Welcome! I am so happy you chose to gather around my table. My name is Mia Swinehart and I am a registered dietitian with a passion for simple healthy recipes, women's hormonal health, and overall wellness!
The original recipe that really launched my blog! This super easy, nut free, ultra creamy vegan mac and cheese sauce is still the most made recipe on the blog- a close tie with the olive oil chocolate chip cookies.
Creamy, addicting, and simple vegan Mac and cheese sauce made from one of my favorite ingredients- tahini!
I love that you don’t have to use nuts for this one– no soaking required and a way cheaper recipe! You only need 5 ingredients for this one, and they are all staple ingredients I always have on hand!
Tahini is a paste made from sesame seeds, with a texture similar to a runny nut butter. It makes such a surprisingly delicious ingredient for savory sauces or dressings, but also works so well in baked goods! Love a good versatile healthy fat.
I could eat this multiple times a week, every week. It never gets old!
I typically pair mine with brown rice pasta or chickpea pasta, but it’s also delicious over rice or chicken. I then add in some green peas and spinach or broccoli (or any veggies on hand)!
Once you try this recipe, you’ll be totally hooked. Can’t wait for you to try!!
Easy, creamy and rich vegan tahini mac and cheese. The best vegan substitute to classic mac and cheese!
Ingredients
Scale
To make enough for for 1 (12 oz) box of pasta:
1/2 cup tahini
1/2 cup plain, unsweetened dairy free milk, more to thin as needed
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
Juice of 1–2 lemons (start with 1, add more to taste)
1 clove of garlic
Salt + pepper to taste
Instructions
If you are serving with pasta, cook the pasta according the the box.Â
Blend all ingredients until well combined. If sauce is thicker than desired, slowly add in more milk of choice to thin.
Adjust seasonings and serve with desired veggies and/or protein. Store leftovers in the refrigerator in and airtight container. Reheat leftovers gently on the stove with a splash of vegetable broth!
Notes
This recipe makes enough sauce for 1 box of pasta, but the recipe can easily be cut in half!Â
Did you make this recipe? Be sure to tag @gatherednutrition on INstagram so I can see what you made! Leaving a rating and review on the site is a huge help too!
This sauce is something I make all the time during the week to add to any lunches I pack for work. It’s so good and so easy to make. I put in on and/or mix it with noodles, quinoa, rice, turkey meatballs, chicken, or vegetables, etc. I even use it as a dip sometimes for chips or crackers or whatever is in my reach. I usually use a blender but when/if I don’t have one (and still obviously need to make this sauce) just mixing it all together in a bowl is easy. Mia is the queen of sauces and this one never disappoints!!!!
This is the best quick meal ever.. It is literally upgraded (vegan!) mac & cheese. I serve with lentil pasta, peas + spinach and it is packed with nutrients. Yum!!!
This is delicious and SO easy to make. I love Mac n cheese, but I’m a little sensitive to dairy products, so this recipe is perfect. Normally my boyfriend doesn’t like any substitutes for cheese, but he loves this dish and uses the leftovers as his lunch for work.
Not sure why I never thought to make a pasta sauce with tahini as a vegan since I love pasta and tahini…I had this about a billion times last year ???? so delicious!
Love!! except I think my lemons were oversized, it ended up being way too citrusy so i had to tweak! But I am sure next time i will add lemon juice more carefully 🙂 Excellent recipe and super quick!
Hi Melina- thank you for this note! I’ll play around with the recipe to get an exact amount of lemon juice! As far as storing, this is best served fresh but you can store for 1 day in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Just note that it’s hard to reheat tahini and it may get a little grainy in texture!
There’s a reason this tahini mac sauce is so popular, it’s so good and so satisfying! I’ve found myself whipping this up time and time again when I’m feeling kind of lazy, but wanting something a little bit more substantial the scrambled eggs, because it’s so simple and delicious 🙂
This recipe is so delicious and easy to make! I make it on repeat and normally have a jar of the sauce in my fridge for easy work lunches. Mia’s recipes sure do make eating healthy so much easier????
Incredible! I didn’t have any almond milk on hand so I used oat milk. I accidentally added 2/3cup instead of a half a cup and it turned out so creamy and delicious. Wouldn’t trade that mistake! I sauteed green beans with onion and garlic, then added the sauce and then the noodles and it was the perfect meal.
This was SO easy and so delicious. Even my picky, self-proclaimed Mac and cheese connoisseur of a boyfriend loved it. Creamy, healthy and yummy! Added spinach and peas to the pot for more veggies and used a high fiber pasta.
my boyfriend just looked at me and said “this is the best pasta you’ve ever made” lol. I love tahini and a creamy vegan pasta! I also use gf pasta and add green veggies. this is one of Mia’s recipes that I keep coming back to!!!
Ooomg I love this tahini mac sauce!!! Love that it’s a healthier twist on comfort food! Delish recipe, thank you!!!
★★★★★
This sauce is something I make all the time during the week to add to any lunches I pack for work. It’s so good and so easy to make. I put in on and/or mix it with noodles, quinoa, rice, turkey meatballs, chicken, or vegetables, etc. I even use it as a dip sometimes for chips or crackers or whatever is in my reach. I usually use a blender but when/if I don’t have one (and still obviously need to make this sauce) just mixing it all together in a bowl is easy. Mia is the queen of sauces and this one never disappoints!!!!
★★★★★
This is the best quick meal ever.. It is literally upgraded (vegan!) mac & cheese. I serve with lentil pasta, peas + spinach and it is packed with nutrients. Yum!!!
This makes my day!! So happy you love it- I make this ALL the time! 🙂
When do I add the broccoli?
Hi Melissa! If you want to add broccoli, I recommend steaming it or sauteeing first then stirring it in when everything is done 🙂
This is amazing!!
★★★★★
This is delicious and SO easy to make. I love Mac n cheese, but I’m a little sensitive to dairy products, so this recipe is perfect. Normally my boyfriend doesn’t like any substitutes for cheese, but he loves this dish and uses the leftovers as his lunch for work.
★★★★★
I’m not French but this is tres bien oui oui!! A staple of mine 🙂
★★★★★
Not sure why I never thought to make a pasta sauce with tahini as a vegan since I love pasta and tahini…I had this about a billion times last year ???? so delicious!
★★★★★
Hahah yay I love hearing this!! I think I’ve had it a billion times too lol!
AMAZING!!!! Super easy to make and tastes delicious.
★★★★★
Yay!! Thank you Abby 🙂
Love!! except I think my lemons were oversized, it ended up being way too citrusy so i had to tweak! But I am sure next time i will add lemon juice more carefully 🙂 Excellent recipe and super quick!
– Mia, how best to store this sauce? i have extra
Hi Melina- thank you for this note! I’ll play around with the recipe to get an exact amount of lemon juice! As far as storing, this is best served fresh but you can store for 1 day in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Just note that it’s hard to reheat tahini and it may get a little grainy in texture!
Love love love this recipe! So easy and tastes amazing!
★★★★★
SO happy to hear that 🙂 Thanks Emily!
Is there a substitute that can be used for nutritional yeast?
Hi Dana, there isn’t a great dairy free sub for nutritional yeast, but you could sub parmesan if you eat dairy!
There’s a reason this tahini mac sauce is so popular, it’s so good and so satisfying! I’ve found myself whipping this up time and time again when I’m feeling kind of lazy, but wanting something a little bit more substantial the scrambled eggs, because it’s so simple and delicious 🙂
★★★★★
This recipe is so delicious and easy to make! I make it on repeat and normally have a jar of the sauce in my fridge for easy work lunches. Mia’s recipes sure do make eating healthy so much easier????
★★★★★
This is SO sweet- thank you so much Betty 🙂 I’m so glad you’re enjoying the recipes!!
Incredible! I didn’t have any almond milk on hand so I used oat milk. I accidentally added 2/3cup instead of a half a cup and it turned out so creamy and delicious. Wouldn’t trade that mistake! I sauteed green beans with onion and garlic, then added the sauce and then the noodles and it was the perfect meal.
★★★★★
My husband is dairy free and I’m stoked to be able to have something that tastes equally creamy and delicious as the dairy version!
★★★★★
Such an easy recipe that really packs a lot of flavor! I definitely don’t miss the dairy in this, the nutritional yeast makes it taste so cheesy.
★★★★★
Do you heat the sauce or add the cold blended sauce to warm pasta?
I would add it to the warm pasta! If you need to you can gently reheat on low, but too high of heat will change the texture a bit!
This was no good in my opinion.
★
I’m sorry to hear you didn’t enjoy this!
This was SO easy and so delicious. Even my picky, self-proclaimed Mac and cheese connoisseur of a boyfriend loved it. Creamy, healthy and yummy! Added spinach and peas to the pot for more veggies and used a high fiber pasta.
★★★★★
my boyfriend just looked at me and said “this is the best pasta you’ve ever made” lol. I love tahini and a creamy vegan pasta! I also use gf pasta and add green veggies. this is one of Mia’s recipes that I keep coming back to!!!
★★★★★
I LOVE THIS SAUCE! It’s my go-to, and so easy to make. Is the sauce freezable?
Is it better to make this with tahini made with raw or toasted sesame seeds?