How to Make Quick and Easy Macaroni and Cheese With Chickpea Pasta (Diabetic Friendly, Air Fryer or Oven)
- Leigh
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Chickpea pasta is different than "regular pasta" and has a tendency to turn to mush when you boil it, but chickpea pasta works well in this simple macaroni and cheese recipe. I make the dish in the air fryer in about 30 minutes, and I don't boil the chickpea pasta first. Instead, I simply add extra liquid to the dish, and the pasta softens as it cooks--sort of like "no-boil" lasagna. Chickpea pasta is high in protein and fiber and low on the glycemic index, so it's a good choice if you're diabetic or "want to eat healthy." How does the macaroni and cheese taste? It's good. The dish is a "southern-style" custard-type mac' n' cheese and it's flavored with two types of cheese and onions. It comes out of the air fryer or oven with a golden brown, slightly crispy top and a soft interior. You can serve the dish "as is" as a main dish or alongside meats. Enjoy!
Quick and Easy Chickpea Pasta Macaroni and Cheese (Diabetic Friendly) --
Serves 4+
1 cup of chickpea pasta (elbows, etc., I use fusilli or penne, usually)
1/3 cup of chopped onion (yellow, white, or green or a combination)
2 1/2 - 3 cups of milk (use 2 1/2 cups for firmer, "al dente" pasta and 3 cups for softer
pasta)
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon of pepper
2 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese
1 1/3 cups of grated medium or sharp cheddar cheese, divided (I use a medium, thick-
cut shredded cheese)
Spritz an 8-inch square pan with non-stick cooking spray and spread the uncooked chickpea pasta evenly in the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle the chopped onion evenly over the pasta. Sprinkle 1 cup of the cheddar cheese over the onion. In a large bowl whisk together the milk, eggs, salt, pepper, and grated Parmesan cheese until thoroughly blended. Pour the mixture gently and evenly over the pasta and other ingredients in the pan. Sprinkle on the remaining 1/3 cup of the cheddar cheese.
Air Fryer: Using the "bake" setting on your air fryer, bake the pasta at 320 degrees for 25-35 minutes or until a golden, spotty brown and firm. Test the pasta with a knife to see if it's as soft/firm as you like it. If you don't have a "bake" setting, air fry the pasta at 320 degrees for about 30 minutes, but start checking it at 20 minutes to see if it's browning too quickly. If it is, turn down the heat to 300 degrees and continue cooking the pasta until it's done to your liking.
Oven: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and and bake the pasta for about 30 minutes or until it's a golden, spotty brown and firm. Test the pasta with a knife to see it it's as soft/firm as you like it.
Let the cooked pasta stand for five minutes to let it continue to firm up and cool a little before serving it.
