Gluten Free Mac and Cheese is as creamy and decadent as it comes! This one pot recipe is made from fridge and pantry staples in minutes.
It’s a good day to talk mac and cheese (aka any day). Gluten Free Mac and Cheese, to be exact. Get. Ready!
Watch How to Make It!
No Roux Gluten Free Mac and Cheese
Mac and cheese is one of those meals that’s not inherently gluten free but is a cinch to adapt, especially because my version has no flour roux.
Just 5 ingredients — including salt! — are tossed into a pot then stirred to create the creamiest gluten free mac and cheese that tastes like it has loads of cream and butter but is actually made with, get ready for it…
SKIM MILK.
If you don’t have or like skim milk — no problem. Use whatever you’ve got in the fridge. This recipe is pretty fool proof!
How to Make This Recipe
Start by adding 6oz dry gluten free elbow pasta into a pot with milk and salt. I recommend using a corn/rice blend gluten free pasta vs brown rice pasta, which takes longer to cook, aka you’ll need more liquid.
Again, you can use whatever you’ve got on hand. I’ve used skim, 2%, and whole milk with fantastic results. At this point you can also add a dash of cayenne pepper for a hint of warmth, if you please.
Turn the heat to medium then stir slowly yet constantly with a spatula until the milk comes to a simmer — NOT a boil — 10-12 minutes. Turn the heat down to low then stir slowly yet constantly until the pasta is tender, another 5-7 minutes or so.
Before your very eyes the milk will thicken from the starches released from the pasta. SO creamy!
Once the pasta is tender add freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese then stir until the sauce is smooth, adding in an extra splash of milk if needed.
This is the fun part of the recipe because you can play around with the cheeses you like and/or have in the fridge – you really can’t go wrong! If you want to stick with a more classic sauce though, choose medium-hard cheeses like sharp cheddar, gouda, and fontina.
Let the mac and cheese thicken for a few minutes with the lid on the pan, then scoop and serve.
Make this once and you’ll be whipping it up from memory at least once a week — it’s a keeper. And you can, of course, use regular pasta in place of gluten free pasta, too. Mac and Cheese for all!
More Easy Cheesy Recipes
- Creamy Ham Peas and Pasta
- Cheesy Ham and Hash Brown Casserole
- Cheesy Gnocchi Florentine
- Creamy Mushroom Parmesan Pasta
- Angel Hair Pasta with Garlic and Herbs
- Pink Sauce Pasta
- Gluten Free Baked Ziti
Ingredients
- 6 oz dry gluten free elbow noodles, or other short cut pasta, rice/corn blend recommended
- 2-1/4 cups milk, any kind, divided
- 1 teaspoon salt
- pinch cayenne pepper
- 1 cup freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Directions
- Add the pasta, milk, salt, and cayenne pepper (if using) to a medium-size saucepan. Turn the heat to medium then stir slowly and constantly until milk comes to a simmer — NOT a boil — 10-12 minutes. Turn the heat down to low then stir slowly and constantly until the noodles are tender, adding up to an additional 1/4 cup milk if the noodles have absorbed all the liquid but aren’t tender yet. There should be a bit of milk left in the saucepan to create the cheese sauce.
- Turn off the heat then add half the shredded cheese and stir until smooth. Add the remaining shredded cheese then stir until smooth. Scoop the mac and cheese into bowls then serve.
Notes
- I have used skim, 2% and whole milk for this recipe with great results.
- Adapted from White on Rice Couple
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
Photos by Ashley McLaughlin
Yummy recipe that is pretty guilt-free. I love adding a little bit of Parmesan Cheese as well.
Never thought of cooking the pasta in the milk before..love it!
This recipe is 100% up my alley! Look at that cheese sauce! Yum! Macaroni and cheese is a particular weakness of mine. :) I’ve been dabbling in gluten-free baking, in particular, but maybe now is the time to try my hand at gluten-free cooking, too! Thanks for the recipe!
Just had this for dinner and it was a winner!
A few notes:
1. We used tinkyada brown rice pasta and ended up using 2 1/2 c milk by the time it was all said and done.
2. We used half cheddar and half smoked Gouda and oh. My. Goodness!
3. I also added 1/2 tsp turmeric, which brought out the cheesy flavor and gave it the color of nostalgic Mac and cheese.
Hope this helps someone, because you HAVE to make this! It will be on regular rotation around here.
I’ve been wondering if there is a disadvantage to using the pre-shredded cheese. Why do you recommend shredding it yourself?
I would definitely hand-shred the cheese fresh vs using pre-grated!
I agree – shred your own it is awesome and doesn’t have all that added stuff to keep it fresh or from caking.
I am definitely giving this a go! Thanks for sharing this recipe! XO -Kim
http://www.thethirtysomethinglife.com
I love adding some smoked gouda when I make mac and cheese! This looks so delicious and easy; perfect for a busy weeknight!
This is my kind of recipe! Would you be able to use Almond Milk in place of Skim? Just wondering!
I didn’t test with almond milk, just because I was using cow’s milk cheese, but I bet it would work!
This looks amazing! I, too, grew up on VSAC and always loved it. Curious as to why you rinse the pasta before cooking. I know to rinse quinoa because of the bitterness, but haven’t rinsed GF pasta (or regular pasta for that matter). Thanks!
It’s to help rinse off the starch on the surface of the pasta so it doesn’t stick together in the small amount of milk (vs a big pot of boiling water.)
I’m totally going to make this. I’ve tried so many different gluten free mac and cheese recipes and been so disappointed by most of them. Time for a good one.
I love how easy this is! I’m all about easy, cheesy comfort food! Pinned :D
Looks tasty! Could you use regular pasta in this recipe?
You bet!
Yummy! Just to clarify, you are rinsing the uncooked pasta under water before cooking? I assume if you are using regular pasta versus the gluten free you would do this as well?
Yep to both! :)
Wow! adoring the simplicity of these meal! And isn’t that really how mac and cheese should be??! Ah! happy Wednesday to us all <3
:)