Vegan Buffalo Mac and Cheese

Are you afraid that if you go vegan you won’t be able to enjoy comfort food anymore? 

Well I can tell you that is simply not the case. We are living in a world that offers so many incredible plant based alternatives. Companies like Beyond Meat, Gardien, Quorn, Field Roast, and Impossible foods are paving the way to making plant-based proteins available no matter where you live. I personally love using plant-based protein products to make those familiar comfort foods. Products like this are extremely helpful as well if you are still transitioning to becoming vegan or vegetarian. 

In this recipe I will be using the Fruffalo Wings by Field Roast but I would also recommend using Gardein’s Chick’n Wings as well if the Fruffalo Wings are not available in your area. As a substitution, you can also make this with some baked or fried tofu and Frank’s Red Hot sauce if plant-based alternatives are hard to come by where you live. 

This easy vegan recipe is also affordable, only costing about $25 to make (not including seasonings) and can feed about 4 people. So if you’re looking for a cheap vegan meal your family will love and also go back for seconds, this is it!

• 16 oz dry elbow pasta

• 1/4 cup vegan butter (I use Earth Balance Butter)

• 1/4 cup flour

• 3 cups plant-based milk

• 8 oz vegan cream cheese

• 1 tsp garlic powder

• 1 tsp pepper

• 1 tsp paprika

• 1/2 cup nutritional yeast

• 1/2 cup of shredded plant based cheese

• 1/2 bag of frozen sliced bell peppers

• 1 bag of Field Roast’s Fruffalo wings

  • Note: If you cannot find this product a great alternative is Gardein’s barbecue chick’n wings or you can also bake or fry tofu and toss your tofu in Frank’s Red Hot Sauce.

1. Cook your macaroni noodles in a large pot of water with a little sea salt.

2. Cook until soft. Drain and set aside.

3. In a separate pan on medium heat, add the vegan butter.

4. Once butter has melted, add the minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds. Add in the flour and whisk until smooth and bubbling.

5. Once butter has melted, add the minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds. Add in the flour and whisk until smooth and bubbling.

6. Stir in your plant based milk 1/2 cup at a time, whisking constantly (this is really important so you don't have any clumps).

7. Once all your milk is mixed, add the vegan cream cheese and whisk until smooth.

8. Add in the nutritional yeast and all of your spices and continue to stir until fully mixed in.

9. Take your shredded plant based cheese and add it into the mixture. Continue to stir until the cheese has dissolved.

10. In a skillet pan, saute your frozen bell peppers.

11. Next, cook your plant based meat (Fruffalo Wings) according to package instructions.

12. Add noodles to cheese sauce along with your cooked bell peppers and plant based meat.

Remember, just because you care about your health, the environment, and respect all life, doesn’t mean you can’t feast on incredible food! Thank you for being here and taking the time to make a compassionate and cruelty free meal today. I thank you, our planet applauds you, and you are a hero in the eyes of animals everywhere!

Vegan California Sushi Roll Bowl

Why have a roll when you can have a whole bowl!? 

Don’t know how to make homemade sushi even after trying that vegan sushi recipe from Pinterest? That’s ok, this California Roll Sushi Bowl is totally easy! It’s also a creative vegan recipe idea that will have your friends and family wanting more, so make sure you make enough for everyone to have seconds! Seriously this recipe is that good! 

Not only is this vegan bowl recipe insanely delicious, but it’s also an easy vegan recipe as well. You can make this dish in under 20 minutes or less and as if it couldn’t get any better, this meal is also a cheap vegan recipe as it will only cost you about $20 to make. This dish will easily feed 2-3 people for dinner or if you’re looking for a vegan meal for one, you can certainly use this recipe as an easy vegan meal prep option as well for yourself throughout the week. 

So what’s in a vegan sushi bowl?

This vegan sushi bowl has everything your typical California roll would have and then some! It’s packed with healthy plant based ingredients like cucumbers, carrots, avocados, and my personal favorite edamame! 

Why you should add edamame to your bowl

Edamame is a young soybean and has a great deal of health benefits that you should try to add to your weekly rotation whenever possible. Edamame is a great source of non-heme iron, rich in fiber, antioxidants (which protect your cells against free radicals), and vitamin K (which is important for bone health). Oh, and another fun fact, edamame is naturally gluten free! 

• 1 cup Jasmine Rice (if feeding more than 2 people double this to 2 cups rice) 

• 2 cups water (for rice if cooking in a rice cooker) 

• 1 carrot (shredded) 

• 1 cucumber (sliced) 

• ½ cup Edamame

• 1 avocado (sliced)  

• 1 Package of Gardein Crabless Cakes 

• Nori (I recommend Gimme Seaweed Snacks the Teriyaki flavor) 

• Optional Toppings: 

  • Vegan Cream Cheese 

  • Sriracha 

  • Teriyaki Sauce 

  • Soy Sauce

  • Sesame Seeds

1. Cook your jasmine rice according to package instructions 

   1. I personally use a rice cooker and highly recommend getting one if you don’t have one yet, it’s a life saver and always makes the perfect serving of rice

2. Cook your Gardein Crabless Cakes according to package instructions

3. Once your Crabless Cakes are cooked, place them in a bowl and mash them with a fork. You should not have the texture of imitation crab. 

4. To assemble your bowl once your rice is done cooking add your rice to your bowl, then crabless meat, cucumber slices, shredded carrots, and sliced avocado, 

5. Crush your nori(seaweed) into pieces and crumble over the top of your bowl.

6. Last but not least, and any additional toppings of your choice. 

   1. I personally added the vegan cream cheese, coconut sriracha sauce, teriyaki sauce, and soy sauce (Because I’m all about those sauces!) 

Remember, just because you care about your health, the environment, and respect all life, doesn’t mean you can’t feast on incredible food! Thank you for being here and taking the time to make a compassionate and cruelty free meal today. I thank you, our planet applauds you, and you are a hero in the eyes of animals everywhere.

I can’t wait to know how your bowl came out! Did you add anything that took this to the next level? Let me know in the comments below