Dairy-Free Bacon & Green Chile Mac-n-Cheeze
Creamy, cheesy comfort food…
It’s the stuff of life!
Nothing gets my family excited like a cold day and some hot comfort food.
And just because I cut dairy out of my diet in July 2017 doesn’t mean any of us has to be deprived of our favorite comfort food of all… mac-n-cheese!
But wait! How can you make mac-n-cheese without the star ingredient?? You know, the cheese?
Dairy-Free Instant Pot Queso
That’s my answer.
I’ve been making up at least a batch a week of this amazing, cheesy, cheese-less sauce since I created the recipe months ago! I love it on roasted potatoes, with cassava flour chips, on taco salads, and now… with pasta!
This is such a budget-friendly recipe, too. Cheese is expensive, y’all! Yet, this cheesy sauce makes it possible to not only save some moolah on cheese but also to get in some extra veggies!
Honestly, I haven’t missed cheese at all since I created that queso. So, if you haven’t tried it yet, do yourself a flavor favor today and give it a go!
Also, you can’t make this Dairy-Free Bacon & Green Chile Mac-n-Cheeze without it!
If you have the dairy-free queso already made, then this recipe is almost as simple as opening a jar of sauce and boiling pasta! It’s one of those dishes I know I can rely on when things are crazy-busy and I need a healthy dinner or side dish QUICK!
Although omitting bacon will never be part of my vocabulary ;), this recipe can be made vegan or vegetarian by leaving out the bacon. The rest of this gluten-free recipe is naturally vegan/vegetarian-friendly. 🙂

Dairy-Free Bacon & Green Chile Mac-n-Cheeze
For an easy side or even main dish, you can't go wrong with a budget-friendly, veggie-filled mac-n-cheeze that everyone can enjoy!
Ingredients
- 1poundgluten-free penne pastacooked according to package directions
- 1recipe Dairy-Free Instant Pot Queso
- 1poundbacon ends and piecessuch as Beeler's brand
- one 4-ounce can green chiles
Instructions
- Prepare 1 recipe of Dairy-Free Instant Pot Queso. This can be done in just a few minutes right before you want to prepare the mac-n-cheeze or even the day before.
- Cook and drain pasta according to the package directions.
- While the pasta is cooking, chop the bacon and cook it in a separate skillet until it reaches your desired level of crispness.
- Add drained pasta back to the pot you cooked it in.
- Pour in the Dairy-Free Instant Pot Queso.
- Stir in 3/4 of the bacon and the entire can of green chiles.
- Put into serving bowls or on plates, if using as a side dish.
- Top each serving with a bit of the remaining bacon.
- Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro, if desired.
Have you ever made mac without dairy? Will you give this a try?

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Lori I can t stop thinking about this recipe why are there no green chiles in my cupboard right now?
OMG! I want to make this for my boyfriend SO much. Thanks for sharing!
Yay! I hope he enjoys it!
Can’t believe how creamy delicious this mac n cheese looks without any dairy! Amazing!
This is beautiful and so delicious, Lindsey!! My DF daughter would be SO happy with me! 😉 LOVE that queso recipe!!!
Can this please just appear in front of me now. I haven’t had mac in cheese in so long since going DF and I have been craving it. I can’t wait to make this!
The queso is just so creative Lindsey! I can’t wait to try this out with the girls!
I can’t wait to try this queso!
That queso though!! This recipe looks awesome and as someone who’s dairy free, I will definitely have to try this out.
I know!!! That queso is one of the most versatile things I’ve ever made!
I am not a Mac & Cheese person, but this recipe is so interesting! Great idea for a quick meal.
That’s ok, Yang. We can still be friends. <3
WOW! I cannot wait to try your IP queso recipe!!! I love that it has hidden veggies. This mac n cheeze recipe is comfort food at its finest <3
It really is! I wish I was making it tonight!