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This gluten and nightshade-free chili mac is the perfect one-pot meal! It’s packed with veggies and easy to make on a weeknight.

gluten free chili mac in a bowl with avocado and green onion

Chili mac is one of those comfort food dishes that takes the best of everything and combines it into one dish! Pasta, chili, cheese, what’s not to like?! Being gluten-free, and nightshade free (check out my nightshade food list if you’re unfamiliar) I never thought I’d be able to have it again. But with my new brand of nightshade-free pasta sauce, Daylight Veggie Pasta Sauce, I was so inspired to finally make it work!

This nightshade-free chili mac is the perfect gluten-free one-pot comfort food dish!

Table of contents

Why you’ll love this recipe

  • It’s nightshade free, made with my veggie pasta sauce, Daylight. No more making nightshade-free tomato sauce from scratch, this sauce is the perfect 1:1 pasta sauce substitute! Plus, it’s packed with veggies for the perfect hidden veggie dish.
  • Goat cheese is lower in lactose. This recipe is made with goat cheddar. Goat cheese is not lactose-free, but goat cheese is lower in lactose than regular cheese. It truly depends on the person, but as someone who is on the moderate side of lactose intolerance, I find myself able to tolerate goat cheese in moderation with a lactose enzyme like Hilma.

Recipe Ingredients

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.

all ingredients for gluten free chili mac, separated and in bowls
  • Ground beef.
  • Daylight veggie pasta sauce. This is my own brand that I created out of a serious need of my own, and my readers! It’s nightshade-free, tomato free and veggie packed!
  • Goat cheddar.
  • Gluten-free pasta. I like to use jovial brown rice elbow pasta.
  • Kidney beans.

Substitutions and Modifications

  • Homemade nightshade-free marinara. Of course, using Daylight is much faster, and a lot more flavorful, but you can use a homemade sauce as well. Just keep in mind you’ll have to season further to taste as Daylight has a lot more flavor than a homemade version.
  • Cassava pasta. You can make this grain free with cassava pasta, but keep in mind it may cook faster.
  • Ground turkey. You can easily swap the ground beef for ground turkey.
  • Dairy-free cheese or nutritional yeast. Keep in mind that dairy-free cheese will not melt as well, but you can also use nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor! 

How to make nightshade and gluten-free chili mac

Here are the simple steps, with photos, to make this recipe. Find full instructions in the recipe card.

zucchini and avocado oil, sauted on stovetop

Step one. Using a medium Dutch oven, heat the avocado oil over medium heat. Add the zucchini and saute for 2-3 minutes on each side or until lightly crisped. Set aside.

ground beef, onions, and spices sauted on stovetop

Step two. Add the onion and garlic to the pot and saute for 2 minutes or until lightly translucent and fragrant. Add the ground beef and crumble until browned. Season with salt, pepper, and dried cilantro.

adding beans, daylight pasta sauce, chicken broth, and elbow macaroni to the pot

Step three. Add the kidney beans, Daylight veggie pasta sauce, chicken broth, and gluten-free elbow macaroni. Stir well to combine, ensuring that the past is mostly covered by the liquid. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer, and add the lid.

adding zucchini and cheese into the pot with chili mac

Step four. Cook for 10-12 minutes or until the pasta is cooked through and the liquid is reduced to a sauce. Turn off the heat and add the cooked zucchini and half of the cheese. Gently stir in to melt the cheese. Add the rest of the cheese on top and place the lid back on the pot, the residual heat will melt the cheese.

Tips & Tricks

  • Turn off the heat before you melt the cheese. Cheese can get a bit grainy if you melt it at high heat. Just use the residual heat to melt the cheese.
  • Add some spice if tolerated. You can of course, add chili powder if you tolerate nightshade spices!

Recipe FAQS

Can you make this recipe dairy free?

This is still a great pasta dish even without the cheese, but of course, cheese makes it yummier.

Can you make this recipe without the beans?

Yes, you can easily omit the pinto beans.

gluten free chili mac in a pot

Other nightshade free recipes…

If you tried these Gluten Free Chili Mac or any other recipe on my blog please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!

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Gluten Free Chili Mac {Nightshade Free}

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  • Author: Unbound Wellness
  • Prep Time: 10
  • Cook Time: 20
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: Main Dishes
  • Method: Stove Top
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Gluten Free
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Description

This gluten and nightshade-free chili mac is the perfect one-pot meal! It’s packed with veggies and easy to make on a weeknight.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tbsp avocado oil
  • 1 medium zucchini, chopped into half-moons
  • 1/2 yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • Salt & pepper
  • 1 tsp dried cilantro
  • 1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 jar Daylight veggie pasta sauce
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 2 cups gluten-free elbow macaroni (uncooked)
  • 1 cup goat cheddar cheese, divided (see notes)
  • 2 tbsp green onion, chopped
  • 1 avocado diced, to serve

Instructions

  1. Using a medium Dutch oven, heat the avocado oil over medium heat. Add the zucchini and saute for 2-3 minutes on each side or until lightly crisped. Set aside.
  2. Add the onion and garlic to the pot and saute for 2 minutes or until lightly translucent and fragrant. Add the ground beef and crumble until browned. Season with salt, pepper, and dried cilantro. 
  3. Add the kidney beans, Daylight veggie pasta sauce, chicken broth, and gluten-free elbow macaroni. Stir well to combine, ensuring that the past is mostly covered by the liquid. 
  4. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer, and add the lid. Remove the lid to stir about every 2 minutes. Cook for 10-12 minutes or until the pasta is cooked through and the liquid is reduced to a sauce. 
  5. Turn off the heat and add the cooked zucchini and half of the cheese. Gently stir in to melt the cheese. Add the rest of the cheese on top and place the lid back on the pot, the residual heat will melt the cheese. Alternatively, you can add the pot to the oven set to broil for 2 minutes to melt the cheese. 
  6. Serve the pasta in bowls  topped with green onion and avocado.

Notes

Turn off the heat before you melt the cheese. Cheese can get a bit grainy if you melt it at high heat. Just use the residual heat to melt the cheese.

Add some spice if tolerated. You can of course, add chili powder if you tolerate nightshade spices.

Sub dairy-free cheese or nutritional yeast if desired. Keep in mind dairy-free cheese will not melt as well, but you can also use nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor as well! 

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4 servings
  • Calories: 678
  • Sugar: 3.6g
  • Fat: 35.6g
  • Carbohydrates: 44.5g
  • Fiber: 10g
  • Protein: 45.5g