Healthier Mac and Cheese: Ooey Gooey & Creamy

5 from 1 vote

Healthier Mac and Cheese: Ooey Gooey & Creamy

Healthy mac and cheese doesn't have to be boring! Lower-calorie macaroni and cheese loaded with all the ooey-gooey, creamy cheesiness you love

Prep Time30

Cook Time30

Total Time1

Course: Appetizer, Dinner, Lunch, Main Dish, Side Dish

Cuisine: American, Italian, Vegetarian

Keyword: Baked, comfort food, creamy, healthy, Mac and Cheese

Servings: Servings

Calories: 357kcal

Author: Belly Laugh Living

Equipment

Ingredients

4 ounces White Cheddar Cheese Shredded
3 ounces Sharp Cheddar Cheese Shredded
3 ounces Yellow Cheddar Cheese Cubed
5 Tablespoons Whipped Cream Cheese
5 ounces Mozzarella Cheese Cubed
1 teaspoon Dry Mustard
½ teaspoon Onion Powder
1 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper Don't use it if you don't like spice
1 teaspoon Cornstarch
1 Cup Milk We use 1% milk
1 Pound Medium Macaroni Shells
1 Tablespoon Parmesan cheese Use for topping on the Mac and Cheese
½ teaspoon Ground Pepper
¼ teaspoon Salt

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

Boil water and prepare pasta according to the directions on the box. Cook until shells are al dente. If the directions don't have timing for al dente, cook them for about 2 minutes less than the instructions on the box.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Shred cheeses and mix them together in a bowl. Gently stir in the cornstarch, dry mustard, onion powder, and cayenne pepper(optional) to the cheese blend.
Heat milk slowly in a large saute pan (NOT to boiling). Add the salt and pepper to the milk.
When the milk is warm, add the shredded cheese blend and the mozzarella cubes. Stir over medium heat until the cheese is melted.
Add the cooked pasta and the whipped cream cheese to the cheese sauce in the pan and continue to stir.
Remove the pan from heat and stir in the cubed cheddar cheese.
Pour the macaroni and cheese mixture into a casserole dish.
Sprinkle Parmesan on the top of the macaroni and cheese.
Bake at 375 degrees until bubbly, about 30 minutes.
Enjoy!!!!

Notes

To make easy meals, we add serving sizes to small (oven/freezer-safe) containers and freeze them. Put them in the freezer and save for when you are hungry for Mac and Cheese. All you have to do is pull the container out of the freezer and heat it.

NOTE: If the pasta and cheese mixture is too thin, add 1 Tablespoon of cornstarch. Mix cornstarch with two tablespoons of pasta water, then add to the pasta and cheese mixture.

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