The Best Keto Mac & Cheese
Comfort food. Comfort food. Comfort food. Delicious, carb loaded foods – something we all crave from time to time. Unfortunately for those of us following a ketogenic diet, eating comfort foods is easier said than done. Just because you follow a ketogenic diet doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy your favorite comfort foods from time to time (without falling off the wagon!)
The Cheese Sauce
The cheese sauce created for this recipe is to die for! The texture is smooth and creamy, but extremely low in carbs. The combination of cream cheese, heavy cream, almond milk, parmesan cheese & sharp cheddar creates the mac and cheese flavor you love. I prefer full-fat cream cheese, but 1/3 fat could be used if the macros suit your keto diet plan. Be mindful of the shredded cheese you’re buying at the grocery story – many have potato starch added to prevent caking (this adds carbs!). Grating your own cheese is your best option to avoid unwanted carbs from shredded cheeses.
Simple Spices
With only a few spices used, this recipe is very simple. I wanted a smokey and garlicy flavor for this keto mac and cheese, so I went with Hungarian Paprika! Why bother with Hungarian Paprika and why can’t I just use “regular” paprika – you can! However, you’ll be missing out on a whole new level of flavor. This recipe gets a great deal of flavor from the use of Hungarian Paprika. Hungarian Paprika adds a rich, sweet red pepper flavor and a little kick of heat (some brands are hotter than others – research before you buy).
To save time, I used garlic powder. You could take this dish to another level with the use of fresh garlic.
The Noodles
I’ve experimented with nearly every brand of “miracle noodles” out there. Pasta Zero, Vita Cost brand, Shirataki, Miracle Noodles etc. Some smell, others don’t. Some are rubbery, others aren’t. Then you’ve got the rubbery, smelly pasta alternatives (you get the picture).
The best tasting, textured and mostly odorless pasta substitute I’ve found is by the Pasta Zero brand. Pasta Zero is great because it does not have a fishy smell like other pasta alternatives, and can be found at most Walmart stores nation-wide. The Vita Cost brand comes in a close second. While the Vita Cost brand does have more of a smell than the Pasta Zero brand, it all but disappears once cooked.
Nutrition Per Serving
Considering what an indulgent side dish this keto mac and cheese turned out to be, the calories are relatively low per serving.
- Calories: 176
- Fat: 14g
- Protein: 8.33g
- Carbs: 5g
- Fiber: 3g
- Net Carbs: 2g
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Get Ingredients On
Miracle Noodles
Hungarian Paprika
Garlic Powder
Pepper
| Prep Time | 5 minutes |
| Cook Time | 10 minutes |
| Servings |
servings
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- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
- 2 ounces cream cheese
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup almond milk Silk - 30 calorie/ 1 net carb
- 3 bags Pasta Zero fettuccine
- 3/4 tsp Hungarian paprika
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 3/4 tsp garlic powder
Ingredients
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|
Bring heavy cream & almond milk to a simmer in a sauce pan; add cream cheese & melt (this should be done at a medium-low heat)- To your heavy cream & cream cheese, add cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, garlic powder, paprika & black pepper; stir until combined. Remove from heat and set aside
- Bring 24oz salted water to a boil at high heat; add drained Pasta Zero & boil for 10 minutes
- Drain your pasta & add to cheese mixture; stir to combine & enjoy!
This recipe is the closest thing to real mac and cheese I've found!
