This Creamy Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese is easy to make on weeknights yet indulgent enough for your Thanksgiving tables! It’s loaded with plant-based bacon, leafy kale, real pumpkin, and a simple vegan cheese sauce. No raw cashews or high-powered blender is required!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Shortcut pasta: Any shortcut pasta of choice will work well in this pasta recipe. If you are gluten-free, opt for your favorite shortcut gluten-free pasta such as brown rice pasta.
- Dairy-free butter: Infuses the aromatics with additional richness and savory flavor. Use your favorite dairy-free, vegan butter! We personally love Country Crock.
- Aromatics: Half a white onion and fresh garlic cloves create a flavorful foundation to build on.
- Lacinato kale: Adds a pop of freshness and earthiness that pairs well with the rich cheese sage and garlicky sage breadcrumbs.
- Meatless bacon: Adds a smoky element that compliments the cheesiness. Feel free to use your favorite store-bought vegan bacon, or make one of our many homemade vegan recipes: Tofu Bacon, Eggplant Bacon, Tempeh Bacon, or Shiitake Mushroom Bacon.
- Pumpkin puree: An essential in any pumpkin mac and cheese! Make sure to purchase plain pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling. The only ingredient should be pumpkin.
- Smoked paprika: Enhances the smokiness in the vegan bacon and ties all the flavors together.
for the Vegan Cheese Sauce
- Dairy-free heavy cream: Gives this vegan cheese sauce an indulgent richness and luxurious texture. A few vegan heavy cream brands are available in mainstream grocery stores today. Use your favorite or what you have access to!
- Dairy-free cheese: We recommend using dairy-free cheddar or American slices or shreds. This will give this vegan mac and cheese sauce the most traditional cheese flavor. If you’re looking for a vegan pumpkin pasta made without store-bought cheese, check out our Creamy Pumpkin Pasta with Fried Sage.
- Turmeric: Optional, but it gives this cheese sauce a deeper yellow color. You won’t taste it!
- Nutritional yeast: Adds cheesiness and deep umami flavor.
Optional: For the Garlicky Sage Breadcrumbs
- Dairy-free butter: Adds savory flavor and crisps up the breadcrumbs and sage until golden.
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic infuses the butter and adds flavor to the breadcrumb topping.
- Panko breadcrumbs: We prefer panko breadcrumbs over regular breadcrumbs as they are lighter and yield a crispier mac and cheese topping. However, feel free to use regular breadcrumbs if needed or desired!
- Fresh sage adds an aromatic, earthy flavor that is the perfect complement to a fall-themed mac and cheese pasta dish!
Find the full printable recipe here: Creamy Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese
