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Creamy Roasted Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese: Easy Vegan Recipe

vegan butternut squash mac and cheese - featured image
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A rich, dairy-free comfort food dish featuring roasted butternut squash blended with cashews and nutritional yeast to create a velvety, cheesy sauce over elbow macaroni.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 large butternut squash, peeled and cubed
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried sage
  • 1 cup raw cashews
  • 1 cup vegetable broth (low-sodium)
  • 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 12 ounces elbow macaroni

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Toss cubed butternut squash with olive oil, salt, pepper, and dried sage. Spread in a single layer on the baking sheet.
  3. Roast squash for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway, until edges are browned and tender.
  4. While squash roasts, soak cashews in boiling water for 30 minutes (or cold water overnight).
  5. Drain cashews and add to a blender along with roasted squash, vegetable broth, nutritional yeast, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika.
  6. Blend on high for 1-2 minutes until completely smooth and creamy.
  7. Boil macaroni in salted water according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
  8. Return drained pasta to the pot and pour the warm sauce over it. Toss to coat, adding reserved pasta water if needed to reach desired consistency.
  9. Serve immediately, topped with extra nutritional yeast or parsley if desired.

Notes

Roasting the squash is crucial for flavor depth; boiling results in a watery sauce. If the sauce is grainy, blend longer to emulsify fats. The sauce thickens as it cools, so add liquid when reheating. For nut allergies, substitute cashews with soaked sunflower seeds or white beans.

Nutrition

Keywords: vegan mac and cheese, butternut squash recipe, dairy-free comfort food, cashew cheese sauce, fall dinner, gluten-free option

Find it online: https://bakebeam.com/creamy-roasted-butternut-squash-mac-and-cheese-easy-vegan-recipe/