Thanksgiving Recipe // Gluten Free Macaroni & Cheese Casserole

18 Nov Thanksgiving Recipe // Gluten Free Macaroni & Cheese Casserole

The Thanksgiving meal is BY FAR my favorite thing to eat in the whole, wide world. So, you can imagine the sadness I felt when November came along the year that I was diagnosed with Gluten Intolerance… I’m actually, pretty sure I cried. Like, y’all… tears were legit shed. It was a culmination of frustration that I couldn’t eat whatever I wanted anymore and sadness that I couldn’t fully experience my favorite meal in its entirety!

As a child, I would make our Thanksgiving meal with my grandmother, who taught me all of our longstanding family recipes. It was my favorite part of the holiday! 6 years ago, I was diagnosed with a Gluten Intolerance and it transformed my life. I now focus on eating clean and natural and, of course, gluten free! But I still love Thanksgiving dressing, cranberry sauce, macaroni and cheese casserole and green bean casserole! I decided to create a way for others like me to enjoy a gourmet Thanksgiving meal without the worry of gluten contamination. I have adapted all of my grandmother’s recipes (and added a few of my own) to make this meal all-natural and gluten free!

Some dishes I cheat on and use some helpful additions to make the madness of cooking a feast a little bit easier, while other dishes I make from scratch. This Macaroni and Cheese Casserole is one of the ‘cheat’ meals. I use Annie’s Gluten Free Macaroni and Cheese Mix to start, which makes the process just THAT much easier! So, without further ado… this is my gluten free take on a classic favorite!

GLUTEN FREE MACARONI AND CHEESE CASSEROLE

Prep Time: 15 mins // Cook Time: 30-45 mins // Yields: 12 servings

Here’s what you need:
3 Boxes of Annie’s Gluten Free Macaroni and Cheese [or enough to serve 6 people]
1 1/2 cup All-Natural Sour Cream
2 cups Gluten Free Bread Crumbs [separated]
2 cups Organic 3-Blend Shredded Cheese [separated]
2 Tbs cayenne pepper [to make it mild, paprika gives the same red tint to the dish]
Salt and Pepper to taste

1. Preheat oven to 400F
2. Make the Gluten Free Macaroni and Cheese according to the directions on the box
3. Pour the Macaroni and Cheese into a greased baking dish
4. Add the sour cream 1 cup of the shredded cheese and stir until combined
5. sprinkle with salt, pepper and cayenne [a very small amount] and mix slightly
6. Pour in 1 cup of GF bread crumbs and mix well, then spread a good layer the other cup on the top of the macaroni
7. Bake for 30 minutes or until the top is golden-brown
8. Take the dish out of the oven and pour the remainder of the cheese on top. Place back in the oven for 5-10 minutes.
9. Add a small sprinkle of the cayenne pepper to the top of the macaroni to garnish
10. Enjoy!

I hope you all enjoy this recipe! Let me know if you try it this Thanksgiving!

***Photos by the VERY talented Kristen Dee Photography***

about the author

Chandler Hatchett

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Born and raised the oldest of five in Austin, Tx, Chandler has always had a vibrant personality and zest for life. After completing her studies in Broadcast Journalism and Spanish at Baylor University, she moved to Dallas where she lives where husband, F, their son, B, and their two dogs, Pudge and Keira. She’s passionate about her family, cooking, exercise, home décor, traveling, relationships, music and making the most of each day!

At 21, Chandler was diagnosed with gluten intolerance and an autoimmune disease linked to her thyroid. This changed the way she looked at living and transformed her focus towards an all-natural lifestyle. While not everything she does is completely all natural, she strives to make it a priority and is learning as she goes.

As a Christian, Chandler aims to live as Jesus lived, growing “in wisdom, in stature, in favor with God and in favor with man.” She believes that living well is only achieved when you strive to grow spiritually, too. This blog focuses on making the most out of the lives we are given and striving to live well in all aspects of it.

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