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

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

FAQs

Should you rinse gluten free pasta? ›

Regardless, you want the gluten free pasta to be cooked thoroughly but not be too soft or spongy. The last thing you want is goopy pasta which gives gluten free pasta a bad rap. . Just like regular noodles, you'll want to drain the pasta, never rinse.

Why does gluten free pasta break up? ›

In fact, pasta will continue to cook for several minutes after it is taken out of the pot. Any pasta that has been overcooked will start to fall apart and dissolve, especially pastas made with less-starchy ingredients that don't naturally bind together.

Does gluten free mac and cheese taste the same? ›

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.

What are the three best cheeses 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.

What's the trick to cooking gluten-free pasta? ›

Cook pasta in an extra-large saucepan, for best results use 1lt of salted water per 100g pasta. Allow the pasta to boil uncovered while it cooks. There is no need to add oil to the cooking water. Boil for 5 minutes then carefully taste the pasta every minute until it is 'al dente'

Why can't you reheat gluten-free pasta? ›

Unfortunately, it is not advisable to reheat gluten-free pasta because it is made of corn and rice, both of which break down more quickly and easily than wheat. As a result, gluten-free pasta tends to become mushy and tasteless when cooked a second time.

Does gluten-free pasta cook differently? ›

Gluten-free pasta tends to be less forgiving than regular pasta and can go from hard in the center to mushy in a matter of minutes. The cook time on the back of the package isn't always accurate. To cover your bases, set a timer for 2 minutes shy of the time called for. Taste a few noodles at this time.

Is gluten-free pasta inflammatory? ›

For individuals with gluten-related disorders, consuming gluten-free pasta made from alternative grains, such as rice, corn or quinoa, can help alleviate inflammatory symptoms.

Why does gluten-free pasta upset my stomach? ›

Many gluten free foods contain refined starches like corn, potato and tapioca starch as well as soy, oat or rice flour. All of these can cause issues, especially symptoms of gas and bloating.

Why is everyone suddenly gluten-free? ›

Eliminating gluten is the only way to treat celiac disease, an allergic reaction to gluten that damages the lining of the small intestine. However, as part of a new diet fad, many people are going gluten-free to lose weight.

Is Velveeta gluten-free? ›

Kraft (the company that makes Velveeta) has a trusted policy to disclose any allergens on their nutrition label and there are no warning that indicate that Velveeta cheese contains any gluten ingredients. Furthermore, the gluten-free and celiac community is in agreement that Velveeta should be considered gluten-free.

Is Annie's mac and cheese gluten-free? ›

MAC & CHEESE: Our gluten-free macaroni and cheese is made with rich real cheese for the ultimate yumminess. WHOLESOME INGREDIENTS: No artificial flavors, synthetic colors or preservatives.

Are potatoes gluten-free? ›

The simple answer is yes — potatoes are gluten-free. Gluten is a type of protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and other grains. Potatoes aren't grains, they're a type of starchy vegetable. That's good news for people who can't tolerate gluten because they have celiac disease or gluten intolerance.

How to keep mac and cheese creamy the next day? ›

The #1 secret to creamy reheated mac and cheese

"Stir in about 2 Tbs. of milk per 1 cup of mac and cheese and reheat," he says. The milk loosens up the pasta and helps create the creamy sauce as it's reheating. Heavy cream works well in this case too and adds an extra touch of richness to the mac and cheese.

How do you keep homemade mac and cheese from drying out? ›

Use less thickener

You want equal amounts of butter and flour by weight. This is key. Throw in too much flour, and sure the sauce might get thick, but it also might taste floury and be lumpy. Even if you get the roux right, use too much or reduce your sauce down too far, and the macaroni and cheese will turn out dry.

How do you keep mac and cheese creamy when reheated? ›

For an individual serving or small amounts, use the microwave or stovetop. For larger amounts of frozen mac and cheese, use the oven or toaster oven. For all methods, to keep the mac and cheese from drying out, stir 1 tablespoon milk into each 1 cup mac and cheese before reheating.

How do you keep macaroni and cheese gooey? ›

I've found that the best thing to do is add a few tablespoons of milk, which is essentially water with a bit of fat and a few proteins and sugars mixed in. The water content of the milk fixes the ratio, while the proteins help ensure that the sauce gets re-emulsified, as long as you stir while you reheat.

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