Lifestyle Food 12 Recipes to Make When Calories Are the Last Thing on Your Mind Gluten-free folks, avert your eyes: These pasta- and bread-laden recipes take comfort food to a whole new level By Kristin Appenbrink and Morgan Gibson Published on October 29, 2014 04:00 PM Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos 01 of 12 MAC 'N' CHEESE PIZZA The Gunny Sack How do you make macaroni 'n' cheese even better? Serve it on a pizza! This culinary mashup from The Gunny Sack is topped with shredded cheese and put under the broiler for a few minutes until it's bubbly and delicious. 02 of 12 CREAMY CAPRESE PASTA Give Recipe via Pinterest A simple pasta dish is the ultimate carb-loading recipe. This version from Give Recipe combines the classic Caprese salad ingredients of mozzarella, tomatoes and basil into one plate of creamy, cheesy goodness. 03 of 12 BACON & BRIE GRILLED CHEESE Simply Delicious via Pinterest There's never a bad time for grilled cheese, especially when it involves salty bacon and creamy Brie like this recipe from Simply Delicious. 04 of 12 POTATO SQUASH GRATIN The Kitchn via Pinterest When you're bored with heavy main dishes, add this potato and squash gratin from The Kitchn to your dinner menu. It's warm and comforting, and we couldn't ask for anything more. 05 of 12 NUTELLA CROISSANT BREAD PUDDING Steamy Kitchen via Pinterest Looking for a dessert show-stopper? Try this decadent bread pudding from Steamy Kitchen. It includes two of our favorite things: flaky croissants and nutty Nutella. 06 of 12 CHEESE AND GARLIC 'CRACK' BREAD Recipe Tin Eats via Pinterest There's a reason this pull-apart bread from Recipe Tin Eats is called "crack bread" — you won't be able to stop eating it! And we say: Go for it. 07 of 12 PINEAPPLE FRIED RICE Damn Delicious via Pinterest Carbs come in all glorious shapes and sizes, like this gluten-free fried rice dish from Damn Delicious. It has plenty of veggies and juicy chunks of pineapple to make you feel better about having seconds. 08 of 12 PRETZEL DOGS Le Cr me de La Crumb via Pinterest Whether you opt for bite-size pretzel dogs or go whole hog…er…dog, you're going to need plenty of dipping sauces. Start with ketchup and spicy brown mustard like Crème de la Crumb and then add a few more unexpected options like pesto or chipotle aioli. 09 of 12 MONKEY BREAD Sally's Baking Addiction via Pinterest If you love cinnamon rolls but don't want to spend the time rolling them up, make this monkey bread recipe from Sally's Baking Addiction instead. The only danger is that you might carb overload. 10 of 12 GRUYÈRE FRENCH TOAST Food 52 via Pinterest Savory French toast may just become your new favorite thing. Food 52's version has all the satisfaction of a killer omelet combined with the comfort of traditional French toast. Bonus: It makes an even better choice for this week's brinner. 11 of 12 PORTOBELLO & LEEK CARBONARA How Sweet Eats via Pinterest You can't think of carbs without picturing a really good pasta, like this hearty dish from How Sweet Eats. Not only are the leeks and mushrooms perfect for cooler weather, but this recipe includes eggs and bacon, too. 12 of 12 WHOLE WHEAT BUTTERMILK PANCAKES Handle the Heat via Pinterest Sometimes classic carb dishes are the way to go, like these whole wheat pancakes from Handle the Heat. Top them with your favorite fruit — after all, fruits are carbs, too.