One-Pot Vegan Chili Mac – Cozy, Creamy & Family-Approved

Introduction

This One-Pot Vegan Chili Mac is the ultimate weeknight dinner solution: hearty, nourishing, and loaded with bold flavors. With just one pot, you achieve creamy comfort reminiscent of classic mac and cheese, paired with the satisfying zest of chili—making for a family-friendly meal everyone will devour. Its all-in-one nature means minimal cleanup without compromising on taste, making it a go-to for busy evenings or easy weekend meals.

What Makes One-Pot Vegan Chili Mac a Winner?

This recipe combines the comforting richness of mac and cheese with the vibrant, spicy kick of chili—all without dairy or meat. You get a dish packed with plant-based protein, wholesome vegetables, and just enough heat to wake up the taste buds. It’s creamy, cozy, and designed to please kids and adults alike—a true crowd pleaser you’ll keep coming back to.

The Perfect Creamy Sauce Without Dairy

The secret to that irresistible creamy texture is a blend of non-dairy milk and nutritional yeast, plus a bit of tomato sauce for depth. This combination results in a luscious, cheese-like sauce that clings to every noodle and bean, while the spices infuse the pot with classic chili flavor. For extra richness, a dollop of vegan cream cheese or a splash of cashew cream can take things over the top.

Easy, One-Pot Preparation

All ingredients are layered right into a single pot—pasta, beans, tomatoes, and vegan cheese sauce. Simmer and stir, and in less than 30 minutes you have a thick, creamy, and deeply flavorful dinner. This method keeps cleanup simple and ensures the flavors meld together with every bite.

Serving Suggestions for a Cozy Feast

Spoon your chili mac into bowls and top with freshly chopped green onions, sliced jalapeños, avocado, or a sprinkle of nutritional yeast for pop. Serve alongside a crisp green salad or cornbread for a complete comfort meal that tastes even better as leftovers.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This one-pot recipe yields about 6 generous servings. Each bowl provides approximately 350–400 calories, 15–20g plant protein, and plenty of fiber, making it a wholesome, guilt-free comfort food option.

One-Pot Vegan Chili Mac (Recap)

Creamy, spicy, filling, and fast—this vegan chili mac delivers big on flavor and even bigger on convenience. Ideal for nights when you want one simple, satisfying pot of food the whole family loves.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and stress-free meal planning.

Instructions

1. In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and sauté for 3–4 minutes until translucent. Toss in garlic and bell pepper, cooking for another 2 minutes.
2. Add the tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir until the vegetables are evenly coated and fragrant.
3. Pour in the plant-based milk, diced tomatoes (with juices), kidney beans, black beans, and pasta. Mix well, ensuring pasta is submerged.
4. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook for 10–12 minutes, stirring frequently, until the pasta is al dente and the sauce is thick and creamy.
5. Stir in the nutritional yeast, vegan cheese shreds (if using), and lime juice. Adjust seasonings as needed.
6. Let the chili mac rest for 5 minutes to thicken. Serve hot, loaded with your favorite toppings.

Weekly Meal Planning

This One-Pot Vegan Chili Mac is an excellent addition to your weekly meal plan. Save and schedule this recipe to plan your dinners and generate smart shopping lists that automatically combine ingredients across all planned meals.

Planning Benefits:

• Automatically calculates total ingredient quantities for the week
• Sorts your grocery list by store sections for fast shopping
• Flags overlapping ingredients to avoid overbuying or forgetting anything
• Makes executing plant-based meal plans a breeze

Pro tip: When you schedule your recipes for the week, overlapping ingredients (like canned beans or pasta) get tallied—so you only buy what you truly need, saving time, money, and reducing waste.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes