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

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'

Does gluten-free pasta cook differently than regular pasta? ›

Gluten-free pasta is interchangeable in all recipes. The biggest difference you will find when replacing wheat pasta for gluten-free pasta is a difference in texture. Cooking times also vary with gluten-free pasta in particular, so it is important not to overcook.

Does it take longer to cook gluten-free pasta? ›

This couldn't be further from the truth! Gluten free pasta can be cooked just as easily as wheat pasta. Thanks to our unique blend of corn and rice, there's no risk of mushy pasta. The only difference is that the whole grain rice pasta may take a bit longer to cook as the grain must be broken down.

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.

What to avoid when cooking gluten-free? ›

Grains not allowed
  • Wheat.
  • Barley.
  • Rye.
  • Triticale — a cross between wheat and rye.
  • Oats, in some cases.

Do gluten-free recipes need more liquid? ›

Gluten-free flours absorb more liquid.

You might notice a different ratio of ingredients in gluten-free recipes. Gluten-free flours often contain fine starches, so they absorb more liquid than conventional flour. To address this, gluten-free recipes usually call for more liquid and produce looser batters.

What gluten-free pasta is closest to regular pasta? ›

In terms of flavor, texture and shapes, Rummo is the best gluten-free pasta option. Pros: Rummo behaves the most like non-gluten-free pasta. It doesn't get gummy or fall apart. The taste is most similar to non-gluten-free pasta.

How long to boil gluten-free pasta? ›

COOKING YOUR PASTA
  1. Bring 4 - 6 quarts of water to a rolling boil, add salt to taste.
  2. Add contents of package to boiling water. Stir gently.
  3. Return to a boil. For authentic "al dente" pasta, boil uncovered, stirring occasionally for 10 minutes. ...
  4. Remove from heat. ...
  5. Serve immediately with your favorite Barilla sauce.

How to stop gluten-free pasta from sticking together? ›

Because of the starch, gluten-free pasta noodles tend to cling together. Add a glug of olive oil to the water and make sure to run a spoon through it to redistribute every 30 seconds during the first few minutes of cooking. Once the pasta has begun to plump you don't have to worry about it as much.

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.

What pasta sauce is gluten-free? ›

Barilla. All seven Barilla tomato-based sauces are considered gluten-free (to less than 20 parts per million). Flavors include Marinara, Fire-Roasted Marinara, Parmesan & Pecorino, Tomato & Basil, Savory Herb, Roasted Garlic, and Traditional.

How does gluten-free macaroni taste? ›

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.

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.

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.

How to cook gluten-free pasta without it falling apart? ›

Because of the starch, gluten-free pasta noodles tend to cling together. Add a glug of olive oil to the water and make sure to run a spoon through it to redistribute every 30 seconds during the first few minutes of cooking. Once the pasta has begun to plump you don't have to worry about it as much.

How to cook gluten-free pasta without sticking? ›

Add a little olive oil to the pot.

Salty water is one of the keys to good pasta, gluten-free or not. Then, once the water starts boiling and before adding the pasta, pour a little olive oil into the pot to help keep the noodles from sticking together.

How to make gluten-free pasta not fall apart? ›

The trick? Don't follow the directions on the package! Gluten free pasta will be most successful if you steam/boil it — keeping the lid on and turning heat down so it's still boiling but not overflowing. Liberally salt the cooking water and when it boils, add pasta and put lid on.

How do you make gluten-free pasta less mushy? ›

Starch, as we all know, can get sticky if it absorbs too much water — and now we see why cooking gluten-free pasta in a large pot of boiling water might present some problems! This is why adding a little olive oil to the pot after the water boils but before you add the pasta will help.

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