Is it really possible to make healthy mac and cheese and still have it taste just as rich and cheesy as the classic?
Easy Healthy Mac And Cheese
Try this healthy mac and cheese recipe when you’re craving mac and cheese but don’t want all the unhealthy saturated fat and calories you’d find in traditional recipes.
The healthy mac and cheese recipe below is low-fat, high-protein, and under 250 calories per serving.
If you make a batch of my favorite Vegan Brownies for dessert, you’ve got yourself a rich and decadent—yet secretly healthy—comfort food feast!
And yes, it really does taste just as cheesy and delicious as traditional mac and cheese!
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I’m very excited to feature Gina Homolka, an incredibly talented friend, on the blog today. Gina’s website, Skinnytaste, has a huge following with fans all over the world, and yet she is one of the most genuine and down-to-earth people you could ever hope to meet.
She puts passion into every one of her recipes and beautiful photos, and she really cares about her readers, no matter the size of their blogs. Years ago, Gina gave me the opportunity to be a guest on her site even though my own blog was much smaller, and I will never forget that kindness. Gina just released The Skinnytaste Cookbook, filled with 150 lower-calorie healthy recipes—from breakfast to dessert—to leave you feeling satisfied, not deprived.
The cookbook includes recipes such as PB&J Overnight Oats, Cinnamon Butternut Squash Soup, Chickpea Potato Curry, and the healthy mac and cheese recipe below:
If you want the mac and cheese to be gluten-free, just be sure to use your favorite variety of gf pasta and breadcrumbs. If gf breadcrumbs are not available, just toast slices of gluten-free bread and then pulse in a food processor until you get breadcrumbs.
Although Gina’s original recipe isn’t vegan, it’s easy to veganize by just using Daiya vegan cheese for the cheese and nutritional yeast or vegan parm.
This is a recipe that everyone can enjoy!
Healthy Mac And Cheese
Ingredients
- 12 oz fusilli or elbow pasta
- 1 1/2 tbsp butter spread
- 1/4 cup minced onion
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 cups milk of choice
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 2 cups shredded cheddar, or vegan cheddar
- 12 oz fresh broccoli florets
- 2 tbsp grated Parmesan or nutritional yeast
- 1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
- cooking spray
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Healthy Mac and Cheese Recipe: In a large pot of salted water, cook the pasta and broccoli together, according to package directions for al dente. Spray a baking dish with cooking spray, and set aside. Preheat oven to 375 F. In a large. heavy skillet, melt the buttery spread, then add the onion and cook over low heat for 2 minutes. Add the flour and cook 1 minute or until flour is golden and well-combined. Whisk in milk and broth, raise heat to medium-high until it comes to a boil, then cook an additional 5 minutes or until smooth and thick. Season with salt and pepper if desired. Remove from heat, add cheese, and stir until melted. Stir in the cooked pasta and broccoli, then pour into the prepared baking dish. Top with the breadcrumbs and Parmesan or nutritional yeast. Spray a little more cooking spray on top. Bake 15-20 minutes, then broil a few minutes until the breadcrumbs are golden.View Skinny Mac & Cheese Nutrition Facts
Notes
More Healthy Mac And Cheese Recipes
Vegan Cheese Sauce – The Ultimate Recipe
This looks delicious! However, I’m confused on the nutrition stats. How many servings should this make? The only way I could get close to your calorie count was by making this ten servings, which seems like it would be a pretty small portion. Let me know what swaps you make to get to that, because otherwise it isn’t quite skinny enough for me 🙂
If you read the nutrition page, CCK already listed both the ingredients she uses and the number of servings
Thanks, Julie! I read this within a few minutes of posting. I can’t WAIT to try this!
Same! 🙂
It would be nice if you specified the size of the baking dish.
Delicious! With the ingredients I used including 1% milk, it’s 450 cal per serving. Delicious though.
Mmmm this looks amazing! Lighter, healthier versions of good ole fashioned comfort food are some of my favorite recipes. Can’t wait to try!
xx Kathryn
http://www.throughthethicket.ca
I’m a huge Mac and cheese fan so I will be trying this one for sure! And I love discovering new blogs. Thanks Gina and Katie!
Great recipe, I’ll need to give it a try 🙂
xx Mia
http://theurbanobsessions.blogspot.com
This looks delish! And good to know that there are vegan options…I can’t have dairy because I’m breastfeeding and my son is allergic to diary and soy but I am totally craving mac n cheese!!
Holy guacamole this looks tasty! Might have to give it a whirl.
Betty x
The Betty Stamp
This looks sooo good! Can’t wait to try it!
Looks delicious. I look forward to getting your cookbook!
This looks amazing! I have all the ingredients in my kitchen… I can’t wait to give it a go 🙂
Ahhh this looks awesome! So happy to stumble upon your blog, I’m always looking for healthier recipes and I’m gonna try a couple out 😀 Frankie x