The ultimate vegan comfort food! This recipe combines two classic childhood staples and turns them into a healthy, wholesome meal that’s totally kid friendly! Cheesy, creamy, savory, and so hearty. You’ll me ‘mmm-ing’ your way through a bowl of this mac and cheese bake.
I received free samples of Sabra Spreads mentioned in this post. By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by Sabra and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.
I goofed, you guys.
Well sort of. Don’t worry, I have an amazing recipe to share with you today, but it’s not really the right one for the purpose it was supposed to serve. Let me explain.
See every month The Recipe Redux holds recipe contests in addition to the monthly roundup. They always feature fun new products and ingredients from all different cuisines and food categories! I love participating because it’s a great way to challenge myself in the moment to come up with a creative, delicious recipe centered around a certain food.
Here are a few of my creations from past RR contests…
Vegan Baked Mac n’ Cheese Cupcakes
Each one has been super fun to create and share with you all!
When I found out what this month’s contest incorporated I jumped at the chance to take part. The product we had to incorporate into a new recipe was the new Sabra Hummus Spreads!
Silly me heard hummus and immediately started dreaming up tons of creamy, dreamy recipes featuring my favorite dip/spread. Maybe it’s just a case of ‘fall brain’ (is that a thing?), but all I could think of making was some sort of hearty, comforting, warm meal.
I love using humus in ways other than as a spread or dip, and I figured this contest would be the perfect chance to showcase its versatility! Unfortunately, I got to brainstorming AND cooking before I had really taken a close look at the rules and guidelines of the contest. You see, this month we were challenged to make a SANDWICH using the new spreads. As you’ll see, I went with something TOTALLY different. Not a sandwich at all.
Womp womp. So I pretty much think I’ll be disqualified from the contest, but the recipe I created using the spread was SO AMAZING (life changing, actually) that I just had to share as soon as possible.
My crazy brain combined to childhood comfort foods and turned them into a healthy, hearty meal that the whole family can enjoy together this season. I took the concept of pork n’ beans plus creamy, dreamy mac n’ cheese (usually served as sides together) and created Vegan Pork n’ Bean Mac and Cheese! Quite a mouthful both figuratively and LITERALLY!
Vegan Pork n’ Bean Mac and Cheese [gluten-free + nut-free]
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 35 mins
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups brown rice pasta, uncooked
- 1 can white beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup canned diced tomatoes, drained
- 3 vegan hot dogs, thinly sliced
- 1/3 cup Sabra Garlic Herb Hummus Spread
- 1/3 cup unsweetened non-dairy milk
- ½ cup nutritional yeast
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350. Cook pasta according to directions. While pasta is cooking, mix together milk, nutritional yeast, and hummus spread. Drain pasta and place in a large mixing bowl (drizzle with a little oil to keep from sticking). Add in white beans, tomatoes, hot dogs, and sauce mixture. Stir to combine so that everything is evenly coated and distributed. Place pasta mixture into an 8×8 baking dish and cover with tin foil. Bake for 20 minutes.
This mac and cheese bake has all the salty, savory flavors that you love in those two classic (usually unhealthy) dishes, yet is made with whole, real food ingredients! It’s also 100% vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, AND soy-free. So it’s pretty allergy-friendly overall.
Upon first bite I was totally transported back in time to the days of homemade mac n’ cheese and quick lunches made from sliced hot dogs (turkey dogs in my case) and baked beans! Salty, sweet, savory, creamy…all the textures and flavors I love.
And you know I also enjoy taking traditional ‘junk food’ and turning it healthy! I did it with my Vegan Corn Dog Muffins and now I’ve done it with this marvelous Vegan Pork n’ Bean Mac and Cheese.
I just know if you make this one time, you’ll fall in love. It’s just so tasty and filling. The perfect meal for a chilly night or to make on a Sunday to have the whole week thru.
So no, I probably have not shot at this contest…but in hindsight, I am happy about my mess up! It allowed me to create a new favorite meal and share a delicious, healthy option for all of you when you’re craving comfort food. That’s a win in my eyes! 🙂
Have you seen the new Sabra Hummus Spreads?
Did you eat pork n’ beans or mac and cheese as a kid?
What’s your go-to comfort food this time of year?
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Linking up with: Allergy Free Wednesdays, #RecipeOfTheWeek,#StrangeButGood,Real Food Friday, Gluten-Free Fridays,Tasty Tuesdays,Savoring Saturdays, Healthy Vegan Fridays, Tasty Tuesdays, Meatless Mondays,Full Plate Thursday, JillConyers,Meatless Mondays!
49 responses to “Vegan Pork n’ Bean Mac and Cheese [gluten-free + nut-free]”
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haha I don’t blame you for making this mac n’ cheese anyway! It’s sounds 10000000x better than any sandwich, love that it’s vegan too 🙂
Right?! I NEEDED to make this recipe once I thought up the idea!! It’s the ultimate comfort food for fall!! 🙂
Ooooops! It looks so good too! I’m pinning this for later – I haven’t had “pork n beans” since grade school. And I’m a total nutritional yeast addict!!
Hehe! Let me know if you try it!
YAY, I don’t fault you at all for making mac n’ cheese, cause I LOVE mac n’ cheese; this was a really good use of that Sabra hummus. 🙂 Good job Kaila!
Thanks so much Em! It was a happy mistake!
Forget sandwiches, THIS is so much more creative and delicious! And honestly a comfort food dish I never thought I would see made vegan. It doesn’t get more comfort food than this 🙂
THANK YOU!!! That means so much coming from the vegan queen herself! 😉
interesting combination, sounds delish!
Thanks Vicki!
I’ve really been liking those Sabra Spreads and have been using the honey mustard and garlic one a bunch!
They are SO YUMMY!!
Yay! Thank you for this recipe! I can’t eat pork and was never that fond of mac n’ cheese’s cheese, so this is right up my alley! 😛
Definitely let me know if you try it!!
Love this creative, vegan variation on Mac-n-Cheese. : )
Thank you Lauren!
You could always shove this in a sammich ☺️
That is a GREAT IDEA!!! 😀
Thanks for sharing on the What’s for Dinner link up.
Thanks for hosting!!
This looks awesome!
Thanks Bethany!
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Although you missed out on the sandwich end of the rules, I have to say that this is an amazing recipe using Sabra Hummus! I hope that they feature it on their site. Parents would love to find a healthier way to prepare their child’s favorite! You get first place in my book!
★★★★★
Bahah! Thank you! I am bummed about the contest but so happy with the recipe that came out of it! 🙂
Really cool way to incorporate the Sabra spread!
Thanks so much for linking up with us for Healthy Vegan Fridays! I’m Pinning and sharing!
Thank you so much!
HI Kaila,
Sounds like quite a tasty and filled meal. Thanks for sharing on Real Food Fridays. Pinned & tweeted!
★★★
Thank you!
I am so glad I found this recipe. I don’t and can’t eat pork. ood allergy. I am looking forward to trying this recipe. Thanks for posting.
Yay! So happy you’re going to give it a try! ENJOY!!!
Your recipe sounds like a nice twist on an old favorite. So glad you shared with us at Merry Monday.
Thanks Shirley!
Oh my gosh. Well, I guess I’m sorry you may not be part of the actual contest now, but really…. I’m not… because then you wouldn’t have come up with this piece of ingenious!! Mac and cheese and pork and beans are my two most comforting food memories from childhood (my friend and I used to kind of put them together in a dish we called “pig food” haha… it was amazing), so this is giving me all the cozy comfort vibes! (psst…..If I can’t find the sabra spread would regular hummus work?)
Pig food! Hahah! I like the sound of that! And yes, regular humus would totally work!! 🙂
Yummy! My whole house is vegetarian, this would be great to try out on them
Thanks for sharing at #bloggerspotlight
Definitely give it a try!!
Thank you for sharing your delicious recipe at the #RecipeSharingParty. I look forward to what you will share next week! We hope you’ll come back again next Thursday when we open our doors at 9:00 AM EST. Pinned, Yummed, Tweeted!
Thank you!! I will be there!
This is so much better than a sandwich girl! I sometimes scroll fast through those redux outlines too.
It’s funny how before going vegan, the thought of this was never appealing to me, but this veganized version sounds really good! Especially with the creamy hummus.
Haha! I felt so stupid after re-reading the contest rules but it was too late! I am really happy with this recipe however! 🙂
Love sabra products and good ole mac n’ cheese. Very creative to put the two together and with pork n beans. Yum!
Thank you so much!!!
What a great idea for people who are vegan but still want to enjoy a little pork & beans! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Share The Wealth Sunday!
Thanks Lisa!
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