Lifestyle | Just For Fun

The Great Mac N Cheese Makeover: 12 Recipes for a Fresh and Fun Twist

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Macaroni and cheese is a classic comfort food that we all know and love, but that doesn’t mean it has to be boring or basic. In fact, there are so many creative and delicious ways to elevate this dish to new heights. From spicy to mild, stovetop to baked, vegan to meat-filled, gluten-free to fancy lobster versions, the possibilities are endless. So if you’re ready to take your mac n cheese game to the next level, then you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’re sharing 12 innovative recipes that will make you forget about your mama’s mac n cheese and have you craving these new and exciting twists on the classic dish.

Chili Mac

Creamy macaroni and cheese with all the classic American beef chili ingredients you love all in one very easy to make dish. Perfect for beginner cooks – and loved by all family members, big and small. We have used gluten-free, rice-based noodles; you can use conventional pasta as well. Get the recipe for Chili Mac.

Low FODMAP Chicken & Bacon Ranch Mac and Cheese

Every time we see the words chicken, bacon, Ranch (dressing) and cheese together our salivary glands respond on their own and we cannot wait to dive in! This is like a classic mac and cheese bumped up a notch or two. You do make a from-scratch cheese sauce, beginning with a butter/flour roux, but then in addition to lactose-free milk you whisk in Ranch Dressing! And then there is the bacon, too…This is sure to become a family favorite. Get the recipe for Low FODMAP Chicken & Bacon Ranch Mac and Cheese.

Gluten-Free Easy Stovetop Mac ‘n Cheese

This is our easiest mac and cheese recipe – a true classic that the family will love. Lactose-free, too, and so easy to vary: add rotisserie chicken, throw some broccoli or baby carrots into the cooking water, or try different cheeses, like pepper jack! Get the recipe for Gluten-Free Easy Stovetop Mac n’ Cheese.

Lobster Mac ‘n Cheese

This gluten-free Lobster Mac n’ Cheese might be the ultimate combination of comfort food and elegant. You get creamy, gooey, cheesy macaroni and cheese, and if that weren’t great enough, there are pockets of tender lobster scattered throughout. Try this dish for an important family get-together like Valentine’s Day, Mother’s or Father’s Day or New Year’s Eve. Get the recipe for Lobster Mac n’ Cheese.

Cheesy Cheese Ramen

This cheese ramen recipe from Joyce Lee uses real cheddar cheese, a pack of instant noodles, and a super simple way to thicken up milk to create a creamy cheese ramen. You have never had “mac n’ cheese” like this! Get the recipe for Cheesy Cheese Ramen.

Instant Pot Mac & Cheese

A quick and easy one-pot mac and cheese meal you can make in only 12 minutes from Corrie Cooks. Delicious kid-friendly recipe you can make easily using your Instant Pot! The ricotta makes it so creamy and rich; the cheddar and Romano add tons of flavor. Get the recipe for Instant Pot Mac and Cheese.

Nut-Free Vegan Mac & Cheese

This unusual plant-based recipe from My Pure Plants uses sweet potatoes, potatoes, carrots, nutritional yeast, and sunflower seeds to create a rich and creamy sauce. Perfect for vegans, plant-based approaches or those going nut-free and wheat-flour free. Get the recipe for Nut-Free Vegan Mac & Cheese.

Mac & Cheese Pizza

When you’re stuck trying to decide between pizza or mac and cheese for dinner, try this simple mac and cheese pizza recipe from Corrie Cooks, and you won’t have to choose. Start with a premade pizza dough ball from the supermarket. Get the recipe for Mac and Cheese Pizza.

Simple Mac & Cheese without Flour

Making Mac and Cheese has never been this easy! With just 10 minutes of prep and 45 minutes in the oven you can make the best baked Mac and Cheese – in one pan, without boiling, no flour and no roux. With both Cheddar and Gruyere this is as cheesy & flavor packed as it gets! Recipe from Always Use Butter. Get the recipe for Simple Mac and Cheese without Flour.

Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese

In my opinion, Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese is mac and cheese dressed up for company. This is 100% a big recipe you can serve to a crowd, the smoked gouda and old cheddar make it refined enough for a dinner party, and of course, it’s cozy enough to be oh-so-satisfying. Convinced? Let’s go. Recipe from Cara, The Gourmet Bon Vivant. Get the recipe for Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese.

Instant Pot Hamburger Mac and Cheese

You can make this Instant Pot Mac and Cheese in only 21 minutes! We took our classic Instant Pot Mac and Cheese and added beef and more spices. You can use ground beef, ground bison, ground pork or even ground turkey. From our friend Corrie Cooks! Get the recipe for Instant Pot Hamburger Mac and Cheese.

Creamy Brie Mac and Cheese

This creamy brie mac and cheese is the ultimate in luxurious comfort food. Seriously, is there anything better on a cold, rainy day than curling up with a steaming bowl of this? I think not. The key to this mac and cheese, is of course, the brie. It has such a delicate flavor, but the texture of it really makes a difference in the sauce. From Cara, The Gourmet Bon Vivant. Get the recipe for Creamy Brie Mac and Cheese.

36 Dishes You Didn’t Know You Could Make With Rice Noodles

main image of Low FODMAP Asian Tofu Noodle Papaya Salad on a gray plate against dark background
Photo Credit: Dédé Wilson from FODMAP Everyday®.

Rice noodles are naturally gluten-free, but that isn’t the only reason to cook with them. They are delicious unto themselves, come in a variety of shapes, and are the noodle of choice in so many Asian-inspired recipes. But it doesn’t stop there! There are rice-based lasagna noodles, shells, manicotti, elbows…From soups to main dishes, casseroles, salads and summer rolls, we have 36 recipes for you to get you slurping with joy. Click for 36 Dishes You Didn’t Know You Could Make With Rice Noodles

30 Quick & Easy Recipes For A Happy Gut: Low FODMAP and Flavor Packed

closeup Low FODMAP Cream of Tomato Soupin white bowl; teal napkin
Photo Credit: Dédé Wilson from FODMAP Everyday®.

At FODMAP Everyday® we define “Quick” as a dish that can be on the table, ready to eat, in 30 minutes or less. “Easy” recipes have 15 minutes or less of prep time. All of these recipes are low FODMAP and free of gluten so they can be served to tender tummies too! Click for 30 Quick & Easy Recipes For A Happy Gut: Low FODMAP and Flavor Packed

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