Gluten Free Smoked Cheddar Mac & Cheese

Are you in need of some creamy, cheesy, comfort food? I was this weekend, so I made my macaroni and cheese go to recipe, with a little twist.

Mac & Cheese brings me back to childhood. Memories of the blue boxed Kraft mac & cheese remind me of being home. While I can’t have that pantry staple anymore, the homemade version is way better anyway. These next few weeks are going to be especially crazy, so I treated myself to some homemade comfort food. To make the meal a bit healthier, I roasted some broccoli on the side.

For the smoked cheddar mac & cheese I tried to use as many low-fat options as possible.Yes, it’s mac & cheese, but it doesn’t need to be super unhealthy. I use fat free milk, 2% extra sharp cheddar cheese, smoked cheddar, and the secret ingredient to make it super creamy; low fat cream cheese! I also add sweet onions in the base of the sauce.

For taste and texture, my favorite gluten free pasta right now is Barilla. The elbows work perfectly for mac & cheese!

To start your sauce, finely dice half a sweet onion (like a vidalia), and saute it in two tablespoons of butter until slightly caramelized.

While your onions are cooking, boil some water for your pasta and get your broccoli cooking.

I toss chopped broccoli with one clove of garlic, finely chopped, and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Cook in a 400 degree oven for about 30 minutes.

Now grate up your cheese. You need about 1 cup of the smokey cheddar and about 2 cups of the regular extra sharp.

Time to make the roux! Melt one additional tablespoon of butter into the pot, then add in two tablespoons of your favorite gluten free all purpose flour. I use GF Jules. Mix the flour in really well and let it cook for about 30 seconds to a minutes to get out the raw flour taste.

Then add in about 2 cups of the fat free milk and stir until thickened and starting to bubble. Season your sauce well with salt and pepper, and mix in about 5 tablespoons of the low fat cream cheese until smooth and melted.

Mix in your cheese, and once completely melted, add in your drained pasta.

Gluten Free Smoked Cheddar Mac & Cheese

Servings: 5
Time: 35 minutes
Difficulty: easy
Print

Ingredients:

1 box of gluten free elbow pasta (I like Barilla)
1 cup shredded smoked cheddar cheese
about 2 cups shredded 2% extra sharp cheddar
about 2 cups non-fat milk
3 tablespoons butter
5 oz low-fat cream cheese
1/2 sweet onion, finely diced
2 tablespoons gluten free all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 cups chopped broccoli florets
1 clove garlic, finely diced
1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Chop broccoli and garlic, mix with olive oil on baking sheet
Bake broccoli for about 30 minutes, or until tender and edges are crispy
Saute onions and two tablespoons of butter in a medium saucepan until slightly caramelized
Boil a medium pot of water for pasta, and cook according to directions
Once onions are ready, add additional tablespoon of butter and melt
Add flour to butter and mix well. Let it cook for 30-45 more seconds.
Add in milk and stir over medium heat until slightly thickened
Mix in cream cheese until smooth.
Season sauce with salt and pepper to taste
Add in both cheeses and stir until completely melted
Mix in drained pasta until well incorporated
Serve with broccoli and enjoy!