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Vegan Jalapeño Chickpea Mac and Cheese {Gluten Free}

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Vegan Jalapeño Chickpea Mac and Cheese Pasta is gluten free, full of flavor, and ready in under 45 minutes. Made with a lentil and chickpea pasta, jalapeños, and Mexican spices. It’s a healthy hearty plant based meal that can feed a big family or multiple dinners for two! 

This Vegan Jalapeño Chickpea Mac and Cheese Pasta is gluten free, full of flavor, and ready in under 45 minutes. Made with a lentil and chickpea pasta, jalapeños, and Mexican spices. It's a healthy hearty plant based meal that can feed a family or dinner for two!

Oh hey there spicy bowl of goodness round two! Yes, another dairy free flavorful bowl for you today. Mmm k? This one has a good story. It promise. Yes, it involves Jalapeño Chickpea Mac and Cheese (what we call it) and all the plant based vegan gluten free vibes. YO!

This Vegan Jalapeño Chickpea Mac and Cheese Pasta is gluten free, full of flavor, and ready in under 45 minutes. Made with a lentil and chickpea pasta, jalapeños, and Mexican spices. It's a healthy hearty plant based meal that can feed a family or dinner for two!

 

So.. 11 years ago I met this cute curly head Kiwi triathlete. Um, my husband. I spent the next year trying to impress him with charm and cooking. Haha. Well..sorta.

At the time, we were both living in Hawaii and we often tried to save money by spending a date night in at my place. My 300 square foot hole in the wall place. Fun times! Anyway, this was around the time I first started eating gluten free (for health reasons). OYE!! That was a trial and error yea, for suree. Anyway, I decided to make the kiwi a romantic gluten free pasta dinner for our date night in. My first attempt at gluten feee pasta. I scoured the store for the best looking gluten free pasta noodles only to find 1 brand. One! And it was made with corn and about 20 other ingredients I didn’t know. But I bought it. Plopped it in the pot. And away I went trying to make a gluten free date night dinner. Only to realize that 5 minutes later my pasta was mush. Yes mush. Wanna know the worst part?

I served it anyway. Haha. And we laughed. And we “kinda sorta”‘ ate it.

Well fast forward a decade and boy gluten free pasta has changed. Thank goodness! I’ve literally tried dozens! And I’m happy to report that the kiwi and I both looooove Chickapea pasta. No mush. Just real past taste because it’s made from chickpeas and lentils. That’s it. Really!  No fillers. No corn (phew!), no grains. And oh so filling. More on that below.


 This Vegan Jalapeño Chickpea Mac and Cheese Pasta is gluten free, full of flavor, and ready in under 45 minutes. Made with a lentil and chickpea pasta, jalapeños, and Mexican spices. It's a healthy hearty plant based meal that can feed a family or dinner for two!

For now, let’s now narrow in on this Vegan Jalapeño Chickpea Mac and Cheese pasta.

In relation to that mushy pasta memory mentioned above of course. You see, jalapeño and cheese has been one of my husband’s FAVORITE combos for years. And since we’ve finally found a gluten free pasta that um.. tastes like pasta and doesn’t fall apart, I figured we should revive that memory. You know.. SPICE it up a bit. Because I’m “Cheesy”! Bahaha, yes I just went there.

That being said, 10 years later I totally made it up to the kiwi with this new  pasta dish. I like to call this Jalapeño Chickpea Mac and Cheese pasta the Cotter Comeback (Welcome back Kotter) pasta dish. If you’re older than 30 hopefully you get that joke.

This Vegan Jalapeño Chickpea Mac and Cheese Pasta is gluten free, full of flavor, and ready in under 45 minutes. Made with a lentil and chickpea pasta, jalapeños, and Mexican spices. It's a healthy hearty plant based meal that can feed a family or dinner for two!

Yes, I’m in an extra loving and nourishing (healing) mood this week. It’s time to rekindle that romance (and that original gluten free pasta recipe), in Spicy Vegan chickpea Mac and Cheese PASTA form ya’ll!

So about that Chickapea pasta. Oh how I love thee.. let me count the ways.

This Vegan Jalapeño Chickpea Mac and Cheese Pasta is gluten free, full of flavor, and ready in under 45 minutes. Made with a lentil and chickpea pasta, jalapeños, and Mexican spices. It's a healthy hearty plant based meal that can feed a family or dinner for two!

Chickapea pasta is a Gluten Free pasta made with just 2 ingredients…chickpeas and red lentils.

It’s pulses POWER pasta! Did I mention I’m kinda obsessed with pulses?  Lentils, beans, aquafaba goodness, etc.

Anyway,  I don’t know how they do it ya’ll but Chickapea’s 2 ingredient pasta is spot on with texture and taste. Meaning, no weird gummy taste. Ya, impressive is just one of the words that come to mind. It’s gluten free, vegan, organic, kosher and comes packed with 27 grams of protein and 13 grams of fiber per serving. Totally gets my nerdy nutritionist stamp of approval!

This Mighty Mexican Jalapeño Chickpea Mac and Cheese  pasta is a must make. I know, I keep expanding on the title. But stay with me here. All you need to do is spice up those chickpeas, bake with your jalapeños, then toss into the “cheesy” pasta. Simple!

This Vegan Jalapeño Chickpea Mac and Cheese Pasta is gluten free, full of flavor, and ready in under 45 minutes. Made with a lentil and chickpea pasta, jalapeños, and Mexican spices. It's a healthy hearty plant based meal that can feed a family or dinner for two!

The “cheesy” base comes from mixing nutritional yeast with coconut milk as the “cream/cheese” part. And because it’s made with organic lentils and chickpeas, it adds in an even greater source of B Vitamins and Plant based iron! This is a HUGE health perk for vegans and vegetarians!

This Vegan Jalapeño Chickpea Mac and Cheese Pasta is gluten free, full of flavor, and ready in under 45 minutes. Made with a lentil and chickpea pasta, jalapeños, and Mexican spices. It's a healthy hearty plant based meal that can feed a family or dinner for two!

Now who’s hungry? I’v got the chickpea pasta recipe ready to share below!

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Vegan Jalapeño Chickpea Mac and Cheese Pasta {Gluten Free}

★★★★

4 from 30 reviews
  • Author: Lindsay Cotter
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 7 servings
  • Category: main, dinner
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

This Vegan Jalapeño Chickpea Mac and Cheese Pasta is gluten free, full of flavor, and ready in under 45 minutes. A healthy hearty plant based meal to feed a family or multiple dinners for two!

Ingredients

  • 16 oz (2 boxes) chickapea shells (see notes for link to product)
  • 8-10 c water
  • pinch of sea Salt
  • 2 sliced jalapeños. Keep seeds if you want extra spicy.
  • 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas (drained)
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp chili powder
  • 1/4 tsp garlic salt
  • 2-3 tbsp olive oil or avocado oil (divided)
  • Pinch of cumin
  • 1- 2 tsp tsp garlic minced (divided)
  • 1/4 to 1/2 tsp each salt salt/pepper (divided)
  • For the cheese sauce:
  • 3/4 c coconut or almond milk plus 1/4 cup broth or water (add more if you need to thin out sauce)
  • 3/4 c nutritional yeast
  • 1 tbsp gluten free flour or potato/tapioca starch
  • Cilantro and crushed red pepper to garnish.
  • Optional 2 tbsp taco sauce or Tabasco.
  • Extra nutritional yeast if desired (see notes)
  • For thicker vegan cheese sauce, you can also just use my Vegan Con Queso Cheese (see notes)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven 400F. Slice jalpenos 1/4 in to 1/2 inch thick. If you slice them too thick they will cook faster than the time I recommend.
  2. Mix, chickpeas, jalapenos, and paprika, cumin, salt/pepper, garlic salt in a bowl with oil. Spread on baking sheet and bake 400F for 15-20 minutes.
  3. While that is baking, cook your pasta.
  4. Once pasta is cooked, drain and lightly rinse. Add back into the pot with 1 -2 tbsp olive oil and 1/2 tsp garlic minced. Add in 1/4 tsp salt/pepper to taste. Keep heat on low.
  5. Updated – In another small saucepan, whisk together 3/4 cup coconut or almond milk with 1/4 cup broth or water, 3/4 cup nutritional yeast flakes, 1/2 tsp minced garlic, and 1 tablespoon gluten free flour or starch (tapioca or potato work great). Cook on medium until mixed and thickened “cheesy” sauce is formed. Add a few tablespoons more milk if you need to thin out sauce before adding to pasta. Notes: Depending on the type of pasta you use, you made need to make more sauce. Some pastas absorb the sauce more than others.
  6. Add this sauce to your pasta, mix together. Keep pasta on low or covered until Jalapeño chickpea bake is ready.
  7. Once jalapenos/chickpeas are baked, add them to the pasta.
  8. Cook all together for 5 minutes on low adding more salt/pepper if desired..
  9. Mix in Optional taco sauce if you want extra Mexican flavor!
  10. Serve and garnish with cilantro and chili pepper flakes.

Notes

  • If you want a little creamier cheese, check out my Con Queso Cheese Sauce. You could add this would a bit of nutritional yeast.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1
  • Calories: 431
  • Sugar: 2.5g
  • Sodium: 439.6mg
  • Fat: 8.5g
  • Saturated Fat: 0.8g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 1.1g
  • Trans Fat: 3.3g
  • Carbohydrates: 68.5g
  • Fiber: 16.6g
  • Protein: 26.8g
  • Cholesterol: 0mg

Keywords: chickpea mac and cheese, vegan mac and cheese, gluten free pasta recipe, vegan cheese sauce

Ya’ll, this dish is perfect for hearty plant based meal or, dare I say it… a quick date night dinner in. SPICY! Ohhh lala!

This Vegan Jalapeño Chickpea Mac and Cheese Pasta is gluten free, full of flavor, and ready in under 45 minutes. Made with a lentil and chickpea pasta, jalapeños, and Mexican spices. It's a healthy hearty plant based meal that can feed a family or dinner for two!

Don’t worry, the red nails are not necessary for the spicy part. Mwah!

This Vegan Jalapeño Chickpea Mac and Cheese Pasta is gluten free, full of flavor, and ready in under 45 minutes. Made with a lentil and chickpea pasta, jalapeños, and Mexican spices. It's a healthy hearty plant based meal that can feed a family or dinner for two!

What’s your favorite gluten free pasta dish? Ever tried spicy chickpeas in your pasta? DO IT! So good!

 YUM! A #Vegan Jalapeño Chickpea Mac and Cheese Pasta that’s #glutenfree! @chickapeapasta

Click To Tweet

This Jalapeño Chickpea Mac and Cheese Pasta  recipe is sponsored by my Chickapea Friends! Thankful they supply us with such quality lentil chickpea pasta and the chance to try out a new nourishing gluten free product. 

Keep up with the Chickapea on social media. They are full of recipe inspiration!  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube

Cheers!

 

 

 

This Vegan Jalapeño Chickpea Mac and Cheese Pasta is gluten free, full of flavor, and ready in under 45 minutes. Made with a lentil and chickpea pasta, jalapeños, and Mexican spices. It’s a healthy hearty plant based meal that can feed a family or dinners for two! www.cottercrunch.com

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  4. Lol sounds like my exact first go at gluten-free pasta, too…it all just broke and turned out super mooshy. I love that there are more gf options available now that aren’t corn-based. I’ve tried Chickpea Pasta and love it! Definitely great texture, and I love that it’s made with quality ingredients. This jalapeno mac is right up my alley!

    Reply

  5. This looks so good and my husband and I love spicy food! I’d have to make two batches so they girls could get their mac n cheese fix. I’ve yet to try chickpea pasta but might have to breakdown and try it. Only 2 of us like chickpeas and the other two aren’t fans. Plus the hubby got a pasta roller so he is all about making his own pasta but I think I’ll have to sneak this in some weeknight.

    Reply

  6. This recipe is GORGEOUS Lindsay!!! I definitely need to add it to my list of things to make – I still have a couple boxes of Chickapea kicking around and all I can say is that they definitely need to get covered in cheese and jalapenos!

    Reply

  7. This looks amazing!!!!! We will definitely be trying this. It combines many of my food loves. Jalapenos, chickpeas, carbs, gooey vegan cheese sauce……
    I’ve been eyeing those little chickpea shells in the supermarket. Guess now is a good time to try them.

    Reply

  15. i absolutely love this dish Lindsay! it’s absolutely beautiful. my son and his girlfriend are vegan and i’m really excited to make this for them. btw, like you, i’m a long time gluten free girl and i happen to think this is the best pasta ever!

    Reply

  20. Pretty sure you’re cooking for Vegas this week. She thinks Mac and cheese is a food group. No joke. Love this. Love the jalapeños. Love you.

    Reply

  21. Double my chickpea love! This looks loaded with fiber and flavor … what a fun and creative way to get my beans. But you know what caught my eye first? Those jalapeños. Love, love, love the addition of full slices. I like it hot!! 🙂

    Reply

  27. Awww I love those memories! And yes, this dish definitely rocks! I am a spice wimp though…but I need to get my hands on some of this pasta!

    Reply

  30. Spicy Mac N Cheese, heaven… same thing, really? This looks SO stinkin’ good!! I cannot wait to try it and see the looks of pure joy on my hubby’s face when he realizes it’s not velveeta 😉 Awesome post!

    Reply

  36. I promised myself after this last race that I’d finally take the plunge from vegetarian to Vegan. This mac and cheese recipe is making me think the change won’t be so bad!

    Reply

  39. Stunning and creative recipe Lindsay! So excited to see this pasta. The lentil pasta that I loved started cutting in brown rice flour and just wasn’t as good in my opinion. Beans make darn good pasta!

    Reply

  41. Oh, yum! Thanks for the tip on the pasta, I’m looking to reduce my rice intake after recent reports of G free people having higher arsenic and mercury levels in their bodies than the general population. BTW, after going through some old boxes I just came across a welcome back Kotter poster that I had hanging in my room when I was a kid, it was signed by all the actors, back when John was super cute!

    Reply

  42. I’m excited to try this recipe. I have another vegan mac n cheese recipe that I have used that calls for butternut squash, curry, and nutritional yeast, but my family gave it a thumbs down. thank you for posting this! I will report back and let you know how my vegan kids like it! 🙂

    Reply

  43. We tried this last night. Apparently I sliced the jalapeños too thin as they burnt to a crisp. Undaunted we soldiered on and added more red chili flakes. It was tasty but boy did the pasta absorb the sauce (even with rinsing it first). Next time I’ll double the sauce which, I mean, how bad could that be 😉

    Reply

    • Oh I’m sorry! Did you make more more sauce? I put that in notes but I will test Again and update it. I think it also depends on the type of pasta you use. How much sauce did you end up using? Thanks!

      Reply

  45. This recipe did not turn out well at all. I had to put in 3.5 cups (yes) of almond milk to thin this sauce out, ad even then it wasn’t too creamy. I’ve tried nutritional yeast in some other recipes and wasn’t entirely convinced, so I figured i’d give it one last try. I will never put it in any recipe ever again. It just doesn’t cut it. I think for something like this you have to make a cheese sauce using cashews to make it really creamy. I’ve seen recipes for super gooey stretchy vegan cheese, and I think that’s needed here. This cheese sauce didn’t work out. Aside from missing the cheesy texture and flavor, the other flavors didn’t really liven things up either. I don’t know, I don’t think I would try this one again. Sorry 🙁

    Reply

  46. I made this this weekend for myself and my boyfriend (non-vegan) and we both LOVED IT. I used a new cashew milk I saw at the grocery store that looked thicker than must non-dairy milks. I would double the jalapenos or add other veggies next time – maybe roasted red peppers. But it was great. And I was inspired to try making chickpeas from scratch for this recipe and those were delicious too in this. My boyfriend loved it – he wants it again!

    Reply
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