Indulge in the comforting goodness of baked macaroni and cheese, reimagined with a lighter touch for the health-conscious. This classic dish gets a makeover with Weight Watchers-friendly ingredients, resulting in a guilt-free indulgence that won't weigh you down. Discover a collection of three delectable recipes that cater to various dietary preferences and tastes. Dive into the classic baked macaroni and cheese recipe, featuring reduced-fat cheese and whole-wheat pasta for a satisfying and nutritious meal. Craving a vegetarian option? Try the vegetable-packed baked macaroni and cheese, bursting with colorful veggies and a creamy sauce made from low-fat milk. Gluten-free enthusiasts can rejoice in the gluten-free baked macaroni and cheese, made with gluten-free pasta and a flavorful cheese blend. Each recipe is carefully crafted to deliver the ultimate macaroni and cheese experience, without compromising on taste or satisfaction.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE WITH BROCCOLI
This casserole-like dish hits the spot when you're in the mood for a hearty pasta recipe. It takes just about an hour to make, 20 to 25 minutes of which is hands-off baking time, but you'll really love the end result after this little bit of extra effort if you want to impress your family and/or guests. It features an insanely savory combination of broccoli florets, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, skim milk, diced onions, Mexican-style shredded cheese, and Dijon mustard. Be sure that you serve it right away for the best flavor and texture. Try this recipe with cauliflower, kale, or Brussels sprouts instead of broccoli if you're looking for a different take.
Categories Dinner
Time 1h
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375ºF. Coat a shallow 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray.
- Cook pasta in a large pot of lightly salted boiling water according to package directions, adding broccoli to water 3 minutes before pasta will be done; drain pasta and broccoli and return to pot.
- Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat; add bread crumbs and cook, stirring often, until light golden, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer crumbs to a small bowl; stir in 1 tablespoon of Parmesan cheese and set aside.
- In same saucepan (wipe clean if necessary), whisk together milk and flour until blended; add onion. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, whisking frequently. Reduce heat to low and simmer until thickened, about 2 minutes.
- Remove from heat and whisk in shredded cheese, mustard, salt, pepper and remaining 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese. Pour over cooked, drained pasta and broccoli; toss to mix and coat.
- Transfer to a baking dish and sprinkle top evenly with bread crumbs. Bake until bubbly at edges, about 20 to 25 minutes. Divide into 8 pieces and serve. Yields 1 piece per serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 90 kcal
MACARONI AND CHEESE
Try our take on a comfort food classic.
Categories Lunch,Dinner
Time 1h2m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350ºF. Spray 9-inch square baking dish with nonstick spray.
- Cook macaroni according to package directions, omitting salt if desired. Drain.
- Meanwhile, melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add flour and cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute; gradually whisk in milk until smooth. Cook, stirring constantly, until sauce bubbles and thickens, about 4 minutes. Stir in Cheddar, salt, mustard powder, and pepper; cook, stirring, until cheese is melted, about 1 minute longer.
- Remove saucepan from heat; stir in macaroni. Spoon into prepared baking dish. Sprinkle bread crumbs evenly over macaroni mixture; spray crumbs with nonstick spray. Bake until casserole is bubbly and top is golden, about 30 minutes. Yields 1/4 of baking dish per serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 162 kcal
BAKED MACARONI & CHEESE (WEIGHT WATCHERS)
This recipe is adapted from "America's Most Wanted Recipes: Without The Guilt". This a copycat recipe of Cracker Barrel's Baked Macaroni & Cheese only lightened up. This recipe is Weight Watchers friendly and is 10 WW Points Plus per serving. Serves 10.
Provided by Hope Vaillancourt
Categories Pasta Sides
Time 40m
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- 1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 2-quart casserole dish with cooking spray; set aside.
- 2. In a medium saucepan, melt the margarine. While whisking, add the flour, salt, and dry mustard to the margarine. Add the milk and whisk constantly until the sauce thickens a little. Do not boil the milk. Add 1 1/2 cups of the cheese and continue to cook until melted, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat.
- 3. Meanwhile, cook the macaroni as directed on the package; drain well, but do not rinse.
- 4. Toss the macaroni with the cheese sauce, coating well; transfer to the prepared casserole dish and top with the remaining 1/2 cup cheese.
- 5. Toast the slice of bread until it is lightly browned and thoroughly dry. Crumble into bread crumbs. Toss the crumbs with the paprika, then sprinkle over the top of the casserole.
- 6. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until heated through, bubbly; and nicely browned.
STOVE-TOP MACARONI AND CHEESE (WEIGHT WATCHERS)
We enjoyed this easy and delicious macaroni and cheese. If following the Weight Watchers plan it is only 6 pts/serving. When I made it I used whole wheat elbow macaroni and a combination of Kraft 2% sharp cheddar and some Weight Watcher Mexican blend cheese. If you start the cheese sauce while the pasta is cooking everything will be done at the same time --so quick and so easy! Recipe source: www.weightwatchers.com
Provided by ellie_
Categories Cheese
Time 15m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain.
- While macaroni is cooking, in a large saucepan over medium heat whisk together milk, flour, salt, onion powder and pepper until blended.
- Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
- Reduce heat to a simmer, stirring often until thickened (2 to 5 minutes).
- Remove from heat; stir in cheese and Tabasco.
- Toss pasta with sauce.
WEIGHT WATCHERS FOUR CHEESE MACARONI AND CHEESE
This version of macaroni and cheese uses four different cheeses for maximum flavor. It's a hearty serving-well worth the indulgence. This is 7 points per serving.
Provided by CookingONTheSide
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 1h8m
Yield 9 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Coat a 3-quart casserole dish with cooking spray; set aside.
- Cook macaroni in salted water as directed on package; set aside.
- Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat.
- Slowly add flour, stirring constantly; cook for about 3 minutes.
- Slowly whisk in milk to thoroughly incorporate flour mixture.
- Stir in onion, paprika and bay leaf.
- Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring frequently; remove from heat.
- Combine blue cheese with about two-thirds of both types of cheddar cheese in saucepan and season to taste with salt and pepper; stir in macaroni. Pour half of macaroni mixture into prepared casserole dish and top with remaining cheddar cheeses.
- Pour in remaining macaroni mixture and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese; bake for 30 minutes.
- Let stand for about 5 to 10 minutes before slicing into 9 pieces.
- Yields 1 piece per serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 319.8, Fat 11.3, SaturatedFat 6.9, Cholesterol 33.7, Sodium 563.5, Carbohydrate 36.9, Fiber 1.8, Sugar 5.9, Protein 17.1
WEIGHT WATCHERS BAKED MACARONI & CHEESE WITH BROCCOLI
This casserole-like dish hits the spot when you're in the mood for a hearty pasta recipe. Serve right away for the best flavor and texture. From the WW website, 1 serving = 5 POINTS.
Provided by xpnsve
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375ºF. Coat a shallow 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray.
- Cook pasta in a large pot of lightly salted boiling water according to package directions, adding broccoli to water 3 minutes before pasta will be done; drain pasta and broccoli and return to pot.
- Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat; add bread crumbs and cook, stirring often, until light golden, about 2 minutes.
- Remove from heat and transfer crumbs to a small bowl; stir in 1 tablespoon of Parmesan cheese and set aside.
- In same saucepan (wipe clean if necessary), whisk together milk and flour until blended; add onion.
- Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, whisking frequently. Reduce heat to low and simmer until thickened, about 2 minutes.
- Remove from heat and whisk in Cheddar cheese, mustard, salt, pepper and remaining 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese.
- Pour over cooked, drained pasta and broccoli; toss to mix and coat.
- Transfer to a baking dish and sprinkle top evenly with bread crumb mixture. Bake until bubbly at edges, about 20 to 25 minutes.
- Divide into 8 pieces and serve.
- Yields 1 piece per serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 245.8, Fat 3.1, SaturatedFat 1.5, Cholesterol 7.4, Sodium 685.6, Carbohydrate 40.2, Fiber 1.7, Sugar 1.8, Protein 13.7
Tips:
- Use low-fat or fat-free milk and cheese to reduce the overall fat content of the dish.
- Add non-starchy vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, or carrots to the macaroni and cheese for extra nutrients and flavor.
- Use whole wheat or whole grain macaroni to increase the fiber content of the dish.
- Top the macaroni and cheese with panko breadcrumbs or crushed whole wheat crackers for a crispy topping.
- Experiment with different types of cheese to create different flavor combinations.
- Serve the macaroni and cheese with a side salad or roasted vegetables for a complete meal.
Conclusion:
Baked macaroni and cheese is a classic comfort food that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. By following these tips, you can create a healthier version of this dish that is still delicious and satisfying. So next time you're craving macaroni and cheese, give one of these recipes a try!
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