Trimazing! Mac and Cheeze

4.58 from 19 votes

Trimazing! Mac and Cheeze

This creamy, cheesy Mac and Cheeze is the BEST! And best of all, it's a snap to make! You won't miss the cheese, and neither will your family. Don't skip the crunchy topping, it's the best part!

Course: Main Course, Pasta

Cuisine: American, Gluten-Free, Kids, Nut-Free, Soy-Free

Servings:

Calories: 229.7kcal

Author: Cindy Thompson, MS, NBC-HWC | Trimazing! Health & Lifestyle Coaching

Ingredients

Cheeze Sauce

1 cup raw cashews or old-fashioned oats for nut-free lower fat version
2 cups vegetable stock
1 cup water
6 Tablespoons cornstarch
½ cup nutritional yeast
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
2 teaspoon salt
4 oz tomato paste
2 cloves garlic

Seasoned Bread Crumbs

2 cups whole wheat bread crumbs use gluten-free or omit if gluten-sensitive
2 tbsp nutritional yeast
1 tsp smoked paprika
½ tsp garlic powder or granules
½ tsp sea salt

Pasta

4 cups dry whole grain macaroni pasta or other shape, us gluten-free if sensitive

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Make Cheeze Sauce

If you have a high speed blender (Vitamix or other): Add all of the sauce ingredients into the blender and bring to high speed until smooth. Keep the blender running on high until the sauce gets steamy and thick, about 5 minutes. You'll see the consistency change and hear the sound of the blender change when the sauce thickens.
If you do not have a high speed blender: Soak the cashews in warm water about an hour, then drain. Add all of the sauce ingredients into a blender (including new water from the ingredients list) and bring to high speed until smooth and creamy. Pour this into a saucepan and bring to a boil and simmer until thick. Or just use old-fashioned oats.

Make Seasoned Bread Crumbs

Combine the seasoned bread crumb ingredients into a small bowl and set aside.

Cook Pasta and Toss with Cheeze Sauce

Mix cooked pasta and cheeze sauce in a large bowl. Toss well until well-coated and then transfer to a casserole dish or baking pan.

Top with Seasoned Crumbs and Bake

Bake, uncovered, in your preheated 350°F oven for 20 minutes.
Remove from oven. Let cool for 10 minutes. Spoon into bowls. Devour.

Notes

Here are some fun options for your Mac and Cheeze.

Reduce the Fat. Use Old-Fashioned Oatmeal instead of nuts. It'll be just as rich and creamy—we can't tell the difference!

Make it Spicy. Add some chipotle in adobo, hot sauce, or chili flakes.

Make Mac and Trees. Add steamed broccoli or Romanesco when mixing the cooked pasta and cheezy sauce.

Make it Veggie. Add all kinds of veggies, like cauliflower or mushrooms. Or skip the pasta altogether and use steamed cauliflower instead!

Appetizer Size. Line a muffin tray with liners and fill each with a few spoonfuls of Mac and Cheeze for a bite-sized snack.

Versatile Sauce! Use the sauce as queso dip, on top of a layered nacho dip, base to a cheesy soup, cheeze sauce over cooked vegetables, or with layers of potatoes and onions for au gratin.

Nutrition