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Bowl of vegan pumpkin mac and cheese topped with herbs

15-Minute Creamy Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese

This 15-Minute Creamy Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese is a quick, comforting, and flavorful dish featuring a rich pumpkin-cashew sauce with warm spices, perfect for a cozy vegan meal.

  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound DeLallo shells pasta (or other short pasta)
  • 1/2 cup roasted, unsalted whole cashews
  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin purée (not pie filling)
  • 1/3 cup nutritional yeast
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon allspice
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • Optional: fresh herbs (parsley or basil), vegan cheese, steamed vegetables (spinach, broccoli, peas)

Instructions

  1. Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook to al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 2 cups of pasta water, drain, and return pasta to the pot.
  2. Blend the Sauce: In a high-speed blender, combine cashews, almond milk, pumpkin purée, nutritional yeast, garlic, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, cayenne, kosher salt, and black pepper. Blend until smooth and creamy, 1-2 minutes.
  3. Assemble: Pour pumpkin cashew cream sauce over cooked pasta in the pot. Stir to coat evenly. Add reserved pasta water gradually if the sauce is too thick.
  4. Serve: Dish into bowls and garnish with fresh herbs or optional toppings. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Notes

  • Nut-Free: Replace cashews with sunflower seeds or silken tofu for creaminess.
  • Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free pasta.
  • Quick Prep: Use pre-chopped garlic or store-bought pumpkin-cashew sauce to save time.
  • Adjust seasonings to taste, especially cayenne for spiciness.
  • Author: Mia
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Boiling and Blending
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cup
  • Calories: 350
  • Sugar: 4g
  • Sodium: 520mg
  • Fat: 15g
  • Saturated Fat: 2g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 13g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 45g
  • Fiber: 6g
  • Protein: 11g
  • Cholesterol: 0mg

Keywords: vegan pumpkin mac and cheese, quick vegan pasta, creamy pumpkin pasta, dairy-free mac and cheese, 15-minute vegan meal