Weight Watchers Recipe of the Day: Cauliflower Macaroni & Cheese
I cobbled this light macaroni and cheese with cauliflower recipe together for dinner recently from what I had around the house.
WW Light Macaroni & Cheese with Cauliflower
I was able to avoid making a trip out to the grocery store. So, I saved time. And money. Go, me! (It doesn't take much to thrill me. I'm a girl of simple pleasures.)
Recipe Notes
I love how the cauliflower helped to bulk up this macaroni and cheese, adding both texture and a subtle sweet flavor. Served with a big green salad, it made for a satisfying supper. I'll definitely be making this light macaroni and cheese with cauliflower again.
Cauliflower Mac and Cheese Ingredients
I added a little bacon, but you could easily skip it, making it work for a Meatless Monday.
How Many Calories and WW Points in this Lighter Mac and Cheese?
According to my calculations each serving has 310 calories and:
9 *SmartPoints (Green plan)
9 *SmartPoints (Blue plan)
9 *SmartPoints (Purple plan)
8 *PointsPlus (Old plan)
To see your WW PersonalPoints for this recipe and track it in the WW app or site, Click here!
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Light Macaroni and Cheese with Cauliflower Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 ounces macaroni (about 2 cups) (gluten-free, if desired)
- 10 ounces cauliflower florets (about 2-½ cups), cut into bite-size pieces
- 12 ounces fat-free evaporated milk
- ¼ cup non fat plain Greek yogurt
- ½ cup (2 ounces) shredded reduced-fat American cheese
- 1-½ cups (6 ounces) shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese, divided use
- 2-½ ounces chopped cooked bacon (I used 6 slices of fully cooked bacon)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- Dusting of paprika (optional)
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350F. degrees. Grease an oblong 11 x 7 inch baking dish and set it aside.
- Cook the macaroni in well salted water, according to the package directions, adding the cauliflower during the last five minutes of cooking. Drain and return to the pot.
- Add the milk, yogurt, American cheese and 1 cup of the cheddar cheese, bacon, salt and pepper.
- Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the cheese melts, about 3 minutes.
- Spread the light macaroni and cheese with cauliflower mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with the remaining ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese. Sprinkle lightly with the paprika if using.
- Bake until bubbly and beginning to turn golden on top, 20 to 30 minutes.
- Serve hot with a tossed green salad, if desired.
Equipment
Recipe Notes
*Points® calculated by WW. *PointsPlus® and SmartPoints® calculated by Simple Nourished Living; Not endorsed by Weight Watchers International, Inc. All recipe ingredients except optional items included in determining nutritional estimates. SmartPoints® values calculated WITHOUT each plan's ZeroPoint Foods (Green plan, Blue plan, Purple plan) using the WW Recipe Builder.
If you like this light macaroni and cheese with cauliflower recipe, you might also like:
- Baked Pasta with Zucchini and Cottage Cheese
- Skinny Artichoke and Spinach Baked Pasta
- Mom's Easy Alfredo Ravioli Casserole
Martha is the founder and main content writer for Simple-Nourished-Living.
A longtime lifetime WW at goal, she is committed to balancing her love of food and desire to stay slim while savoring life and helping others do the same.
She is the author of the Smart Start 28-Day Weight Loss Challenge.
A huge fan of the slow cooker and confessed cookbook addict, when she's not experimenting in the kitchen, you're likely to find Martha on her yoga mat.
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Electra
I try to eat healthily and truly enjoy your recipes .My husband's family foods were high in saturated fats with accompanying obesity and heart disease . After two heart attacks he has finally adopted healthier eating habits . Would it be too much trouble for you to also include the amount of Saturated Fat in your portion description ? Thank you for the great , interesting recipes
Willa
I really like this lighter Mac and cheese, especially with the added healthy nutrients of the cauliflower. Today when I made it, I added an equal amount of broccoli florets, as well as red pepper flakes and garlic powder. Really delicious! Always enjoy your recipes and have used many of them over the years.
Martha McKinnon
Thanks, Willa. So glad you liked it! ~Martha