Vegan Jalapeño Skillet Mac and Cheese

Name: Skillet Jalapeño Mac & Cheese
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 17 min
Total time: 32 min
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups elbow or macaroni pasta (, about 6 ounces, Use gluten-free pasta for gf ); 2 ½ cups water or broth; 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder; 3/4 teaspoon onion powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon mellow miso, (use chickpea miso for Soyfree); 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning; 1 teaspoon prepared mustard; 2 teaspoons ketchup (or 1 teaspoon tomato paste ); 1/2 cup vegan sour cream (or vegan cream cheese or vegan yogurt or cashew cream (1/2 cup cashews blended with 3/4 cup water) ); 1 tablespoon vegan butter; 2 to 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast; 3/4 cup vegan cheese shreds (I usually use a mix of vegan mozzarella and vegan cheddar); 1/2 teaspoon paprika or smoked paprika; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 2 teaspoons tapioca starch (or cornstarch or other starch ); 1/2 cup water; Optional: Add in one cup of chopped small broccoli or other vegetables of choice.; 1/4 cup of sliced pickled jalapeño; 1 tablespoon of sliced fresh jalapeño

Published: Dec 29, 2022 · Modified: Mar 13, 2024 by Richa 29 Comments

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This Vegan Jalapeno Skillet Mac and Cheese is made in just 1 Skillet! No need for multiple pans! A 30 minute simple vegan spin on a family dinner favorite that is perfectly cheesy with a kick of heat from the added jalapenos. Options for gluten-free soyfree nutfree

a serving of vegan mac and cheese topped with jalapenos in a white bowl

Jalapeno Skillet Mac and Cheese in all its cheesy, salty and spicy glory! This is the ultimate vegan comfort food for a cold night and with this recipe, it comes together quicker and easier than one that needs to make the sauce and boil pasta separately!

overhead shot of a skillet of vegan jalapeno mac and cheese topped with jalapeno slices and shredded cheese

We make this dish in one skillet on the stovetop. Stovetop Pasta dishes like my Vegan Pesto Skillet Lasagna and my French Onion Skillet Lasagna are among my favorite dishes to make when life gets busy and I crave a comforting meal.

I love the spicy kick of the jalapenos to counterbalance the rich cheese sauce. However, if kids are eating with you, remove the seeds, or add less jalapenos or just to one side of the dish.

We want to bring on the flavor right from the beginning, starting with cooking the pasta in seasoned broth instead of plain water. If your pasta absorbs all the water while cooking, you might want to add a splash more of broth to bring the sauce together.

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a bowl of jalapeño mac and cheese topped with red pepper flakes

Why you will love this skillet Mac

It needs just 1 skillet
its easily made without gluten soy nuts
It’s quick comfort food
it takes just 25 mins

overhead shot of a skillet with vegan jalapeño mac and cheese

More Pasta Recipes and pasta casseroles:

Vegan Garlic Chili Oil Pasta with Smoky Pecans

Creamy Vegan Mushroom Pasta with Sundried Tomatoes

Vegan Mac And Cheese Taco Bake ; Mac Taco Casserole

Garlicky Korean Mac and Cheese with Gochujang

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5 from 18 votes

Skillet Jalapeño Mac & Cheese

Prep Time15

Cook Time17

Total Time32

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: pasta casserole

Servings: 4

Calories: 257kcal

Author: Vegan Richa

Ingredients

1 ½ cups (157.5 g) elbow or macaroni pasta , about 6 ounces, Use gluten-free pasta for gf
2 ½ cups (592 ml) water or broth
¾ teaspoon garlic powder
¾ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon mellow miso, use chickpea miso for Soyfree
½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon prepared mustard
2 teaspoons ketchup or 1 teaspoon tomato paste

To add later:

½ cup (113 g) vegan sour cream or vegan cream cheese or vegan yogurt or cashew cream (½ cup cashews blended with ¾ cup water)
1 tablespoon vegan butter
2 to 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
¾ cup (84 g) vegan cheese shreds I usually use a mix of vegan mozzarella and vegan cheddar
½ teaspoon paprika or smoked paprika
¼ teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoons tapioca starch or cornstarch or other starch
½ cup (120 ml) water
Optional: Add in one cup of chopped small broccoli or other vegetables of choice.

For the topping:

¼ cup of sliced pickled jalapeño
1 tablespoon of sliced fresh jalapeño

Instructions

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the water/broth, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, miso, mustard, ketchup, Italian seasoning and mix really well. Press and mix the miso into the broth. It will mix in as the broth starts to heat up.
Add in the dried pasta and mix well. Cover with a lid and cook for 11 to 15 minutes, depending on your skillet and the stove. Check at the 11 minute mark if the pasta is done and accordingly add more cooking time.
Once the pasta is cooked to preference, open the lid. Add in the nutritional yeast, vegan butter, vegan cream cheese or yogurt or sour cream or cashew cream and ½ cup of the cheese shreds. Add paprika and black pepper and mix well until the mixture is well incorporated. Now you can add in the broccoli or any other vegetable at this point.
Mix the tapioca starch into the ½ cup of water and then add to the skillet and continue to mix until the sauce starts bubbling and is a creamy mixture. Taste and adjust salt and flavor. Add more broth for saucier if it’s thickening too much
Even it out, top it with pickled jalapeño and fresh jalapeño and ¼ cup or the remaining vegan cheese shreds. Cover with a lid and reduce the heat to low and cook for a minute then switch it off. Let the skillet sit for another 1 to 2 minutes for the cheese to melt then open the lid and serve.
Store refrigerated for upto 3 days

Video

Notes

For variation: top the cooked Mac with some veggie crumbles( sauté the crumbles with a bit of chili powder until cooked to preference then top the Mac).
Or Top with some toasted breadcrumbs and Italian seasoning
Nutfree: use soy or coconut or oat based cream cheese or sour cream or yogurt
Cheese shreds Substitute – Use ¼ cup more cream cheese or cashew cream. Add 1-2 tablespoons more nutritional yeast.
Starch substitute: I use tapioca starch to add a bit of stringy ness like cheese. You can omit that and add ½ cup or more non dairy milk or cream instead .

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Skillet Jalapeño Mac & Cheese

Amount Per Serving

Calories 257 Calories from Fat 117

% Daily Value*

Fat 13g20%

Saturated Fat 5g31%

Sodium 636mg28%

Potassium 195mg6%

Carbohydrates 28g9%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 7g14%

Vitamin A 456IU9%

Vitamin C 0.5mg1%

Calcium 63mg6%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Did you make this recipe?Please do leave a comment and rating below.. Tag me on Instagram @veganricha

Ingredients:

elbow or macaroni pasta works best but penne can also be used
to bump up the umami and get that real savory cheese flavor we use a blend of nutritional yeast, mellow miso, mustard, garlic powder and onion powder
I like adding some Italian seasoning but if you don’t have that particular blend, just use oregano, dried rosemary and/or thyme – in equal parts or just use whatever herb you have
a small amount of ketchup adds sweetness
that perfect rich and creamy cheesy sauce is achieved with a combination of vegan cheese shreds, sour cream, butter and broth, all thickened with a small amount of tapioca starch
for that hint of smokiness to balance the richness, I add paprika or smoked paprika and black pepper
bulk it up with veggies: chopped small broccoli work here but any other vegetable will do
for the topping, use sliced pickled jalapeño and fresh jalapeño

Tips:

To make this gluten free use gluten free pasta
to make this soy-free use chickpea miso
For variation: top the cooked Mac with some veggie crumbles (sauté them with a bit of chili powder until cooked to preference then top the Mac). Or top with some toasted breadcrumbs and Italian seasoning
instead of vegan sour cream, you can use vegan cream cheese or vegan yogurt or cashew cream
I usually use a mix of vegan mozzarella and vegan cheddar for this to get a good mix of melt and sharpness

ingredients needed for making vegan stovetop mac and cheese

How to make Vegan Skillet Mac and Cheese

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the water/broth, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, miso, mustard, ketchup, Italian seasoning and mix really well. Press and mix the miso into the broth. It will mix in as the broth/water starts to heat up.

a skillet with broth and miso paste heating on the stove

elbow pasta being added to a skillet with seasoned broth

Add in the dried pasta and mix well. Cover with lid and cook for 11 to 15 minutes, depending on your skillet and the stove.

Check at the 11 minute mark if the pasta is done and accordingly add more cooking time.

Once the pasta is cooked to your preference, open the lid.

Add in the nutritional yeast, vegan butter, ½ cup of the vegan cream cheese, yogurt or sour cream or cashew cream and ½ cup of the cheese shreds, paprika, and black pepper and mix well until the mixture is well incorporated.

a skillet with cooked pasta and mac and cheese sauce ingredients

Now you can add in the broccoli or any other vegetable you want.

vegan skillet mac and cheese with vegetables

Mix the tapioca starch into the ½ cup of water and then add to the mix and continue to mix until the sauce starts bubbling and is a creamy cheese mixture.

jalapeno mac and cheese simmering in a green skillet with the lid on

Even it out, top it with pickled jalapeño and fresh jalapeño and ¼ cup or the remaining vegan cheese shreds. Cover with a lid and reduce the heat to low and cook for a minute then switch it off.

Let the skillet sit for another 1 to 2 minutes for the cheese to melt then open the lid and serve.

a skillet with vegan jalapeno mac and cheese

Store: refrigerate in a closed container for upto 3 days

Vegan Jalapeño Skillet Mac and Cheese