16 Mac and Cheese Recipes That Won’t Derail Your Resolutions (2024)

If you want to be successful with your healthy resolutions (we definitely do), you can’t realistically give up all your favorite, beloved dishes. That’s why we found some of the tastiest, healthiest mac and cheese recipes around the blogosphere. Now you can enjoy one of your fave meals, without derailing all those 2015goals.

1. Five-Ingredient Quinoa Mac and Cheese: Subbing out pasta for a superfood like quinoa is the best way to stay on the healthy track. Especially when quinoa is joined by non-dairy milk, butternut squash and goat cheddar cheese. (via Simply Quinoa)

2. Skinny Cauliflower Mac and Cheese: We have never loved any vegetable more than we love cauliflower in this recipe. And when sour cream and a variety of cheeses are involved? You can count us in every time. (via Damn Delicious)

4. Creamy Greek Yogurt Mac and Cheese: Keep getting your daily veggie and dairy servings in with this saucy-good meal. Tossed with plain Greek yogurt and fresh spinach, it won’t have you feeling a smidgen of guilt scarfing it down. (via Cooking a la Mel)

5. Twice Baked Spaghetti Squash Mac ‘n’ Cheese: For all you gluten-free peeps out there, say hello to the spaghetti squash. Topped with a dash of coconut flour for extra crunch, it’s a healthy and tasty alternative. (via B. Britnell)

6. Spiralized Mac and Cheese, Two Ways: Vegan or not, using butternut squash or sweet potato as a noodle is flat out delish. By adding a mix of coconut flour, almond milk and vegan butter, you’ll get a yummy, unique take on a classic. (via Inspiralized)

7. Pumpkin Mac and Cheese: We aren’t going to forget about you, pumpkin. This almost-sweet vegetable is balanced by two kinds of cheeses and milk (which can also be swapped out for almond milk). (via Kim’s Healthy Eats)

8. Healthy Mac and Cheese: Simple yet slightly different, this recipe uses a few traditional-ish ingredients like whole wheat (or gluten-free) noodles and shredded cheese, along with new ingredients like butternut squash and chicken (or veggie) broth. (via Pinch of Yum)

9. Buffalo Chickpea Mac ‘n’ Cheese: Move over meat eaters, chickpeas are showing you up in this vegan dish. The vegan yogurt, cashews and non-dairy milk make it ultra creamy. (via Vegan Yack Attack)

10. Stovetop Avocado Mac and Cheese: You’ve heard avocado has good-for-you fats (among other things), so why not throw it into a good-for-your-soul recipe? Along with some cilantro and lime juice, of course. You know, because… green things are gooooood. (via Two Peas and Their Pod)

11. Roasted Onion and Cauliflower Mac ‘n’ Cheese: If you’ve ever made homemade mac, you know how much tastier it is than the boxed stuff. But paired with cauliflower, white wine vinegar, greek yogurt and thyme? This mac is unstoppable. (via The Fig Tree Blog)

12. Vegan Green Chili Mac ‘n’ Cheese: We’d love nothing more than to dive into these large macaroni shells. Swimming in a sauce of raw cashews and nutritional yeast (high in B12, among other things), they’re loaded (and coated) with nutrition. (via Minimalist Baker)

13. Bacon and Pea Macaroni and Cheese With Greek Yogurt: Of course we haven’t forgotten about our beloved bacon. Get your protein in, alongside a serving of peas, a dash of hot sauce and mix of fontina and cheddar cheese. (via Confections of a Foodie Bride)

14. Quinoa Spinach Mac ‘n’ Cheese: Throw your favorite grain in a skillet, sprinkle with nutmeg and bread crumbs and wait for the above perfection. (via Bakeaholic Mama)

15. Creamy Carrot Mac ‘n’ Cheese: Finding it tough to down those carrots over break time? Toss them together with some pasta, low-fat milk and chives, and voila! An uber cheesy dinner with no “yuck” face. (via Mom’s Kitchen Handbook)

16. Fake-Out Mac ‘n’ Cheese: This vegan dish is loaded with so much nutritional goodness it’s almost sinful. Nutritional yeast and sun-dried tomatoes are met with a sauce made up of cannellini beans, mashed sweet potatoes, more nutritional yeast and dijon mustard. Now that’s healthy. (via Healthy. Happy. Life.)

Got a healthy mac to your cheese? Give us your secret recipe in the comments below!

Nicole Jahns

Nicole is a writer, artist and major dog enthusiast eating her way through Chicago, IL. When she’s not getting her “om” on, she’s sharing recipes and DIYs on her blog, Midwest Love Fest.

16 Mac and Cheese Recipes That Won’t Derail Your Resolutions (2024)

FAQs

What can I add to mac and cheese to make it better? ›

8 Ways to Elevate Your Macaroni and Cheese Dinners
  1. Add extra cheese to your dish.
  2. Mix in some hot sauce and chicken to make buffalo chicken mac n' cheese.
  3. Add in vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and spinach.
  4. Sprinkle some bacon bits or breadcrumbs on the top of your dish.
  5. Add spices and fresh herbs to your dish.
May 21, 2022

How to make Gordon Ramsay mac and cheese? ›

Preparation
  1. In a large pot over medium heat, combine the pasta and milk. ...
  2. Once the pasta is cooked, remove the pan from the heat and add the butter, cheddar cheese, salt, and pepper. ...
  3. Divide between serving bowls and top with the bread crumbs.
  4. Enjoy!
  5. All your favorite recipes, stored in one place.
May 4, 2023

How do you keep mac and cheese creamy? ›

How do You Keep Macaroni and Cheese Creamy?
  1. Don't skimp on the milk or butter as those ingredients help keep the cooked macaroni ultra-rich and creamy.
  2. Use full-fat milk for creamiest results.
  3. Also, avoid overbaking, as that will dry out your mac and cheese.
Nov 1, 2022

What can I add to Kraft mac and cheese? ›

Here are a few of my favorite ways to upgrade boxed mac and cheese in three ingredients or fewer:
  1. Broccoli + Shredded Chicken. ...
  2. Bacon + Peas + Egg. ...
  3. Garlic + Pickled Jalapeños. ...
  4. Mushrooms + Thyme + Grated Gruyère. ...
  5. Pesto + Sun-Dried Tomatoes. ...
  6. Kimchi + Bacon + Chopped Scallions. ...
  7. Cherry Tomatoes + Basil + Mozzarella.

Can I use yogurt instead of milk for mac and cheese? ›

Finally, using a plain yogurt is one of the best options for replacing milk in kraft mac and cheese! A plain whole milk yogurt or a greek yogurt would work well. Mix it in the same way you'd mix in sour cream, until it is well incorporated. This may have a slightly tangier flavor, but that is a personal preference.

How to jazz up mac and cheese? ›

Prepare the boxed mac and cheese according to package directions, then mix things up by adding cooked ground beef, shredded pepper Jack cheese, and a packet of taco seasoning to your mac and cheese. If you love gumbo and crawfish, this Cajun twist on boxed mac and cheese is for you.

Can I use heavy cream instead of milk in mac and cheese? ›

Heavy whipping cream (or half and half) is the perfect substitute for milk in mac and cheese. This is actually a great option! The thicker consistency will produce a dreamy, creamy sauce that everyone will love. The flavor is bolder and richer, too, and you may enjoy it more than the original.

Why is my homemade mac and cheese so thick? ›

While cream can add a lot of flavor, too much of a good thing is just that: too much. A lot of heavy cream can create too thick of a sauce that doesn't contain enough water content to keep everything saucy. Make sure to use primarily whole milk for your cheese sauce, and if you do use cream, use it sparingly.

How do you moisten homemade mac and cheese? ›

Add 1 tablespoon of milk per cup of mac and cheese and mix to incorprate as much as possible.

How do you spice up a box of Kraft Mac and Cheese? ›

It's very easy to adapt. We like to ad cream cheese and/or sour cream, a little spicy brown mustard, and whatever cheese we have on hand. Sometimes we ad ground beef, ground turkey, sliced ot dogs or bacon, but its the rits topping on the top that makes it sooo good.

Can you use milk instead of water for Kraft Mac and Cheese? ›

you can boil it in milk but it takes much longer because if you let the milk boil it will burn and/or curdle. i would also recommend only using skim milk. Yes. In fact the instructions have you mixing the packet of cheese powder with butter and milk then toss in the macaroni pasta in the sauce.

How do you make mac and cheese not boring? ›

Swap out your skim or 2% milk with fuller-fat dairy options like whole milk, half and half, or, if you really mean it, heavy cream. You can even add a little tang to the proceedings, as well as richness, with a dose of sour cream or my personal favorite, cream cheese.

How do you increase the flavor of cheese in mac and cheese? ›

Ways to add flavor to Home-Made Mac and Cheese;
  1. Add Different Types Of Chopped Pickles; Sweet, Dill Etc.
  2. Add Different Types Of Mustard; Honey, Reg. ...
  3. Add Different Types Of Ketchup; Sweet, Reg. ...
  4. Add Different Types Of Hot Sauce or Hot Peppers. ...
  5. Add Different Types Of Pasta Sauces, Tomato Sauces, Pesto.
Oct 25, 2010

How do you doctor up frozen mac and cheese? ›

If you want a little extra texture and flavor, try removing the frozen meal from your oven early and topping the partially cooked mac and cheese with a mix of breadcrumbs, butter, and parmesan. Then bake for a few extra minutes for that crispy layer of crunch.

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