Loaded Mac and Queso
This Mac and Cheese was born from an idea I had when my sweet neighbor brought over some of her company’s delicious queso. We weren’t having a party and I wanted to use it, so I thought about how tasty it would be as a base for mac and cheese. Obviously I needed to make it with a Tex Mex flair so I loaded it up with all the goodies. It was so good and I was able to easily adapt it for my dairy allergy kiddo, she declared it the best mac and cheese in the world, so I know it was a winner. This is perfect for a family dinner or serving a crowd, you can even prep it ahead and freeze it for an easy dinner. You can also make it for pretty much any dietary desire, below is a breakdown of the swaps you can do to make it perfect for your family!
Gluten free - use GF pasta and check your labels on your prepared queso for any sneaky gluten
Dairy free - use DF queso and cheese, I love the Trader Joe’s cashew queso and Daiya “cheddar” shreds. Other great quesos are Honest Stand and Siete!
Low Carb / Keto - Swap the pasta for either zucchini noodles or roasted cauliflower florets.
Whole30 / Paleo - leave off the shredded cheese and use a cashew queso, Swap the pasta for sweet potato or zucchini noodles or roasted potatoes or cauliflower
Vegan - Use vegan cheese and queso. Use a plant-based meat or a mix of beans like pinto and black
Loaded Mac and Queso
1 lb pasta of choice
1 medium onion, diced
2 bell peppers, diced
1 - 1 1/2 pounds ground meat of choice
1 can (7oz) diced green chiles
1 can (14.5 oz) petite diced tomatoes, drained
2 Tablespoons taco seasoning
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
12 oz queso of choice
1 - 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese
- Preheat the oven to 400 and spray a 11x13 baking dish.
- Boil pasta as directed in a large pot, drain when done.
- While the pasta is cooking, heat a large skillet and add the onions until they are softened. To the pan, cook the meat until browned. Season with taco seasoning, salt, and pepper. Add the peppers, tomatoes, and chiles, cook until everything is softened. Taste to adjust seasonings.
- In a large bowl, place the pasta, meat mixture, and queso, mix until combined. Pour mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- Top with cheese and bake for 20-30 minutes or until bubbly and the cheese is browned.
Onions, meat, seasonings, peppers, tomatoes, and chiles all cooked in a pan. Cook the pasta and place in a bowl, we love cavatappi!
I ended up making a dairy free version with the Honest Stand Nacho Dip in addition to The Green Chile Company White Queso and added a little bit of the shredded cheese to it as well. Both were delicious! Now just spread in a baking dish and cover with cheese of choice, then into the oven to get all ooey gooey.
