This gluten-free truffle mac and cheese recipe will blow your socks off in under 30 minutes!  Let's combine bacon, mushrooms, truffle oil, some heat, and mac and cheese, shall we? Then we will create spicy, creamy, cheesy macaroni and cheese perfection.

I can not explain to you how excited I am for Thanksgiving this year!  We are visiting my brother in his new place {just happens to be a beautiful horse farm!} and I get to see it for the first time!  Plus... we will be in Nashville.... so #NashVegas and all that jazz.....

With all the fun and excitement and activities I am sure we will be doing over the Thanksgiving holiday, I don't want to put too much pressure on the sister-in-law to cook everything.  She's already hostessing {is that even a word?} everything else.

So how about I cook up some delicious, savoury, sticky-to-your-ribs sides that are both gluten-free and terribly unhealthy for you {but for one day that doesn't matter... does it?}.

So of course I had to throw out this truffle mac and cheese side for all the world to see because... well... because it's amazing.  

Best Truffle Mac and Cheese on the planet!

It's decadent and hearty and oh yeah - it's gluten-free!

It's thick, it's creamy, it's bacon-y, it's mushroomy-y, it's truffle-y...you get the picture.  It's got all the most delicious savoury bits in it all mixed up into one bowl!

It's also spicy, which you can leave out if you want to by keeping the crushed red chili flakes off of the dish.

Truffle Mac and Cheese Pairings:

Because this truffle mac and cheese dish is so filling and hearty, I'd recommend serving up bowls of this gluten-free pasta with a lighter side of greens attached like Air Fryer Asparagus, Quick Teriyaki Green Beans, or our Easy Bleu Cheese Green Beans!

What is a truffle?

A truffle is a type of mushroom.  Truffles come in many different white and black varieties and vary in price.

Most people would consider truffles as an expensive purchase, sometimes prices reaching over $1,000!

Wide Open Eats has a great article on Why Truffles are so Expensive.

Truffle Mac Ingredients:

• 12 oz . gluten free pasta
• 1-2 tablespoon truffle oil
• 4 strips thick-cut bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1 cup mushrooms, chopped
• ¼ teaspoon coarse sea salt
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 12 oz . white sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• rosemary for garnish
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Ingredient substitutions:

Cream.  If you don't have heavy cream you can use whole milk.

Cheese.  If you don't have white cheddar cheese on hand, you can substitute it for another white cheese and you will get similar final results.  White cheeses that would make good sub-ins for white cheddar include swiss, goat cheese, mozzarella, or my top recommendation would be to substitute it with orange cheddar cheese that you may have on hand.

What should I look for in truffle oil?

There are true truffle oils and then there are imposters.

True truffle oil has two things in it.  Truffles and oil.  

In fact, you may be able to see little bits of truffle in the bottle of truffle oil.

True truffle oils are going to be more expensive to buy than the imposter oils.

The fake truffle oils have extra things in them besides oil and truffles, maybe some flavorings or chemicals.

These "truffle oils" tend to be much lower in price than actual true truffle oils.

No matter which type of truffle oil you purchase, your truffle mac and cheese will turn out the same.

So don't stress about if your truffle oil is legit or not.  It's gonna taste decadent either way!

How to make decadent truffle macaroni and cheese:

For the full detailed recipe, scroll down to view the recipe card!

1. Cook the gluten-free noodles according to package directions and set aside.
2. In a large skillet, heat the truffle oil over medium heat and add the salt, garlic powder, and mushrooms. Cook the mushrooms until fully cooked.
3. Add in the heavy cream and allow to almost boil. Once almost to a boil, add in the cheese and bring down to low heat. Allow the cheese to melt, stirring continuously.
4. Add the red pepper flakes and bacon. Combine the cheese sauce with the noodles.
5. Garnish with rosemary and extra sea salt and red pepper flakes to taste.

What to top your truffle mac and cheese with:

I top mine off with too many more bacon crumbles, a pinch of rosemary, a dash more red pepper flakes... and a big ol' spoon for face-stuffing!

How to store leftover truffle macaroni and cheese:

You can store your leftover macaroni and cheese in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. 

Make sure your truffle mac and cheese has cooled down to room temperature before putting in it's airtight container.

How to reheat truffle mac and cheese:

To reheat your macaroni and cheese, take out your refrigerated macaroni and place it on a covered microwave-safe plate or dish.

Place a spoonful of extra cream or milk in with your mac and cheese, give it a good stir, and place it in the microwave.

Microwave on high for 30 seconds, stir, and check to see if it needs more time.

Continue this 30 second process until your mac and cheese is heated to your preferred temperature.

Then enjoy it once again!

More gluten-free pasta recipes to dive into:

• One-Pot Rosemary Goat Cheese Chicken Pasta
• Parmesan and Broccolini Pasta
• Goat Cheese, Sweet Corn, and Sunflower Pasta Sauce
• Chicken Pasta in Garlic Basil Butter Sauce
• Vegan Butternut Pasta Sauce
• Gluten-Free Cajun Chicken Pasta
• Baja Avocado Pasta Sauce