Lighter Baked Mac and Cheese
A healthier take on the cookout classic, Lighter Baked Mac and Cheese is packed full of gooey cheesiness. It can be made gluten free, too!
Servings: 6
Calories: 205kcal
Ingredients
- 8 ounces uncooked elbow macaroni, whole wheat or gluten free
- 2 cup unsweetened, plain almond milk
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 3 tbsp reduced-fat cream cheese
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 5 ounces reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese shreds, divided
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- ground black pepper, to taste
- 2-3 dashes hot sauce
- 1 tsp dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup nonfat, plain Greek yogurt
- 3 tbsp panko bread crumbs
- sprinkle of paprika
Instructions
- Boil pasta according to package directions, undercooking by about a minute. Drain, rinse to stop the cooking process, then set aside. Measure out your cheddar and reserve 1 ounce for the top of the casserole.
- Preheat oven to 400F. In a large skillet, whisk together almond milk and cornstarch. Turn heat to high and continue whisking until the mixture starts to boil.
- Lower heat to medium-low. Whisk in garlic powder, salt, pepper, hot sauce, and dijon. Continue to cook until sauce is thick, about 2-3 minutes
- Turn heat to lowest setting, Whisk in cream cheese, a tablespoon at a time, then whisk in parmesan until completely melted.
- Turn off heat, then whisk in 4 ounces of the cheddar cheese. Continue to whisk until completely melted, then whisk in yogurt.
- Fold macaroni into the sauce, mixing until all pasta is coated.
- Spritz a 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray (I used a 10x7 inch dish). Pour the mixture into the dish and spread out evenly.
- Sprinkle reserved 1 ounce of cheddar evenly over the top, then do the same with the panko. Sprinkle the top with paprika (about 1/2 a teaspoon). Spritz the top of the casserole with cooking spray.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the top is brown and cheese is bubbling. Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes before eating.
- A serving is 1/6 of the casserole, or 1 fully packed cup.
Notes
Click here to determine your WW PersonalPoints for this recipe (if you are logged in to your WW app, it should calculate for you automatically). Serving size is one full cup.
WW Green and Blue SmartPoints: 8 for one fully packed cup; 6 for 2/3 cup
WW Purple SmartPoints: 5 for one fully packed cup; 3 for 2/3 cup
Nutrition
Calories: 205kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g