Dairy-Free Cheesy Baked Penne
Indulge in a comforting plate of **Dairy-Free Cheesy Baked Penne**, a plant-based twist on the classic baked pasta dish that’s perfect for anyone craving a creamy, cheesy entrée without the dairy. This recipe features a luscious homemade sauce crafted from blended cashews, nutritional yeast, and unsweetened almond milk, delivering rich, cheesy goodness with a hint of nuttiness. Tossed with tender penne, fresh spinach, and juicy cherry tomatoes, this hearty bake is seasoned to perfection with garlic, onion powder, and Italian herbs like basil and oregano. Finished with a golden baked topping, it’s a wholesome, flavor-packed dish ideal for weeknight dinners or crowd-pleasing gatherings. Simple to prepare and packed with nutritious ingredients, this recipe proves you don’t need dairy to achieve cheesy perfection!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 12 oz penne pasta
- 1 cup raw cashews
- 0.5 cup nutritional yeast
- 2 cups unsweetened almond milk
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 0.5 tsp sea salt
- 0.5 tsp black pepper
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 0.25 tsp nutmeg
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Cook the penne pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
In a bowl, soak the raw cashews in hot water for about 10 minutes to soften them.
Drain the cashews and add them to a blender along with the nutritional yeast, almond milk, lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder, dried basil, dried oregano, olive oil, sea salt, black pepper, and nutmeg. Blend until smooth and creamy.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked penne, the cheese sauce, fresh spinach, and cherry tomatoes. Mix until everything is well-coated in the sauce.
Transfer the mixture to a greased baking dish.
Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the top is golden and bubbly.
Remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving.
Serve warm and enjoy your delicious dairy-free cheesy baked penne.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
1933 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 101.9 g | 131% | |
| Saturated Fat | 15.6 g | 78% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 1401 mg | 61% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 185.6 g | 67% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 33.5 g | 120% | |
| Total Sugars | 16.8 g | ||
| Protein | 83.3 g | 167% | |
| Vitamin D | 5.0 mcg | 25% | |
| Calcium | 1165 mg | 90% | |
| Iron | 18.8 mg | 104% | |
| Potassium | 2450 mg | 52% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
