Vegan Copycat Chick-fil-A Mac and Cheese

Indulge in the creamy, cheesy goodness of this Vegan Copycat Chick-fil-A Mac and Cheese, a plant-based twist on the beloved comfort classic! This dairy-free recipe combines tender elbow pasta with a velvety cheese sauce made from wholesome ingredients like cashews, carrots, potatoes, and coconut milk. Nutritional yeast brings the signature cheesy flavor, while a hint of smoked paprika and turmeric adds warmth and golden color. Ready in just 40 minutes, this vegan mac and cheese is the perfect weeknight dinner or crowd-pleasing side dish. It's entirely dairy-free, with an option for gluten-free pasta, making it suitable for all dietary needs. Savor the rich, indulgent flavor without compromise and create a comfort food experience everyone will love!

Nutriscore Rating: 69/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:25 mins

Total Time:40 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 12 ounces Elbow pasta (gluten-free if needed)
• 1 cup Cashews (unsalted, raw)
• 1 large Carrot
• 1 medium Russet potato
• 1 cup Nutritional yeast
• 2 tablespoons Lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon Apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Onion powder
• 0.5 teaspoon Turmeric
• 0.5 teaspoon Smoked paprika
• 1 cup Coconut milk (full-fat, canned)
• 1 cup Water
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Begin by boiling the cashews. In a small saucepan, add enough water to cover the cashews and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Step 2

In a large pot, bring water to a boil and cook the elbow pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

Step 3

While the pasta is cooking, peel and chop the carrot and potato into small, even pieces. In a medium saucepan, add the chopped carrot and potato, cover with water, and bring to a boil. Cook for about 10 minutes or until both are fork-tender. Drain and allow to cool slightly.

Step 4

In a blender or food processor, combine the boiled cashews, cooked carrot and potato, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, turmeric, smoked paprika, coconut milk, water, salt, and black pepper.

Step 5

Blend on high speed until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides as needed. Add more water if necessary to achieve a smooth sauce consistency.

Step 6

Return the cooked pasta to the large pot. Pour the cheese sauce over the pasta and gently stir until the pasta is evenly coated with the sauce.

Step 7

Turn the heat to low and allow the mac and cheese to cook for an additional 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, to heat through and thicken the sauce slightly.

Step 8

Taste and adjust seasonings as necessary, adding more salt or black pepper to taste.

Step 9

Serve immediately, and enjoy your Vegan Copycat Chick-fil-A Mac and Cheese!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1281.3g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2847.5

Total Fat 123.0g	0%
Saturated Fat 62.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 2523.5mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 372.1g	0%
Dietary Fiber 32.1g	0%
Total Sugars 32.0g
Protein 89.0g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 247.3mg	0%
Iron 25.9mg	0%
Potassium 3601.0mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 37.5%

Protein: 12.1%

Carbs: 50.4%