30 Amazing Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese Recipes & Ideas
Now that you’ve discovered delicious gluten-free Skinny Mac, you might be ready to level up your mac and cheese game! We all love doctored-up mac and cheese for its convenience and variety.
With these fantastic gluten-free mac and cheese recipes and ideas, you'll be able to enjoy Skinny Mac for every meal without getting bored. There are so many pastabilities!
Meet the (Skinny) Mac
If you haven’t tried Skinny Mac from It’s Skinny yet, prepare to have your mind blown! Skinny Mac is yummy, creamy, decadent, and the best boxed stuff around. There’s no reason to feel you’re missing out with Skinny Mac!
To make a gluten-free mac, we started with the perfect noodle. It’s Skinny is well known for having the best gluten-free pasta on the market. Our noodle varieties are available in all the shapes you love:
· Orzo
· Couscous
And with Skinny Mac, the perfect Mac shape—“Fettutini.” This little noodle is just right for grabbing that creamy, dreamy sauce and delivering it straight to your mouth. Skinny Mac is low in carbs because It's Skinny Noodles have zero net carbs on their own and only 9 calories per pack.
How’d we get such “skinny” noodles? It’s all thanks to an amazing plant known as konjac. The konjac plant is a root vegetable that resembles a turnip or a radish. It’s high in satiating glucomannan fiber, and it happens to make the ideal textured pasta swap.
Unlike many other low-carb and gluten-free pasta options, It’s Skinny won’t overpower your dish or leave a weird aftertaste. The neutral flavor is perfect for any pasta recipe—just like the standard stuff.
What's more, Its Skinny products, including Skinny Mac, are ready in no time flat. There's no need to boil water and wait for the right al dente texture. You just add these noodles to the sauce and let them heat through, and they're ready to go.
Order up some Skinny Mac today and prepare to meet your new favorite gluten-free meal. If you’re looking for ways to level up your Skinny Mac game, try these gluten-free mac and cheese recipes and ideas!
Protein-Packed Skinny Mac Add-Ins
If you're following a high-protein or low-carb diet (like keto), you can get plenty of protein in your serving of Skinny Mac. Add in some of these delicious protein-packed options to make your Skinny Mac even more filling and satisfying.
1. Grilled Chicken: Chicken makes everything better! Add some diced or shredded grilled chicken to your Mac, along with the noodles, and let it heat through. In about three minutes, you'll have a protein-packed lunch or dinner you'll love.
- Bacon Crumbles: Bacon is low-carb and gluten-free! So feel free to pile on the bacon. Add some crumbled pieces for crispy, smoky richness.
- Lobster or Crab: Crab and lobster mac may seem a little high-end for the boxed stuff, but once you’ve tried it, you won’t look back. Go with this high-low combination for a luxurious, convenient meal.
- Ground Beef or Turkey: Make cheeseburger-style Skinny Mac by adding in some cooked and seasoned ground beef or ground turkey. You can even top it with ketchup and a few pickles!
- Pulled Pork: Go the Southern route with sweet and smokey pulled pork. Add leftover barbecue pork (or any barbecued meat) to your Skinny Mac and let it heat up. It's better than BBQ!
- Plant-Based Sausage: Going vegetarian? You can add plant-based sausage or spicy crumbles to your Skinny Mac, too. Be sure to check that the product is gluten-free, and then the sky’s the limit. Makeover your mac for a meatless Monday superstar.
- Tofu Cubes: Pan-fried, marinated tofu adds a boost of protein to your meal and provides a fun, chewy texture. If you’re a fan of tofu, this is a great place to add it to your meal and kick up the plant-based protein.
- Scrambled Eggs: Breakfast Skinny Mac, anyone? Scrambled eggs are an excellent addition to any mac and cheese recipe. It's a hot breakfast that will stick with you throughout that day. It may sound unconventional, but this mac add-in is a winner.
- Canned Tuna or Salmon: Go for the fast “mock tuna casserole” recipe with some canned salmon or tuna. You can even add a few handfuls of peas to really ramp up that home-cooked tuna casserole vibe.
Vegetable Add-Ins
There’s no guilt-free, healthy addition like vegetables. Once you start to experiment with your veggie options, you’ll be amazed at the flavor, texture, and zing you can add to any meal with the right vegetable. Let’s get you started in the garden.
- Broccoli Florets: Have some leftover broccoli? Steamed or roasted, broccoli and Skinny Mac are a killer combo. This is such a comfort combination—it will remind you of Mom’s broccoli cheese soup or your favorite broccoli casserole.
- Cauliflower: Seeking texture? Don’t give cauliflower the cold shoulder. Roast it or rice it and add it to your Skinny Mac for a tempting texture and filling fiber boost. Cauliflower is an easy vegetable to add to almost any dish.
- Spinach or Kale: Get more green in your life with spinach or kale. Sauté or wilt these leafy greens for plenty of extra vitamins and nutrients. If you want to make your meals healthier, go green!
- Cherry Tomatoes: Whether you have some fresh-from-the-vine cherry tomatoes in your garden or want to use up that basket from the farmer’s market, cherry tomatoes are a delicious Mac add-in. Pro-tip: try them roasted for an extra burst of sweetness.
- Zucchini or Yellow Squash: Zucchini and yellow squash are low-calorie, easy-to-find vegetables that add extra fiber and nutrition to any recipe. Dice them up and sauté them before you add them to your Skinny Mac.
- Caramelized Onions: When you cook diced onions in a little butter, they become rich and caramelized (and, frankly, irresistible). If you want that ideal note of sweet-and-savory, caramelized onions are just the ingredient to add!
- Bell Peppers: Did you know that red bell peppers are a great source of vitamin C? Green, yellow, orange, or red, diced peppers add flavor, nutrients, and a little crunchy sweetness to your Skinny Mac. Try them roasted or sauteed in the Mac and cheese recipe, or just dice and throw them right in.
- Butternut Squash: Skinny Mac is known for having the creamiest, cheesiest sauce already, but if you want to go for the ultimate creamy dish, add pureed butternut squash. Get ready for an unbelievably rich (yet healthy) dish.
- Jalapeños or Green Chiles: Care for a kick? Spicy peppers are a fun way to jazz up any meal, especially Skinny Mac. Dice ‘em, slice ‘em, and add them to your mac to feel the delicious burn.
- Sweet Corn: Corn might be a less conventional addition to Mac and cheese, but it's delicious. Whether you add it fresh off the cob or roasted, it's a great gluten-free option. Note, however, that corn is higher in carbs, so be sure you watch your numbers if you're watching your carbohydrate intake.
Crunchy Toppings
How about the perfect mouthfeel? You know what we’re talking about? Smooth, creamy, crunchy, and so crave-worthy—when you add some crunchy toppings to your gluten-free Mac and cheese recipe, it instantly becomes a party!
- Crushed Corn Chips: Looking for a gluten-free alternative to breadcrumbs? Crumble up some corn chips instead! You get a crunchy chip topping that’s safe for those who might be gluten-sensitive. No deprivation here!
- Crispy Chickpeas: Another way to add some crunch-munch to your Mac? Crispy roasted chickpeas! Season chickpeas and throw them in the air fryer or on a sheet pan for a few minutes. The result is a nutty, textured topping that has a little extra protein, too!
- Crushed Rice Crackers: Another gluten-free crunchy topping option? Crushed rice crackers! These flavorful little delights are wonderful over the top of Skinny Mac. You get an interesting textural sensation in every bite.
- Shredded Parmesan: Now, Skinny Mac is already cheesy, but if you want that fancy, grown-up macaroni flare, add some shredded parmesan on top. Throw your mac under the broiler for just a minute, and you’ll get a crispy cheese top that’s a total game-changer!
Flavor Enhancers
Want to ramp up the flavor in your gluten-free Mac? Take your mouth to Flavor Town with any of these delicious gluten-free additions to your Skinny Mac. Customize the mac in your very own way to get the perfect bite.
- Truffle Oil: Truffle oil is worth the splurge to really add luxury to your Skinny Mac. The umami, earthy, and slightly musky flavor has a subtle garlic undertone—similar to mushrooms, but deeper and even more aromatic (use sparingly—a little goes a long way!)
- Hot or Buffalo Sauce: Add some heat and tang to your Skinny Mac with hot sauce or buffalo sauce. You’ll get an extra kick that makes the Mac even more interesting and delicious.
- Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Chewy and flavorful sundried tomatoes are a great addition to your skinny mac. The sweet tomatoes add interesting texture and make your mac feel elevated and hearty.
Whether you're a Skinny Mac purist or prefer to add some flare to your mac, you can't go wrong with this easy, delicious, gluten-free mac and cheese. It's the best, richest, creamiest Mac on the block.
Keep a box on hand for any time you need a quick comfort meal—it's a low effort with a high payoff. It's Skinny opens up a world of pastabilities for dinner!
