Who loves easy one skillet meals?? This girl! This Skillet Vegetarian Chili Mac n Cheese cooks in 20 minutes using only 1 skillet, AND it’s kid friendly!
Let’s dig in!
I have been totally craving a chili mac n cheese dish lately. But I don’t eat beef and I’m also Gluten Free. So I guess I always thought I would never be able to eat a meal like this.
Well I decided to put my creative taste buds together and come up with a version of this that is beef-free and Gluten free.
Let me tell ya, this dish is spot on for a delicious cheesy chili mac n cheese dish and totally satisfied my craving!
Oh and the best part, my son absolutely loves this!
I like to use Beyond Meat crumbles to replace beef in certain meals. No I’m not getting paid to say this, I truly love this product. It’s a nice option to have when you don’t eat beef but want something healthy that tastes similar.
I’ve tried different vegetarian meat products in the past, but most of them contain Soy. I am not against soy, but it’s not great to eat it all of the time. So I prefer Beyond Meat because it is Soy-free.
I also was turned onto using Quinoa noodles a while back. They taste just like regular noodles and are Gluten free!
Here’s what I love about this dish:
- It comes together so easy all in one skillet, perfect for a busy weeknight dinner for the whole family
- It’s beef-free, and makes a nice healthy vegetarian option for dinner
- It’s Gluten free so that means I can eat it:)
- It’s über cheesy and delicious
- It’s kid friendly, yep, I mean what kid doesn’t love mac n cheese!
If you try this let me know what you think by leaving a comment below! It’s super helpful to me and other readers!
Cheers!
Skillet Vegetarian Chili Mac n Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 Tbs Olive Oil
- 4 Green Onions chopped white and green parts
- 2 tsp Chili Powder
- 1 tsp Cumin
- 1/4 tsp Pink Himalayan Salt
- 1 tsp ground Peppercorn
- 4 cloves minced Garlic
- 2 tsp Truvia Brown Sugar if using regular brown sugar you will need to double it
- 2 cups Water
- 1 15 oz can Tomato Sauce
- 8 oz package of dry Quinoa Elbow Noodles
- 1 11 oz package Beyond Meat Crumbles you can use any kind of vegetarian meat crumbles
- 1 cup frozen Corn
- 1 8 oz package shredded Mexican Cheese divided
Instructions
- In 12 inch skillet over medium heat add Olive Oil, Garlic, and White part of Green Onions.
- Cook 2-3 minutes.
- Add meat crumbles, chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper, and brown sugar.
- Cook 1 minute stirring seasonings in.
- Add Tomato Sauce, Water, Corn, and noodles.
- Turn heat up to medium high and cover pan.
- Cook 10-12 minutes until pasta is cooked and sauce is thickened, stirring often.
- Add 1 cup of cheese and stir in, remove from heat.
- Sprinkle the rest of cheese on top, cover and let sit for 1-2 minutes until cheese is melted.
- Garnish with Green part of Green Onions.
- Enjoy!
Molly says
Looks amazing. I am gluten free, eat little meat, and have a son who is allergic to dairy and eggs. I’m going to try this with ground chicken and daiya “cheese.” Thanks for sharing. ?
Sara says
You’re welcome Molly! Let us know how it turns out:)
Kelly says
Yum! I am vegan but I can switch it up and make it work! Thanks!
Sara says
Great to hear Kelly! 🙂
Maureen Koplow says
You may be using a product called beyond meat, but you’re not animal friendly. Why would you use cheese when there are so many wonderful alternatives? Do a google search for vegan mac and cheese recipes and you’ll find cashew cream, cauliflower, and lots of vegan cheese alternatives instead of cheese from cows. Milk comes from the mothers of veal calves, so how is this recipe beyond meat? Dairy cows are pumped with hormones and bred to produce more milk than nature ever intended. Their milk is intended for their baby calves but instead is stolen for human consumption. The cows eventually are slaughtered for their flesh when they stop being productive. So your “beyond meat” has turned into a sad farce with recipes like this. Shame on you!!!
Sara says
Hi Maureen,
If you notice the title of my recipe, it says it is ‘Vegetarian’ not ‘Vegan’. I actually use hormone free cheese that is from grass fed cows. Yes there are many wonderful Vegan alternatives to cheese which you can certainly substitute for this recipe.
I wish you peace in your life and I hope you have a wonderful day! 🙂
Maureen Koplow says
I was under the impression that the recipe came from “Beyond Meat” – not from a private individual. My comments were directed to the company, since they included your recipe in their email newsletter. You’re free to eat whatever you choose (as is everyone), but I’m disappointed that the company would promote dairy when their products are labeled named “Beyond Meat” and dairy is a direct part of the meat industry.
Kathy says
I COMPLETELY agree with you Maureen!! I was shocked that Beyond Meat would link to recipes like this. I for one will PROMPTLY be sending “Beyond Meat” a very thought out email as well as unsubscribing from those emails – it totally negates any “good” their product is trying to do. And “grass fed” and “hormone free”….really? It’s wonderful how much the meat and dairy industry makes off their “keyword” marketing efforts, humans will truly believe ANYTHING….so sad! What is the point of grass fed anyway?! Do folks think they’re roaming free in pastures enjoying their days?? ummm, I think not!! – because that ride to the slaughterhouse makes it all worth it! ugg 🙁
Sorry to hijack your comment thread Sara, but this is such an important issue that folks just want to bypass because they love their cheese and ice cream and don’t even think about the harm they’re really doing. They’ve come this far as eating ‘vegetarian’, let’s try for a fully compassionate lifestyle shall we? <3 🙂
Good luck and peace and all that to you all as well….lol 🙂
Kathy says
The recipe definitely looks tasty and I’ll gladly convert the dairy cheese to “Follow Your Heart” or maybe “Chao” cheese, both are vegan brands and super delicious if anyone wants to try them!
Question though, I’m not an onion fan at all…..do those 4 green onions add flavor or are they just for color? – can I use onion powder instead? – if so, how much do you think?? Please and thank you in advance 🙂
Sara says
Hi Kathy,
If you don’t like Green Onions you could certainly omit this, it’ll still taste just as yummy:)
Beth Aaron says
Just use the many vegan, plant based alternatives to the cheese they suggest.
it’s a great company. No need to get all in a hissy fit.
Kite Hill, Follow Your Heart Cheese, Daiya, Nuttin Ordinary, Field Roast, all and more have vegan cheeses.
https://www.vegansociety.com/whats-new/blog/best-vegan-cheeses-rated
Or soak cashews for a few hours and process in food processor with steamed potatoes, carrots, onions, nutritional yeast, touch of mustard, sea salt and delicious cheese is born.
Angelica says
Y’all just need to get over it! It says vegetarian-not vegan!!! Like ppl like y’all who try to force the lifestyle on people is what drives people not to try it out. Then to give the recipe one star and you didn’t even try it is BS,all because of your ignorance of not correctly reading what type of recipe it was…damn idiots! My family loved it,Thank you!!!!!!
Joanne Thompson says
I was ready to make this, until I read it contains cheese! I don’t care if the milk for the cheese comes from grass fed cows. Why would you use cheese in a beyond meat dish?
Sara says
Just to clarify, this is a personal food blog I run that is ‘Gluten Free’ based. I create many delicious recipes that are Vegan, Vegetarian, and ones that also have meat.
This particular recipe is ‘Vegetarian’ which contains cheese but not meat.
Thanks for stopping by y’all! 🙂