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    Home / Recipes / Vegan Entrees

    Vegan Chili Mac

    Published: Dec 29, 2021 · Modified: Jul 3, 2022 by Kathy Carmichael · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Vegan Chili Mac Recipe

    What child doesn't LOVE Chili Mac? Parents face the daily challenge of providing healthy food for their kids and making foods their kids eat. Despite efforts to feed our kids healthy food, the availability of junk food is a daily struggle. Our schools are full of vending machines packed with junk food. Teaching our kids how to eat and what to eat is our responsibility as parents. So, I took my favorite chili mac recipe and turned it into vegan chili mac. 

    When I transitioned my family to a plant-based diet, I struggled to get everyone on board. Regardless of how old your children are, if they have been introduced to processed foods, the switch may not be as easy as you think.

    In fact, at one point, your kids might refuse to eat! But it won't last long, and you are stronger than they are. The key, however, is to stay strong and be consistent, and the transition will go as smoothly as you hope it will, I promise. What is my secret? I started organizing a list of the foods my family love, and luckily, the transition was easier than I imagined. For example, my first 'veganzied' creation, vegan chili mac, was my first family success!

    Feeding our children real food and teaching them how to eat is our job! 

    So, let's be honest. Kraft Macaroni and Cheese are junk. Yes, I said it. And it contains no nutritional value, nor does any other store-bought macaroni and cheese. Despite the labels and claims that milk "does a body good," we all know differently. Instead, milk and other dairy products are poison, but kids are kids, and they like what they like. 

    So, the goal is to make our kids food they love just as much as the foods we inadvertently introduced them to when they were little.

    And, I am guilty of this as well.

    Instead of focusing on guilt and "I wish I would have fed my kids better food," we need to move forward and teach our children the value of whole quality foods that tastes better than the junk food they have learned to love.

    Kids don't drive themselves through the drive-thru!

    Although parents are all busy at work, carpooling to sports, and other activities, stop making excuses about not having time to cook quality food for your family. Skip the drive-through and the boxed meals.

    Instead, meals like Vegan Chili Mac can be made ahead of time, except the noodles, so when you get home from football or your child's sporting events during the school year, you can easily throw vegan chili mac together in 15 minutes or less.

    However, meal prepping is the key to providing quality meals ready in a hurry. 

    The secret to vegan chili is vegan cheese sauce.

    vegan nacho cheese sauce poured

    One of my favorite creations is my Vegan Cheese Sauce. Not only is it oil-free, but I use  Vegan Cheese Sauce for a variety of recipes by simply adding or deleting some simple ingredients. For example, I use this sauce for:

    • The Best Ultimate Vegan Lentil Black Bean Burrito Ever
    • Cheesy Spinach Artichoke Dip Fat-Free and Fabulous
    • Chili Cheese Dip
    • Mustard Cheese Dip
    • Tater Tot Nachos
    • Vegan Guilt-Free Potato Nachos; A Game Day Treat!
    • Buffalo Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
    • Mexican Lasagna
    • Cauliflower Nachos
    • Healthy Mac and Cheese

    As a result, you can make one batch of sauce and use it for various recipes throughout the week. 

    SO, WHAT'S IN THIS OIL-FREE NACHO CHEESE SAUCE? ONLY VEGETABLES, BELIEVE IT OR NOT!

    Nacho cheese

    "CHEESY" SAUCE

    • Idaho potatoes, washed, scrubbed, skin left on
    • Carrots
    • Nutritional yeast
    • Lemon juice
    • Onion powder
    • Garlic powder
    • Paprika
    • Vegetable broth
    • Tamari, liquid aminos or soy sauce
    • Jalapeno
    • Hot sauce (I used Chalupa)
    • Water

    And, it's easy to make! 

    • Wash three averaged sized potatoes; cut into large chunks (leave skins on potatoes)
    • Clean and cut three large carrots and chop them the same size as potatoes
    • Place in a pot and cover with water
    • Add a few sprinkles of salt to the water
    • Boil for 20 minutes
    • While potatoes are boiling, put the vegetable broth, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, jalapeno, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, hot sauce, and soy sauce in a blender.
    • Drain potatoes and carrots
    • Put potatoes and carrots into a blender; blend until smooth
    • The mixture will be thick; add water
    • Transfer 'cheese' mixture into a medium-sized saucepan

    VARIATIONS AND WAYS TO MAKE IT MILD OR MAKE IT SPICIER

    • Add a can of Rotel tomatoes (do not blend) for a nacho cheese dip
    • Remove Jalapeño and hot sauce and add a Tablespoon of liquid smoke for a smokey cheese sauce
    • Like it a little hotter? Add an adobe chili pepper

    I use the sauce on top of grilled fajita burritos, or you can serve with chips, or on top of a potato, broccoli, or anything else you like spicy and cheesy.

    How to make vegan chili

    butternut squash chili cooking

    To make vegan chili mac, I use one of my favorite Vegan Chili Recipes!

    Regardless of what vegan chili recipe you choose, it works excellent as a second meal using leftovers to top your mac and cheese.

    For instance, any chili recipe can be made ahead of time and used for the top vegan chili mac. 

    • Vegan Chili Recipe
    • White Bean Chili
    • Crockpot Butternut Squash Pinto Bean Chili
    • Three-Bean Mega Veggie Chili
    • Coney Chili Sauce The Real Deal

    butternut squasah chili recipe

    MAKE-AHEAD CHILI:

    • Cooked lentils
    • Meur Glen Organic Tomato Sauce
    • Fire-Roasted Tomatoes
    • White onion
    • Red pepper
    • Black beans
    • Garlic, minced
    • Jalapeno, seeded and diced (leave out if you don't like a little spice)
    • Vegan chili seasoning

    Not only can you top the macaroni off with chili, but you can also add some tortilla chips for a bit of crunch!

    If you have extra noodles, keep them separate from the cheese sauce. You should reheat items separately for the best leftovers.

    Vegan Chili Mac Recipe

    Are you looking for kid-friendly recipes the whole family loves? 

    • Crunch Wrap Supreme Recipe
    • Vegan Oil-Free Lentil Tacos
    • Vegan Hungarian Goulash
    • Oil-Free Vegetable No Fried Rice
    • Cashew Miso Mac and Cheese Topped with Coconut Bacon
    • Baked Tater Tots
    • Tater Tot Nachos
    • Vegan Coney Chili Sauce.The Real Deal
    • Creamy Spicy Vegan Sausage Pasta
    • Beet Burger
    • BBQ Cauliflower
    • Vegan Sloppy Joes
    • Vegan Macaroni Salad
    • Vegan Corn Dogs
    • Carrot Dogs Recipe
    Vegan Chili Mac Recipe

    Vegan Chili Mac

    Kathy Carmichael
    If the kids love it, then I love it! Try some vegan chili mac to get them to eat their veggies.
    4.50 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 45 mins
    Course Entrees
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 196 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    Make ahead chili:

    • 2 bags Beyond Meat Crumbles pea protein; or 2 cups cooked lentils
    • 2 cans Meur Glen Organic Tomato Sauce
    • 1 can Roasted Tomatoes
    • 1 large white onion diced
    • 1 red pepper diced
    • 2 cans black beans drained and rinsed
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • 1 jalapeno seeded and diced (leave out if you don't like a little spice)
    • 1 package vegan chili seasoning

    Oil-Free Nacho Cheese Sauce

    • 1 recipe Oil-free nacho cheese sauce

    Instructions
     

    Prepare the Chili: 

    • Saute garlic and onions in a large skillet
    • 2 cups cooked lentils
    • Add all other ingredients, simmer
    • Chili is best when it sits for a while, so making it ahead is perfect.
    • Put it in an airtight container and let it marry in the refrigerator while you are at the game

    Cheese Sauce:

    • Wash three averaged sized potatoes; cut into large chunks (leave skins on potatoes)
    • Clean and cut three large carrots and chop them the same size as potatoes
      Cover in water
    • Boil for 20 minutes
    • While potatoes are boiling, put the vegetable broth, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, jalapeno, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, hot sauce, and soy sauce in a blender
    • Drain potatoes and carrots
    • Put potatoes and carrots into a blender; blend until smooth
    • The mixture will be thick; add water
    • Transfer ‘cheese’ mixture into a medium-sized saucepan or refrigerate if you are using later

    Putting it together:

    • Heat Chili in a separate pan from the 'cheese' sauce.
    • Cook choice noodles according to directions
    • When noodles are done, drain and rinse
    • Return drained noodles to pan; add cheese sauce (only half) This makes a lot, so you only need half. You can use the other cheese sauce for something else
    • Toss macaroni until covered in sauce

    Notes

    VARIATIONS AND WAYS TO MAKE VEGAN CHEESE SAUCE MILD OR MAKE IT SPICIER

    1. Add a can of Rotel tomatoes (do not blend) for a nacho cheese dip
    2. Remove Jalapeño and hot sauce and add a Tablespoon of liquid smoke for a smokey cheese sauce
    3. Like it a little hotter? Add an adobe chili pepper
    4. I use the sauce on top of grilled fajita burritos, or you can serve with chips, or on top of a potato, broccoli, or anything else you like spicy and cheesy.

    Tips

    1. If you have extra noodles, keep them separate from the cheese sauce. You should reheat items separately for the best leftovers.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 196kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 11gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0.2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 0.01mgSodium: 1185mgPotassium: 1052mgFiber: 12gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 1990IUVitamin C: 47mgCalcium: 83mgIron: 4mg
    Tried our recipe?Let us know how it was!
    Kathy Carmichael

    Hi! My name is Kathy, I am a retired high school English teacher & vegan enthusiast and blogger. My entire blog is fully plant-based vegan. I truly believe what we eat & how we live determines our health & the preservation of our planet! 🙂

    www.kathysvegankitchen.com/about-me/

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    Comments

    1. Anonymous

      April 10, 2020 at 4:13 pm

      5 stars

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