Vegan Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese (Gluten Free)

Learn how to make some delicious, creamy vegan macaroni and cheese with sweet potatoes. This recipe is super tasty and guaranteed to be a true crowd pleaser especially over the holiday season.

While mac and cheese is very nice, how about mixing things up by incorporating some sweet potatoes.

Yes I said it! A game changer that doubles up as a crowd pleaser for sure.

Don't miss out on making some gluten free dairy free mac and cheese this fall. It's super easy to make and yields a big batch so the whole family can enjoy it.

I'm so excited to be sharing a mac and cheese recipe. It couldn't have come any sooner, the timing is perfect (being fall) and with thankgiving around the corner.

I know this recipe will be a hit. It's gluten free, contains no dairy and doesn't take super long to make.

It's another pasta recipe as just a my Vegan Pasta Bake and Vegan Rasta Pasta dish.

I'm partial to adding some seasoning so I included a few herbs but rest assured the taste isn't overpowering at all.

My family HATE bland mac and cheese. It's in our bloodline to add a dash of seasoning to most cuisines so mac and cheese is no different.

You can use whatever gluten free pasta you want to make this recipe - fusilli, penne, spirali, macaroni. Whatever is easiest for yourself it makes no difference.

In terms of cheese unlike many vegan recipes that use a combination of nutritional yeast and cashew nuts to yield a creamy cheesy consistency similar to my Homemade Vegan Cheddar Cheese.

Ingredients you will need

• Gluten free pasta - You can use any type of gluten free paste for this recipe, any shape or size works just fine.
• Sweet potato - I'm using the sweet potato that is the most popular and accessible which is the one with the orange flesh (this one is extremely sweet).
• Vegan cheese - I like to use vegan apple smoked cheese, violife and daiya these are all foolproof and meltable cheese.
• Almond milk - Plant based milk that is neutral in taste works best, so cashew or almond (don't use coconut milk).

Reasons to make this recipe

• It is such a great way to incorporate sweet potatoes into your diet/lifestyle
• Adding sweet potato to mac and cheese is a unique concept
• The sauce is so rich and creamy and not to mention it is VERY tasty
• This recipe is suitable for those who are gluten free and vegan
• Any leftovers can either be refrigerated or frozen
• A really simple recipe that the entire family are guaranteed to enjoy

The steps

• Bring a medium sized pot with water to the boil and cook the chopped sweet potato until tender (should take about 5 minutes).
• Reserve the water that the sweet potato has been cooking in and use a slotted spoon to remove the pieces. Then use a blender, masher or immersion stick to puree the sweet potato then set aside.
• Meanwhile, bring the reserved water to the boil then add the pasta and cook until al dente (slightly firm) stir occasionally so the pasta doesn't stick. It should take about 6 minutes in total.
• Drain off the pasta in a colander and set aside.

• On medium heat, melt the dairy free butter and mix together the tapioca starch with the almond milk before pouring into the saucepan.
• Continue to whisk briskly until a thickish white sauce has formed.
• Stir in the black pepper, onion powder, garlic granules, sage, thyme, and pink salt.
• Then stir in the sweet potato, sprinkle in the cheese and fold in the pasta.
• Continue to stir until the cheese is completely melted and the sauce darkens in colour (3-4 minutes).

Notes and tips

• I used gluten free cavatappi aka spirali/cellentani
• You can reduce the cooking time by peeling and chopping the potatoes ahead of time and there is also the option to use frozen sweet potato instead. The frozen kind is already chopped/peeled so very hassle free. 2 cups will yield the amount listed.
• The same principle applies to the pasta, cook it ahead of time if you are pushed for time or want to reduce being the kitchen.
• The seasoning isn't overpowering, it's quite subtle and very complementary. If you don't fancy adding any that's fine just skip and leave it out.
• Any plant based milk (except pistachio) works for this recipe. However, if you want a creamy texture go for almond or Cashew Milk
• Feel free to use any gluten free pasta that you see fit.
• Any leftovers can be stored in a refrigerator for 2-3 days or freeze, just make sure it's covered and wrapped very well to avoid freezer burn.

Other vegan side dishes you may like

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Vegan Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese

Learn how to make some delicious, creamy vegan macaroni and cheese with sweet potatoes. This recipe is super tasty and guaranteed to be a true crowd pleaser especially over the holiday season.

4.89 from 9 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Entree

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 people

Calories: 579kcal

Author: Charla

Ingredients

• ▢ 5 cups gluten free pasta 350g(spirali, penne, fusilli, macaroni etc..)
• ▢ 1 medium sized sweet potato peeled and chopped
• ▢ 2 cups vegan cheese 230g (Violife, Daiya etc..)
• ▢ 2 cups almond milk  (475ml) (cashew milk works fine too)
• ▢ 3 tablespoon dairy free butter (42g)
• ▢ 2 tablespoon tapioca starch (16g)arrow root, potato starch works as well
• ▢ 1½ teaspoon parsley (0.15g) or sage
• ▢ 1⅓ teaspoon thyme (3g) fresh stems removed, or dried
• ▢ 1½ teaspoon garlic granules (3.5g)
• ▢ 1½ teaspoon onion powder (3g)
• ▢ ½ teaspoon black pepper (1g)
• ▢ Pink salt to taste

Instructions

• Bring a medium sized pot with water to the boil and cook the chopped sweet potato until tender (should take about 5 minutes).
• Reserve the water that the sweet potato has been cooking in and use a slotted spoon to remove the pieces. Then use a blender, masher or immersion stick to puree the sweet potato then set aside.
• Meanwhile, bring the reserved water to the boil then add the pasta and cook until al dente (slightly firm) stir occasionally so the pasta doesn't stick. It should take about 6 minutes in total
• Drain off the pasta in a colander and set aside.
• On medium heat, melt the dairy free butter and mix together the tapioca starch with the almond milk before pouring into the saucepan.
• Continue to whisk briskly until a thickish white sauce has formed.
• Stir in the black pepper, onion powder, garlic granules, parsley, thyme, and pink salt.
• Then stir in the sweet potato, sprinkle in the cheese and fold in the pasta.
• Continue to stir until the cheese is completely melted and the sauce darkens in colour (3-4 minutes).
• Do a taste test and adjust for seasoning (if required) prior to serving

Notes

• I used gluten free cavatappi aka spirali/cellentani
• You can reduce the cooking time by peeling and chopping the potatoes ahead of time and there is also the option to use frozen sweet potato instead. The frozen kind is already chopped/peeled so very hassle free. 2 cups will yield the amount listed.
• The same principle applies to the pasta, cook it ahead of time if you are pushed for time or want to reduce being the kitchen.
• The seasoning isn't overpowering, it's quite subtle and very complementary. If you don't fancy adding any that's fine just skip and leave it out.
• Any plant based milk (except pistachio) works for this recipe. However, if you want a creamy texture go for almond or Cashew Milk
• Feel free to use any gluten free pasta that you see fit.
• Any leftovers can be stored in a refrigerator for 2-3 days or freeze, just make sure it's covered and wrapped very well to avoid freezer burn.

 

Nutrition

Calories: 579kcal | Carbohydrates: 80g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Sodium: 924mg | Potassium: 118mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 4635IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 203mg | Iron: 2mg

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