One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese
This One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese is entirely vegan, gluten free and ready on the table in 20 minutes. A fantastic meal prep and family lunch or dinner.
We all need and want things easy as they get. You know I have a thing for all these one pot meals like this Moroccan Chickpea Lentil Soup (Harira) or my Vegetarian White Chili.
Which is ready in 25 minutes and naturally vegan and gluten free.
If you're looking for more easy recipes like these, look no further and use the search bar. There are many more delicious recipes coming right up for you.
Let's keep things easy and make this One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese.
It's cheesy, creamy, flavorful in and out, comforting, addictive, time saving, made in one pot.
Always exciting by adding your favorite optional add ons.
What is chili mac
Chili mac is typically made with a lot of cheese and often you can find ground beef.
The sauce is made with butter, cheese, and cream. Obviously something like this is not plant based or dairy free.
I do something different. Using cashew milk instead of cream as I found out this plant based milk comes really close in taste to the real deal.
I also tried this recipe with almond or soy milk but I find only cashew milk really delivers the desired taste.
Whenever you can, go for cashew milk. Instead of cheese, we simply use nutritional yeast for a bold cheesy flavor.
How to make Chili Mac and Cheese
This isn't just a chili mac it's a One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese. So it's truly super easy and straightforward to make.
First you will need a pot large enough so that you can cook all the ingredients in it. A smaller one won't work in this case.
In this large pot heat a bit of oil or vegetable broth for oil free cooking. Add minced garlic and the optional onions and bell pepper.
Fry everything for around 2 minutes.
Now add 3 cups uncooked macaroni pasta, followed by enchilada sauce, vegetable broth, and nutritional yeast. Season with salt and pepper.
Also now is the time to add the optional seasonings like Italian seasoning, chili powder, or cumin. Mix well and cook everything for 10 minutes.
Last add the optional black or kidney beans and finish with the cashew milk. Cook for 5 minutes longer.
It's all done now. Serve on plates or in bowls, and enjoy.
This One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese makes an amazing and super easy to make dinner or lunch. In no time the whole family will love it.
Also it's an amazing meal preparation option for work lunches that you can make ahead of time.
Best mac and cheese
I have to admit of all these mac and cheese recipes that I have created, like this Garlic Brussels Sprouts Mac and Cheese or Cauliflower Mac & Cheese, I love this one best.
Truly they are all my and your favorites. I make them all the time.
This One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese stands out in preparation wise. It doesn't get any easier than this.
If you give this One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese a try, tag me on Instagram and Facebook with a picture.
Love seeing all your remakes.
Cheers, Florian.
One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese
This One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese is entirely vegan, gluten free and ready on the table in 20 minutes. A fantastic meal prep and family lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
- 3 cups dried elbow macaroni (12 oz) (I used gf)
- 5 cups enchilada sauce
- 2 ½ cups vegetable broth
- ¾ cup cashew milk
- ½ cup nutritional yeast
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- salt, pepper to taste
Optional add ons:
- 4 teaspoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 cup bell pepper, chopped
- ¾ cup onions
- 1 cup kidney or black beans, drained
Instructions
- You will need a pot large enough so that you can cook all the ingredients in it. A smaller one won’t work in this case
- In this large pot heat a bit of oil or vegetable broth for oil free cooking. Add minced garlic and the optional onions and bell pepper. Fry everything for around 2 minutes.
- Now add 3 cups uncooked macaroni pasta, followed by enchilada sauce, vegetable broth, and nutritional yeast. Season with salt and pepper.
- Also now is the time to add the optional seasonings like Italian seasoning, chili powder, or cumin. Mix well and cook everything for 10 minutes.
- Last add the optional black or kidney beans and finish with the cashew milk. Bring to boil, turn down to medium heat and cook for 5 minutes longer.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 2.5 cupsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 396Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 842mgCarbohydrates: 79gFiber: 8gSugar: 14gProtein: 15g
Hi! Looking forward to making this tonight. But, I don't have the nutritional yeast (we do eat dairy). Think it's ok to sub regular cheese? Thanks!
Hi Amelia! Feel free to use regular cheese.
Great flavor! Mine was not the color of yours pictured. With the enchilada sauce, mine was the color of the red sauce. How did yours come out with a cheesy color?
Hi Melany! I made it all the time and it came out each time that way. I guess it could be the enchilada sauce which leads to a different result. Hope that helps.
Hi! I made this and it was absolutely amazing! Some notes:
•I used extra creamy oat milk and it turned out perfect
•used an entire 16oz box of elbow noodles
•used a 28oz can of red enchilada sauce
•my boyfriend put actual shredded cheese in his bowl
Just wanted to add notes to help other people who might not have exactly what the list calls for. We both loved it and will definitely make again 🙂
Made this last night but I reduced the amount of sauce and added more Nutritional Yeast. It was really tasty, thank you sharing your recipe. Can’t wait to eat the left overs from last night.
What do you cook this on medium? Bring to boil first?
Hi Mellie, yes first bring all to a boil and then reduce heat to medium. Cheers!
What is the enchilada sauce made out of?
Hi Kelly! Feel free to use any enchilada sauce that you like. Otherwise I have an amazing enchilada sauce but you will need a double batch :https://staging.contentednesscooking.com/enchilada-sauce/. Hope that helps.
One of my favorite meals and feeds me and my partner for many meals! Incredibly yummy. I use almond milk vs cashew as it’s more easily accessible. Otherwise, I’ve made it exactly as above and with green enchilada sauce and my partner adds real cheese to his. Highly recommend this recipe 🙂
This is my favorite homemade vegan dish I’ve come across so far! I make it with chickpea pasta and usually soy milk instead of cashew. This last time I made it with cashew milk but didn’t really notice a difference in taste & I use soy milk regularly so probably would not go out of my way to buy cashew milk again. Thanks for the delicious recipe!
This is honestly a home run! Holds up well in the fridge for delish leftovers. I didn’t have 5 cups of enchilada sauce only 2, so I subbed the remainder 3 with diced fire roasted tomatoes and it was so amazing.
Could you update the recipe instructions to include the cooking heat? I had this same question. Thanks!
Hi Matt! Thanks for pointing out. I updated the instructions, enjoy.
I Love the fact that you use Enchilada sauce! Genius! I always jump to recipe first and then decide if I want to make it. I am definitely going to make this.
Thanks, Heather! Let me know how it turns out, enjoy.
ok...yum! This was so good! The whole family loved it! And it only dirties one pot!? Love it!
Thanks a bunch for your amazing feedback and making it, Dulce! Happy to hear it was such a big hit with your family. I hope you'll find lots of more recipes to try.
My omni family would love this! They already really enjoy chili mac so I'm excited to bring a vegan version to them 🙂
Enjoy, Lea! it is really delicious and one of my favorites. Let me know what you think. 😊
I've made this before and it's GREAT! I had an idea today.. think I could freeze it in a foil pan, and bake it later? I imagine pop it in the oven straight from the freezer at 350 for an hourish.....wish me luck!
Hi Jesse! That should be ok. Would you mind leaving a star rating with your review? Your experience is so helpful for other readers.Thanks so much.
Have you tried freezing this? Have a lot left over and just wondering how it will hold up….
H Devon! I haven't tried that (it disappears so fast. 😋) but I would say why not. Let me know what you think.