Vegan Mac & Cheese Bites
Prep time: 10 mins | Cook time: 30 mins |Total time: 40 mins | Servings: 12
Most people love a good Macaroni and cheese. You may like it baked, you may like it stovetop or you don’t have a particular preference, just as long as it’s good Mac and cheese.
For these Mac and cheese bites, I thought about the holidays. Macaroni and cheese is a popular dish during this time and I see so many incredible macaroni and cheese recipes. But, when it comes to my creative thought process, I thought “hey, when do I ever see something fun like macaroni and cheese bites? Rarely or never. These Mac and cheese bites are a fun and experimental way to eat one of your favorite holiday dishes or just to have as a snack. They’re also gluten-free and nut-free.
Ingredients
2 cups elbow macaroni
1 can (13.5oz) coconut cream or coconut milk
1 cup vegan cheddar cheese, shredded
1 cup vegan mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 tbsp salt, divided
1 tsp black pepper
Cooking spray
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F (175ºC)
Cook Macaroni: Bring a pot of water to a boil. Cook the elbow macaroni according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
Make Cheese Sauce: In a separate saucepan over low heat, combine coconut cream or coconut milk with the vegan cheddar and mozzarella. Stir continuously until melted and smooth. Add in nutritional yeast, smoked paprika, garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon of salt and black pepper to taste. Adjust seasoning as needed.
Combine Macaroni and Cheese Sauce: Pour the cheese sauce over the cooked macaroni. Stir well to coat the macaroni evenly.
Prepare Muffin Tin: Spray a muffin tin with cooking spray or use a silicone muffin tin to avoid sticking.
Fill Muffin Tin: Spoon the macaroni and cheese mixture into each muffin tin slow, filling them to the top. Optional: Sprinkle additional vegan cheddar shreds on top of each bite.
Bake: Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for about 30 minutes or until the tops turn golden brown.
Cool: Allow the mac and cheese bites to cool in the muffin tin for about 10-15 minutes. This will help them set and hold their shape.
Serve: Carefully remove the bites from the muffin tin and serve. Enjoy our delicious vegan mac and cheese bites!
