Paleo Mac and Cheese with Bacon and Broccoli

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I added bacon and broccoli to this dairy free, grain free Paleo Mac and Cheese to make it over-the-moon delicious and get those veggies in! You can either bake it or simply mix and serve, and the leftovers are just as amazing.

I’ve gotten loads of requests for paleo friendly Mac and cheese!

Of the recipes I’ve tried, this one is my favorite for a few reasons.

My KIDS actually love it!  They’re old enough to know it’s not real cheese (I never use real cheese in my recipes) and they don’t care at all.  It’s Mac and cheese to them!It includes two of my favorite foods – broccoli and bacon.  I wouldn’t say broccoli is a favorite on its own, unless it’s roasted with lots of oil and salt.  But with bacon isn’t it amazing?You can decide whether you mix and serve (especially if you’re short on time) or bake it.  It’s more creamy when it’s not baked.  I love it both ways!

I used grain free pasta from Jovial Foods, but you can obviously choose which pasta to use.  If you don’t eat specifically grain free, any gluten free pasta works well.

What You Need to Make this Paleo Mac and Cheese

The cheese sauce is cashew based but taste nothing like nuts!  Here’s everything you’ll need to prepare this mac and cheese.

Cheese sauce: 

raw cashewswarm waterolive oil lemon juiceDijon mustard nutritional yeastgarlic powdersalt and black pepper

Macaroni:

grain free elbows or fusilli (like Jovial Foods)uncured baconbroccoli florets, fresh or frozen olive oilSea salt and black pepper 

How to Make Paleo Friendly Mac and Cheese

Cook the pasta as instructed on the box and preheat your oven to 350°F, if you plan to bake the mac and cheese.

Meanwhile, make the cheese sauce. In the bowl of a high speed blender, add all of the cheese sauce ingredients and blend until very smooth and creamy, scraping the sides down as needed. This can take up to 5 minutes depending on your blender.

If you’re using frozen broccoli, cook it according to package directions and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.

If you’re using fresh, place the florets in a microwave safe bowl and heat on high for 2 minutes or until fork tender. Once the pasta is done, toss it with the olive oil. 

In a casserole dish, combine the pasta with all the cheese sauce, broccoli and crumbled bacon. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover the top with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes or until heated through.

Alternatively, you do not have to bake the mac and cheese. Simply mix the hot cooked pasta with the cheese sauce, broccoli and bacon and serve!

Can I Sub in Another Nut for the Cashews?

Cashews really are the nut that works best to make a dairy free cheese sauce like this one.  Macadamia nuts can work as well.

A few people have said almonds can work, but I haven’t tried that one personally.

My Oven Baked Bacon Method

Lay the bacon on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake at 400°F for 15-20 minutes depending on the thickness and type of bacon, plus varying oven temperatures.

I always like to check at 15 minutes for doneness and go from there. 

I hope you’re ready for a seriously delicious, grain free and dairy free mac and cheese that everyone will love!

Grab your ingredients and your blender because it’s time to eat – let’s go!

Paleo Mac and Cheese with Bacon and Broccoli

Paleo Mac and Cheese with Bacon and Broccoli

I added bacon and broccoli to this dairy free, grain free Paleo Mac and Cheese to make it over-the-moon delicious and get those veggies in! You can either bake it or simply mix and serve, and the leftovers are just as amazing.Author: Michele RosenPrep Time: 10 minutesCook Time: 25 minutesCourse:DinnerCuisine:AmericanKeyword:dinner, gluten free, grain free, mac and cheese, pastaServings: 8 servingsPrint this RecipeDid you make this recipe?Leave a review4.67 from 33 votes

Ingredients

Cheese sauce:

1 1/2cupsraw cashewssoaked in warm water for 2 hours2/3cupwarm waterseparate from the soaking water1/4cupolive oil3Tbsplemon juice2teaspoonsDijon mustard3tablespoonsnutritional yeast2tspgarlic powder1 – 1 1/2teaspoonssalt1/4teaspoonblack pepperto taste

Macaroni:

12ozgrain free pastalike Jovial Foods elbows or fusilli8slicesbaconcooked and crumbled**10ozbroccoli floretsfresh or frozen1tbspolive oilSea salt and black pepper

Instructions

Cook the pasta as instructed on the box and preheat your oven to 350°F, if you plan to bake the Mac and cheese.Meanwhile, make the cheese sauce. In the bowl of a high speed blender, add all of the cheese sauce ingredients and blend until very smooth and creamy, scraping the sides down as needed. This can take up to 5 minutes depending on your blender.If using frozen broccoli, cook it according to package directions and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. If using fresh, place the florets in a microwave safe bowl and heat on high for 2 minutes or until fork tender. Once the pasta is done, toss it with the olive oil.In a casserole dish, combine the pasta with all the cheese sauce, broccoli and crumbled bacon. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover the top with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes or until heated through. Serve right away and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

*alternatively, you do not have to bake the mac and cheese. Simply mix the hot cooked pasta with the cheese sauce, broccoli and bacon and serve!
** my method for oven baked bacon. Lay bacon on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake 400 for 15-20 minutes depending on thickness. Check at 15 minutes for doneness.

***Prep and cook time does not include the time needed to cook the bacon or soak the cashews

Nutrition

Calories: 475kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 14gFat: 29gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 926mgPotassium: 389mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 230IUVitamin C: 34mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 3mg

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Want More Paleo Friendly Comfort Food Recipes?  Try One of These!

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Smothered Chicken with Gravy and Herbs

Paleo Chicken Tetrazzini 

Burger Bowls with Fries

Creamy Tuscan Chicken

Paleo Zuppa Toscana

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