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    Home » Recipes » Vegan Recipes

    Vegan Pressure Cooker Cheesy Macaroni

    Published: Sep 8, 2019 · Modified: May 12, 2023 by Dianne · This post may contain affiliate links

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    Ooey-gooey dairy-free Cheesy Macaroni is on the table in less than half an hour when you make it in your pressure cooker. Heather Nicholds shows you how in this super easy nondairy recipe from The Vegan Electric Pressure Cooker Cookbook. Vegan mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food dinner.

    Bowls of Cheesy Macaroni overhead with text overlay

    Electric Pressure Cookers

    Using an electric pressure cooker can be complicated. I have an Instant Pot, and I don’t even bother trying to come up with my own recipes for it. I never know how long things need to cook, what kind of pressure foods require, or what type of release I should use. Since I rely on recipes from others when using it, I’m pretty excited about Heather Nichold’s new book The Vegan Electric Pressure Cooker Cookbook.

    Instant Pot

    The Vegan Electric Pressure Cooker Cookbook

    In The Vegan Electric Pressure Cooker Cookbook, Heather demystifies these strange kitchen gadgets. She explains how they work, what all of the gizmos they contain do, and what all the buttons are for. Heather also explains the basics, making it easy to know what type of pressure to use to cook different foods. A kitchen safety guide is included, and misconceptions are debunked, too.

    The Vegan Electric Pressure Cooker Cookbook by Heather Nicholds

    The Recipes

    The recipes in The Vegan Electric Pressure Cooker Cookbook are easy to make and use just 5 core ingredients. Ingredients that are found in just about any kitchen, such as salt, water, oil, vinegar, and dried spices aren’t counted as core ingredients. Most of the recipes are budget-friendly and use whole foods that can be found in just about any grocery store.

    close up of vegan macaroni and cheese

    The recipes are organized according to what type of food they are. So, there’s a chapter dedicated to grains, one for beans, another for pastas, and so on. The dishes will get you from breakfast and lunch all the way through dinner and dessert. No one will be able to resist delicious dishes such as Thai Coconut-Chickpea Stew, Creamy Mushroom Rigatoni, or Fudgy Brownies!

    Snacks and drinks are also included, and recipes such as Spinach-Artichoke Dip, Spicy Potato Bites with Avocado Dip, and White Bean Crostini are easy to make when the munchies strike. Heather also includes recipes for vegan basics, such as Tofu Feta, Steel-Cut Oat Milk, and Lentil Bolognese Sauce.

    Bowls of Cheesy Macaroni with The Vegan Electric Pressure Cooker Cookbook

    Chapters in The Vegan Electric Pressure Cooker Cookbook Include:

    • The Basics of Electric Pressure Cooking
    • Get Going with Grains
    • Basic Beans and Legumes
    • Soups, Stews, and Chilis
    • Pasta Perfection
    • For the Love of Veggies
    • Holidays and Social Gatherings
    • Piece of Cake Desserts
    pasta, potatoes, carrots, nutritional yeast

    Cheesy Macaroni

    When I get a new cookbook, I usually gravitate to the mac and cheese recipe first. I was excited about trying Heather’s Cheesy Macaroni recipe, because I had never even considered making a dish like this in my Instant Pot before. It’s ridiculously easy to make!

    vegetables in steamer basket

    To make vegan mac and cheese, you just place the pasta and cooking water in the bottom off your pressure cooker and then place the carrots and potatoes that become the “cheese” sauce in a steamer basket on a trivet above the pasta. It cooks on high pressure for 5 minutes and uses a quick release.

    Blending cheesy sauce in blender

    To make the sauce, you add the place the potatoes and carrots in your blender along with a few other ingredients, give it a good whirl, and dinner is ready!

    close up of vegan macaroni and cheese

    You can cook the macaroni on your stovetop and use your pressure cooker for the sauce ingredients if you don't have a steamer basket.

    If you have an electric pressure cooker and are looking for easy-to-make healthy recipes, you need The Vegan Electric Pressure Cooker Cookbook!

    bowls of Cheesy Macaroni with broccoli overhead
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    Cheesy Macaroni with broccoli square

    Cheesy Macaroni

    Heather Nicholds
    This recipe uses the pot-in-pot method to make an ooey-gooey macaroni with vegan cheese sauce. If you don’t have a steamer, you can cook the macaroni on the stove as per the package directions.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 5 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 501 kcal

    Equipment

    • Electric Pressure Cooker

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 pound macaroni or other small pasta
    • 5 ½ cups water divided
    • ½ to 1 teaspoon salt plus more as needed
    • 2 yellow potatoes or red potatoes peeled and cut into chunks
    • 2 carrots scrubbed or peeled and cut into chunks (of similar size to the potatoes)
    • ½ cup nondairy milk
    • ¼ cup nutritional yeast
    • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
    • 2 teaspoons onion powder
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • Pinch red pepper flakes or cayenne (optional)

    Instructions
     

    • In your electric pressure cooker’s cooking pot, combine the macaroni, 4 cups of water, and a pinch of salt.
    • Place a trivet in the pot and put the potatoes and carrots in a steaming basket on top of the trivet. Close and lock the lid and ensure the pressure valve is sealed, then select High Pressure and set the time for 5 minutes.
    • Once the cook time is complete, quick release the pressure, being careful not to get your fingers or face near the steam release.
    • Once all the pressure has released, remove the lid and carefully pull out the steaming basket with the potatoes and carrots. Transfer to a blender and add the milk, remaining 1 ½ cups of water, salt, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, onion powder, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes (if using). Purée until smooth. Stir the cheese sauce into the macaroni. Taste and season with more salt or other seasonings, if needed.

    Notes

    Ingredient tip: To get the texture of gooey cheese, use a waxy potato, such as red, yellow, or Yukon gold instead of a starchy russet or baking potato.
    Recipe reprinted with permission from The Vegan Electric Pressure Cooker Cookbook by Heather Nicholds.
    Calories: 501kcal
    Tried this recipe?Tag @diannewenz on Instagram!
    Cheesy Macaroni with broccoli square

    If you enjoyed this recipe, you might also like:

    •  
    • Vegan Broccoli with Cheese Sauce
    • Pumpkin Pasta Carbonara 
    • Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
    • Cheesy Primavera Mac
    Cheesy Primavera Mac from Vegan Mac and Cheese
    « Apple-Pecan Tempeh Salad
    Chickpea Salad Sandwiches »

    About Dianne

    Dianne Wenz is a Certified Holistic Health Coach, Vegan Lifestyle Coach, Plant-Based Diet Nutrition Specialist, and Plant-Based Chef, as well as the author of Truly Healthy Vegan Cookbook.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lydia Claire

      September 09, 2019 at 2:20 am

      I'm still learning to use my pressure cooker so for now it's artichokes!

    2. JoAnn M Lakes

      September 09, 2019 at 2:58 pm

      5 stars
      Chili is my favorite but I love the IP for rice, beans, potatoes, yogurt, a bunch of staples, and meetup potluck meals.

    3. Corrine

      September 09, 2019 at 3:52 pm

      It's been a while since I've used my pressure cooker but I loved making a soup with veggies and beans!

    4. Brandie

      September 09, 2019 at 10:04 pm

      It’s amazing everything you can cook in the instant pot. This Mac n cheese looks delicious.

    5. Susan

      September 10, 2019 at 5:36 am

      I love batch cooking beans, rice and making soup in my pressure cooker. This recipe looks good.

    6. Karen D

      September 11, 2019 at 8:27 am

      I like it for dried beans. No need to soak, and beans can be used so many ways!

    7. Alocasia

      September 12, 2019 at 12:12 am

      What steamer basket are you using in the IP? I'm wondering how it's sitting so high in the inner pot. Looking forward to making this tonight. Thanks.

    8. Dianne

      September 12, 2019 at 12:29 pm

      It's just a standard steamer basket that I usually use in pots to steam vegetables. I had propped it up a little so that it would show in the photo.

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    Hi! I'm Dianne Wenz, a Board-Certified Health Vegan Health and Lifestyle Coach. I empower my clients to build new habits so they can reach their healthy living goals. I love to show others how easy it is to live a vegan lifestyle as well as how to cook deliciously easy plant-based meals. Contact me today to learn more and to schedule a complimentary breakthrough session!

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