Although macaroni and cheese is a popular comfort food, it is not always suitable for persons with dairy allergies or dietary restrictions. You can, thankfully, enjoy the creamy pleasure of mac & cheese without the dairy.
This article will provide you with a simple and delicious dairy-free mac and cheese recipe that will satisfy your cravings.
Easy Dairy-Free Mac And Cheese Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 ounces uncooked macaroni pasta
- 6 bacon pieces plus 1 TBSP reserved bacon oil
- 12 c. vegan butter
- 14 cup flour 1 tsp chopped garlic
- 1 pound almond milk
- 2 cups shredded dairy-free cheddar
- 14 cup nutritional yeast flakes 1 cup dairy-free mozarella-style shreds
- 12 tsp kosher salt
- 14 teaspoon black pepper 14 teaspoon paprika
- 12 teaspoon thyme leaves, minced (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Wrap a baking sheet in foil. Place bacon pieces on foil and bake for 8-10 minutes on the second top rack of the oven, or until crispy to your taste.
- Meanwhile, while the bacon is baking, cook the pasta according to package directions and start cooking the sauce.
- Melt the butter in a large saucepan or deep skillet on medium heat.
- When the butter is almost completely melted, add the garlic and simmer for a minute or two, or until softened.
- Whisk in the almond milk after adding the flour to the garlic butter mixture.
- Take the bacon out of the oven and add roughly a tablespoon of the bacon grease to the butter garlic mixture. Stir everything together and set aside the bacon to cool at room temperature.
- NOTE: If it hasn’t finished cooking yet, you can add the bacon fat later. I add it after the cheese shreds have melted and before I add the spices.
- Whisk in your dairy-free cheddar-style shreds until some of them melt, then whisk in your dairy-free mozzarella shreds until smooth. Whisk in the nutritional yeast, salt, pepper, and paprika until the mixture is creamy and smooth.
- Drain the pasta, then slowly add it to the cheesy mixture and combine until the pasta is coated.
- Cooked bacon should be chopped into small crumbly pieces. Delicious dairy-free mac and cheese. If desired, garnish with chopped thyme. Serve right away.
Tips For The Best Dairy Free Mac And Cheese
Follow these tips and strategies to produce the best dairy-free mac and cheese:
Soak the Cashews: If you’re making the creamy sauce with cashews, soak them for at least an hour in hot water or overnight in cold water. This softens them and allows them to be blended into a smooth sauce.
High-Quality Blender: Invest in a high-quality blender, to ensure your cashew cheese sauce is ultra-creamy and smooth.
Nutritional Yeast: Nutritional yeast is essential for giving your sauce a cheese character. Adjust to taste, but don’t skimp if you want that true cheesy flavor.
Lemon Juice: Fresh lemon juice imparts a sour flavor to the sauce that mimics the acidity of real cheese. Adjust the amount to suit your taste.
Spices and Seasonings: To increase the flavor, experiment with different spices and seasonings. Garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper and paprika can all be used to enhance depth and complexity.
Dairy-Free Milk: Select a dairy-free milk that matches the flavor of your sauce. Cashew milk, almond milk, and oat milk are all wonderful possibilities. Avoid milks with strong flavors, such as coconut, which may dominate the cheese flavor.
Gluten-Free Pasta: Make sure you use high-quality gluten-free pasta. Some brands withstand sauces better than others. You want your pasta to be al dente, not soggy.
Cooking Pasta: Cook your pasta until it’s slightly underdone (al dente), as it will continue to cook when combined with the sauce. Pasta that has been overcooked might become mushy.
Thickening the Sauce: If the sauce is too thin, you may thicken it by simmering it for a few minutes longer on low heat or by adding a cornstarch slurry (mix cornstarch with a bit of cold water) while stirring constantly.
Variations: Add vegetables like sautéed spinach, roasted red peppers, or steamed broccoli to your mac & cheese to make it your own. For more taste, add cooked vegan bacon bits or vegan sausage.
Baking Option: If you prefer baked macaroni and cheese, transfer the mixture into a baking dish and bake until golden brown and bubbling.
Consistency: Adjust the sauce’s consistency by adding more dairy-free milk if it’s too thick or letting it diminish if it’s too thin. The consistency of the sauce should be sufficient to coat the back of a spatula.
Taste as You Go: As you cook, continue to taste and adjust the seasonings. Because everyone’s tastes varies, make sure it’s seasoned to your preference.
Non-dairy macaroni and cheese is not only feasible, but also incredibly delicious. With the proper ingredients and a straightforward recipe like the one we’ve provided, you can enjoy this classic comfort food while adhering to your dietary restrictions or preferences.
Prepare a batch of dairy-free macaroni and cheese and savor each comforting morsel!
Thanks for reading. I hope you find it helpful.
