This Queso Mac and Cheese recipe is creamy, loaded with flavor, and totally decadent! Made with melty cheese, tomatoes, beans, and spices – this delicious pasta dish is hearty, vegetarian, and gluten free!
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the brands that support The Herbeevore and our beehives!
If you’re looking for a fun twist to spice up classic macaroni and cheese, look no further than this amazing Queso Mac and Cheese recipe! I made a creamy loaded queso dip, and tossed it with warm, freshly cooked pasta for the ultimate creamy dinner recipe.
This is a super fun mash-up of two of my favorite things: queso dip, and mac & cheese. It has all the flavors of classic creamy queso (a little heat and loaded with veggies!) and has the melty gooey texture of good mac and cheese. Put them together, and you have a great weeknight dinner for kids or adults.
This Queso Mac and Cheese Recipe Is:
- Creamy
- Bright
- Fresh
- Loaded with Vegetables
- Versatile – You can control the amount of spice, or make it not spicy at all!
- Flavorful
- Vegetarian and Gluten Free
One of the BEST Pantry Macaroni Recipes
This creamy Velveeta Queso mac and cheese recipe is a fantastic pantry-staple meal! It uses almost all ingredients you would have in your dry pantry or cupboards – most of which you probably have on hand. Keeping a well-stocked pantry makes it easy to come up with delicious and healthy meals using a few staples you can rotate. I made a list of my Top 125 Plant-Based Pantry Staples that always keep stocked. And you can check out all my favorite pantry staple ingredients in my Amazon shop here. By stocking up on healthy whole ingredients you can cook delicious recipes without a trip to the store!
What’s In This Queso Mac and Cheese Recipe?
- Macaroni Noodles: to make this gluten free, these awesome GF macaroni pasta noodles work perfect in this recipe. If you aren’t gluten free, then you can use normal macaroni, whole wheat, or a veggie pasta.
- Velveeta Cheese: I used creamy Velveeta for this recipe, YUM!
- No Salt Added Diced Tomatoes: I only use no salt added diced tomatoes, these boxed tomatoes are really great to stock up on! I like boxed tomatoes better because they are BPA free and more eco-friendly than aluminum cans. If you haven’t read about the dangers of consuming foods stored in BPA cans, head over to Nutrition Facts to read more.
- No Salt Added Black Beans: Use no salt added or low sodium beans for better flavor and control of the salt in this dish (the cheese is salty!!!). I only use low or no sodium beans in my recipes. You can always add salt in, but it’s impossible to take out.
- Chili Powder: for a really nice flavor in this dip – the chili powder isn’t spicy but will give you a rich and bright flavor.
- Cumin: also adds a really nice flavor to this recipe – cumin has a lightly smokey flavor found in a lot of chili recipes.
- Salsa of Choice – we used a homemade tomatillo salsa for this macaroni, but this great tomatillo salsa you can get online here is the perfect addition too! You can use a mild, medium or leave it out all together if you don’t like the spice.
Make Spicy Mac and Cheese Gluten Free!
This spicy queso mac and cheese recipe is a simple meal to make without the wheat – Velveeta is gluten free, believe it or not! I’m all about making recipes gluten free when I can. Gluten free cooking does NOT have to be bland, boring, or flavorless… It’s quite the opposite when done right. By building meals around gluten free pantry staples and swapping in a few wheat-less ingredients you can make healthier meals for you and your family. I made a list of my 125 favorite gluten free pantry ingredients that we use on a weekly basis, and check out all my gluten free recipes here that are on The Herbeevore. These easy and healthy recipes are fantastic meals for everyone at your table.
How Do I Make Mac and Cheese with Queso?
- Cook macaroni noodles according to package instructions. Drain, and set aside.
- In the same cooking pot, add the salsa, cubed Velveeta, tomatoes (with the juice), black beans, chili powder, oregano, and cumin. Heat over low heat and stir until cheese has melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Toss pasta in the sauce, and continue stirring and cooking over low heat until the dish is hot and bubbling.
- Garnish with extra green onion and salsa, and enjoy!
Comfort Food Macaroni and Cheese Recipes for the WIN!
This queso mac and cheese recipe is the tastiest, coziest dinner meal. It’s perfect for a hearty and easy meal for the family, and also great to make for company if you are having guests for dinner. Adding the black beans and tomatoes gives this dish a little extra fiber and makes it super filling. It’s not a gourmet dish, but it’s super tasty. Like a hug in a bowl!
More Fun Pasta Recipes You’ll Love!
Mozzarella Alfredo Sauce Recipe (Vegetarian, Gluten Free)
Kale Ricotta Pasta Recipe (Vegetarian, Gluten Free)
Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Butternut Squash Recipe (Vegan, Dairy Free)
Meatless Baked Ziti Recipe (Vegetarian, Holiday Side Dish)
Mediterranean One Pot Pasta (Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegan)
Get the Same Ingredients for this Queso Macaroni and Cheese
I get all the fresh produce for my recipes from my garden and from Misfits Market – they sell all organic produce at a super discounted price, and it’s purchased direct from the farmers. We get Misfit Market boxes every month and love picking out our favorite seasonal produce for delivery. You can get $10 off your first box by clicking here!
If you think organic produce is too expensive… think again, and give Misfits Market a look!
As always, if you make this vegetarian and gluten free queso macaroni and cheese recipe be sure to leave me a comment, rate this recipe, and tag me @theherbeevore on Instagram so I can feature you. I love seeing all your photos of my recipe recreations!
Let’s keep in touch – make sure to sign up for my newsletter to get fresh recipes weekly. And don’t forget to follow over on Pinterest, Instagram , & Twitter– I’d love to connect with you there!
Queso Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 16 ounce package macaroni use gluten free
- 1/2 cup salsa optional
- 16 ounces Velveeta cut into cubes
- 1 14-ounce can No-Salt-Added Diced Tomatoes no salt added
- 1- 13.5-ounce black beans no salt added, drained and rinsed
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 2 green onions sliced, save extra for garnish
Instructions
- Cook macaroni noodles according to package instructions. Drain, and set aside.
- In the same cooking pot, add the salsa, cubed Velveeta, tomatoes (with the juice), black beans, chili powder, oregano, and cumin. Heat over low heat and stir until cheese has melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Toss pasta in the sauce, and continue stirring and cooking over low heat until the dish is hot and bubbling.
- Garnish with extra green onion and salsa, and enjoy!
Notes
Save Money on Fresh Produce!
I get all the fresh produce for my recipes from my garden and from Misfits Market - they sell all organic produce at a super discounted price, and it’s purchased direct from the farmers. We get Misfit Market boxes every month and love picking out our favorite seasonal produce for delivery. You can get $10 off your first box by clicking here! If you think organic produce is too expensive... think again, and give Misfits Market a look!Nutrition
Or tag me @theherbeevore in your photo on Instagram!
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the brands that support The Herbeevore and our beehives!