For years I’ve been on the quest for a decadent tasting, classic macaroni and cheese that’s low in calories and fat. So many recipes ended up in the trash. I was about to give up when I realized for years I’d been making a boxed recipe for my kids and it was a little healthier. In addition to the package of cheese from the box, I’d add reduced-fat butter instead of regular, reduced-fat milk and add a little reduced-fat cheese. All of a sudden a light bulb went off! I could doctor up a whole grain box by adding all healthy ingredients and make it even cheesier and a little gourmet! The results are a dreamy, cheesy, rich-tasting mac and cheese! The skinny for 1 serving, 283 calories, 6 grams of fat and 5 grams of fiber. My entire family loves this recipe and I hope yours does too!
Ingredients
Ingredients for Macaroni:
- 1 (6oz) box Whole Grain Kraft Macaroni & Cheese
- ¼ cup reduced-fat cottage cheese or fat-free ricotta cheese
- ¼ cup reduced-fat milk
- 3 tablespoons reduced-fat cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon reduced-fat butter or Smart Balance Light
- 1¼ cup chopped tomatoes, grape or cherry tomatoes, sliced in half, drain liquid
Ingredients for Crumb Topping:
- 1 slice multigrain bread or whole wheat bread, I like Milton’s
- 1 teaspoon reduced-fat butter or Smart Balance Light
Instructions
- Cook macaroni according to package directions but cook al dente. Set aside the package of cheese to add later.
- To make the bread crumbs: Toast the bread. Add to a blender and pulse to make crumbs.
- While macaroni is cooking, in a small pan or pot, melt 1 teaspoon of reduced-fat butter. Add bread crumbs and mix to coat.
- Drain macaroni. Add back to pot and mix in the package of cheese from the box, cottage cheese or ricotta cheese, milk, cheddar cheese and 1 tablespoon butter. Mix well. Stir in the tomatoes. Remove from heat.
- Coat a 9 x 9” pan with cooking spray. Add the macaroni and cheese and spread evenly. Sprinkle with bread crumbs evenly over the top. Set aside until just ready to serve.
- When ready to serve, set the broiler rack on the second line, not the very top. Preheat broiler. Place under broiler and cook until bread crumbs are golden brown. Keep an eye on it so it doesn’t burn.
- Remove from oven, cut into 4 squares. Using a spatula, remove each serving onto a plate.
Notes
Makes 4 servings (about 1 cup each)
Food Facts
The exact origin of macaroni and cheese is unknown, though it most likely hails from Northern Europe, with the earliest known recorded recipe being scribbled down in 1769. A staple of American cuisine, the creamy combo made its way to the United States courtesy of Thomas Jefferson, while visiting France. He fell in love with the fashionable pasta dishes served there. Kraft Foods introduced its boxed macaroni and cheese in 1937 when America was in the throes of the Great Depression. The product could serve 4 for 19 cents. The company sold 8 million boxes of its quick-and-easy macaroni and cheese in a year!
Healthy Benefits
Switching to whole grain pasta is much better for you. You may even prefer its heartier taste. Each serving has 5 grams of fiber. Reduced-fat cottage cheese or ricotta cheese is low in fat, calories, and cholesterol. It’s a very good source of vitamins B12 and calcium.
Shopping Tips
Happily boxed Kraft Macaroni and Cheese is now available using whole grain pasta. Most supermarkets sell it in the same section where the boxes of classic mac and cheese are displayed.
WW SmartPoints 8-Blue
WW SmartPoints 8-Green
WW POINTS PLUS 7
Food Facts
The exact origin of macaroni and cheese is unknown, though it most likely hails from Northern Europe, with the earliest known recorded recipe being scribbled down in 1769. A staple of American cuisine, the creamy combo made its way to the United States courtesy of Thomas Jefferson, while visiting France. He fell in love with the fashionable pasta dishes served there. Kraft Foods introduced its boxed macaroni and cheese in 1937 when America was in the throes of the Great Depression. The product could serve 4 for 19 cents. The company sold 8 million boxes of its quick-and-easy macaroni and cheese in a year!
Healthy Benefits
Switching to whole grain pasta is much better for you. You may even prefer its heartier taste. Each serving has 5 grams of fiber. Reduced-fat cottage cheese or ricotta cheese is low in fat, calories, and cholesterol. It’s a very good source of vitamins B12 and calcium.
Shopping Tips
Happily boxed Kraft Macaroni and Cheese is now available using whole grain pasta. Most supermarkets sell it in the same section where the boxes of classic mac and cheese are displayed.
WW SmartPoints 8-Blue
WW SmartPoints 8-Green
WW POINTS PLUS 7
| SKINNY FACTS: for 1 serving (~1 cup) 283 calories, 6g fat, 11g protein, 46g carbs, 5g fiber, 605mg sodium, 7g sugar |
| FACTS: for SmartPoints 273 calories, 0g sat. fat, 7g sugar, 11g protein |
Skinny Facts
Serving: 1cupCalories: 283kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 11gFat: 6gSodium: 605mgFiber: 5gSugar: 7gBlue Smart Points: 8Green Smart Points: 8Plus Points: 7
