This recipe for real low carb and Keto mac and cheese uses ThinSlim ImPASTAble penne pasta in a tasty four cheese sauce. It's just like normal macaroni and cheese, except this version has just 10g net carbs per serving.
Good news.
Today we're going to make the impossible possible. Or should I say, the imPASTAble possible? It's completely PASTAble to make real low carb mac and cheese, is what I'm trying to say.
The reason I called this recipe "Real Low Carb Mac and Cheese", is because it really is honest to goodness macaroni and cheese.
I'm not trying to pull the wool over your eyes and use cauliflower instead of noodles. Nope, I would never do that to you. I actually used ThinSlim Food's ImPASTAble Penne as the noodles and topped it with a yummy low carb and Keto four cheese sauce. The noodles have just 8g net carbs per serving, whereas regular penne has 40-50g net carbs.
But how? How? You may say.
It's because the noodles are made primarily of oat fiber and wheat fiber. Now, don't worry too much about the words oats and wheat. Wheat fiber is an isolated dietary fiber made from the wheat plant, that is at least 95% fiber. And oat fiber is between 80-97% fiber. The way we calculate net carbs is to take the total amount of carbohydrate in a food and subtract the indigestible fiber, because our body can't digest it or get any energy from it.
Hence, the idea of low carb mac and cheese is more than just possible, it's a completely pasta... bowl.
(Ok folks, tip your waiters, I'm here all week!)
Real Low Carb Mac and Cheese
This recipe for real low carb mac and cheese uses ThinSlim ImPASTAble penne pasta in a tasty four cheese sauce. It's just like normal macaroni and cheese, except this version has just 10g net carbs per serving.
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 15
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Side DIsh
- Method: Boiled
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
1 (8 oz) bag of ImPASTAble Penne Pasta
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
5 oz cream cheese, softened and chopped into cubes
1 ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
1 ¾ cups sharp shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup shredded parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon ground paprika
salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
1. Get out an 11 x 8 inch or 9 x 9 inch casserole dish.
2. Boil a large pot of salted water. Add pasta and cook for 10 minutes. Drain. Add pasta to a large bowl.
3. In a medium sized sauce pan, over Medium heat, melt together butter, cream cheese and heavy whipping cream. Stir until completely melted with no clumps of cream cheese left.
4. Stir in 1 ¼ cup cheddar, 1 cup mozzarella and 1 cup parmesan cheese and cook until fully melted and smooth.
5. Remove from the heat and stir in paprika. Taste for salt and add salt and pepper if desired. How much salt you need will depend on how salty the cheese you use is.
6. Pour the cheese sauce into the bowl of pasta and mix to combine. Pour the mixture into the casserole dish.
7. Top with remaining ½ cup cheddar cheese and heat under the broiler for 1-2 minutes until cheese is melted. If you like it browned on top, then you can broil it for 3-4 minutes. Keep a close eye on it though, because it will go from browned to burnt very quickly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ⅙
- Calories: 552
- Fat: 48
- Carbohydrates: 44
- Fiber: 34
- Protein: 24
Keywords: Real Low Carb Mac and Cheese, Real Low Carb Macaroni and Cheese, Real Low Carb Mac-N-Cheese
If you liked this low carb noodle recipe, then you might like my recipes for Chicken Ramen Soup, Cold Peanut Noodle Salad or Lupin Flour Fettuccine.
I'm not affiliated with ThinSlim Foods in any way, I just like this product.
You can purchase ImPASTAble Penne Noodles directly from the ThinSlim Foods website.
Juniper says
I used the new shells they just started carrying, so it looked just like velveeta shells & cheese! I added a bit more seasoning to it (ground mustard, garlic, & onion powder), but otherwise followed along. It was delish!!!! I was hoping to find some comments on freezability, but not seeing anything. Just my hubby and I... so freezing the other 4 servings.... hopefully it reheats well!!
★★★★★
EmilyKrill says
Thanks for letting me know about their shells! And I’m sorry, but I never enough of this Mac and Cheese to freeze.
Juniper Stell says
It freezes and reheats great by the way! I've added it to my meal prep rotation!!
EmilyKrill says
Thanks for the tip!
amanda limpf says
How is 44 carbs low carb
EmilyKrill says
The fiber count is 34g so the net carbs are 10g.
EmilyKrill says
Here’s some more info on net carbs versus total carbs. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-many-carbs-on-keto#calculating-carbs
Laura says
Checking out keto mac n cheese for my restaurant. I see comments that it's really 8 - 1 cup servings but the carb count is 1-6, 44. Are you saying that there are 44 carbs per 1 cup serving or are you saying it's 44/6 or 8 which would yield 7 or 5.5 carbs per serving?
EmilyKrill says
The nutritional info is for 1/6 of a pan of mac and cheese and each serving is approximately 1 cup. Each serving has 44g carbohydrate and 34g fiber. Because we go on net carbs in Keto, the net carb amount is 10g net carbs per serving.
CookDrinkFest says
Thanks for turning me on to the Impastable pasta. I used the penne pasta to make my great-aunt's super-secret mac & cheese recipe this Thanksgiving. It came out perfect.
★★★★★
EmilyKrill says
Yay! I love it too. I don't taste any difference either.
Ashlee says
Quick question, is the cream cheese necessary or can it be sub for something else or more heavy cream?
EmilyKrill says
Yes, you can always make a super easy cheese sauce with just shredded cheese and heavy whipping cream. It won't be as thick as one with cream cheese, but it will taste good.
Diana says
Sooo sooo good!! very fulfilling! I was just wondering what’s the serving? It’s says 1/6, is it 1 cup per serving and it makes 6 cups in total.
★★★★★
EmilyKrill says
So glad you like it. It's a favorite recipe of mine. And yes, it should be a little more than 1 cup per serving, since a 9 x 9 inch pan holds about 8 cups.
Karen says
Where do you buy the pasta?
EmilyKrill says
I buy these noodles on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/ThinSlim-Foods-Impastable-Pasta-Elbows/dp/B01FE8O3PU/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=impastable+pasta+elbow&qid=1581074718&sr=8-3
Faith says
I could kiss you! I LOVE Mac and cheese but again it’s on the no no list. I looked it up and I live in the south hills 5 minutes from the only store in the entire state that sells this imPastables I will be going tomorrow to get some and make these great looking recipe.
EmilyKrill says
Yay! I love using these noodles. Hope you like the recipe.
Kate Westling says
OMG. The best low carb Mac & Cheese I’ve ever tried and I made it myself!!!!!
★★★★★
EmilyKrill says
Thanks!
Sara Welch says
What a great tasting recipe! So glad I can enjoy a classic dish without the guilt! Yum!
★★★★★
EmilyKrill says
Thanks!
Raia Todd says
Oooooh my goodness. How could you go wrong with all that cheese! All the heart eyes for this one!
★★★★★
EmilyKrill says
You really can’t add too much cheese.
Jen says
I love that I no longer have to miss out on one of my favorites! So good!
★★★★★
EmilyKrill says
Thanks!