Gluten Free Mac & Cheese Finds
Growing up, mac & cheese was one of my favorite meals. Year after year, I would often request this as the dish for my birthday dinner. Thankfully, there are many brands that produce a gluten free alternative to this comfort meal so we can continue to enjoy this classic while adhering to dietary restrictions.
Here are a few brands that I have tried that offer easy-to-make, gluten free mac & cheese for you to enjoy. This list is in no particular order, but rather to share gluten free options to those looking to satisfy their own mac & cheese cravings.
1. Trader Joe's
Gluten Free Mac & Cheese
Nutrition Facts:
1 container has 600 calories, 19g of fat, 1200mg of sodium, 82g of carbs, 3g of fiber, 6g of sugar, and 23g of protein.
Ingredients:
Cooked rotini pasta (yellow corn flour, white rice flour, lentil flour, quinoa flour, water), reduced fat milk (whole milk, nonfat milk, vitamin A palmitate, vitamin D3), béchamel sauce (reduced fat milk [whole milk, nonfat milk, nonfat milk solids, vitamin A palmitate, vitamin D3], potato starch, butter [pasteurized cream, salt], rice flour, sea salt, white pepper), 4 cheese blend (cheddar cheese [pasteurized milk, cheese cultures, salt, microbial enzyme, annatto {for color}], gouda cheese [pasteurized milk, cheese cultures, salt, microbial enzyme, annatto {for color}], Swiss cheese [pasteurized milk, cheese cultures, salt, microbial enzyme]), rice starch, salt. contains milk.
About:
You can find this in the frozen section at Trader Joe's next to the regular mac & cheese. The price is affordable at $3.49 for a 12 ounce package. The gluten free version is made with the same blend of four cheese as their traditional mac & cheese option. You can prepare this in the oven or the microwave. One thing I noticed about Trader Joe's version was after heating up the mac n cheese, the contents were a little water, so I recommend stirring well before eating!
2. Udi's Gluten Free
Mac & Cheese
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup (there are 3.5 servings per container) is 430 calories, 23g of fat, 650mg of sodium, 45g of carbs, 2g of fiber, 4g of sugar, and 12g of protein.
Ingredients:
Gluten free macaroni (Water, brown rice flour, potato starch, tapioca starch, egg whites, salt, xanthan gum), milk, cheddar cheese (cultured milk, salt, enzymes), cream, gluten free bread crumbs, (rice flour, raisin juice concentrate, honey, salt), butter, water, parmesan cheese (cultured milk, salt, enzymes), corn starch, potato flour, extra virgin olive oil, sea salt, spices. contains milk, eggs.
About:
This is a family size gluten free option and may be one of the healthy options compared to the other four listed on this page. So, if you are conscience about nutrition, or looking to feed multiple mouths at once, you may want to lean towards this option. This is a frozen gluten free option that can be heated up in the oven or in the microwave. The package contains 24 ounces of mac & cheese and cost $9.86.
3. Amy's
Gluten Free Rice Pasta Rice Mac & Cheese
Nutrition Facts:
1 tray is 460 calories, 18g of fat, 730mg of sodium, 59g of carbs, 1g of dietary fiber, 4g of sugar, and 15g of protein.
Ingredients:
Organic rice pasta (organic rice flour, water), organic low fat milk, white cheddar cheese (pasteurized milk, culture, salt, enzymes), butter (cream, salt), organic sweet rice flour, sea salt, organic annatto (color). contains milk.
About:
Made with organic ingredients, Amy'y mac & cheese can be found either as gluten free (with dairy included) or a dairy free and gluten free version. The one mention above does include dairy. Made with rice pasta and a smooth cheese blend, your taste buds are sure to enjoy this gluten free version! This is a single serve container that includes 8 ounces and cost about $4.79, but can varies depending on the retailer. Heating instructions include the oven, microwave, or toaster oven.
4. Daiya
Deluxe Cheddar Style Cheezy Mac
Nutrition Facts:
1/3 of this packages is 300 calories, 9g of fat, 580mg of sodium, 48g of carbs, 2g of fiber, 0g of sugar, and 5g of protein.
Ingredients:
Brown rice pasta (whole grain brown rice, rice bran, water), filtered water, tapioca starch, non-GMO expeller pressed: canola and/or safflower oil, coconut oil, sea salt, vegan natural flavors, pea protein isolate, tricalcium phosphate, cane sugar, lactic acid (vegan), xanthan gum, yeast extract, titanium dioxide (naturally occurring mineral), annatto (color), onion.
About:
This gluten free mac & cheese option from Daiya is also dairy free, lactose free, soy free, egg free, and vegan. So, if you have other dietary restriction, this may be the best option for you. The sauce is smooth and full of rich cheesy flavor. In addition to the traditional deluxe mac and cheese option, Daiya also offers Alfredo style, white cheddar style with veggies, bac'n & cheddar style, and four cheese style with herbs.
5. Annie's Homegrown
Gluten Free Rice Pasta & Cheddar
Nutrition Facts:
1 package is 220 calories, 4g of fat, 390mg of sodium, less than 1g of dietary fiber, 40g of carbs, 2g of sugar, and 5g of protein.
Ingredients:
Rice pasta (white rice flour, brown rice flour), tapioca starch, dried cheddar cheese (cultured pasteurized milk, salt, non-animal enzymes), nonfat milk, corn starch, organic coconut oil, whey, butter, salt, potassium chloride, cultured whole milk, sunflower lecithin, sodium phosphate, annatto extract (for color), silicon dioxide (for anticaking). contains milk ingredients.
About:
These single serve cups are great to keep in your pantry and are quick to heat up. The instructions are simple, remove the cheese packet, fill to the line with cold water, heat in the microwave for 2 minutes and 15 seconds, add in cheese packet, stir well, let sit for about a minute and enjoy. Made with rice pasta, this is a quick and enjoyable meal that can be enjoyed by all ages.
If you have tried any of the gluten free mac and cheese options listed above, please leave a comment on your experience! I would love to hear which ones are your favorite, where you find them, or if you have any additional gluten free mac and cheese brands that you would recommend.
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