Gluten-Free Stove Top Macaroni and Cheese Recipe (2024)

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Gluten-Free Stove Top Macaroni and Cheese Recipe (1)

Easy, creamy make-and-eat gluten-free mac and cheese recipe - One-pan macaroni and cheese!

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Stove top macaroni and cheese, so rich and delicious that adults will love it, too? Yeah, this one's a keeper...

This gluten free mac and cheese recipe uses minimal ingredients and only requires a few simple steps. It's cooked in one pan!

This gluten free macaroni and cheese recipe is gluten-free, nut-free, and egg-free.

Article courtesy ofAlison Needham, A Girl Defloured

About kid-approved gluten free mac and cheese:

My kids agree on practically nothing when it comes to dinner–this recipe for macaroni and cheese included. My middle son, under no circ*mstances, will eat pasta. The oldest son practicallyeats nothing but pasta (with meat sauce). And their sister prefers her pasta to come slathered with a creamy alfredo sauce or cheese. However (embarrassingly) she always liked the boxed mac & cheese more than any homemade version I served her. Until this!

Gluten-Free Stove Top Macaroni and Cheese Recipe (2)

Enter Stove Top Macaroni and Cheese - the recipe that makes (almost) everyone happy!

I gave up on homemade macaroni & cheese for a long time. Why bother to make a from-scratch sauce when my kids just turned up their nose? But then I discovered a method to make it on the stove top that everyone (except my one son who refuses pasta) loves–adults included.

Stove top macaroni and cheese is kind of revolutionary really. And all kinds of crazy awesome. I must warn you, though, this is NOT a health food…you’re not one of those people who thinks being gluten-freewill help you lose weight, are you? Good.

Serve this Stove Top Mac & Cheese right away - consider it "make & eat" style.

The one caveat to this dish is that it must be served immediately or the sauce can become clumpy. It can be rewarmed, but you'll need to swirl in a bit of milk and hope for the best. But I think you’ll find that once you set this dish on the table, it will disappear in a few seconds flat.

What you need to make this easy gluten-free mac & cheese:

What kind of gluten-free pasta to use in this macaroni & cheese:

There are tons of gluten-free pastas on the market. My current favorites arethedried elbow pasta dried gluten-free elbow pasta, we like the ones from Schar, Barilla orJovial. You definitely want to use a dry pasta in this recipe.

Let's make gluten-free stove top mac & cheese!

Stove Top Macaroni and Cheese

Alison Needham

I discovered a method to make macaroni and cheese on the stove top that everyone loves–adults included. It’s kind of revolutionary really. And all kinds of crazy awesome.

5 from 17 votes

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Servings 4 servings

Calories 816 kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoon butter
  • 1 onion finely chopped
  • ¼ teaspoon oregano
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon gluten-free all-purpose flour blend
  • 3 ½ cups half and half
  • 8 oz (about 3 cups) dry gluten-free macaroni
  • 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese freshly grated (do not use the pre-bagged kind because the extra starches will cause the sauce to be too thick)

Instructions

  • Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until onion is soft and translucent. Stir in the oregano, salt and flour and cook for 1 minute more.

  • Add the half and half and pasta and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes or until pasta is cooked through.

  • Add the cheese and stir until melted. Serve immediately.

Notes

This incredibly simple stove top mac & cheese far surpasses any recipe I’ve tried in both flavor and texture. It is crazy rich and crazy delicious. For my family of 5, I always double the recipe and for best results, serve it immediately–as it sits the sauce will begin to thicken.

Nutrition

Calories: 816kcalCarbohydrates: 55gProtein: 26gFat: 56gSaturated Fat: 35gCholesterol: 168mgSodium: 1151mgPotassium: 371mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 1666IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 639mgIron: 1mg

Love this gluten-free macaroni & cheese recipe? Try these next!

The Best Baked Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese

This gluten-free Baked Mac and Cheese is a crowd-pleasing favorite! Cheesy & creamy with a crunchy, buttery top, it's everything baked macaroni & cheese should be.

Bacon Pimento Macaroni and Cheese

We are confident you will enjoy this Southern-inspired gluten-free bacon pimento macaroni and cheese recipe.

It's ideal for a potluck, as a side dish, or combined with a fresh green salad for a satisfying meal.

You'll want to prepare this dish repeatedly!

You will never eat a better macaroni and cheese than this. Swear.

More of Alison's gluten-free recipes to try:

Gluten-Free Stove Top Macaroni and Cheese Recipe (6)

Alison's No Cook Fresh Tomato Sauce:

This no cook, fresh tomato sauce for pasta is bursting with summer flavor. Spiked with fresh garlic and basil, the only other ingredients are a glug of olive oil, a squeeze of lemon and a pinch of salt and pepper. How easy is that?

Incredible Gluten-Free French Apple Cake

This Gluten-Free French Apple Cake, adapted from Cook's Illustrated, has a rich custardy bottom, a light cake layer and a crisp sugary topping. Serve it warm, or at room temperature.

Frequently Asked Questions about this Stove Top Mac and Cheese:

How do you make one pan mac and cheese?

To make mac and cheese in a single pan, we cook the pasta in half and half and stir the cheese and other ingredients in as the pasta is cooking. It's delicious!

Is Kraft mac and cheese gluten free?

Kraft now makes a gluten free Kraft mac and cheeseboxed product. Standard Kraft macaroni and cheese is not gluten free, so look fpr the product with the green Gluten-Free banner on the label. The pasta in gluten free Kraft mac and cheese is made from rice and corn.

What is the easiest way to make gluten free mac and cheese?

One pan stove top macaroni and cheese is the best easy gluten free mac and cheese. Gluten free pasta cooks in half and half, and the cheese and other ingredients are stirred in while the pasta is cooking.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mary Frances says

    Gluten-Free Stove Top Macaroni and Cheese Recipe (12)
    This looks super creamy and cheesy!

    Reply

    • G-Free Foodie says

      Gluten-Free Stove Top Macaroni and Cheese Recipe (13)
      It is - it's delish!

      Reply

Let Us Know What You Think

Gluten-Free Stove Top Macaroni and Cheese Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Does gluten free mac and cheese taste different? ›

Gluten free mac and cheese can and should taste just as good as the other stuff. We think you'll love these. If you love Kraft Mac and Cheese but you always wish the cheese sauce tasted a little bit more like actual cheese, Annie's Gluten Free mac and cheese is the way to go.

Why is my homemade mac and cheese not creamy? ›

Pro Tip: Don't use pre-shredded cheese. Many store-bought shredded cheese brands coat their cheese with an anti-caking agent than can make sauces grainy and less creamy. While it requires a bit of an arm workout, grating your own yields the best texture.

Which cheese is best for mac and cheese? ›

What Is the Best Cheese for Mac and Cheese? Sharp cheddar is the overwhelming popular choice, but for extra-creamy results, we think medium cheddar is even better. Other delicious options include Gruyère, smoked Gouda, and Monterey Jack.

Why add flour to mac and cheese? ›

In our stovetop mac and cheese recipe, a bit of flour is add to the milk mixture to thicken the final dish.
  1. Learn how to make the best stovetop mac and cheese without a roux: How To Make the Best Macaroni and Cheese on the Stove.
  2. A great reason for grating cheese: How To Make Classic Baked Macaroni & Cheese.

Does gluten-free still taste good? ›

Generally, gluten free baked products are characterized by reduced textural and sensorial properties compared to their gluten-containing counterparts [4]. Because of the flours employed, gluten free biscuits may be harder, may present a dry and sandy mouthfeel and an unpleasant appearance, taste, or color [5].

Does gluten-free pasta taste as good as regular pasta? ›

A quality gluten-free pasta is almost identical to regular pasta. In fact, your family may not even notice! The primary difference is that gluten-free pasta tends to have a more grainy texture and may offer a slightly nutty flavor that pairs perfectly with creamy sauce.

What not to do when making mac and cheese? ›

The 5 Biggest Mac & Cheese Mistakes
  1. Using Only Cheddar cheese. Because macaroni and cheese is English in origin, you might be tempted to make it with only cheddar cheese. ...
  2. Not Adding Spice and Seasoning with Salt. The flavor of the cheese is enhanced with spice. ...
  3. Choosing the Wrong Pasta. ...
  4. Overcooking. ...
  5. Skimping on the Toppings.
May 21, 2020

How do you make mac and cheese taste better? ›

How to Make Boxed Mac and Cheese Taste Better. To improve the tang and overall cheesiness of your boxed mac, add 2 to 3 tablespoons of plain Greek yogurt to the cooked and drained pasta while it's still warm. Toss to combine, then stir in the cheese powder until it's uniformly blended.

What keeps mac and cheese moist? ›

As a rough guide for 500g (1 pound) pasta you need a sauce made with about 1 litre (1 quart) milk. The pasta should be slightly submerged in sauce when in its baking dish, but once your mac and cheese emerges from the oven the macaroni should be nicely coated with sauce, rather than dry.

How does Gordon Ramsay make the best mac and cheese? ›

Gordon Ramsay's mac and cheese is a simplified recipe. Just boil pasta in milk and then, add butter, cheese, salt, and pepper to it. Merge all the elements and Gordon Ramsay's mac and cheese will be ready in no time.

Is Velveeta real cheese? ›

Though Velveeta is no longer an FDA-defined genuine cheese, it does have some similarities, namely pasteurized milk and cheese culture.

What kind of milk is best for mac and cheese? ›

Whole milk is preferred for this recipe for the ultimate creamy mac and cheese. Using a lower fat milk may work, but the sauce may be less creamy/slightly grainy. Monterey Jack can be subbed for the gruyere – it will impart a slightly different flavor, but can work in a pinch.

Why does my homemade mac and cheese taste bland? ›

Try adding a little more salt first, because that might fix it. If the problem was the cheese you use doesn't have much flavor, then try adding some other flavors, such has mustard or hot sauce. The next time you make it, try to find some more strongly flavor cheese, or adding more cheese.

What happens if you use water instead of milk in mac and cheese? ›

Water actually works perfectly well as a milk substitute in mac and cheese. It adds all the liquid you need, though it doesn't have the creaminess or flavor that other substitutes add. However, if you add a little pasta water, instead of plain tap water, to your cheese sauce, you might get better results.

Can you put too much cheese in mac and cheese? ›

Can you put too much cheese in mac and cheese? Yes, adding more cheese than a recipe calls for will not improve the dish. Too much cheese will result in a dish that is heavy and greasy.

Does gluten-free Kraft mac and cheese taste the same? ›

Tastes just like the regular Kraft Mac and Cheese. kayla8991 I have celiac and it's been fine for me!

Does gluten-free change the taste? ›

All gluten-free flours have a different taste. Some gluten-free flours are naturally sweet, some are nutty, while others have a strong flavor. When you're just getting started baking gluten-free, experiment with as many different flours as you can. Be sure to keep notes about which flours you like and which you don't.

Does gluten-free dough taste the same? ›

Gluten free pizza crust doesn't taste exactly the same as the gluten-based options on the market. But when you think about it, no two kinds of pizza crust taste exactly the same anyway. Some might carry a strong herb or spice flavor, for example, while other crusts might taste more strongly of yeast.

Does gluten-free dough taste different? ›

Gluten-free pizza crusts are usually a little thinner than regular pizza crusts. They may also be made with different flour than regular pizza crusts. This may give them a different taste, but most people report that gluten-free pizzas are similar to their regular counterparts.

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