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No-Boil Vegan Pumpkin Mac & Cheese in white casserole dish, on marble counter surrounded by pumpkins and rosemary
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Baked Vegan Pumpkin Mac & Cheese

This No-Boil Baked Pumpkin Mac & Cheese with Sourdough Rosemary Breadcrumbs is the perfect fall comfort food! An upgraded mac & cheese with a seasonal touch!
Course Main
Cuisine American
Diet Vegan
Method Oven
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 609kcal
Author Caitlin Shoemaker

Ingredients

For the Pumpkin Cream Sauce:

For the Pasta:

  • 12 ounces pasta, gluten-free if necessary*
  • 1 shallot finely diced
  • 2 cups diced pumpkin; see notes for substitutions

For the Breadcrumbs:

Instructions

  • Prep: preheat the oven to 425F and set a 9×13″ casserole pan aside.
  • Blend: add the soaked and drained cashews, pumpkin puree, garlic, olive oil, nutritional yeast, nutmeg, salt, and water to a high-speed blender. Blend on high for 45-60 seconds, until the cashews completely dissolve and you are left with a smooth and creamy sauce.
  • Mix: add the pasta, pumpkin, and shallot to the casserole dish and mix until evenly distributed. Pour the sauce over the casserole, then use a spatula or spoon to press everything down evenly into the sauce, especially the pasta noodles.
  • Bake: Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil (or parchment paper, followed by aluminum foil) and bake in the middle rack of the oven for 45 minutes.
  • Breadcrumbs: place the sourdough on separate baking tray and bake alongside the casserole for 10-20 minutes, until dry and golden; bake time will depend on the size of your bread. Roughly break up the bread with your hands, then transfer it to a food processor along with the chopped rosemary, salt, and pepper to taste. Pulse until a fine but crumbly texture forms. Drizzle the oil over the breadcrumbs, then pulse again until evenly distributed. Transfer the breadcrumbs to a small bowl and set aside.
  • Make it Crispy: after 45 minutes, remove the casserole dish from the oven and stir well to evenly distribute the sauce. Cover the pasta evenly with breadcrumbs, then return to the oven and bake for an additional 7-10 minutes. (See notes for cooking time without breadcrumbs)
  • Serve + Store: serve warm; leftovers can be stored in the fridge and are best eaten within 5 days

Notes

  • Cashews: If you forget to soak your cashews ahead of time, you can (1) cover them in boiling water and let sit for 20 minutes, or (2) cover them with water and microwave for 3 minutes, then let sit for 3-5 minutes before draining.
  • Pasta: I recommend using short pasta shapes (as opposed to noodles) for this recipe. If you are using gluten-free pasta, corn & rice varieties tend to hold up better without breaking.
  • Pumpkin: cubed pumpkin can be replaced with peeled sweet potato, butternut squash, or kabocha squash.
  • No Breadcrumbs: bake the casserole for 45 min only, but let sit 5 minutes covered before mixing and serving
  • Oil-Free: you can omit the oil from the sauce if you'd like, but it will not be as smooth. Same with the breadcrumbs; they will not get as golden, but will still be tasty!

Nutrition

Calories: 609kcal | Carbohydrates: 99g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Sodium: 1146mg | Potassium: 772mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 15396IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 4mg