Microwave Vegan Mac and Cheese (Quick and Easy)

This microwave vegan mac and cheese is designed for the days when you want one comforting bowl without a saucepan or a long ingredient list. The butternut squash makes the sauce creamier, while nutritional yeast, mustard and garlic give it a savoury flavour.

Microwave vegan mac and cheese at a glance

• Serves: 2 small portions
• Preparation: about 10 minutes
• Cooking: about 10 minutes, depending on your microwave and pasta
• Equipment: a large microwave-safe bowl, a second small bowl and a colander

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup elbow macaroni
• 2 tablespoons vegan butter
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened plant milk
• 1 tablespoon plain butternut squash purée or baby food
• 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• Chopped parsley, optional

Method

1. Put the macaroni in an oversized microwave-safe bowl and cover it generously with water. Leave plenty of empty space because pasta water can foam and overflow.
2. Microwave for 5 minutes. Stir carefully, check the water level and continue in shorter bursts until the pasta is tender. The original method takes about another 5 minutes, but microwave power and pasta shapes vary.
3. Meanwhile, put the vegan butter in a second microwave-safe bowl and heat for about 20 seconds, or just until melted.
4. Stir in the plant milk, butternut squash, nutritional yeast and seasonings until smooth.
5. Drain the pasta carefully, watching for hot steam, then stir it into the sauce. Taste and adjust the seasoning before serving.

Simple swaps and fixes

If the sauce is too thick, add plant milk one teaspoon at a time. If it is thin, add a little more nutritional yeast and let the bowl stand for a minute. Pumpkin or sweet-potato purée can work in place of butternut squash, although the flavour will change. Use gluten-free pasta if needed, following its package timing and checking it frequently.

For the best texture, eat this straight away. Leftovers can be refrigerated in a covered container and reheated with a splash of plant milk. Never seal a container while microwaving, and always follow the safety instructions for your appliance and cookware.