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 cashews
- warm water
- olive oil
- lemon juice
- Dijon mustard
- nutritional yeast
- garlic powder
- salt and black pepper
Macaroni:
- grain free elbows or fusilli (like Jovial Foods)
- uncured bacon
- broccoli florets, fresh or frozen
- olive oil
- Sea 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
Ingredients
Cheese sauce:
- 1 1/2 cups raw cashews soaked in warm water for 2 hours
- 2/3 cup warm water separate from the soaking water
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 Tbsp lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 - 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper to taste
Macaroni:
- 12 oz grain free pasta like Jovial Foods elbows or fusilli
- 8 slices bacon cooked and crumbled**
- 10 oz broccoli florets fresh or frozen
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Sea 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
Want More Paleo Friendly Comfort Food Recipes? Try One of These!
Garlic Butter Chicken and Potato Skillet
Creamy Chicken and Potato Casserole
Quick Skillet Meatballs in Sauce
Smothered Chicken with Gravy and Herbs
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So you drain the cashews before blending with the extra water?
Yes! Then use fresh water for blending.
This is so yummy! I’m craving for it.
Can anything by substituted for the mustard please? (not fans of mustard or mayo)
Yum! Whole family loved this, including two teenagers! I noticed too late that I was supposed to soak the cashews for two hours (whoops! And no time for that after work anyway), so I soaked them while I cooked the bacon and steamed the fresh broccoli and that worked out just fine (in the Vitamix). Because I love onions, I diced three green onions and fried them in the bacon fat.
Delicious! Had leftovers for breakfast.
Next time I’ll add more green onion and red pepper flakes.
Just adding the stars!
This was delicious and kid approved for sure! Creamy and filling! I added some shredded cheddar on top for a bit of extra cheesyness since I tolerate cheese in small doses and boom, amazing!!
Love this Paleo Mac and Cheese with Bacon and Broccoli recipe , never tried this before, actually I love cooking and always eager to try some new recipes. Thanks for sharing these recipes with us.
I don’t have nutritional yeast…can I just leave it out or do I need to sub something else in?
Hi, I too would like to sub out the nutritional yeast as I am allergic to it. How much cheddar would I need to add to achieve the same consistency as the nutritional yeast?
Hello! Can you substitute anything for cashews? We have an allergy in our family, but would love to try these recipes!
Thank you!
This is so yummy! I topped mine with pork rind “bread” crumbs
Definitely going to try this, but FYI you should update the recipe to say drain the cashews bc I left the water in and had to start over. Womp womp.
This recipe is amazing! It was so easy to make and something the whole family enjoyed! Thank you for sharing!
Can this dish be made ahead? And Frozen then served?
I absolutely love this reciepe. It would go well with chipotle’s tacos and queisaddla. And with a drink like coke, even better
Yummmmmmmmm