Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese

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This Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese recipe is creamy, dreamy & totally autumnal! Perfectly al dente pasta gets tossed in a simple no-cook, dairy-free pumpkin cashew cream sauce. Made with just 10 simple ingredients in 15 minutes or less, this cozy vegan mac and cheese recipe is the perfect meal for Meatless Mondays (or, I mean, any day 😉) this fall!
Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese shown in a very small white ramekin. The dish is sitting on top of a gray + white striped napkin. The mac and cheese is topped with fresh sage leaves. A woman's hands are reaching into the frame of the photo with a fork, taking a bite out of the dish.

This post is sponsored by DeLallo Foods, who I’m so excited to partner & share with you all throughout 2019. Their pasta is one of my favorite things in the whole entire world, which says a whole heck of a lot coming from a self-proclaimed pasta snob. 😉 All thoughts & opinions are my own.

So… I kinda-sorta feel like I have some explaining to do.

I know I’ve ranted and raved about how much I hate pumpkin (looking at you, chai spice mix). & I totally stand by those feelings… with a teeny, tiny clarification: my disdain for all things pumpkin really only applies to pumpkiny sweets. Please don’t put pumpkin in my sweets.

…or my coffee, for goodness sake.

But pumpkin in savory dishes? I can totally get down with that.

& pumpkin folded into the creamiest, coziest autumnal pasta dish? 😎 Hi, hello, that’s my jam.

There are just 2 parts to this pumpkin mac and cheese recipe:

  1. Pasta, from DeLallo, of course, because theirs is quite literally the best pasta money can buy.
  2. Vegan pumpkin cashew cream sauce, also known as the borderline magical vegan pumpkin cheese sauce you absolutely neeeeed in your life this autumn. It’s creamy & dreamy, but dairy-free & vegan, & SO easy to make.

I’m pretty sure this vegan pumpkin mac and cheese is what cozy autumn weeknight dinner dreams are made of!

Close up shot of vegan pumpkin mac and cheese.

Vegan Pumpkin Mac & Cheese Recipe Highlights

This creamy, dreamy vegan pumpkin mac & cheese recipe is…

  • DELICIOUSLY COZY. Each bite is laced with warm cinnamon, nutmeg, & allspice.
  • SUPER SIMPLE. Made in just 15 minutes with 10 ingredients (that you probably already have in your pantry), keep this recipe in your back pocket all season long.
  • VERSATILE. Easy enough for weeknight dinners yet fancy enough for your Thanksgiving table.
  • ULTRA CREAMY. Thanks to a pumpkin cashew cream sauce!
  • 100% DAIRY-FREE & VEGAN. What!

Quick & cozy, you’ll FALL in love with this recipe! ♡ Read on to learn more about this Vegan Pumpkin Mac & Cheese, or jump straight to the recipe & get cookin’!

Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese shown in an orange pumpkin-shaped Dutch oven, being stirred with a wooden spoon.

How Do You Make Mac & Cheese Vegan?

Before diving into the scrumptious details of this vegan pumpkin mac and cheese recipe, let’s address the elephant in the room:

How do you make macaroni and CHEESE vegan?

It’s totally possible to make a creamy pasta sauce without using any animal products, like milk or cheese! This vegan mac and cheese recipe gets its creaminess & cheesiness from 2 important ingredients:

  1. Cashews: When blended with liquid (water, nut milk, coconut milk, etc.), cashews break down into a really lovely creamy sauce. Cashew cream is pretty mild in flavor, so it’s the perfect dairy-free base for creamy vegan pasta sauces.
  2. Nutritional yeast: An inactive yeast known for its cheesy & nutty savory flavor, similar to parmesan cheese. Since it’s dairy-free & vegan, you’ll see it used in a lot of “cheesy” plant-based recipes. As a non-vegan, I know it sounds a little bit scary/sketchy, but I assure you – it’s good!

When I envisioned this recipe, I wanted to give my favorite creamy vegan pasta sauce a little bit of an autumnal makeover. It has a similar cashew cream base but…

  • it’s even creamier, by using plant milk instead of water, &
  • it tastes just like fall, thanks to tons of puréed pumpkin & some simple fall spices.

Creamy cashews & pumpkin belong together & their mild flavor is brought to life with garlic, plenty of nutmeg, some cinnamon, & some allspice. It’s creamy, cozy, simple fall goodness. You’re gonna love it.

Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese Ingredients

This pumpkin mac and cheese recipe couldn’t be simpler. You need just 10 basic ingredients to throw it together.

Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese ingredients (pasta, pumpkin puree, cashews, plant milk, spices, etc.) arranged on a white marble surface.
(Note, the full Ingredients List with measurements is provided in the Recipe Card, below.)

The cast of characters includes…

  • your favorite vegan pasta
  • cashews
  • almond milk, or another plant-based milk of choice
  • nutritional yeast, for that savory (dairy-free) cheesy flavor
  • pumpkin purée – I use organic if I can find it!
  • plenty of garlic
  • & a dash of fall spices (like allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, cayenne, salt & pepper)

It’s no secret that DeLallo’s authentic Italian pasta is my absolute favorite. As a major pasta lover, I think that says a whole heck of a lot. The quality of DeLallo pasta is straight-up excellent.

It’s made in Italy with just 2 ingredients (premium wheat & Italian mineral water) & it’s specifically designed to absorb & capture pasta sauce.

Long story short, this translates to absolutely superior flavor & texture… kinda important when it comes to pasta, right? I won’t use any other pasta in my kitchen – DeLallo simply does it right.

I chose to use shells in this vegan mac and cheese recipe because I’m obsessed with how shells capture & cradle little pools of the pumpkin cream sauce! Seriously so good. Of course, you can use whatever shape you love most!

Close-up photo of DeLallo shells.

How To Make Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese

Made in 15 minutes (or less!), this vegan pumpkin mac and cheese recipe is perfect for any night of the week. The longest part of the recipe is waiting for the pasta water to boil!

The recipe can broken down into 2 key steps (note, full Recipe Directions are provided in the Recipe Card, below):

  1. Cook the pasta to al dente according to package directions. Be sure to reserve a little of the pasta water before you drain off the pasta!
  2. Make the vegan pumpkin cashew cream sauce, by adding all of the ingredients to a high-speed blender & blending until smooth & creamy.

Once the pasta & sauce are ready, all you have to do is stir it all together!

Add the cooked pasta straight back into the pot you used to boil it, then pour the pumpkin cashew cream sauce over top. Stir to combine, adding some of that starchy pasta water into the mix to thin out the pumpkin cream sauce just ’til it reaches your desired texture.

Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese shown in an orange pumpkin-shaped Dutch oven, being stirred with a wooden spoon.

Winner, winner, 15-minute vegan pumpkin dinner. Does it get better than that??

Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese shown in a very small white ramekin. The dish is sitting on top of a gray + white striped napkin. The mac and cheese is topped with fresh sage leaves.

I hope you give this Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese recipe a try so soon. Vegan or not, if you love creamy pasta dishes & you’re craving lots of fall flavor, I know you’ll love it! I sorta think it’s the best pumpkin mac and cheese out there! If you make it, be sure to snap a photo & tag @playswellwithbutter on Instagram. One of my favorite things is seeing your PWWB creations!

Oh! & be sure to order yourself some of DeLallo’s brand new pasta. It’s truly the best pasta money can buy!

Craving cozy Autumn flavors? We thought so! Be sure to try our Damn Good Vegan Lentil Soup, No-Stir Pumpkin Risotto, & Hearty Vegan Pumpkin Chili next. Happy Cooking! ♡

Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese shown in a very small white ramekin. The dish is sitting on top of a gray + white striped napkin. The mac and cheese is topped with fresh sage leaves. A woman's hands are reaching into the frame of the photo with a fork, taking a bite out of the dish.
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Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese shown in a very small white ramekin. The dish is sitting on top of a gray + white striped napkin. The mac and cheese is topped with fresh sage leaves.

15-Minute Creamy Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.8 from 8 reviews
  • Author: Jess Larson
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: serves 4
  • Category: Pasta Recipes
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American, Italian
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

This Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese recipe is totally autumnal, getting its creaminess from a simple no-cook dairy-free pumpkin cashew cream sauce. Made with 10 simple ingredients in 15 minutes or less!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound DeLallo shells pasta (or other short pasta of choice, such as elbows, cavatappi, fusilli, etc.)
  • ½ cup roasted, unsalted whole cashews (see Recipe Notes)
  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (or other plant milk of choice)
  • 1 15-ounce can pumpkin purée (not pumpkin pie filling!)
  • ⅓ cup nutritional yeast (see Recipe Notes)
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon allspice
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the shells & stir to prevent sticking. Cook to al dente according to package directions, 10-11 minutes. Prior to draining the pasta, reserve about 2 cups of the starchy pasta water. Drain the pasta. Return the reserved pasta to the pot. Set aside.
  2. Blend the pumpkin cashew cream sauce: Meanwhile, as the pasta boils, make the pumpkin cashew cream sauce. Add the cashews, almond milk, pumpkin purée, nutritional yeast, garlic, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cayenne, salt, & ground black pepper to a high-speed blender. Blend until the cashews completely break down into a smooth & creamy sauce.
  3. Assemble the vegan pumpkin mac and cheese: Pour the pumpkin cashew cream sauce over the pasta. Stir to combine, adding in the reserved pasta water little by little until your desired consistency is reached. The sauce should be very creamy, but cling to the pasta nicely. 
  4. Serve immediately, topped with fresh herbs as desired. Enjoy!


Notes

  • To soak, or not to soak: Whether or not you need to soak cashews is an FAQ when it comes to making creamy cashew sauces. In my experience, use of a high-speed blender really renders soaking unnecessary. (For reference, this is the blender I use, & I never run into issues with the cashews breaking down.) If you’d like to play it safe, simply soak the cashews water overnight OR in hot, hot water for 10-15 minutes to soften up a little bit. Drain the water off before using the cashews in the pumpkin cream sauce in Step 2. 
  • Nutritional yeast: An inactive yeast known for its cheesy & nutty savory flavor. Since it’s dairy-free & vegan, you’ll see it used in a lot of “cheesy” plant-based recipes. I know it sounds a little scary/sketchy, but, as a non-vegan, I can assure you it’s good! It’s pretty widely available at this point; I buy it at Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s. You can even order it on Amazon. If you don’t have nutritional yeast on hand, feel free to see below or omit; the pumpkin cream sauce will still be very yummy without it! 
  • Non-vegan suggestion: If keeping this recipe vegan or dairy-free isn’t a priority, I suggest adding 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese into the pumpkin mac and cheese as you stir it all together in Step 3 of Recipe Directions. It’s totally not necessary (the dish is super flavorful & delish without it), but does add an extra element of nutty & salty cheesiness that’s quite good. 

Follow along with Plays Well With Butter on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and Pinterest for more unfussy recipes that pack a big punch of flavor!

Hi there, I'm Jess!

If there’s 1 thing to know about me, it’s this: I am head-over-heels in love with food. I’m on a mission to make weeknight cooking flavorful, fast, & fun for other foodies, & PWWB is where I share foolproof recipes that deliver major flavor with minimal effort. Other true loves: pretty shoes, puppies, Grey’s Anatomy, & my cozy kitchen in Minneapolis, MN.

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Comments

  1. 12.21.23
    Stefanie said:

    I’ve just blended up the sauce and tasted it and I’m already in love! I used raw cashews and ground nutmeg because that’s all I had and it’s still amazing! Can’t wait to eat it on pasta for dinner!

    • 12.21.23
      Emma @ Plays Well With Butter said:

      So happy to hear that, Stefanie!! Can’t wait to hear what you think of the final dish! 🙂

      • 2.17.24
        Stefanie said:

        I absolutely love it! It’s so good and has quickly become one of my go-to recipes! I’m wondering if anyone has tried to bake it in the oven topped with bread crumbs and if that would work well?






        • 2.19.24
          Emma @ Plays Well With Butter said:

          You could definitely finish it in the oven with some extra vegan cheese and breadcrumbs!! Make sure to let us know how it turns out for you!

  2. 12.17.21
    Jennifer said:

    There are various recipes similar to this out there, and I’ve tried a few. I decided to test this one because (1) it uses the whole can of pumpkin, and (2) the higher pumpkin:cashew ratio makes it less heavy. It was SUPERB — definitely the best vegan pumpkin pasta I’ve ever made! I loved the deeper pumpkin flavor. Because I like a mix of textures, I topped it with thinly sliced roasted brussels sprouts. Next time I might try caramelized onions. Either way, this is my new favorite quick pantry recipe.






    • 12.30.21
      Erin @ Plays Well With Butter said:

      Thanks Jennifer! We’re so glad you LOVED it! Brussels sprouts or caramelized onions with it sound lovely & so glad you could find a new favorite – thank you for sharing!

  3. 12.8.21
    Rose said:

    A bit spicy! Would reduce the pepper by half next time.






    • 12.29.21
      Erin @ Plays Well With Butter said:

      Hi Rose! Thanks for the feedback – we always encourage you to adjust for taste! Hope you’ll try again!!

  4. 11.4.21
    Ilana said:

    We love love love this dish in our house! I make it all Fall and Winter long! It’s so cozy and just absolutely delicious. It comes together in 20 minutes, making it a perfect weeknight dish. I serve it with a side of roasted broccoli or green beans. I’m 4 weeks postpartum and this is easy enough for me to make between baby tasks and so satisfying.






    • 12.29.21
      Erin @ Plays Well With Butter said:

      Thank you for sharing Ilana! Love that this is a quick go-to comfort food for your family! 💜

  5. 1.20.21
    Jen said:

    I’m making this for maybe the fifth time and I never get tired of it. It’s perfectly seasoned and even better the next day!






    • 2.5.21
      Erin @ Plays Well With Butter said:

      Hi Jen! So so glad you’ve enjoyed this recipe – it’s perfect for when you want a cozy recipe but also want to keep things plant-based!

  6. 11.1.20
    Becki said:

    Hey! I have had this recipe saved in my “want to try” list for a while…ever since fall and the whole pumpkin everything craze started. I can’t find roasted AND unsalted cashews in my area, not even at Walmart. Do they have to be roasted? Will the fact that they aren’t change the flavor too much? Or could I use the roasted and SALTED ones and take out the 2 teaspoons of salt instead?

    • 1.29.23
      M said:

      They sell them at Trader Joe’s. But if you can’t find them, use salted, omit the salt until the end and then add only as needed! 😉

      • 1.31.23
        Erin @ Plays Well With Butter said:

        Thanks for the tips Maria!

  7. 10.27.20
    B said:

    so easy…so yummy…so obviously there is no evidence after I make it. everyone gobbles this down.






    • 3.10.21
      Erin @ Plays Well With Butter said:

      Hi Bridget! So glad this was a hit, thank you for sharing!!!

  8. 10.5.20
    Sophie Marie said:

    This was SO easy and delicious. Thank you!






  9. 11.13.19
    Elizabeth said:

    Delicious and super garlicky! If garlic is not your thing, definitely dial it back.






    • 11.25.19
      jess said:

      We love garlic around here =) That’s a great call! xx