Gluten-Free White Cheddar Mac and Cheese with Caramelized Onions (Bacon optional)

Gluten-Free White Cheddar Mac and Cheese with Caramelized Onions and Bacon

There's nothing to warm up a Chicago winter like comfort food. I decided to try to come up with my own rendition of homemade mac and cheese, using gluten-free pasta, and adding some rich ingredients to make one of the best versions of mac and cheese we have ever had. Scott isn't even a huge mac and cheese fan, and he can't get enough of this recipe.


What You Need:
For mac and cheese:

• 1 Box Gluten-free pasta (I used Ancient Harvest Quinoa Elbows)
• 3 tablespoons butter 
• 1/2 cup gluten-free flour (I used Bob's Red Mill Rice Flour, any GF flour mix would work)
• 1.5 cups shredded white cheddar cheese (I used Cracker Barrel Vermont White Cheddar)
• 5 slices white american cheese, cut up for melting purposes
• 2.5 cups of 2% milk
• 1 teaspoon sriracha (or any type of hot sauce)
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt 

For caramelized onions:

• 1 sweet yellow onion, sliced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon butter
• Kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

What you do:

If adding caramelized onions, you should make those first. They take about 20 minutes, but it's simple. Here's what you do:

Caramelized Onions:

1. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter together in a small skillet on low heat.

2. Add onion slices, and sprinkle with kosher salt (brings out the sweetness). Leave on low heat stirring every 5 minutes or until onions soften and look opaque. 

3. Add balsamic vinegar and leave heat on low for about 5 more minutes. Remove and set aside.

Mac and Cheese: 

1. Bring water to a boil and add pasta to pot. Drain after pasta is cooked.

2. In a large saucepan, melt butter. Add gluten-free flour to the butter whisking together constantly. 

3. Slowly add milk and continue whisking constantly. Mixture will look strange at first (like the picture) but will eventually come together to create a thick sauce.

4. When all the milk is added, keep mixture on the stove until it begins to bubble and thickens. Remove from heat.

5. Add shredded white cheddar, white american cheese, sriracha (or hot sauce), dijon mustard, and salt. Stir until cheese melts and sauce becomes creamy. 

6. Add sauce to pasta in a bowl and mix until pasta is coated in cheese sauce. 

Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese with Bacon and Caramelized Onions

At this point, plain mac and cheese is done, and can be served this way.  However, I added the caramelized onions and some bacon bits since Scott is a huge fan of both of these things. Just add them and stir them in.  He raved about the onions. I ate mine plain (no bacon or onions) and it was still absolutely delicious.

If you have been searching for a great gluten-free version of homemade mac and cheese, try this recipe. You won't be disappointed. It's rich, but it's delicious and the perfect combination of ingredients for a cold winter day (or, any day really). Enjoy!