Try this Spicy Vegan Cajun Mac and Cheese recipe made with an easy dairy-free cheese sauce. Topped with breadcrumbs and baked until golden brown and crispy. Rich, comforting and seriously satisfying.

Did someone say Spicy Cajun Mac and Cheese ?!

It is no secret that I do love the Spicy Cajun Mac & Yease at Plum Bistro in Seattle. A lot of the other vegan dishes that I have tried are touch and go. Some days they are ridiculously interesting and good and some other days it is like a pre-made, half the things forgotten affair.

The Mac n Yease though has almost always been the same. Gooey, spicy, crispy and floating in a load of oil. As my Mom says, that much oil will make anything taste better. I respectfully disagree, Mom.

Though I really like eating their Cajun Mac and Cheese it leaves me with an uneasy tummy after a few minutes. And I always think that if I had to make this, I would definitely reduce the oil/fat a bit. I mean sure it is supposed to be an indulgence that you would normally not eat at home. But there is just so much oil in it.



So I decided to try my hand at a delicious vegan Spicy Cajun Mac and Cheese recipe. I do not have a copy of Makini’s cookbook (which has a smoky Mac recipe), so this came out after some research and trying some things.



Ingredients for this Vegan Cajun Mac and Cheese recipe:

whole-wheat elbow pasta as a healthy alternative to white pasta. Whole-wheat pasta will keep you full for longer. Feel free to use chickpea pasta to up the protein content of this vegan mac and cheese recipe.

as a healthy alternative to white pasta. Whole-wheat pasta will keep you full for longer. Feel free to use chickpea pasta to up the protein content of this vegan mac and cheese recipe. mustard for some heat and tang. I love dijon mustard for this recipe!! I think it adds a really nice “cheesy” flavor to this vegan mac and cheese.

red pepper flakes for some spice.

soy sauce for some more umami. You could use tamari instead.

bread crumb topping for that lovely crunch! Check out the tips section below for making your own breadcrumbs.

Cajun seasoning – the spices in this vegan cheese sauce really make it!

– the spices in this vegan cheese sauce really make it! nutritional yeast – this ingredient is what apports the cheesy flavor to this dairy-free pasta sauce which is why I do NOT recommend leaving it out.

Tips and Substitutions for this Cajun Mac and Cheese:

You can reduce the amount of oil further and also increase the amount of non-dairy milk (add 1/2 to 1 cup more) to get more of that delicious dairy-free cheese sauce and hence more servings.

Plum’s restaurant version has a good amount of Daiya cheese, making it quite heavy. You can always add some, if you want but I wanted to keep the sauce lighter.

This is a rather spicy mac and cheese recipe. Use the pepper flakes and cayenne to taste. It is delicious without the spice too.

You can make your own breadcrumbs for this recipe which is easy and works great! Simply toast 3 thick-cut slices of white bread in your toasted or oven and then brake them into pieces. Put them into the blender and blitz them into breadcrumbs. Transferred the crumbs to a bowl and add some melted vegan butter. Toss them up with it and then place on top of the Cajun Mac and Cheese. You can use brown or whole wheat bread but white bread works best for this recipe.









How to make Spicy Vegan Cajun Mac and Cheese – Step by Step:

1. Roast the flour and oil, then add the hot almond milk and water and spices. Whisk into a smooth consistency.







2. Add al-dente elbows. Mix and take off the heat.







3. Fill the ramekins with the spicy Cajun mac and cheese. Add the bread crumb mixture on top. Drizzle EVOO or thin slices of Earth Balance vegan butter on top.







4. Broil for 2-3 minutes. Let sit in the oven for another few. Remove from Ramekin. Look at that crispiness.







Serve hot!







Customize your Cajun Mac and Cheese:

This Cajun mac and cheese recipe is a delicious vegetarian and vegan comfort food meal. However, you can make this truly yours by adding any of these vegetables.

tomatoes

sauteed mushrooms

caramelized Onion

shredded Carrots

par-cooked broccoli or cauliflower florets

peas

beans (Pinto, Kidney, black)

Corn

scallions





What can I use instead of vegan butter or oil?

You can use dairy-free margarine for this mac and cheese recipe. Just read the ingredients of the margarine and find one that is truly dairy-free. If you want, you can also make your own homemade vegan butter and use that in this vegan mac and cheese recipe.

More Vegan Mac & Cheese recipes on the blog: