Substitute For Milk In Mac And Cheese The Easy Way

Substitute For Milk In Mac And Cheese

Mac and cheese, also known as macaroni and cheese or macaroni Cheese, is a popular dish prepared by many people around the world. It is common in the United Kingdom as well as Canada and the United States.

Macaroni and cheese is a meal that contains cooked macaroni pasta, a cheese sauce, milk and other ingredients like beef, cracker crumbs, shredded chicken, and veggies. It can be made inside an oven or in a pot on top of a cooker.

Milk is the most common dairy product, and it is also a key ingredient used when making any mac and cheese recipe as it helps to add richness and creaminess. There are times when you’d want to try something different from milk that you are already used to, that is when you would need this article on mac and cheese milk substitute.

Milk being a key ingredient, you may think you would not be able to prepare mac and cheese if you run out of milk, and that is actually not correct.

In this article, I’ll be sharing with you some of the best substitute for milk in mac and cheese for whenever you are trying to replace milk. Each of these alternatives to milk in mac and cheese ingredients works just as good as milk with all the creaminess and even have their own individual benefits. Without any further ado let’s dive into the list of milk replacement for mac and cheese.

Milk Substitute For Mac And Cheese

Here are some of the best milk replacement for mac and cheese that you can use in your next mac and cheese recipe.

Cream cheese

Cream cheese is a type of cheese that is produced from milk and cream, it is soft and has a mild taste.

Cream cheese is a great replacement for milk in mac and cheese. It adds the richness and creaminess that you’d normally get when you use milk in the recipe. Due to its mild taste, cream cheese does not affect the flavor of your traditional mac and cheese recipe.

Cream cheese is thicker than whole milk so it will make the cheese sauce to be creamier than it would normally be. However, if you’d love a thinner cheese sauce, you can always thin it out by adding less butter and a bit more water.

Cream cheese is quite as nutritious as whole milk except for the fact that it is a bit lower in protein and a bit higher in fats.

Evaporated milk

If you happen to find out you’re out of whole milk when making that macaroni and cheese recipe, you can choose to use evaporated milk instead.

Evaporated milk serves as a good enough substitute for one to use as it is just a type of milk with all the water content removed. It has a thicker consistency than whole milk and also has a caramel-like kind of flavor.

When using evaporated milk in place of whole milk, you are to mix the evaporated milk with a bit of water to thin it out, resembling regular milk. To do this, create a mixture of 50% evaporated milk and 50% water, use this mixture in your recipe as you would use regular milk.

Evaporated milk adds creaminess and richness to your macaroni and cheese recipe and it is also rich in useful nutrients. Evaporated milk is known to be an excellent milk substitute for mac n cheese.

Chicken Broth

Chicken broth is a stock that is made using chicken and other ingredients. Chicken broth is not similar to milk in terms of looks or texture but it can still serve as a decent substitute for milk when making mac and cheese.

If you’re looking to stop taking dairy products, then this is a great option for you to consider when making that delicious recipe.

Chicken broth is very thin, it does not add creaminess to your mac and cheese, so when using this, try adding a thickener like parmesan cheese or flour to improve the consistency. Also, it adds the classic chicken flavor to the dish.

Coconut Milk

If you’re a vegetarian, this is one of the top alternatives you have to pick if you’re looking to replace whole milk when making mac and cheese. Coconut milk is produced after extracting the milky liquid from the grated pulp of coconuts.

Coconut milk does a good enough job at being a substitute as it has a similar look and consistency to regular milk which is important when making mac and cheese. However, it still has the classic coconut flavor which is something not everyone will appreciate.

When using coconut milk in place of whole milk, use it in the same quantity as you would have used regular milk, it will add the required creaminess to the dish. I’d advise you to use full-fat unsweetened coconut milk for the best results.

Rice Milk

This is another option available for vegans or those who don’t want to consume dairy products. Rice milk is made from milled rice.

If you are making any mac and cheese recipe, you can use rice milk in place of whole milk, it does a decent job of being a substitute.

One thing to note is that rice milk has a lighter consistency than regular milk so it makes the dish not as creamy as it would. To fix this, add a thickener and it will improve the creaminess of the dish.

Goat Milk

Goat milk is one of the most consumed dairy products in the world. It is obtained from goats as opposed to cows which are the main source of whole milk.

Goat milk is another great alternative for you to use when making that delicious macaroni and cheese recipe. It is thicker and creamier than cow milk.

In terms of nutrients, goat milk offers more and it also has added benefits like being easier to digest, lesser lactose, and better heart health.

When using goat milk as a milk replacement for mac and cheese, use the same quantity as you would have used whole milk, because they do have same replacement ratio of 1:1.

Yogurt

Yogurt is another dairy product, and it is obtained after milk has been fermented with a bacteria known as yogurt culture.

When making any macaroni and cheese recipe, you can opt to use yogurt (plain or greek) if you run out of regular milk. It does a great job as it adds enough richness and creaminess to the dish. Yogurt is also known for its great nutritional value.

If you choose to use yogurt, use the same quantity as you would milk, and also want to add the yogurt slowly while the pan is on low heat settings.

Heavy Cream

Heavy cream or heavy whipping cream are both great substitutes that you use in place of milk when making any mac and cheese recipe.

Heavy cream is a dairy product just like regular milk but it has a much higher fat content. It is also rich in several vitamins and minerals that the human body needs.

To use heavy cream in your mac and cheese recipe, take half a cup of heavy cream and half a cup of water for every cup of whole milk. This will help to give you a similar consistency. Also, you might reduce the amount of butter you’d use.

Almond Milk

Almond milk is another non-dairy milk that you have on this list, it is made from almonds and has a light texture with a nutty flavor (other flavors can be added though).

Almond milk does not have lactose which makes this a great option for those that are lactose intolerant. If you’re looking to replace milk when making mac and cheese, almond milk does a good enough job of being a substitute.

It adds the usual richness and creaminess that you’d normally get with whole milk and it is also considered to be more healthy.

Because almond milk has a lighter consistency than whole milk, you’ll need to add a thickener like parmesan cheese or butter, or flour to make the dish more creamy.

Use almond milk in the recipe as you would have used regular milk, and also, make sure to use unsweetened almond milk as it is the best option. Almond milk is an excellent substitute for milk in a lot of recipes and it is not different in mac and cheese, if you want the best milk substitute for pasta and mac and cheese then almond milk should be in your consideration.

Cashew Milk

Well, cashew milk is another non-dairy option you can choose if you’re looking to replace milk in any macaroni and cheese recipe.

Cashew milk is made from cashew nuts using a similar process to how almond milk is made. Cashew milk is known for its nutritional benefits as it is rich in proteins, minerals, vitamins, and healthy fats. It also helps to improve the body’s immune system as well as heart health.

As opposed to most non-dairy milk, cashew milk has a thick consistency and is known for having thick consistency so you won’t need any additional thickener. Cashew milk is one of the best substitutes for milk in mac and cheese any could consider.

To use replace milk with cashew milk, use the same quantity of milk that the recipe calls for. Also, this is not suitable for anyone who has a nut allergy.

Soy Milk

Soy milk is another great plant based alternative to milk in mac and cheese recipe. Soy milk is a plant-based milk made from soybeans so it is free of cholesterol and lactose. It is still rich in useful nutrients that the human body needs.

Soy milk looks like regular milk, and it also has a similar consistency as it is not too thin nor too thick. When used in place of whole milk, soy milk still makes a creamy and rich macaroni and cheese dish.

When using this, take the same amount of soy milk as you would have taken regular milk. Unflavored soy milk works best at being a substitute for milk in mac and cheese.

Hemp Seed Milk

Hemp seed milk, also known as hemp milk, is a plant milk that is made from hemp seeds. It is similar to regular milk in terms of texture, color, and flavor. Hemp milk is a good product for you to use in place of milk when making any macaroni and cheese recipe.

Hemp seed milk is as thick as whole milk so it adds the same richness and creaminess that you would normally get.

Hemp milk is also known for its numerous nutritional value as it is a great source of proteins, healthy fats, minerals, and vitamins.

When using this, take about 25% less quantity than you would normal milk to make a perfectly creamy dish. Hemp milk has a visibly nutty taste so keep this in mind as not everyone will like this.

Sour Cream

Sour cream is another type of dairy product that you can use in place of milk when making any macaroni and cheese recipe. It is obtained from fermenting regular cream with certain kinds of lactic acid bacteria which make the cream sour and thick.

Sour cream does a good enough job of being a substitute for milk. It is thicker than regular milk which will make the meal more creamy. You can add a bit of water to thin it out if you don’t want the dish to be too thick.

When using sour cream, take the same quantity as you would regular milk. Also, keep in mind that it adds a slightly sharp flavor to the dish which some may love. You could also use some of the substitutes for sour cream in cheesecakes that may be good, depending on exactly what you are cooking.

Oat Milk

Oat milk is another great option for you to consider as a milk replacement for macaroni and cheese. It is obtained from whole oat grains by extracting the plant material with water.

Oat milk has a similar consistency to whole milk so it will help to add the same level of creaminess to your dish. It is also rich in useful nutrients and does not contain lactose or cholesterol.

To do this, use the same quantity of oat milk as you would regular milk. Also, use unsweetened plain oat milk to get the best results.

Macaroni Water

Water is readily available anywhere and surprisingly, it can be used as a decent enough substitute for milk when making macaroni and cheese.

To do this, just use the water you boiled the macaroni in as it would be high in starch which will help to thicken the dish. As we know, only this would not give that creamy feeling of traditional mac and cheese so make sure to use about twice the amount of butter you’d have used and also add a thickener like flour to it. Before you go, you need to see these substitutes for milk in pancakes.