Creamy and comforting, this low-calorie Broccoli Bacon Macaroni and Cheese is homemade guilt-free comfort food at its best.
While many restaurant versions have between 400 and 700 calories, up to 30 grams of fat and 15 WW Points, or more per serving, this enlightened mac and cheese is made better with the addition of broccoli and bacon and comes in at just over 200 calories per serving!
Lightened up broccoli bacon macaroni cheese
How Many Calories and WW Points in this Broccoli Bacon Macaroni and Cheese Made Lighter?
According to my calculations, each generous 1-cup serving size has about 215 calories.
To see your WW PersonalPoints for this recipe and track it in the WW app or site, Click here!
How to Make Skinny Macaroni and Cheese with Bacon and Broccoli?
Step 1: Gather and prepare all ingredients.
Ready to make macaroni and cheese
Step 2: Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package, adding the broccoli florets for the last 3 minutes of cooking. Drain well and add the pasta and broccoli back in the pot.
Cook the macaroni and broccoli
Step 3: Prepare the cheese sauce while the pasta cooks. In a small saucepan, combine evaporated milk, chicken broth, cornstarch, dry mustard, garlic salt, onion powder and black pepper. Over medium heat, whisk occasionally until mixture comes to a low bowl and thickens. Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup shredded cheese until smooth.
Whisk cheese sauce
Step 4: Pour the cheese sauce over the pasta and broccoli mixture
Pour cheese sauce over macaroni and broccoli
and stir until evenly coated. Rewarm pasta over low heat if needed.
Stir broccoli macaroni together in the cheese sauce
Step 5: Either stir in, or top with, remaining ¼ cup cheese, sprinkle with bacon bits and serve.
Creamy and comforting broccoli bacon mac and cheese
Step 6: Store any leftover mac and cheese in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Recipe Notes, Substitutions & Variations
Elbow macaroni works best in this recipe because it captures all the creamy goodness of the cheese sauce. But if don't have elbows, try any short cylindrical pasta like ziti, rigatoni, or corkscrew shapes like fusilli.
Now serving broccoli bacon macaroni and cheese
What to Serve with this Lighter Healthier Macaroni & Cheese?
This creamy and comforting mac and cheese makes a great side to go along with Crispy Chicken Tenders, Baked Chicken, Hawaiian Kalua Pork, Slow Cooker Pork Chops, or Crock Pot Ranch Roast Beef. It also makes a great lunch all by itself!
Ways to Use Leftovers
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the microwave (affiliate link). Leftovers can be gently reheated in the microwave (affiliate link) or in a small saucepan on the stovetop.
Are You Ready To Firmly Plant Yourself
On The Path To Lasting Weight Loss Success?
If you've made this lighter macaroni and cheese with broccoli and bacon, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.
Broccoli Bacon Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 cups large elbow macaroni (can use whole grain)
- 3 cups fresh broccoli florets
- ¾ cup low-fat evaporated milk
- ½ cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon dry mustard
- ¾ teaspoon garlic salt with parsley
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- 1-¼ cups shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese, divided
- 3 tablespoons real bacon bits
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package, adding the broccoli florets for the last 3 minutes of cooking. Drain well and add the pasta and broccoli back in the pot.
- Prepare the cheese sauce while the pasta cooks. In a small saucepan, combine evaporated milk, chicken broth, cornstarch, dry mustard, garlic salt, onion powder and black pepper. Over medium heat, whisk occasionally until mixture comes to a low bowl and thickens. Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup shredded cheese until smooth.
- Pour the cheese sauce over the pasta and broccoli mixture and stir until evenly coated. Rewarm pasta over low heat if needed.
- Either stir in, or top with, remaining ¼ cup cheese, sprinkle with bacon bits and serve.
- Store any leftover mac and cheese in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Recipe Notes
Recipe source: Eat What You Love: Restaurant Favorites (affiliate link) by Marlene Koch
*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 Creamy Broccoli Bacon Mac and Cheese, you might also like
- Stovetop Mac and Cheese
- Enlightened Macaroni and Cheese with Cauliflower
- One Pot Cheeseburger Pasta
- Easy American Hamburger Goulash
This post contains affiliate links to products I like. When you buy something through one of my Amazon links or other (affiliate links), I receive a small commission that helps support this site. Thank you for your purchase!
Subscribe to Get: Top 10 Reader Favorite Recipes
The Top 10 Most Popular Recipes (PDF) on Simple Nourished Living + Weekly Support Emails with Tips & Easy Healthy Recipes Not Found Anywhere Else!
Susan Rappaport
Hi, is the 2 cups of macaroni measured before or after cooking? Thanks, Susan
Martha McKinnon
Hi Susan,
The 2 cups of macaroni are measured before cooking. ~Martha