Macaroni and cheese is widely considered to be the ultimate comfort food. For vegans and plant based eaters however, there’s just one problem with this cozy meal: the fact that cheese makes up for one half of the dynamic duo!
Where vegan boxed mac and cheese options were once rather limited, they have recently exploded into a market share all their own. While we love that there are now so many different dairy free ways to satisfy a mac and cheese craving, it makes grocery shopping all that much more difficult when you’re weighing products you know and love against newcomers, comparing high and low prices, and wrestling with other factors like food allergies or other dietary restrictions.
Don’t worry though, because we’ve got your mac (*ahem*, your back!) and have worked our way through as many different vegan mac and cheese products as we could. We’ve carefully considered all of the factors and have selected a best vegan mac in 7 different categories. Spoons up, we’re about to get into some cheesy goodness.
Table of Contents
What is Boxed Vegan Mac and Cheese?
Boxed vegan mac and cheese is typically found in the packaged goods section of the grocery store or market, nearby other items like pastas, rice, grains, and soups. Boxed mac and cheese consists of 2 key components: dried pasta of some sort, and a packet of dairy free cheese sauce. The distinguishing feature of boxed vegan mac and cheese is that you must prepare it yourself, by boiling the pasta and incorporating the cheese sauce as instructed.
While it’s true that frozen vegan mac and cheese products are also usually packaged in boxes, we opted to keep them out of this taste test and instead focus solely on the shelf stable non dairy mac and cheese options.
Types of Boxed Vegan Mac and Cheese
There are two main types of vegan mac and cheese: classic vs. deluxe.
Classic boxed mac and cheese will come with the cheese sauce in powdered form, which is then turned into creamy cheesy goodness by you along with the help of vegan butter and non dairy milk.
Deluxe mac and cheese, on the other hand, includes vegan cheese sauce that is already thick and creamy, so you simply need to squeeze it over the cooked pasta and enjoy!
From here, a ton of different variations can be found. From vegan macs made with alternative-based pastas or flavored options like alfredo, roasted garlic, spicy chipotle, and even black truffle, the list of dairy free mac and cheese options goes on and on!
Ranking the Best Boxed Vegan Mac and Cheese
The Test Subjects
Our cheesy shopping spree rewarded us with 15 unique varieties of vegan mac and cheese. Due to the variety offered within each brand, we opted to test a few different options from certain brands. The boxed vegan mac and cheese brands we tested and evaluated are as follows:
- Annie's Classic Vegan Mac Shells & Sweet Potato Pumpkin Sauce
- Annie's Deluxe Vegan Mac Shells & Vegan Cheddar
- Annie's Vegan Mac Red Lentil Spirals & Sweet Potato Pumpkin Sauce
- Banza Deluxe Chickpea Pasta Shells + Vegan Cheddar
- Daiya Deluxe Alfredo Style Mac & Cheeze
- Daiya Deluxe Cheddar Style Mac & Cheeze
- Daiya Deluxe Four Cheeze Style Mac with Herbs
- Goodles 'Vegan is Believin' White Cheddar with Spirals
- GrownAs* Classic Mac & Cheese
- GrownAs* Truffle Mac & Cheese
- Jovial Organic Gluten Free Vegan Mac
- Pastabilities Vegan 'Under the Sea' Mac 'n Cheese
- Upton's Naturals Deluxe Ch'eesy Bacon Mac
- Wicked Kitchen BBQ King Mac & Cheeze
- Wicked Kitchen Smoky Picnic Mac & Cheeze
The Methodology
By organizing our vegan macs according to common characteristics, we established 7 distinct categories of review. We set out to select a winning mac from each of the following:
- Best Traditional Vegan Mac and Cheese
- Best Creamy Vegan Mac and Cheese
- Best Flavored Vegan Mac and Cheese
- Best Alternative Pasta Vegan Mac and Cheese
- Best High Protein Vegan Mac and Cheese
- Best Veggie-Loaded Vegan Mac and Cheese
- Best Pre-Cooked Vegan Mac and Cheese
The Taste Test
We cooked each vegan mac and cheese according to its own on-box instructions, making note of the accuracy on specific cook times and procedures. For the classic style macs which required additional ingredients to reconstitute the powdered cheese sauce, we used an oat milk based vegan butter and unsweetened almond milk in the precise amounts called for.
We taste tested each product on its own immediately after cooking, then again in a side by side comparison later on. We started with the more basic macs first, then moved through the deluxe, flavored, and specialty options.
The Criteria
Throughout the taste testing, research, and comparison stages of our vegan mac and cheese evaluation, we awarded each product a grade in each of the following 5 criteria:
- Taste & Texture: considering the texture of each macaroni, how “cheesy” each cheese sauce is, and whether or not each vegan mac is accurately reminiscent of a traditional mac and cheese.
- Nutrition Content: specifically the calorie, fat, sodium, carb, and protein content of each mac and cheese as well as vitamin and mineral content.
- Unique Characteristics: special flavors, unique ingredients, or notable preparation styles.
- Value: we found the quantity of each vegan mac to vary too widely from one box to the next, so we opted to gauge the value in terms of price per serving.
- Production & Packaging: where each vegan mac is produced, how widely available it is, how it is packaged, and any noteworthy factors of production like environmental or sustainability minded efforts.
We calculated an overall average grade for each boxed vegan mac from these 5 individual scores. The highest scoring mac and cheese in each of the 7 categories was a winner!
Best Traditional Vegan Mac and Cheese:
Pastabilities Vegan 'Under the Sea' Mac 'n Cheese
Size: 9-Ounce Box
Ingredients Needed: ½ cup plant based milk, 2½ TB plant based butter.
Here is how Pastabilities Vegan 'Under the Sea' Mac 'n Cheese scored in each of our criteria categories:
- Taste & Texture: 5.0 / 5.0
- Nutrition Content: 4.4 / 5.0
- Unique Characteristics: 4.5 / 5.0
- Value: 4.5 / 5.0
- Production & Packaging: 4.8 / 5.0
- Overall Score: 4.6 / 5.0
The flavor of many of the vegan macs we tried erred on the side of non-traditional, making this Pastabilities Mac 'n Cheese a true standout for the fact that its flavor is all classic, all the way! It comes as close to “Kraft tasting” as we can remember, making it a major crowd pleaser and super kid-friendly.
As a product of The Pasta Shoppe, you can bet that the mac portion of the equation here is superior and it was actually our hands down our favorite of the whole taste test. They utilize small-batch manufacturing processes such as bronze cutting, a pasta-making technique that gives each piece an ever so slightly rougher surface to which the sauce can cling more effectively. The noodles feature whimsical sea creature shapes which cook perfectly and hold their shape nicely, even after stirring and mixing the cheese sauce in!
The family-size box does indeed make a ton of pasta and is perfect if you’re making mac for a group or, cooking for one but want to ensure there are leftovers to be had! Each serving is a good source of iron, providing 15% your DV of this mineral, as well as is free from GMOs and artificial flavors.
Our key complaint here is that there is not enough cheese sauce for the amount of glorious pasta in this box! The overall taste is great, but our tasting panel agreed that they wanted more of it. It is also, unfortunately, not the healthiest either. It is one of the highest calorie vegan macs we tested, with nearly 400 per 1 cup serving as well as over 600 milligrams of sodium!
And those with food allergies must make note of the fact that this boxed mac and cheese is produced in the same facility as a whole host of potential allergens such as: milk, eggs, fish, tree nuts, soybeans, and sesame.
Pros:
- Tastes the most like classic boxed mac n’ cheese you may remember!
- The pasta is of superior quality, traditionally made in small batches.
- Cut into fun sea creature shapes.
- Family size box is perfect for cooking for a crowd.
- Good source of iron.
- Free from GMOs.
- No artificial flavors.
Cons:
- Not enough sauce for the quantity of pasta.
- High in calories.
- High in sodium.
- Produced in a facility with many potential allergens.
Best Creamy Vegan Mac and Cheese:
Daiya Deluxe Four Cheeze Style Mac with Herbs
Size: 10.6-Ounce Package
Ingredients Needed: None
Here is how Daiya Deluxe Four Cheeze Style Mac with Herbs scored in each of our criteria categories:
- Taste & Texture: 4.8 / 5.0
- Nutrition Content: 4.7 / 5.0
- Unique Characteristics: 4.5 / 5.0
- Value: 4.5 / 5.0
- Production & Packaging: 4.8 / 5.0
- Overall Score: 4.7 / 5.0
Daiya is our clear winner as far as creamy mac is concerned. We tested 3 different Daiya varieties (though they actually make seven total!) and found their Deluxe Four Cheeze Style Mac with Herbs to be the creamiest and dreamiest of them all.
It all starts with their white + brown rice pasta shells which take just 5-6 minutes to cook up into the perfect shape for cupping all of that craveably creamy sauce. And speaking of that cheesy sauce, there is plenty of it here. It’s made from coconut oil, lactic acid, and pea protein and is seasoned with a delicious herb & spice blend of onion, basil, oregano, thyme, and nutmeg. We think that even non-vegans would have a tough time believing this sauce is dairy-free, and that the tender yet well-structured rice pasta is gluten free to boot!
Each serving of this vegan mac provides 20% your DV of calcium all while being both sugar-free and GMO-free. This mac is also really allergen friendly as well as is free from soy, wheat, and treenuts (except for coconut) as well as is produced in a peanut free facility.
And finally, we have to say, we really love the packaging of this product. Something about it just feels great to handle. The perforated strip along the top seam tears off perfectly and easily--unlike the other mac boxes we had to fight with in order to open--and inside the pasta and sauce are neatly organized into separate pouches. We also love to point out, this mac represents one of those rare circumstances where the photo on the box is actually how it looks in real life--creamy and delicious!
Due to the fact that the pasta shells are made from rice flour, you need to take extra care here not to overcook it. Rice pasta is great until it isn't, and overcooking will leave you in a mooshy, sticky mess. And though we love the creamy texture of the sauce and herbaceous hit of oregano and thyme, there is a somewhat funky, acidic tang running underneath the flavor profile of this vegan mac which wasn’t 100% to the taste of our tasting panel.
Pros:
- Has the creamiest and most generous amount of sauce of all vegan macs we tested.
- Rice pasta shells cook quickly & hold the sauce perfectly.
- Seasoned with a spice cabinet’s worth of tasty herbs.
- Excellent source of calcium.
- Allergen-friendly.
- Free from GMOs and sugar.
- Packaging is very convenient.
Cons:
- Rice pasta needs careful monitoring not to overcook.
- Cheese sauce has a slight funky acidity to it.
Best Flavored Vegan Mac and Cheese:
GrownAs* Truffle Mac & Cheese
Size: 6.2-Ounce Box
Ingredients Needed: ½ cup plant based milk, 3 TB plant based butter.
Here is how GrownAs* Truffle Mac & Cheese scored in each of our criteria categories:
- Taste & Texture: 4.6 / 5.0
- Nutrition Content: 4.5 / 5.0
- Unique Characteristics: 4.8 / 5.0
- Value: 3.9 / 5.0
- Production & Packaging: 4.5 / 5.0
- Overall Score: 4.5 / 5.0
Our favorite flavored vegan mac was a clear winner: Truffle Mac & Cheese from GrownAs* Foods. On its own, the ample savory sauce is sure to satisfy any cheese craving. But here, they’ve opted to take things a step further, turning a bowl of everyday mac into a luxury experience with the addition of organic summer truffles and black truffle concentrate.
The result is an umami-packed, super aromatic, uber special mac and cheese experience with plenty of truffle flavor--without being overpowering! The elbow macaroni cooks up perfectly and gives great texture while the cheese sauce easily mixes right into the mac and additional ingredients without a ton of stirring needed.
In addition to truffle, the flavor profile of this vegan mac is rounded out by garlic, smoked paprika, turmeric, and onion. It is nut free, soy free, made in the USA, and GMO free! And we also love that GrownAs* works to be eco-friendly, packing their vegan mac in a recyclable box and their cheese sauce in a 100% compostable pouch. The included instructions were super clear and easy to follow and we love the cheeky (pardon the pun!) vibe of the box and packaging all around.
As you might expect though, such a specialty product comes with a specialty price tag. We ended up ordering our boxes of GrownAs* Mac on Amazon--for about 7 bucks a piece!--as this is a new company and is therefore not widely distributed to many supermarkets and grocery stores yet. This works out to $2.80 per serving, by far the highest of all vegan macs we tested.
Texture-wise, we unfortunately found the sauce to be just a bit grainy as compared to the other, creamier macs that were in our taste test group. And also, something about the cut or size of the macaroni made this one take a bit longer to cook than other vegan macs. Patience is a virtue here!
Pros:
- Sauce is nicely cheesy and savory.
- Flavored by real, organic summer truffles and black truffle oil.
- Cheese sauce powder is very easy to incorporate.
- Balanced with spices like smoked paprika and turmeric.
- Nut free, soy free, & GMO free.
- Made in the USA.
- Packaged in a recyclable box and compostable pouch.
Cons:
- The most expensive vegan mac we tested.
- Not available in many grocery stores.
- Sauce is a bit grainy.
- Takes a little longer to cook than other macs.
Best Alternative Pasta Vegan Mac and Cheese:
Banza Deluxe Chickpea Pasta Shells + Vegan Cheddar
Size: 11-Ounce Box
Ingredients Needed: None
Here is how Banza Deluxe Chickpea Pasta Shells + Vegan Cheddar scored in each of our criteria categories:
- Taste & Texture: 4.4 / 5.0
- Nutrition Content: 4.7 / 5.0
- Unique Characteristics: 4.5 / 5.0
- Value: 4.7 / 5.0
- Production & Packaging: 4.4 / 5.0
- Overall Score: 4.5 / 5.0
Since its 2014 launch, Banza gained a serious following for their ingenious line of chickpea based products. In addition to pastas and noodles, the brand also offers chickpea “rice”, pizzas, and of course this: their plant based mac and cheeses.
The certified gluten free pasta shells are made from chickpea flour and pea protein combined with a bit of tapioca starch and xanthan gum to keep the texture together. With such a high proportion of legumes, the fiber content is way up as compared to regular pasta noodles--with each serving of Banza providing 5 grams per serving--about 20% your DV! This high fiber content also helps keep the net carb count lower than usual too, about 30% less than that of your regular wheat flour based mac.
As for the cheese sauce, we found the flavor to be middle of the road, not the best we tasted but certainly not the worst! This sauce is by far the most bright orange and traditional looking as compared to the others, and when combined with the nutty taste of the pasta itself, makes for an overall tasty bowl of mac. We sampled their Deluxe Cheddar version, but Banza Plant Based Mac + Cheese also comes in Deluxe White Cheddar as well as classic versions with powdered cheese sauce. Costing us just $1.50 per serving, this was happily one of the most affordable vegan macs we tried.
Though we love all the chickpea goodness that comes along with this pasta, there definitely are some textural issues with an alternative-base pasta like this. The shells seemed to readily break apart during cooking, despite our gentle stirring and careful attention. If you’re looking for a more convincing gluten free mac, you may prefer to try one of the other gluten free options like those offered by Daiya or Annie’s.
To make matters worse, the chickpea pasta requires frequent stirring during cooking as it tends to create a ton of foam on the surface of the water. We almost had a boil over here! And though they say to simmer the pasta for 8-9 minutes, we found our shells had completely cooked by minute 6--so keep a close eye here as they may take less time than you’d expect.
Pros:
- Pasta made from chickpeas!
- High in fiber.
- 30% lower in net carbs as compared to regular mac.
- Cheese sauce is plentiful and has the perfect “mac n’ cheese orange” coloring.
- One of the most affordable vegan macs we tested.
Cons:
- Chickpea pasta does not hold together very well.
- Requires frequent stirring in order to mitigate the foam caused during cooking.
- Pasta cooks more quickly than indicated on packaging.
Best High Protein Vegan Mac and Cheese:
Wicked Kitchen BBQ King Mac & Cheeze
Size: 5.99-Ounce Box
Ingredients Needed: ¼ cup plant based milk, 2 TB plant based butter.
Here is how Wicked Kitchen BBQ King Mac & Cheeze scored in each of our criteria categories:
- Taste & Texture: 4.3 / 5.0
- Nutrition Content: 4.0 / 5.0
- Unique Characteristics: 4.4 / 5.0
- Value: 4.4 / 5.0
- Production & Packaging: 4.0 / 5.0
- Overall Score: 4.2 / 5.0
As a plant based eater, you’re likely no stranger to the fact that it can be tough to get enough protein into your meal rotation. This makes us especially grateful for products like Wicked Kitchen Mac & Cheeze, which prioritize protein content in conjunction with great taste!
This brand is the brainchild of two restaurant chef brothers who are “on a mission to unleash the mighty power of plants”, and use their ample industry expertise to crank out a ton of craveworthy plant based products like frozen pizzas, curry bowls, ice cream, chili, and even sauces and marinades.
Their “BBQ King” style mac packs a whopping 19 grams of plant based protein--in the form of soy protein isolate--in each and every 1-cup serving. We loved the cheesy sauce the powder packet mixed up into and that it is pleasantly dotted with a wide range of tasty additions like dried jalapeno pepper, tomato powder, red onion, cumin, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper. We can see the smoky flavor of this mac pairing nicely with other cookout inspired items like our Pulled Jackfruit BBQ Sandwich or Vegan BBQ Chicken Sandwich.
The box offers a scannable QR code which takes you straight to the Wicked Kitchen website, linking you to all sorts of interactive info, fun recipes, and pro tips. In fact, it was there that we learned that their packaging--from box to sauce packet--is always 100% recyclable. Wicked cool!
Not so cool, however, is the nutritional profile of this mac. It is across the board, highest in calories, fats, saturated fats, sodium, sugars, and net carbs among all of the boxed vegan macs we tested. With nearly 40% your DV of sodium and 30% your DV of saturated fat, you may want to be especially mindful or portion size here.
Also, we’re inclined to think our next complaint to be an issue incurred during transit, as we ordered our boxes of Wicked Kitchen mac online, but still want to note the fact that the packet of cheese powder in both varieties of their mac arrived to us solidified and clumpy as opposed to loose and powdery. This warranted some extra work in order to get it broken up enough to incorporate into the mac and still, the end result was a bit mealy.
Pros:
- Created by 2 restaurant chefs.
- Each serving provides 19 grams of protein.
- Cheese sauce is complemented by plenty of spices and seasonings.
- Smoky undertones give definite BBQ vibes!
- Packaging is fully recyclable.
- Scannable QR code links you to a trove of recipes, tips, and info.
Cons:
- The least nutritious of all vegan macs we tested.
- Especially high in saturated fats and sodium.
- Cheese sauce packet had been affected by moisture, turning it clumpy and hard to work with.
Best Veggie-Loaded Vegan Mac and Cheese:
Goodles 'Vegan is Believin' White Cheddar with Spirals
Size: 5.25-Ounce Box
Ingredients Needed: ⅓ cup plant based milk, 1½ TB plant based butter.
Here is how Goodles 'Vegan is Believin' White Cheddar with Spirals scored in each of our criteria categories:
- Taste & Texture: 5.0 / 5.0
- Nutrition Content: 5.0 / 5.0
- Unique Characteristics: 4.8 / 5.0
- Value: 4.2 / 5.0
- Production & Packaging: 4.8 / 5.0
- Overall Score: 4.8 / 5.0
From protein packed to veggie loaded, our next top pick is Goodles 'Vegan is Believin' White Cheddar with Spirals! Our tasting panel loved the tiny spiral noodles and the creamy white cheddar style sauce, but even more than that, the incredible amount of veggie goodness they somehow managed to sneak into this humble little box.
While this mac doesn’t include actual vegetables, it instead makes use of extracted nutrients from a range of organic veggies including the following: broccoli, spinach, kale, pumpkin, sweet potato, cranberry, chlorella (a type of algae) and maitake and shiitake mushrooms. Plus, there are also extractives of cranberries and sunflower seeds in the mix!
We’ve tried similarly veggie-fied products before and have been disappointed when the flavor is too funky or falls flat but this product is perfectly salty, savory, cheesy, and slightly sweet in all the right ways. You can definitely taste some vegetal notes, but our tasting panel actually found them to be a delicious addition and ranked this vegan mac as the Best Tasting of all.
The taste here is only rivaled by the micronutrient content brought to the table. Each 1 cup serving of this mac contains a remarkable 21 different nutrients from plants, among them: 50% your DV of selenium, 25% vitamin E, 20% iron, niacin, folate, pantothenic acid, zinc, copper, and manganese along with smaller amounts of plenty more! And, with 25% your DV of fiber, you can feel really good about eating a bowl full of this comfort food. It even won a Purity Award from the Clean Label Project!
Our major complaint with this vegan mac: there’s not enough of it. Perhaps because the spiral noodles are small, but the box almost seems more like one serving as opposed to the two it indicates. We also found ourselves wanting more sauce, especially after the mac had been sitting for a few minutes, it really soaked into the noodles and had us craving more of the good stuff!
We want to make note of the fact that there are many different types of Goodles out there on the supermarket shelf sitting right next to this vegan version and they all look very similar. Be sure to check and make sure you have the plant-based version in hand before tossing it in the cart!
Pros:
- Made with concentrated nutrients from a bushel of real veggies, fruit, and seeds.
- Ranked as the Best Tasting according to our tasting panel.
- Is an excellent or good source of 21 different micronutrients.
- Provides 25% of your DV of dietary fiber.
- Won the Clean Label Project Purity Award.
Cons:
- Serving sizes in the box seem smaller than other vegan macs.
- Not enough sauce!
- Packaging on this vegan version is potentially confusingly similar to the dairy-based options.
Best Pre-Cooked Vegan Mac and Cheese with Bacon:
Upton's Naturals Deluxe Ch'eesy Bacon Mac
Size: 10.5-Ounce Package
Ingredients Needed: None
Here is how Upton's Naturals Deluxe Ch'eesy Bacon Mac scored in each of our criteria categories:
- Taste & Texture: 4.1 / 5.0
- Nutrition Content: 4.7 / 5.0
- Unique Characteristics: 4.6 / 5.0
- Value: 4.3 / 5.0
- Production & Packaging: 4.6 / 5.0
- Overall Score: 4.4 / 5.0
Upton's Naturals Deluxe Ch'eesy Bacon Mac earns the title for the most convenient vegan mac of all as it takes just a few minutes to prepare! The secret is the shelf-stable, fully cooked elbow noodles that are vacuum sealed inside the box. All you need to do is toss them in a pan with the included packet of cheese sauce and voila, dinner (or lunch, or late night snack) is served!
This version of theirs even includes pieces of Upton’s famous bacon seitan, giving it that smoky, bacon-y flavor that pairs oh so nicely with macaroni and cheese. We love that the ingredients label features real, whole foods and is super clean and easy to understand. The key players: semolina flour, nutritional yeast, rice bran oil, vital wheat gluten, soy sauce and a few seasoning items like liquid smoke, mustard, onion, garlic, turmeric, and paprika.
Each serving of this vegan bacon mac contains just 270 calories as well as is low in saturated fats--unlike bacon of the animal-based variety, that’s for sure! We love the feel of the sleek and shiny box this mac comes in, and loved it even more when we read that it’s made with 100% recycled materials and is completely compostable!
The flavor experience of this mac, however, is going to be completely up to your particular taste buds. Most of our tasting panel was not a huge fan of the overly smoky flavor profile and we have to admit, we felt there was a chemical aftertaste that was hard to ignore. That said, some folks swear by this vegan mac so it seems to elicit a love it or hate it response!
And overall, the experience of this product is not all that much like classic boxed mac and cheese. From the sticky and not-very-cheesy cheese sauce to the fact that you are instructed to cook in a skillet, this meal comes across more like a pasta toss as opposed to the mac n’ cheese you may be craving.
Pros:
- Contains shelf stable and fully cooked macaroni!
- Easiest mac to prepare--ready in just a few minutes.
- Includes generous pieces of bacon seitan.
- Ingredients list is limited and includes clean, whole foods.
- Low in calories and saturated fats.
- Packaging is fully recycled and is compostable!
Cons:
- Flavor was one of the least favorites of our tasting panel.
- Has a somewhat off-putting aftertaste.
- Cheese sauce is not as mac n’ cheesy as we’d hoped.
Best Boxed Vegan Mac and Cheese FAQs
What is Vegan Cheese Sauce Made From?
The key ingredient in almost all vegan cheese sauces is the one and only nutritional yeast. Nutritional yeast has a high concentration of glutamate--an amino acid--which imparts a super savory, umami rich flavor to whatever it is added to.
When combined with other aromatics like onion, garlic, vegan butter, paprika, and mustard, the result is a savory, rich, amazingly cheesy sauce that is free from milk.
Is Vegan Mac and Cheese Healthy?
It all depends. While vegan cheese sauce is typically lower in fats and saturated fats as compared to dairy-based cheese sauce, the addition of common ingredients like coconut oil may bring that fat content right back up.
Most vegan mac and cheeses we tested are higher in protein than the leading brand of regular boxed mac and cheese, but lower nutrients such as calcium. If you’re looking to choose a boxed vegan mac for the health benefits, look for those with lower fat and sodium counts and higher protein and fiber figures.
What Vegan Milk is Best for Mac and Cheese?
Some of our favorite non dairy milks for mac and cheese making are almond milk (either store bought or homemade!) and soy milk.
Feel free to experiment with other types of plant milk though, as cashew, coconut, and oat milk will likely work nicely as well. If you happen to have unsweetened and unflavored vegan coffee creamer on hand, that is also an option.
What Can You Add to Boxed Vegan Mac and Cheese?
Feeling a little bored by your vegan mac as is? Try jazzing it up with one of these additions:
- Stir in any cooked protein like crispy tofu, cooked seitan, or one of these Vegan Chicken Substitutes.
- Toss your vegan mac with some Sheet Pan Oven Roasted Vegetables or any leftover cooked veggie you like.
- Take a turn for the tomato-y by mixing a spoonful of Sun Dried Tomato Pesto into your creamy vegan mac.
- If things aren’t quite cheesy enough, shower your mac with some savory Nut Free Vegan Parmesan Cheese.
Final Thoughts About the Best Boxed Vegan Mac and Cheese!
If you're looking for comfort food, you've come to the right place! From creamy vegan mac and cheese to veggie centric spirals, there are plenty of plant based macs to choose from--most of which are in regular grocery stores just like the traditional brands you may have grown up with!
Drop us a line if we missed out on your favorite brand of vegan boxed macaroni and cheese. Or, if you're in the mood for more cheesy or macaroni-y goodness, check out some of our recipes like this Vegan Cheddar Cheese Spread or Vegan Macaroni Salad!
Leave a Reply