuts about 15 minutes off of the total time you need to make a pot of dairy free mac and cheese. No creaminess sacrificed!

    For this recipe, you are making a seasoned oat milk. Grab your blender -- any blender is fine -- and add water, oats, garlic powder, and onion powder. Blend, and BOOM! Oat milk that's packed with all the spices for your cheese sauce.

    dairy free mac and cheese ingredients on a marble table

    Recipe notes

    Because this dairy free cheese sauce relies on the oats' thickening power, you can't substitute anything else for the homemade oat milk. It is critical to the recipe.

    My old method for making vegan mac was to make a roux, then make a bechamel sauce. All of that takes about 15 minutes. Instead, the homemade oat milk cuts down that process to three to five minutes.

    The oat milk thickens quickly, so don't step away from the stove once you start heating.

    Once the milk has thickened up, melt bagged vegan cheese shreds into the mixture. You can use any variety that you like.

    The other shortcut that this recipe uses is cooking the pasta and broccoli together in the same pot. No need to steam or roast that broccoli separately! Just add it to the pasta pot for the last two minutes of boiling time. It turns out perfectly.

    macaroni and broccoli in a pot

    Mix together the pasta, broccoli, and cheese sauce, and you are ready to bake!

    process collage showing making the cheese sauce and adding the pasta and broccoli

    We have loved topping this casserole with french fried onions lately. They add a nice, crunchy texture and incredible umami punch to this vegan mac and cheese, and I strongly recommend it.

    bowls of vegan mac and cheese on a marble table

    How to serve, store, and reheat

    Dairy free mac and cheese with broccoli is lovely with tofu on the side. Here are some of the tofu preparations that go well with this recipe:

    • baked BBQ tofu
    • baked chicken fried tofu
    • crispy air fryer tofu
    • nutritional yeast tofu

    You can store leftovers right in the pan you used to cook. Just plop the lid on, and stick it in the fridge. You can also transfer any leftovers to an airtight container instead, if you prefer. Leftovers will keep for three to four days.

    To reheat, dish up your mac into a bowl, and pop it into the microwave. Easy peasy!

    📖 Recipe

    pan of dairy free mac and cheese with a serving spoon

    Dairy free mac and cheese

    This dairy free mac and cheese is a lightened up version of the classic dish, and it's just as rich and creamy. No added flour or vegan butter needed!
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Condiment, Main Course
    Cuisine: Vegan
    Keyword: dairy free mac and cheese, dairy free macaroni and cheese
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 374kcal
    Author: Becky Striepe

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups uncooked macaroni - or your favorite bite-sized pasta
    • 3 cups broccoli florets
    • 2 cups water
    • ¼ cup rolled oats
    • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
    • 1 tablespoon onion powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 2 cups vegan cheese shreds of your choice
    • ½ cup french fried onions - optional

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350° F.
    • In a large stove-to-oven pot (I used my 3.5 quart Dutch oven), cook the macaroni according to package directions. When there are 2 minutes of cooking time remaining, add the broccoli to the pan. Drain, and set aside.
    • While the pasta and broccoli are cooking, put the water, oats, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt into the blender. Blend until completely smooth.
    • Return the same pot that you used to cook the pasta to the stovetop, and add the oat mixture that you made. Heat on medium high, stirring frequently until the mixture thickens, about 3-5 minutes (see note). Turn off the heat, and add the vegan cheese shreds to the pot. Stir until the cheese melts into the sauce.
    • Transfer the pasta and broccoli to the pot, and fold it into the cheese sauce. Smooth out the top with the back of a spoon, then top with the french fried onions, if you're using them.
    • Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the fried onions are golden brown and the cheese sauce is bubbly.

    Equipment

    • Dutch Oven

    Video

    Notes

    Do not leave the oat milk unattended on the stove, because it thickens quickly! It might even thicken before it ever reaches a boil. It's ready when you can ever so briefly see the bottom of the pan when you pull a spoon through the mixture.
    If the cheese is being stubborn about melting, turn the pan back to low and stir constantly until you have a smooth, creamy sauce. You can add more water, as needed, if the sauce gets too thick for your liking.
    Nutritional information includes the fried onions, because that's how my family loves this casserole best!

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Dairy free mac and cheese
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    374
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    11
    g
    17
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    4
    g
    20
    %
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    0.4
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    0.2
    g
    Sodium
     
    626
    mg
    26
    %
    Potassium
     
    344
    mg
    10
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    57
    g
    19
    %
    Fiber
     
    5
    g
    20
    %
    Sugar
     
    5
    g
    6
    %
    Protein
     
    10
    g
    20
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    572
    IU
    11
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    45
    mg
    55
    %
    Calcium
     
    69
    mg
    7
    %
    Iron
     
    2
    mg
    11
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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    About Becky Striepe

    Headshot of Becky Striepe in front of a teal wall

    Hi there! I'm Becky Striepe (rhymes with sleepy), and I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here.

    Learn more about me >>>

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    About Me

    photo of Becky Striepe
    Hi! My name is Becky Striepe (rhymes with “sleepy”). I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here. → READ MORE

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