This gluten-free mac & cheese is actually better than the box! It’s easy, delicious, and makes the perfect cozy meal or party side dish. To make it, just start cooking your choice of gluten-free pasta, make the easy cheese sauce, and mix it all together. To make cheese sauce just like the one in the box, start by making a roux. A roux is equal parts butter and gluten-free flour cooked in a sauce pan on low heat. When it starts to thicken up, add in milk, and whisk until it’s creamy and well combined. After this, just add in your shredded cheese, salt, and pepper, and mix it up until the cheese is fully melted! You can make this recipe in under twenty minutes, and eat it in less than five!
What You Need to Make Better Than the Box Gluten-Free Mac & Cheese
- Gluten-free macaroni noodles: You can use whatever pasta you like! A couple of my favorite gluten-free pastas are Eat Banza, Barilla, and Ancient Harvest. I used elbows in this recipe, but feel free to change up the shape
- Butter: Any butter you like will work! I do recommend using salted butter for optimal taste. You can use vegan butter if you are dairy-free!
- Gluten-free flour: This is essential to make a thick and creamy cheese sauce. I like using a 1:1 substitute for gluten-free flour, like Bob’s Red Mill or Cup4Cup.
- Milk: You can substitute dairy-free milk here!
- Six cheese blend: I prefer this Italian cheese blend which uses mozzarella, provolone, asiago, parmesan, romano, and fontina! The more cheeses, the merrier! You can definitely switch it up and use whatever cheeses you have in your refrigerator!
- Shredded cheddar cheese: This will give the mac & cheese the classic orange color!
- Salt: Make sure to salt the pasta water before putting in the pasta, and add sauce to the cheese sauce while it’s cooking. I also usually add a pinch of sea salt to the pot after the sauce is combined with the pasta to give it a little more flavor!
- Pepper: I like topping my macaroni & cheese with cracked pepper & red pepper flakes before eating!
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Better Than the Box Gluten-Free Mac & Cheese
This gluten-free mac & cheese recipe is actually better than the box! All you need to do is cook your gluten-free pasta, make the quick & easy cheese sauce, mix it all together, and dig in!
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 2 cups gluten-free macaroni noodles
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp gluten-free flour
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup Italian six cheese blend (mozzarella, provolone, asiago, parmesan, romano, and fontina)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
Instructions
- Bring water to a boil, and add a pinch of salt.
- Cook your choice of gluten-free pasta until soft but firm. Cook time will vary but will be roughly 7-9 minutes.
- In a small sauce pan on medium, melt down butter and gluten-free flour to make a roux. Use a whisk to stir continuously for 3 minutes or until fully combined. Flour and butter mixture will thicken up into thin paste.
- After 3 minutes, add milk. Continue whisking for 5 minutes. Sauce should be thick and creamy.
- Add in cheese, salt, and pepper. Use a spatula to slowly combine melted cheese into a sauce.
- When sauce is fully combined and creamy, remove from heat to avoid over cooking.
- When pasta is done cooking, strain the water, leaving roughly a ¼ cup pasta water in the pot with the cooked noodles.
- Pour contents of the pot into the sauce. Stir to combine. Sprinkle with your choice of seasonings to serve.
