Green Chili White Cheddar Mac and Cheese is an easy, cheesy family favorite comfort food recipe that everyone will love! Looking for kid friendly, Gluten free crock pot recipes? Look no more! This easy gluten free mac and cheese is a perfect weeknight dinner recipe.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Horizon Organics. The opinions and text are all mine.
Since I’m on a “healthified” gluten free comfort food recipe kick this week, let’s talk mac and cheese. Mmm k?
When was the first time you ate mac and cheese? If you’re like me, you grew up on it. I mean seriously, it was the bees knees of pasta and oh so convenient for families. I can remember my neighbor’s sister babysitting us and always making her “famous” mac and cheese! I loved it. When I was a wee bit older, I asked her to teach me how to make her recipe. You know what she did? She pulled out a box of mac and cheese and showed me the directions. Ha! I guess it was the extra love that went into that made it so tasty, right?
Which leads me to my next point. I wish I would have known earlier how to make a good nutritious meal. One that is still convenient and easy to make! At what age do we teach our kids/family this very statement?
Honestly, I think the younger the better. When their minds are ready to grasp on to that information and be hands on. My nieces and nephews range from age 2-9 and all of them love being in the kitchen, prepping meals, ingredients, and learning where their food came from.
Why we should teach kids how to cook and/or meal prep?
- They learn basic kitchen safety tips.
- Cooking/meal prep/baking is a way for your kids to LEARN about food.
- They see where it comes from.
- You can tailor food to their nutritional needs and SHOW them which ingredients/foods are gluten free (or any other allergy for that matter). This is especially great for kids with food allergies
- It builds confidence. Think about it, letting kids make their own meal is great for affirmation and creativity release, which all breeds’ confidence!
- Spending time in the kitchen can be a fun activity and bonding time for the whole family.
So, where to start?
Definitely check out this Skills by Age Article for kids in the kitchen. Such a great tool for starting the process!
I’d also say start with the basics. Which is why Horizons gluten-free mac and cheese is now one of my favorite gluten free products!
This green chili white cheddar Mac and Cheese recipe (gluten free of course) is a WIN WIN meal.
It makes a dinner that will bring your whole family together in no time.
You literally measure out ingredients and throw it in a pot. Done! And SUPER TASTY!
I bet this will become one of YOUR favorite gluten free Crock Pot recipes, too!
Print
Gluten Free Crock Pot Green Chili White Cheddar Mac and Cheese
- Total Time: 3 hr 10 min
- Yield: 6 1x
Description
Looking for kid friendly, gluten free crock pot recipes? Look no more! This Green Chili White Cheddar Mac and Cheese is an easy, cheesy family favorite! It’s a perfect weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
- 12 oz gluten free macaroni pasta (two boxes of horizon gluten free mac and cheese with white cheddar)
- 5 oz Colby Jack Cheese (we used organic jalapeño cheddar)
- 1/2 tsp chili pepper or paprika
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp garlic
- dash of black pepper and sea salt
- 4 tbsp butter
- 2 cups non dairy milk
- 3 Roma tomatoes (diced) or one 10z can chopped tomatoes (drained)
- 2 4.5 oz can green chilies (drained)
- Green onion or chives to top
- Optional add ins or toppings – chopped cooked chicken or chicken sausage, chickpeas, turkey, etc.
Instructions
- Note: If you are not using the boxed macaroni with the extra cheese powder, then add in another 2oz of feta or shredded parmesan.
- Combine all your ingredients in a crock pot. Stir together and place on high for 2-3 hrs. Check occasionally to stir so pasta does stick to bottom. Serve with green onion or chives on top. So good!
- Bonus Bake -> Once cooked in crock pot, feel free to place in a baking dish and stick in oven for 10 minutes on 375F with a little extra cheese on top. This just makes it a little crispier! Totally optional.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 3 hr
p.s. It makes for great leftovers the next day too. YUM!
Well, what do you think? Would your kids make this white cheddar mac and cheese recipe?
Let me know if you do!
Check out Horizon’s Meal Plan Solutions on Pinterest as well as Facebook and twitter! You will love all the great kid friendly meal ideas. Okay and adult friendly too.
😉
Cheers
