• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

My Plant-Based Friend

  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Lifestyle

Vegan Mac and Cheese Recipe: High Protein with Buffalo Chick’n

by Leave a Comment

This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you click and buy, I may receive a small commission (at zero cost to you). Please see my full disclosure policy for details.

This dish is a must-try if you’re looking for a high protein vegan mac and cheese recipe! It’s super quick to make, coming together in under 20 minutes, requires easy and wholesome ingredients (no store-bought vegan cheese shreds necessary), and is absolutely delicious. My number one favorite food growing up was mac and cheese. When I went vegan in 2016, that never changed. Adding buffalo chick’n elevated the dish to a whole new level. The creamy texture of the flavorful cheesy sauce complements the spicy buffalo flavor of the crisp chick’n so perfectly. And, this recipe packs an incredible protein boost. With 41 grams of plant-based protein per serving, this is a go-to meal for me as a vegan bodybuilder who loves delicious food. If you’re looking for a healthy, high protein meal that still tastes amazing, look no further. I hope you enjoy this amazingly flavorful and easy vegan mac and cheese recipe!

Vegan mac and cheese recipe with buffalo chick'n on top

What Vegan Protein to Use for the Buffalo “Chicken”

Great vegan protein source: Say Grace Tenders of Grace

My favorite vegan protein source for this dish is the Say Grace Tenders of Grace. I love this vegan protein option because it’s made with just one ingredient: non-gmo soy protein. It also is very macro-friendly, with 19g protein/ 6g carb/ 0.5g fat per serving. The texture of these tenders is incredible, making them the perfect addition to all of your favorite meals, like this delicious buffalo chick’n vegan mac and cheese recipe.

If you’re looking to boost your protein intake in your meals, or want to try a high-quality plant-based meat alternative with a great texture, I highly recommend checking out Say Grace. Use discount code MYPLANTBASEDFRIEND for 10% off your Say Grace orders.

If you’re avoiding soy, or simply want to incorporate more whole foods into this dish, you could use my Crispy Buffalo Cauliflower Wings for the “chick’n” in this recipe instead.

Why You’ll Love this Vegan Mac and Cheese Recipe

  • High in plant-based protein. This is a filling and nourishing meal thanks to the vegan chick’n tenders, chickpea rotini pasta, and silken tofu-based sauce.
  • Super creamy without store bought vegan cheese. This recipe is simple and wholesome- no processed ingredients necessary.
  • Pairs well with spicy buffalo chick’n. This is an incredibly tasty combo that elevates the classic comfort of a vegan mac and cheese recipe.
  • Ready in under 20 minutes. Perfect to whip up on a busy weeknight, or to meal prep for the week.
  • Easy to customize. Add peas or spinach to get in some veggies. Swap buffalo sauce for bbq sauce. Try the Say Grace Nuggets or Shreds instead of the Tenders for varied texture experiences. The sky is the limit!

Ingredients Needed for this Vegan Mac and Cheese Recipe

The Say Grace Tenders of Grace used for protein in this vegan mac and cheese recipe
  • Say Grace Tenders for the chick’n. I think the texture of these tenders complements the creamy cheese sauce perfectly.
  • Buffalo Sauce. Choose your favorite, I highly recommend this one from Primal Kitchen. It’s so creamy with the perfect amount of spice.
  • Silken Tofu. The perfect base for the creamy sauce which adds a nice boost of protein.
  • Vegetable Broth or Better Than Bouillon. I use this Seasoned Vegetable Base in so many of my meals because it adds such great flavor.
  • Coconut Aminos. Another kitchen staple of mine, and my secret ingredient for all of my cheese sauce recipes and more. It adds the perfect umami flavor!
  • Lemon Juice. Just a small amount, for some nice tang.
  • Nutritional Yeast. For yet another sneaky boost of protein, and a delicious cheesy flavor.
  • Vegan Parmesan. While I mentioned no store-bought, processed cheeses were required for this vegan mac and cheese recipe, this vegan Parmesan from Panacheeza is a pantry staple of mine because it’s made with wholesome ingredients and tastes so similar to how I remember grated dairy parmesan tasting.
  • Spices. Onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt. Simple and yummy.
  • Cornstarch. Just a small amount required to make the cheese sauce perfectly smooth and creamy.
  • Veggies. I like to top with some green onion. You can also add peas, spinach, or any other greens you like for micronutrients and even more protein.

How to Make this Vegan Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese Recipe

  1. Cook your vegan chicken tenders.
  2. Cook your chickpea rotini or desired pasta until al dente, then drain.
  3. Blend all of your sauce ingredients together. In a small pot, add cheese sauce plus cornstarch dissolved in cold water, and boil for one minute to thicken.
  4. In a non-stick pan, spray cooking oil and pan fry vegan chicken tenders until crispy. Add any desired spices. I like the Frank’s RedHot Seasoning for an extra kick. In a bowl, toss tenders with your favorite buffalo sauce.
  5. Plate and serve. Garnish with chopped green onion, if desired.

Craving more delicious high protein recipes? You will love my savory Creamy Vegan Chicken Rigatoni, or sweet Baked Oats Recipe (tastes like a healthy chocolate cake!)

Vegan Mac and Cheese with Buffalo Chick’n

Melissa Donovan
High protein, creamy cheese sauce with spicy crisp buffalo chick'n. Macros per serving: 41g protein/ 52g carbs/ 12g fat/ 13g fiber
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Servings 1 person

Ingredients
  

Vegan Buffalo Chicken

  • 1 oz. Say Grace Tenders code MYPLANTBASEDFRIEND for 10% off
  • 1 Tbsp Buffalo Sauce
  • pinch Frank's RedHot Seasoning Optional

Vegan Mac and Cheese

  • 55 grams chickpea rotini
  • 8 oz. veggie broth OR boiling water if using water, add 1 tsp better than bouillon
  • 125 grams silken tofu
  • 1.5 Tbsp coconut aminos
  • 1 Tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 1 Tbsp vegan parmesan
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/8 tsp salt

Cornstarch slurry

  • 2 tsp corn starch
  • 4 tsp cold water

Garnish

  • green onion chopped

Instructions
 

Make Vegan Chicken

  • Add 1 Tbsp Better than Bouillon to a medium-size pot of water and boil.
  • Add 1 servings (1 oz. dry) of Say Grace Tenders to pot and cook for 10 minutes.
  • Strain cooked tenders and squeeze out as much liquid as possible. In a non-stick frying pan, spray cooking oil and pan fry tenders until they have a nice golden crisp. Add any desired spices (optional).
  • Add tenders to a bowl and toss with 1 Tbsp of buffalo sauce until well coated.

Cook Pasta

  • Boil a pot of water, and add in 1 serving of chickpea rigatoni. Cook for 9 minutes until al dente. Strain.

Make Vegan Cheese Sauce

  • In a blender, add silken tofu, 8 oz. veggie broth OR boiling water with 1 tsp better than bouillon dissolved, coconut aminos, nutritional yeast, vegan parmesan, lemon juice, onion powder, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. Blend sauce mixture until smooth and combined. Add cheese sauce to a pot on high heat.
  • In a small bowl, mix 2 tsp cornstarch with 4 tsp cold water. Mix until incorporated
  • Add the cornstarch mixture to the pot of cheese sauce, and boil for one minute to thicken. Add black pepper and salt to taste. I added 1/4 tsp black pepper, and 1/8 tsp salt.
  • Add cooked pasta to cheese sauce and mix until incorporated.

Plating

  • Add mac and cheese to bowl or plate. Top with vegan buffalo chicken. Garnish with chopped green onion, if desired. Enjoy!
Keyword dinner, entrée, vegan

Don’t forget to use Say Grace plant protein discount code: MYPLANTBASEDFRIEND to save 10% on all your orders.

For more easy, high protein vegan recipes, follow me on Instagram @myplantbasedfriend.

Filed Under: Main Dishes, Recipes Tagged With: high protein, pasta

Previous Post: « Healthy Vegan High Protein & Macro-Friendly Snacks You’ll Love
Next Post: Easy Vegan High Protein Mug Cake Recipe (Birthday Cake Flavor) »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

By Melissa Donovan

I love creating tasty, balanced, and healthy vegan recipes for people of all diets. Whether you’re looking for high protein, macro friendly vegan recipes or positive encouragement in adopting a more plant-based lifestyle, you’re in the right place!

Read More

Recent Posts

vegan protein mug cake
healthy vegan high protein & macro friendly snacks you'll love

Navigation

  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Lifestyle

Footer

Melissa | Vegan Bodybuilder, Food Blogger, & Coach

myplantbasedfriend

High protein snacks that are convenient and actual High protein snacks that are convenient and actually taste good!? 😍

Balancing a busy schedule, workouts, traveling, and maintaining my energy levels as a vegan has taught me the importance of having healthy, portable, and protein-rich snacks on hand.

That’s why I’ve put together this list of my favorite vegan high protein and macro friendly snacks– both sweet and savory- to satisfy all cravings 😋 like:

@aggropops lentil puffs
@greenbitesgo protein desserts
@nugonutrition dark chocolate protein bars

Finding the right snacks doesn’t have to be a challenge!

Comment “SNACK” and I’ll send you the full list 🥰🌱
Easy High Protein Vegan Chorizo 🔥 Textured Pe Easy High Protein Vegan Chorizo 🔥 

Textured Pea Protein (TPP) is one of my favorite plant-based sources of protein. It has amazing macros, digests well for me, is super quick and easy to prepare, and versatile for your fav recipes 🙌🏼

For one serving of this chorizo, I use:

- 35g @purisfoods TPP
- 2 tsp taco seasoning (I use @mccormickspice, no added preservatives)
- 30g @mateos_salsa mild taco sauce
- Chipotle @tabasco for some added spice

Macros per serving (just the TPP chorizo):
28P/ 6C/ 2F

Easy, delicious, and healthy 😋

You can multiply this chorizo recipe for meal prep, so it’s ready to go for delicious tacos, burritos, bowls, or however else you’d like to enjoy it throughout the week 🌮🌯 

This is a staple in my weekly meek rotation, and I hope you love it too 🫶🏼

Follow me, @myplantbasedfriend for more easy, delicious, high protein vegan recipes and meal ideas 🌱 

Save this post for the next time you need some fresh, healthy meal prep inspo 🍽️

#veganbodybuilder #veganfoodies #highproteinvegan #healthyveganrecipe #veganmacros #veganchorizo #veganmealprep
Easy Vegan & Gluten-Free Funfetti Mug Cake with 34 Easy Vegan & Gluten-Free Funfetti Mug Cake with 34g Protein 🧁🌱😍

This recipe comes together in under 5 minutes- great for a post-workout meal, a late-night sweet treat, or a single-serving healthy dessert 😋 heck, I’ve been eating it for breakfast 👀 

It’s made with a few simple, wholesome ingredients, tastes amazing, and has the perfect consistency 🤤

Macros: 34P/ 56C/ 11F

Get my favorite Vegan Vanilla Ice Cream protein powder at the link in my bio ⬇️ 

🏷️ code MYPLANTBASEDFRIEND for 15% off your @VedgeNutrition orders ❤️

Save this post for the next time you need some quick & tasty meal inspo 🙌🏼

And make sure you’re following me, @myplantbasedfriend for more easy, delicious, high protein vegan recipes like this ✨ 

🎂 Comment CAKE for the full recipe 🎂

#veganbodybuilder #veganproteinpowder #highproteinvegan #veganproteins #plantbasedrecipe #healthyveganrecipe #veganfoodies #veganmacros #veganmugcake #healthydessertrecipes
Today marks 9 years vegan 🌱 …and my heart i Today marks 9 years vegan 🌱 

…and my heart is so full ❤️

I never could’ve imagined that this path would teach me so much about compassion, alignment, and trusting myself.

What started as a quiet curiosity turned into a life of deeper connection- to my values, my body, the Earth, and others.

I’m so grateful for every soul who’s been part of this journey: my vegan and vegetarian friends who inspire me, my non-veggie friends who’ve shown love and support, and everyone who chooses to lead with an open heart and mind. 🤍

After 9 years, I’m finally opening up to share more of my story. If it resonates with you, lifts you up, or helps you feel less alone, that means everything to me.

I’m opening a few spots for 1:1 coaching. I combine my training in subconscious and somatic healing with my knowledge as a longtime vegan to support you in feeling grounded in your body, aligned with your values, and at peace with your choices.

DM me to schedule a consult call. I’d love to walk this path with you. 🥰
Over 50 grams of protein for a bowl of cereal? 🥣 🤯 

This is one of the simplest ways to get a macro friendly meal in on those days when you just don’t feel like cooking.

53P/ 18C/ 10F 👏 

🍫 1oz @saygraceprotein Chocolate Pro Bites (code MYPLANTBASEDFRIEND for 10% off)
💛 25g @smartforlife edamame puffs
🥜1/2 scoop @vedgenutrition chocolate pb cup protein (code MYPLANTBASEDFRIEND for 15% off)
🥛1 cup soymilk

Can’t get much simpler than that! 🙌🏼

If you liked cocoa puffs or rice crispies, these macro friendly alternatives with better ingredients will blow your mind!

🏷️ @saygraceprotein & @vedgenutrition code: MYPLANTBASEDFRIEND

#veganproteinpowder #veganmacros #lazyvegan #vegancereal #highproteinvegan
The most DELICIOUS high protein desserts 😎💪🏼🌱 

I can’t get enough of the @greenbitesgo cookie bars, cinnamon rolls, brownies, and cookie sandwiches 🤤 

Everything is vegan, gluten free, made with wholesome ingredients AND has great macros.. what more could you ask for!?! 🍪🤩

They ship nationwide too! 📦 

Save 15% on all of your @greenbitesgo orders with code: #MYPLANTBASEDFRIEND 🫶🏼
High protein vegan buffalo chick’n mac and cheez High protein vegan buffalo chick’n mac and cheeze 😍🌱 

My favorite food growing up was mac and cheese. When I went vegan in 2016, that never changed 😁

With 41 grams of plant based protein per serving, you can nourish your nutrition goals AND your craving for a delicious comfort food 💪🏼🥘 

This meal is super quick to make, coming together in under 20 minutes, requires easy and wholesome ingredients (no store-bought vegan cheese shreds necessary), and is absolutely delicious! 🤤 

I use the @saygraceprotein tenders for the Buffalo chick’n because of the great macros and texture. 🏷️ Use code MYPLANTBASEDFRIEND to save 10% on your orders.

Comment “MAC” and I’ll send you the full recipe! 🫶🏼

#highproteinvegan #healthyveganmeals #healthyveganrecipe #plantbasedprotein #veganfoodies #veganmealideas
Date night idea + relationship reflections ❤️⬇️ 

@moonmanveganfitness and I had a blast with this 😂

Meal deets:

App (my pick): @eatluckyfoods Veggie Spring Rolls 🌯 

Entree (Justin’s pick): @momofukugoods tingly chili wavy noodles + @beyondmeat popcorn chick’n 🍜 

Dessert (my pick): @so_delicious Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream Sandwiches 🍓

Beverage (Justin’s pick): @santacruzorganic Mango Lemonade 🍋

If you don’t know our story, Justin and I met here on IG through the #veganbodybuilder hashtag 💪🏼🌱 

We’re in a long distance relationship ✈️ I live in Tampa, FL and Justin lives in Vancouver Island, Canada.

We starting dating 7 months ago today via FaceTime. 10 days later, Justin called me to tell me he was booking a flight that evening to come see me 🥹

We spent two weeks together, solidifying the incredible connection we were building 🥰 + I got to show Justin the Tampa vegan food scene 🍕🍩🍔🌮🍦

After a month apart, I got to spend 3 weeks in BC with Justin. He took me on many gorgeous hikes, and I had the best time meeting his amazing family + seeing the Island 🏔️

After another month apart, Justin spent 3 months in FL with me! We got to celebrate my birthday + our first Christmas together 🤍

We got lots of quality time with some of our best friends, the OG Vegan Squad @thebodybuildingvegan @consciouslivingwithali @yourveganmentor1 ❤️

Calling in not only this beautifully healing, conscious relationship, but also these incredibly aligned and uplifting friendships, didn’t happen by accident.

This has been a very clear intention of mine for a very long time. I feel so in awe to experience the unfolding of this manifestation 🥹

A LDR is by no means easy, especially living SO DANG FAR apart, in separate countries, at a time with a lot of uncertainty in the world, not always knowing when we’ll see each other next.

But this journey has been teaching me to stay present + trust that everything is happening for our highest good, regardless of the outcome.

Knowing Justin and I are together because we both choose every day to be is so meaningful to me. I’m forever grateful ❤️
Load More... Follow Me!

Copyright © 2025 My Plant-Based Friend on the Foodie Pro Theme

Disclosure Policy - Privacy Policy