Low Calorie Mac and Cheese

Healthy Mac and Cheese Recipe

This low calorie Mac and Cheese Recipe is creamy and delicious! And 100’s of calories lower than the average baked Mac and cheese recipe. Making low calorie Mac and cheese is easy with my skinny cooking tricks and tips.

Healthy Mac and Cheese Recipe

Ingredients You’ll Need

  • 13-ounce box of elbow pasta
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 3 cups unsweetened almond milk or 1% dairy milk
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • ½ cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon pepper
  • ¼ cup Panko bread crumbs
  • 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
  • Olive oil spray
  • 1 teaspoon chopped parsley optional

Low Calorie Mac and Cheese

Healthy Mac and Cheese Recipe

Healthy Mac and Cheese Meal Prep and Storage

Meal Prep: I love to meal prep this healthy recipe! I make it ahead of time (often for dinner- then store the leftovers as meal prep dinners) and move to either individual meal prep containers, or family sized containers.
Storage: Will hold for 5 days in the fridge or 1 month in the freezer.
Reheating: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.

Low Calorie Mac and Cheese

Healthy Mac and Cheese Recipe

Low Calorie Mac and Cheese

Lose Weight By Eating
This healthy homemade Mac and cheese recipe is creamy and delicious, for half the calories!
I cut 100's of calories in this homemade Mac and cheese bake, so you can enjoy Mac and cheese without ruining your diet.
5 from 9 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings
Calories 325 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 13-ounce box of elbow pasta
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 3 cups unsweetened almond milk or 1% dairy milk
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • ½ cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • teaspoon pepper
  • ¼ cup Panko bread crumbs
  • 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
  • Olive oil spray
  • 1 teaspoon chopped parsley optional

Instructions
 

  • Cook the pasta according to the directions on the box. Drain and set aside.
  • In a large pan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Add the flour and mix with a wooden spoon, continuously, until you have a light brown paste.
  • Add in 1 cup of milk and whisk well to remove any lumps. Mix the remaining milk and whole garlic cloves. Increase the heat to medium-high. Mix often, scraping the bottom of the pan often, until the sauce has thickened and coats the spoon. Turn off the heat, remove the garlic cloves and discard.
  • Stir in the cooked pasta, cheddar cheese, salt and pepper. Mix well, until all the pasta is coated and the cheese is melted.
  • Move to a casserole dish, or a cast iron skillet, and top with breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese. Spray lightly with olive oil and broil for 2-5 minutes until the topping is golden brown. Remove from the oven, sprinkle with parsley, and serve.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 325kcalCarbohydrates: 51gProtein: 12gFat: 8gFiber: 8g
Keyword Main Course
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

About the Author

Hi, my name is Audrey Johns and I am a 4 time best selling cookbook author! All 4 of my low calorie cookbooks are published by HarperCollins (the oldest publishing house in the US!) and have been featured on prominent TV shows like The Today Show, Rachael Ray and The Doctors. I am a low calorie and healthy recipe authority and my delicious recipes are tried and loved by thousands of readers. 

After a one year 150 pound weight loss (and I’ve kept it off for 13 years!) I started sharing all of my low calorie recipes with the world. They are always all-natural and geared around weight loss and weight management. I have even made some of these recipes with my Biggest Loser pal Bob Harper! Check out my weight loss story, my best selling cookbooks, and my numerous TV appearances by clicking here.

Nutrition and Calories in Mac and Cheese

sides Homemade Mac and Cheese Recipe
Homemade Mac and Cheese Recipe sides

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