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

Low FODMAP Chili Mac in brown bowl with fork
Chili Mac. Photo credit: Dédé Wilson.

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

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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

Grab A Rotisserie Chicken On Your Way Home And Make Any Of These 18 Delicious Meals In Minutes

Low FODMAP Chicken Papaya Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing on oval platter; marble surface

Grabbing a rotisserie chicken at the supermarket is not “cheating” by any stretch of the imagination. Having cooked chicken ready to use is a great jump-start to all sorts of creative recipes – from salads to main dishes, lunches and dinners – and is a brilliant move, in our book. Click for Grab A Rotisserie Chicken On Your Way Home And Make Any Of These 18 Delicious Meals In Minutes

Easy and Tasty: 34 Sides to Serve with Rotisserie Chicken for a Stress-Free Meal

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Garlic Herb Corn on the Cob. Photo Credit: Dédé Wilson.

We buy a rotisserie chicken every week – and enjoy the bounty for days. But we like to mix it up; potatoes, veggies (hot and cold), pasta – there are many ways to enjoy that chicken and to turn it into a meal. Here are our 34 community favorites. Click here for Easy and Tasty: 34 Sides to Serve with Rotisserie Chicken for a Stress-Free Meal

9 Insanely Delicious Easy Homemade Chicken Wing Recipes

Low FODMAP Hot Honey Chicken Wings in cast iron pan set on rack

Entire restaurants build their menu around chicken wings, but we’re going to show you how to make the best chicken wings at home – and they’re easier than you think. Most of these recipes are baked, not fried, so you will not only save on calories, but also have less mess and spend less time in the kitchen. Click here for 9 Insanely Delicious Easy Homemade Chicken Wing Recipes

18 Iced Tea & Refreshing Drink Recipes That Will Make You Scream Summer Is Here!

peach iced tea in tall glasses with silver spoons against white backdrop_
Photo Credit: Dédé Wilson from FODMAP Everyday®.

Quench your thirst and beat the heat with a refreshing lineup of tantalizing beverages. Whether you’re craving a tall, chilled drink on a scorching day, in need of hydration after a workout, or seeking a delightful mocktail sans alcohol, we’ve got you covered. Get ready to dive into a world of iced teas, invigorating punches, flavored lemonades, zesty limeades, luscious smoothies, sparkling spritzers, and even a homemade electrolyte beverage. Click for 18 Iced Tea & Refreshing Drink Recipes That Will Make You Scream Summer Is Here!

23 Dinner Solutions: Quick and Delicious Soup and Stew Recipes

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There is nothing like homemade soup or a hearty stew, especially when it is cold outside! (For you hot weather folks, we do have a few cold soups). We’ve got 23 recipes for you, from Instant Pot quickies to long simmered renditions. Comfort food in a bowl. Get 23 Dinner Solutions: Quick and Delicious Soup and Stew Recipes here.

23 Easy Potato Recipes: Which One Will You Try First?

closeup low FODMAP hasselback potatoes with garlic and thyme

Potatoes! White, red, yellow, starchy russet, sweet potatoes – even blue and purple potatoes – can be a main meal in the form of double stuffed baked potatoes, a weekday side-dish, a potluck salad, or they can add richness to soups. And don’t forget breakfast casseroles and home fries! We have 23 recipes for you to try and potatoes are often economical, too, so dive in! Click here for 23 Easy Potato Recipes: Which One Will You Try First?

Holy Cow! These 10 Ground Beef Recipes Will Knock Your Socks Off!

low FODMAP super quick korean beef
Photo Credit: Dédé Wilson from FODMAP Everyday®.

Ground beef makes a great burger and meatloaf, but it is so much more versatile than that, and we have 11 recipes for you to add to your weekly rotation. Chili, Chili Mac and even a Quick Korean Beef dish, that package of ground beef has never been more inspiring. Click here for Holy Cow! These 10 Ground Beef Recipes Will Knock Your Socks Off!

10 Gut Friendly Chicken Recipes You Can Have On Your Table Tonight!

Photo Credit: Dédé Wilson from FODMAP Everyday®.

Chicken is one of our favorite protein building blocks for an easy, delicious meal. Sometimes you can get in a rut though and end up making the same chicken recipes over and over.

We’ve got one pan meals, warm weather salads and grill options, dinner party worthy dishes, lighter fare and hearty dinners. Click here for 10 Gut Friendly Chicken Recipes You Can Have On Your Table Tonight!

6 Rich And Fudgy Brownies That Will Make You Want To Lick The Bowl

Nutella Brownie. Photo Credit: Dédé Wilson from FODMAP Everyday®.

In our opinion, you can never have enough brownie recipes. We have gathered our top 6; the brownie recipes you don’t have – yet. And you do need them; trust us. Nutella. Peppermint. Toasted almond & Coconut. S’Mores. PB & J – and even a super quick One-Bowl Brownie. Get ready to be inspired. Click for 6 Rich And Fudgy Brownies That Will Make You Want To Lick The Bowl

85 Desserts For The Chocolate Lover In Your Life

horizontal image of Low FODMAP Blackout Cake on white plate
Photo Credit: Dédé Wilson from FODMAP Everyday®.

Welcome to the largest collection of desserts for the chocolate lover in your life. Each of these are also gut-friendly so that you don’t have to worry about bloating, or a noisy belly when getting romantic! All of these desserts are gluten-free and low FODMAP! Click for 85 Desserts For The Chocolate Lover In Your Life

The Crazy Best and Easy Cookie Recipes Ever!

Low FODMAP One-Bowl Chocolate Chunk Cookies closeup
Photo Credit: Dédé Wilson from FODMAP Everyday®.

Cookies – small, large, soft, chewy, crispy, chocolaty, peanut buttery, elegant, homespun, one-bowl, drop, rolled and shaped – we’ll take them all. You can never have enough cookie recipes and ours are all created in our very own Test Kitchen; these recipes work! Several can be prepped in the time it takes to preheat the oven. Click for The Crazy Best and Easy Cookie Recipes Ever!

Looking For Dairy Free Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts?

Image Credit: FODMAP Everyday

This article will discuss the low FODMAP ice cream and frozen desserts that you can find in supermarkets and restaurants, as well as our own exclusive recipes, and will include information on dairy based as well as alt milk frozen desserts and recipes. Click here for Dairy Free Frozen Desserts Recipes.

20 Strawberry Recipes That Will Make You Berry Happy!

whole strawberry glazed NY style cheesecake on white pedestal with gold forks alongside
Photo Credit: Dédé Wilson from FODMAP Everyday®.

These days, depending on where you live, you might be able to get decent strawberries all year long. Spring, however, brings fresh, new batches and we are always looking for new ways to incorporate these delicious berries into our diet. From drinks to cakes, crisps, cobblers, bars and even a salad, frozen desserts and a salsa, we have 20 strawberry recipes for you. Click for 20 Strawberry Recipes That Will Make You Berry Happy!

Top 100 Low FODMAP Recipes

Top 100 Low FODMAP Recipes

These are our community’s favorite Top 100 Low FODMAP Recipes. Are you struggling with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)? Are you following the low FODMAP diet and having a hard time finding delicious recipes that even the whole family can enjoy? You are in the right place! At FODMAP Everyday® we specialize in teaching you how to THRIVE on the low FODMAP diet! Get ready to eat well, without the IBS triggers! Click for our Top 100 Low FODMAP Recipes!

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