Is Kraft Mac And Cheese Vegan? 7 Vegan Alternatives + Quick Recipe

Kraft Mac and Cheese is a famous and tasty dinner option. However, all its variations in the United States are not vegan. The hype you see about Kraft Mac and Cheese introducing a vegan variant is from Australia. Kraft launched a 100% vegan and gluten-free variant. This box is made from rice flour and dairy-free source. This product is offered in the same packaging but with prominent labels of “gluten-free” and “vegan certified.” Kraft also modified the cooking instructions to use soy milk instead of regular cow milk.

However, some variants in the US are gluten-free, but Kraft Mach & Cheese doesn’t have a vegan meal box for its US customers.

Some users on a Reddit thread also mention that Kraft uses animal rennet in its American variants. This makes Kraft Mac and Cheese non-vegetarian by definition. However, some vegetarians may consume rennet-based products because they don’t have meat.

This article discusses 7 vegan mac and cheese alternatives and a quick recipe to make a creamy, delicious vegan mac and cheese.

7 Vegan Mac and Cheese Alternatives 

Don’t worry. Vegans can still enjoy tasty and scrumptious Mac and Cheese. Here is a list of vegan mac and cheese brands certified by PETA for being 100% vegan. It is an exhaustive list; we have picked the best ones for you.

Goodles Vegan Is Believin’ 

It is a 100% vegan mac and cheese option with white cheddar mac, nutty notes of cashew milk, fiber, proteins (12 grams), 21 plant-based nutrients, and no artificial flavors or preservatives.

You can check its ingredients, nutritional values and order this tasty vegan mac and cheese from here.

Howl Vegan Mac & Cheese 

Howl Vegan Mac & Cheese is made from creamy cashew cheese and 100% vegan ingredients. The best thing about this brand is that it offers different flavors in its vegan mac and cheese. You can enjoy the following flavors.

• Spicy Chipotle
• Sharp Cheddar Style
• Roasted Garlic & Herb

It is so delicious that even non-vegans like it. It is also best if you are health and sustainability conscious. The mac & cheese is ready in less than 15 minutes. Check out its ingredients and details here.

Follow Your Heart Super Mac 

It is a popular brand known for its vegan cheeses and foods. Its mac and cheese options are unbelievably tasty, succulent, and creamy. You can enjoy Follow Your Heart Super Mac’s Mac & Cheese in two flavors.

• Cheezy Carrot
• Creamy Caulifredo

Click here to find out more about it.

Pastabilities Vegan Organic ‘Under the Sea’ Mac ’n Cheese 

It is an excellent option for kids. The 100% vegan mac and cheese box has an interactive, cartoonist design that will inspire your kids towards a healthy diet. The brand also offers a free digital coloring page. It is available in one flavor. You can order it here.

Banza Plant-Based Mac with Chickpea Pasta 

Here is your answer if you are looking for some variation from the original pasta. Banza Plant-Based Mac with Chickpea Pasta has chickpeas in it. Some people are allergic to chickpeas; they may not like this mac and cheese. The box delivers 13 grams of protein. It is also gluten-free. Click here to see the ingredients, nutritional facts, and cooking instructions.

Sweet Earth Cauliflower Mac 

The gourmet-style pasta is made with twisty pasta, cauliflower cream sauce, roasted cauliflower, and toasted breadcrumbs. The tasty vegan mac is rich in vitamin C and has unique taste compared to other vegan mac and cheese.

Annie’s Organic Vegan Mac Shell Pasta & Sauce 

It combines a tasty vegan sauce made from sweet potato, organic pasta shells, and pumpkin. You can also have a gluten-free variant with organic rice pasta.

Vegan Kraft Mac And Cheese Recipe

Andy Nevers

VeganMac & Cheese is easy and quick to make with this recipe. It is 100% freefrom dairy and animal products. Served with a creamy and mouth-watering sauce, everyone is going to love it.

4.67 from 3 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 8 Servings

Calories 352 kcal

Equipment

• 1 Blender
• 1 Non-Stick Pot for boiling pasta
• 1 Strainer

Ingredients

  

• 16 ounces shell or elbow pasta of your choice (gluten-free, if needed)
• 1 ½ cup raw cashews
• ¾ cup water
• 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• ¼ cup nutritional yeast
• 1 ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
• ⅓ teaspoon chili powder
• ¼ teaspoon turmeric
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder (or ½ clove garlic)
• pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
• ½ teaspoon spicy brown mustard (optional)

Instructions

 

• Soak cashews in the fridge overnight for 10-20 minutes in boiling water or 4-6 hours in cold water.
• Prepare the pasta according to the instructions on the packaging. You can add some salt in boiling water to season the noodles.
• Drain the cashews and add them to a high-speed blender. Add lemon juice, salt, water, nutritional yeast, garlic, chili powder, turmeric, cayenne (optional), and mustard. Blend all the ingredients until you get a silky and smooth finish.
• Check the finish of the mixture; add 1-2 tablespoons of water to make it soft.
• Test your pasta in the meantime. Drain the water from the pot if it is tender.
• Once the pasta is tender, add cheese sauce and any seasonings if you like.
• Serve warm; vegan mac and cheese taste best when eaten immediately.

Video

Notes

• Using not roasted or salted cashews will give a mild neutral flavor to the sauce.
• Soaking cashews help remove phytic acid and make cashews softer for easier blending.
• If you have a high-speed blender or food processor, you can skip the soaking part.
• You can refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container for 1 week.
• Mac and cheese thicken when cold. Add a bit of water and some salt when reheating on a stovetop.
• You can also use nuts other than cashews. Macadamia nuts and blanched almonds are good substitutes, but doing so can change the flavor.
• You can add roasted vegetables to make your vegan mac & cheese a complete and fulfilling meal. Roasted broccoli, baked potato, and mushrooms are a great idea.
• You can turn this recipe into baked vegan mac and cheese. Preheat the oven to 350F when preparing mac and cheese. Now add pasta and sauce to a casserole dish along with any seasonings. Bake until the top looks dry or 20-25 minutes.
• Remove chili powder, garlic, cayenne, and turmeric if you don’t like vegan mac & cheese spicy. 

The nutritional information below is estimated for 1 cup of prepared mac and cheese. It can vary depending on the quality and quantity of ingredients.

• Carbohydrates: 51g
• Fat: 12g
• Saturated Fat: 2g
• Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g
• Monounsaturated Fat: 6g
• Protein: 13g
• Fiber: 3g
• Sugar: 3g
• Vitamin A: 38IU
• Vitamin C: 2mg
• Iron: 3mg
• Calcium: 23mg
• Sodium: 449mg
• Potassium: 325mg

Keyword Vegan Mac & Cheese

Conclusion: How can I ensure that my mac and cheese is 100% vegan?

Almost all brands that sell vegan mac and cheese have a prominent vegan logo. However, if you aren’t sure about a particular brand, Google it. You can also check the ingredients on the packaging to ensure that it is free from any non-vegan products.