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This healthier Mac and Cheese is made with Dreamfields pasta and a silky smooth, ooey gooey cheese sauce. THM S
Feel free to use this cheese sauce on zoodles or another low carb pasta alternative if you prefer!
Can I use Dreamfields pasta on the THM plan?
Dreamfields pasta has always been a bit of a grey area. Dreamfields pasta used to be touted as a low carb pasta, but then there was a big lawsuit, and claims changed. To my understanding, Dreamfields pasta is more “slow carb” than “low carb.”
Dreamfields is ok to use as a personal choice item on the THM plan in an S or E setting occasionally, but monitor your own reaction to it to decide if it’s for you or not. Dreamfields is not considered a Fuel Pull ingredient. If you find your weight loss stalling, Dreamfields pasta would be an item to cut back on.
You can find Dreamfields pasta at Walmart and most grocery stores.
As I said above, feel free to use your favorite veggie noodle substitute in place of the Dreamfields pasta if you prefer!
Turn it into a meal!
Feel free to add chopped fully cooked ham, hot dogs, chicken, or turkey for protein.
I added some crushed Ryvita cracker crumbs on top for garnish and some crunch. Plenty of salt and black pepper are essential – so don’t skimp on those!
Use this cheese sauce on all the things!
The sauce in this dish is a great basic cheese sauce that you could use for many different things!
Perfect for picky eaters!
I guarantee your children and picky husbands will enjoy this mac and cheese! I first created this recipe when I was living at home with my parents and three younger siblings and everyone scarfed it down.
Need more family friendly dishes? How about…
- No Bake Snack Bars
- Crispy Chicken Cheese Quesadilla
- Parmesan Chicken Tenders
- Mommy’s Meatloaf
- Low Carb Pizza Crust
- Chocolate Chip Cookies
As always, check out the Notes section of the recipe for helpful info and answers to frequently asked questions!
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY:
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STARTING THM
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MY RECIPE INDEX
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RECIPE INDEX BY FUEL TYPE/ALLERGY/THEME
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My side dish recipes
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My Southern Macaroni Pie recipe
You can find this recipe on page 123 of my cookbook Necessary Food.
Mac and Cheese
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4-5 servings
Description
This healthier Mac and Cheese is made with Dreamfields pasta and a silky smooth, ooey gooey cheese sauce. THM S
Feel free to use this cheese sauce on zoodles or another low carb pasta alternative if you prefer! Dreamfields is ok to use as a personal choice item on the THM plan occasionally, but monitor your own reaction to it to decide if it’s for you or not. You can find Dreamfields pasta at Walmart and most grocery stores.
Ingredients
- 2 cups dry Dreamfields elbow pasta (or whatever shape you prefer)
CHEESE SAUCE
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (I love sharp cheddar, but use whatever kind of cheese you like)
- 1/2 cup unsweetened almond or cashew milk (plain, not vanilla)
- 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Cook the Dreamfields pasta according to package directions. Cook al dente; do not overcook!
Meanwhile melt the cheese sauce ingredients together in a saucepan on the stovetop. It’s important to do this slowly over medium-low heat. Do not boil. When everything is melted, whisk the cheese sauce together until smooth.
When the pasta is done, drain it and stir it into the cheese sauce. Add plenty of salt and black pepper to taste – I personally like a little more than the sauce calls for. Serve immediately.
Dreamfields pasta should not be reheated or overcooked (this causes it to lose whatever low glycemic properties it may have), so I enjoy leftovers cold.
Notes
Feel free to add chopped fully cooked ham, hot dogs, chicken, or turkey for protein. I added some crushed Ryvita cracker crumbs on top for garnish and some crunch.
The sauce in this dish is a great basic cheese sauce that you could use for many different things!
You can find this recipe on page 123 of my cookbook Necessary Food.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Category: Side dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: THM S
Keywords: thm, trim healthy mama, thm mac and cheese, healthy mac and cheese, dreamfields mac and cheese, thm macaroni, dreamfields macaroni, dreamfields pasta
First published to the blog on March 24, 2016. Pictures updated and post tidied up November 2021. No real changes were made to the recipe – just some notes added.
I made this today and it was delicious! I planned to use unsweetened almond milk (which I usually have on hand) but only had vanilla unsweetened almond milk. I ended up using hubby’s 2 percent milk for the almond milk and the cream. I used finely shredded reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese from Aldi’s and it melted super fast. Seemed like right after I mixed it in I had to remove it from the heat. A friend serves stewed tomatoes on top of her mac and cheese so I opened a can and heated them in a bowl and put one serving of the mac and cheese on top. It was really good and I’d make it again. Next time I’ll try almond milk. Not sure if the stewed tomatoes make it off plan but it seemed healthy to eat the veggies with it. I know the 2 percent milk is off plan but that was not the way I had originally planned to make it.
★★★★★
This mac and cheese was so delicious! First time I have had Mac and Cheese in over three years without any regret! Thank you for another quick, easy and tasty recipe!
★★★★★
WOW!!! I finally decided to try this, but used Dreamfields macaroni because that’s what I had. My cheese clumped up, but I think that was my error. I didn’t think the sauce would be good unless you got a hunk of the cheese, but I was wrong. My husband said it was the best he had ever eat! Thank you so much for another wonderful recipe.
★★★★★
Yay! I’m so glad it was a hit! If the cheese clumped, maybe the sauce got too hot.
So is Dreamfields pasta on plan? I was under the impression that they were sued for false advertising and that it really had a ton of carbs. Am I wrong?
I believe the current stance is that it’s a personal choice item for occasional use based on how it affects your individual blood sugar. Some people can eat it without effect, others can’t.
This sounds delish and I am thinking about making it. But I am unclear how this is a S meal when Dreamfields pasta per serving is 36 gm of carbs. Can you help me understand?
I’m sorry – it’s confusing. Supposedly the way Dreamfields is made keeps the carbs from reacting in the typical fashion in your body (as long as you don’t overcook or reheat the pasta). It used to be packaged as such, but then there was a lawsuit and the packaging was changed. Basically the THM stance is that it affects different people in different ways. You can test your blood sugar after eating it and see how it affects you personally if you really want a scientific answer as to whether or not you should eat it. It’s approved as a personal choice item in an E or S setting (but not Fuel Pull, for some reason) for occasional use.
How much are we able to have in one sitting? Is there a way we could make this single serve?
This recipe serves 4-5 people. To make a single serve you could just try dividing the ingredients in the recipe by 4 or 5. 🙂
I was wondering if this can be baked. I wanted to take it to a dinner we were invited to on Saturday. I think it would stay warmer longer if it was baked.
I’m not sure on that! Dreamfields isn’t supposed to be cooked any longer than the package instructions (or reheated) or else it loses its low glycemic properties, so baking may be an issue.
What about sprouted pasta? Would that be good/better?
If you could find an on-plan sprouted pasta (I don’t know of any brands off the top of my head), that would probably make this recipe a THM Crossover. 🙂 The sprouted pasta would most likely be an E (carb source) and this cheese sauce is an S. Whether or not it would be “better” than Dreamfields would depend on how your body responds to Dreamfields pasta.
Thanks! I made it as you suggested. The recipe worked well and super yummo, but I’m not sure about the Dreamfields for me personally. I felt okay after trying out sprouted pasta a couple nights ago. Although, tbh, I may have consumed too much of this tasty mac & cheese?? I just felt a little funny tonight; seemed like my heart rate even increased after dinner. Sugar and questionable carbs really aren’t my friends, but that’s exactly why we’re THM’ers, right? 😉 Thanks, again, so much! My family enjoyed it! (Albeit, my teen said he still likes the boxed stuff better. Pray for him – haha!) 😀
★★★★★
I’m glad it turned out well for you! Hey, if your body doesn’t react well to Dreamfields, by all means try it with an on-plan sprouted pasta! A crossover now and then for a treat never hurt anybody. 😉
Great recipe! My one year old love it and so did I! Super easy to make as well!
Please tell me what I did wrong with the cheese sauce…I used exact recipe and did not let it boil but the cheese ended up a huge rubbery clump. I had to toss it.
I’m sorry, but I’m not sure! The only thing I can think of is that maybe even though it didn’t boil, it was too hot for too long. Heat the cheese sauce ingredients just until they are melted enough to be whisked together into a smooth sauce. I’m sorry it didn’t turn out for you!
This did not turn out for me 🙁 I followed the directions exactly, but the cheese just melted and didn’t blend with the milk. What went wrong?
I’m sorry it didn’t work for you, Bethany! I’m guessing it got too hot and melted too quickly. Try it over a lower heat and let the cheese melt more gradually. 🙂 Also, a finely-shredded cheese may work best.
Hi Brianna: What is the size of the ramekin in the photo?
Hi Lynnita! I think it holds about a cup. It was just used for photographic purposes, not necessarily to indicate serving size. 🙂 I have the recipe marked as serving 4-5, but the serving size on Dreamfields pasta (at least the penne that I used) is 3/4 cup dry, so you could actually have up to a third of the recipe.
I absolutely love this recipe!!! I keep going back to it. Mac n cheese is one of my favorite foods so it was painful to give up. It’s nice to have this big so naughty version and I think it’s just as yummy as my old one.
★★★★★
Hi Briana. I have a question about the dreamfields pasta. I bought some online and when I got it I was shocked at the incredibly high carb count per serving. I’m confused how it can be used in an S meal. Also I was wondering if semolina is on plan?
Hi Melanie! I recommend you check out this information about it. This explains the official THM stance. 🙂 https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152061060322285&set=oa.644966205576534&type=3&theater
Thank you for all the THM help, recipes and inspiration you give. I have a question, is there a difference in using your baking blend and THM baking blend…this recipe calls for 6 Tblsp…is it the same for using THM? I know you need more liquid wi2th your baking blend so I’m thinking I can use less. Just for future reference. thank you
★★★★
Hi Kathy! Thanks for reading! You actually commented on my Mac and Cheese recipe, which doesn’t use baking mix, so I’m not sure which recipe you’re looking at, but in general if my recipe would call for 6 T of my baking mix, you would use just a bit more of THM’s mix because it doesn’t soak up as much liquid and you need more of it to make up for mine in a recipe since it’s not as absorbent. In smaller amounts you can often use the same amount, but general rule of thumb is to use 1 cup of THM Baking Blend in place of every 3/4 cup of my baking mix, then adjust liquid or flour from there if needed. 🙂
Do you think you could make a batch of this cheese sauce to have on hand? Or would it go bad?
I don’t know that it would go bad, but I’m not sure how the consistency would be once refrigerated. You’re welcome to try!
Hi Briana
I just had a question about using dreamfields pasta. I ordered some and when I got it it says it’s made from semolina and also it is 41grm of carbs. Per serving. Is that ok? How is it a thm S?I’m just a bit confused and would appreciate you helping me understand.
Hi Melanie! The Dreamfields thing is a little tricky, but basically there is supposedly a coating on the pasta that keeps it from spiking your blood sugar. There have been some lawsuits against Dreamfields contesting this so I think they removed the claim from the packaging, but the official THM stance is that it’s OK to use it as a personal choice item once in awhile in an S or E setting based on your own personal reaction to it. It spikes some people’s blood sugar while other people seem to do fine. 🙂 It doesn’t make me feel nasty like other pasta does, so that’s been my personal test, but I hardly ever use it and keep it only for special occasions.
The lids were not a fan. They did not like the sauce flavor. I thought it was just okay.
★★
Wow! This was delicious. Even my picky eater ate his whole bowl. Thank you for another great recipe.
How many calories?
Hi Natalie! I follow a healthy eating lifestyle called “Trim Healthy Mama” which centers around eating healthy foods and separating carbs and fats into different meals to speed up the metabolism. Counting is not required on THM, so I embrace that and don’t count nutrition facts in my recipes. You’re welcome to put the recipe into an app like MyFitnessPal to check and see whether it would fit into the particular lifestyle you’re following.
Briana,
What could I use in place of almond milk or coconut milk. My son has food allergies and can’t have either of those. Probably my number one struggle with staying on plan. So many things I can’t feed to my son, so I end up cooking separate meals or I eat off plan 🙁 .
Thank you!
Jennifer
Hi Jennifer! I’m afraid I don’t personally have any other suggestions, but I know there are options out there and the THM Allergen Free Facebook group may have some ideas for you: https://www.facebook.com/groups/THMAllergenFree/?hc_ref=SEARCH
If you do a search in the group or check out the files, you may find some answers. 🙂
Is there anything I can use to replace the heavy whipping cream?
You could try half and half or more almond milk (the sauce won’t be as thick and rich, though).
I’m new to the plan and am still trying to find some alternatives to family favorites.
My husband also has to eat gluten free so I can’t use dream fields controversy or not as a family option but we both would love some Mac and cheese.
I’ve been experimenting with shirataki noodles and wonder if you think they would work and how many ounces would be the equivalent to the two cups of dream fields pasta?
Hi Kim! I actually don’t have any experience with shirataki noodles and I’m not sure what their texture is like, but if you prepare them as you usually would, then add the cheese sauce, I’m sure that would work. 🙂
The not-so-naughty noodles are what The Sisters use in their mac/cheese recipe in their cookbook, so I imagine they would work in this one, as well.
Hello! This looks amazing and I can’t wait to try it. However, one question ~ my daughter is allergic to tree nuts so would plain coconut milk (unsweetened) be a suitable substitute?
Thank you!
Hi Kelly! Yes, carton coconut milk should be a fine substitute for the almond milk.
Thank you!
I made this and the flavor was great but the cheese was very stringy. Did anyone else have this issue? Could it be because I used already shredded cheese from a bag? Thanks for the recipe!
★★★★
That’s what I used as well but didn’t have that problem. I’m guessing that maybe the cheese got too hot.
I’ve had that happen before in other cheese sauces. Try adding a splash more of the unsweetened almond milk, that should help with the stringiness. 🙂
I believe the Dream fields pasta would be an E, not an S….it is a crossover to have my beef spaghetti sauce with the Dream fields pasta, which is why I choose to use zoodles instead. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Dreamfields is fuel neutral because of the way it is made that causes the carbs to not impact the blood sugar, so it can be used in either an S or E THM Fuel Setting. *However* there have been some controversies about whether or not Dreamfields actually does what it says it does, so if you find that Dreamfields does in fact spike your blood sugar, it would be safer to use it in an E setting. 🙂 Zoodles are always a safe choice.
What are Zoodles and where can you purchase those? I’ve tried the dreamfield and I wasn’t to impressed with them. Thanks you this looks great.
★★★★★
Zoodles are just “noodles” made out of zucchini. 🙂 I’m afraid you have to make them yourself, but they’re so simple. Just get a spiralizer tool of some sort, use it on some fresh zucchini, then sauté the resulting noodles until they’re crisp-tender. 🙂
Dreamfields pasta is not low carb!! If you’re diabetic or trying to lose weight please don’t buy their product! Use zoodles instead!! Or try cauliflower “mac” & cheese 🙂
If THM endorse Dreamfields then I imagine they’re getting compensated in some way.
I’m sorry; blogger mistake. When I first wrote the post, I wasn’t thinking and labeled it low carb. Since then I’ve removed the labels, but at your comment I decided I should replace the graphic as well so as not to cause confusion.
THM does not endorse Dreamfield’s. It’s totally a personal choice item, and if you choose to use it, it should only be used on occasion and only after you gauge your own body’s reaction to it.
After being a THM’er for 1 1/2 years, this makes me want to try dreamfields for the first time.? Thank you Briana for the recipe. ❤️
I am amazed! It came out so yummy! My new go to for Mac and cheese. I can’t wait for the rest of my family to try it. My hubby raved about it when I shared mine with him. I think my children will go crazy over it! Thank you for another incredible recipe.
★★★★★
Oh my Briana this looks so good I’m drooling out here in California. I can’t wait to go shopping this week and put this on the menu. I bet this would go great with some grilled meat and perhaps a coleslaw.
Why does reheating any of the leftover mac and cheese take away the low-glycemic properties of the pasta?
(I have never tried Dreamfield’s pasta.)
I don’t know the science behind it, but with the way Dreamfield’s is made, something about overcooking it (or cooking it twice) takes away whatever makes the carbs not dissolve into the bloodstream so fast.
DreamFields pasta is a load of “you know what”. It’s extremely high carb, just as detrimental as pasta to a low carb diet. Believe me, as a diabetic it shot my blood sugar up just like regular pasta, because it IS pasta!
I know several people who use it & it doesn’t cause their blood sugar to increase. Others who it does. That’s why in Trim Healthy Mama it’s considered a personal choice item.
What are the other 2 dishes in the picture with the Mac N Cheese?
Sautéed cabbage and a chicken dish that is going to be a cookbook exclusive. 😉
Looks SO yummy!! I’m sure my hubby will love it and will prob try it tonight!
Thank you!!
Does THM know about the lawsuit against Dreamfields? Their claims of being low glycemic were determined to be false. I have not ordered any so far because I am skeptical, and I am a turtle. 🙂
Regardless, I love your blog and recipes!
Yes, they are aware of it, and as I said in the post, the pasta is totally a personal choice item and Pearl and Serene have told us to gauge our own reactions to the pasta and only use it on occasion. 🙂