Healthier Homemade Mac and Cheese

Cinco de Mayo - Pasta and Noodle

To make this rich mac and cheese recipe healthier we use whole wheat bread crumbs, low-fat milk and cheese, whole wheat noodles, and reduced the amount of butter. Serve with a salad for a healthy meatless dinner.

Brief

Prep 20 mins

Cook: 30 mins

Total: 50 mins

Servings: 4

Yield: 4 servings

Healthier Homemade Mac and Cheese

Ingredients

1 (16 ounce) package whole wheat macaroni (such as Smart Taste®)

2 tablespoons butter

2 ½ tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 cups shredded low-fat Cheddar cheese

½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

3 cups low-fat (1%) milk

2 tablespoons butter

½ cup whole wheat bread crumbs

1 pinch paprika

Bruschetta Chicken Bake

Pasta and Noodle

Directions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in boiling water stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite 8 minutes. Drain.

Step 2

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour to make a roux. Slowly add milk to roux stirring constantly. Stir in Cheddar and Parmesan cheeses and cook over low heat until cheese is melted and sauce is thick about 3 minutes. Place macaroni in large baking dish and pour sauce over macaroni. Stir well.

Step 3

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add breadcrumbs and stir until butter is absorbed 2 to 3 minutes. Spread over macaroni to cover. Sprinkle with paprika.

Step 4

Bake in preheated oven until cheese sauce is hot and breadcrumbs are browned about 30 minutes.

Nutritional Information

Healthier Homemade Mac and Cheese

Servings Per Recipe:4

Calories: 770.4

% Daily Value *

Protein: 42.5g 85%

Carbohydrates: 106.6g 34%

Dietary Fiber: 10.6g 43%

Sugars: 9.6g

Fat: 22.4g 35%

Saturated Fat: 13.1g 65%

Cholesterol: 60.3mg 20%

Vitamin A Iu: 1006.5IU 20%

Niacin Equivalents: 15.2mg 117%

Vitamin B6: 0.4mg 24%

Vitamin C: 0.2mg

Folate: 96mcg 24%

Calcium: 624.1mg 62%

Iron: 5.3mg 29%

Magnesium: 210.2mg 75%

Potassium: 621mg 17%

Sodium: 750.2mg 30%

Thiamin: 0.7mg 72%

Calories From Fat: 201.8

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

**Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-)Nutrition information is provided for reference only. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.