Ultimate Tomato Mac and Cheese Recipe
This Tomato Mac and Cheese recipe combines a rich, creamy tomato sauce, zesty garlic, red onion, and colorful orange and red bell peppers with bursts of fresh peas and tangy cilantro for a dish you can’t resist. Sprinkle this vegan macaroni recipe with nutritional yeast, then top with green or black olives and serve with a crusty side of garlic toast for a perfect, hearty meal.
Hello hungry friends! I’m so excited to share this recipe with you today. It’s an adaptation from my favorite vegan cookbook, Vegan Bowls for Vegan Souls, and I’ve got to say it’s got to be the teacher’s pet of all vegan pasta recipes. Oh wait, there’s another that deserves a mention, my Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese Bake.
Ingredients for Tomato Mac and Cheese
Most importantly, this Vegan Macaroni starts with elbow macaroni, cooked al dente for 7 minutes. You can actually use any shape pasta you want, but I chose to keep it traditional here with the classic elbow shape. The rest of the ingredients are simple. Check them out below:
- Organic tomato sauce – I used Dave’s Gourmet Organic Roasted Garlic & Sweet Basil Pasta Sauce but if you’re feeling energetic, make your own using my simple Vegan Tomato Sauce recipe.
- Olive oil – or use veggie broth to make it oil-free and whole-food-plant-based
- Fresh garlic – minced
- Red onion – diced
- Red and orange bell pepper – seeded and chopped
- Frozen peas – keep frozen until cooking time
- Chopped cilantro – a handful or more to your liking
- Nutritional yeast – optional but adds vitamins and gives it a cheesy flavor
- Sea salt and pepper – to taste
How to Make Tomato Mac and Cheese
- Step One – Cook and drain your pasta.
- Step Two – While pasta is cooking, saute garlic, onion, bell pepper in olive oil in large wok or fry pan. Don’t forget your peas.
- Step Three – Add the cooked macaroni to the pan of veggies, then pour the sauce on top and stir thoroughly. Allow to simmer for 5-10 minutes.
- Step Four – Turn off the heat, add the cilantro and cover allowing the cilantro to wilt.
- Step Five – Add the nutritional yeast and stir thoroughly.
Finally, scoop into coconut bowls, sprinkle with nutritional yeast and enjoy with a side of olives and warm, toasty bread.
Besides being so flavorful, this recipe makes a huge pot of Tomato Macaroni and Cheese. If you have a big family, it’s the perfect recipe to try. If you’re like me and just cooking for yourself and your partner, you’ll have left overs for a couple of days. I like to divide the entire pot into single-serving containers and heat it up as I get hungry.
This vegan macaroni is:
- Hearty
- Cheesy (if you add nutritional yeast)
- Filling
- Flavorful
And one of the best things about this recipe: you can add whatever veggies you have left over in the fridge. You don’t have to use the ones I used! Be creative, the sky’s the limit.
Have you tried this? Why not leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter, and sign up for my newsletter!
Ultimate Tomato Mac and Cheese Recipe
Ingredients
- 16 oz elbow macaroni I used Barillo
- 1 tbsp olive oil for oil-free use 1/4 cup vegetable broth
- 1 medium red onion diced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 medium red bell pepper diced
- 1 medium orange bell pepper diced
- 24 oz tomato-based pasta sauce I used Organics Roasted Garlic
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast optional
- sea salt & pepper to taste
- 3/4 cup peas I used frozen
Instructions
- Fill a pot with water, add sea salt and bring to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook for 7-9 minutes. Stir occasionally so the pasta doesn’t stick together.
- While the pasta is cooking, heat olive oil in large pan or wok on medium heat. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add onion and cook until translucent. Add bell pepper and cook lightly for 2 minutes, then add frozen peas. Place lid on pan and allow the peas to cook for 3-4 minutes.
- At this point, the macaroni should be done. Drain the macaroni and add it to your veggies. Add the sauce and stir thoroughly. Throw on some sea salt and pepper to taste. Allow to simmer 5-10 minutes just enough to meld the flavors together.
- Remove from heat, add the chopped cilantro and cover the pot to allow the cilantro to wilt before stirring it into the pasta.
- At this point, add in the nutritional yeast and give it a good stir. Scoop into Coconut Bowls and garnish with a sprinkle of nutritional yeast. Serve piping hot with a side of olives and warm, toasty bread.
Nutrition
Ghosts of Food Blog Past
From time to time, I love to feature past recipes so you can see how my little Vegan blog has grown. Here are just a few:
- 7 months ago – Savory Vegan Lentil Loaf
- 1 year ago – Stuffed Holiday Acorn Squash
- 2 years ago – Vegan Enchilada Casserole
I love your photos and this vegan macaroni bowl sounds so good! Hearty and healthy is the best combo and this recipe is both!
Thanks Tammy, that’s a great way to describe it!
That is perfect bowl of goodness I would like to try this macaroni, this not only comfort food but also loaded with veggies and olive. Love that you served in coconut shell.
Thank you Swathi. Yes, the coconut bowls come in handy!
What a delicious vegan macaroni recipe that is. So easy to make and so delicious. I am going to try this version of macaroni for my family soon.
Oh, I hope your family loves it. Thanks for your comment.
Oh, YUM!! This is the kind of dish I need in-between all of the high calorie foods I’m tempted with and indulge in. I know, I know! I’m so weak but by having something good and nutritious to fall back on would certainly help. Thank you.
You are so welcome, Marisa. Appreciate the comment.
What a beautiful bowl! I love all the vegetables…
Thank you Anne!
Never tried this, but it’s one of the best I’ve ever seen! You are a genius! This recipe is needed to me. This is so delicious and it makes my mouth watering.
Hahaha, thanks Dan.
Wow it looks so beautiful! Total comfort food! YUM! This looks so delicious! I definitely want to try it! Thank you for a great recipe!
You’re welcome Mahy. Thanks for the lovely comment.
This looks great! I love to have recipes in my arsenal that will feed everyone, regardless of dietary preferences. Awesome recipe!
Thank you Kylee!
My kids love macaroni and we make it often. But I have never tried nutritional yeast. I must read more about it. I love cheese so that’s another reason to check on it.
Veena, nutritional yeast is full of vitamins, especially B12, of which non-vegans get by eating meat. Thank you for your comment.
Beautiful bowl. I love the colours and the flavors. I’m saving this to try. It’s super easy meal for weekdays. I bet my family will love it too.
Thank you Natalie. Let me know how they liked it!
I do have some nutritional yeast in the cupboard. Maybe I should give this a try. As a cheese lover, this would be a great addition to the rotation just to cut down on the cheese (a little is better than none). Love all the flavours here.
Yes, I love adding lots of NY to it. Makes it so nutty and cheesy. Thanks Gloria.
What a wonderful vegan recipe! This recipe’s a keeper.
Thank you Denay.
I’m not a big fan of olives, but everything else in this macaroni looks delicious! Perfect for a comforting meal on a cold winter day
Thanks Karyl. Luckily, you can definitely omit them!
I love the vibrants colors and a huge pasta and olive lover vegan is a bonus for sure. Looks perfect for me!
Thank you Claudia! I appreciate that.
This looks delicious, and I am a black olive lover and the topping looks wonderful to me. Yum!
Thank you Cheese Curd in Paradise!