Alert: Banza's (Gluten-Free) Chickpea-Pasta Mac and Cheese Is BOMB

By Dominique Michelle Astorino
POPSUGAR Photography | Dominique Astorino
POPSUGAR Photography | Dominique Astorino

See that creamy, decadent bowl of mac and cheese? We've got a secret for ya: the noodles are made from chickpeas! That's right, they're totally gluten-free. Celiacs and gluten-intolerant friends rejoice, this kind-to-your-tummy macaroni is about to be seriously life-changing.

"If you hadn't told me it was chickpea, I wouldn't have known it wasn't a normal noodle."

We asked our colleagues to try this wheat-free treat, and the results were unanimously positive. The Banza brand makes dozens of chickpea noodles, with four mac and cheese varieties (!), but we decided to try the classic-style Chickpea Pasta Mac and Cheese in Classic Cheddar. Before we get into the flavor (spoiler: great things ahead), let's break down the nutrition.

A box serves two (if you have more self-control than us) with roughly one cup (cooked) servings. Each serving prepared with sauces has 360 calories, 20 grams of protein, 36 grams of carbohydrates, and about 19 grams of fat (assuming you made your sauce with milk and butter). While it's higher in fat, it's also pretty damn high in protein.

POPSUGAR Photography | Dominique Astorino

Just look at that glorious bowl of cheesy goodness!

OK now for what you're really waiting for: the taste!

  • "This is fantastic. Would absolutely eat this again."
  • "I loved it. Tastes like real pasta."
  • "Pasta is a little dry, but great flavor."
  • "Sauce is delish! Would not have noticed it wasn't made with normal pasta."
  • "Great taste! Just like the real deal with less sodium/salt taste."
  • "I like it better than Kraft."
  • "Yum! Needs a little salt though."
  • "Sauce is very good! Pasta is a little dry."
  • "If you hadn't told me it was chickpea, I wouldn't have known it wasn't a normal noodle."
  • "Didn't know it was gluten-free! Totally good flavor."
  • "This pasta is pretty damn impressive for being made from chickpeas, but the cheese is leaving me wanting more taste-wise."
  • "This pasta-lover approves of the chickpea texture! Could stand to be more cheesy and salty, but would buy this for a healthier option."
  • "10/10 would eat this again."

★★★★☆