Light Stove Top Macaroni and Cheese

WW Recipe of the Day: Light Stove Top Macaroni and Cheese

I've had a hankering for macaroni and cheese for a while, but not all the fat and calories.

So, I went in search of a lighter, healthier alternative.

This light stove top macaroni and cheese is just what I was looking for.

Weight Watchers Friendly Macaroni & Cheese

Easy and creamy, but without butter and processed cheese, it's a lighter alternative that doesn't sacrifice flavor.

How Many Calories and WW Points in this Mac and Cheese?

I adjusted this recipe a bit to suit our tastes. Of course, a recipe like mac and cheese can be varied in lots of ways to suit your preferences.

According to my calculations, each generous ¾-cup serving of this lightened up mac & cheese has 322 calories and:

9 *SmartPoints (Green plan)
9 *SmartPoints (Blue plan)
9 *SmartPoints (Purple plan)
9 *PointsPlus (Old plan)

To see your WW PersonalPoints for this recipe and track it in the WW app or site, Click here!

WW Macaroni & Cheese Recipe Variations

pasta - use whatever shape pasta you prefer

cheese - use whatever cheese you prefer - American, Swiss, Cheddar, Gouda, Havarti, Parmesan, Feta, Cottage, etc. A combination is always nice.

more veg - broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, peas (add to macaroni during the last few minutes of cooking) chopped tomatoes (stir into the cheese sauce)

more protein - stir chopped cooked ham or a can of drained tuna into the cheese sauce

spicier - add more cayenne or hot sauce to the cheese sauce

no dry mustard - skip it or add in a little jarred Dijon mustard into the cheese sauce

baked - scrape the mixture into a greased baking dish and bake at 375F degrees for 20 - 30 minutes, until bubbly and golden

Find More Weight Watchers Friendly Mac & Cheese Recipes

I love how this video from Cooking Light demonstrates making a cheese sauce without butter. It's a technique you can use when making any white sauce or cream sauce...

If you like this lightened up macaroni and cheese, be sure sure to check out my other easy, healthy Weight Watchers friendly recipes including Light Macaroni & Cheese with Cauliflower, Baked Pasta with Zucchini & Cottage Cheese, Skinny Artichoke Baked Pasta, Mom's Easy Baked Chicken & Spinach Alfredo Ravioli and Light & Creamy Pasta Primavera.

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4.20 from 20 votes

Light Stove Top Macaroni & Cheese Recipe

This light stove top macaroni and cheese is just what I was looking for. Easy and creamy, but without butter and processed cheese, it's a healthier alternative that doesn't sacrifice flavor.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time20 minutes mins

Total Time25 minutes mins

Servings (adjustable): 8

Calories: 322

Author: Martha McKinnon | Simple Nourished Living

Ingredients

• ▢ 2-½ cups uncooked medium elbow macaroni (about 12 ounces)
• ▢ 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• ▢ 2 teaspoons dry mustard
• ▢ 1 teaspoon salt
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• ▢ 2-¼ cups fat-free milk
• ▢ ¼ cup (2 ounces) ⅓-less-fat cream cheese, softened
• ▢ 2-½ cups (10 ounces) shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese

Instructions

• Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
• While pasta cooks, make the cheese sauce. Place flour, dry mustard, salt, pepper and cayenne in a large saucepan. Add milk, stirring with a whisk until well blended.
• Drop cream cheese by teaspoonfuls into the milk mixture.
• Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly.
• Reduce the heat and let the mixture gently bubble until it thickens and the cream cheese melts, about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Remove from the heat.
• Add cheddar cheese and stir until it melts.
• Add the pasta and stir until it is coated with the cheese sauce.

Recipe Notes

Variations:

• pasta - use whatever shape pasta you prefer
• cheese - use whatever cheese you prefer - American, Swiss, Cheddar, Gouda, Havarti, Parmesan, Feta, Cottage, etc. A combination is always nice.
• more veg - broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, peas (add to macaroni during the last few minutes of cooking) chopped tomatoes (stir into the cheese sauce)
• more protein - stir chopped cooked ham or a can of drained tuna into the cheese sauce
• spicier - add more cayenne or hot sauce to the cheese sauce
• no dry mustard - skip it or add in a little jarred Dijon mustard into the cheese sauce
• baked - scrape the mixture into a greased baking dish and bake at 375F degrees for 20 - 30 minutes, until bubbly and golden

Serving size: ¾ cup

Click here to see your WW PersonalPoints for this recipe and track it in the WW app or site.

9 *SmartPoints (Green plan)

9 *SmartPoints (Blue plan)

9 *SmartPoints (Purple plan)

9 *PointsPlus (Old plan)

Nutrition Facts

Light Stove Top Macaroni & Cheese Recipe

Amount Per Serving (3 /4 cup)

Calories 322 Calories from Fat 90

% Daily Value*

Fat 10g15%

Carbohydrates 39g13%

Fiber 2g8%

Protein 22g44%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: macaroni cheese made lighter, stovetop mac and cheese

Did you make this recipe?Mention @simplenourishedliving on Instagram and tag #simplenourishedliving - we love to see your creations!

*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.

More Lightened Up Recipes for Mac & Cheese Lovin' Weight Watchers

• Mega Mac and Cheese (HungryGirl)
• Skinny Baked Broccoli Macaroni & Cheese (SkinnyTaste)
• Creamy Butternut Squash Macaroni & Cheese (EatYourselfSkinny)
• Macaroni & Cheese Italian-Style (SkinnyKitchen)
• Mac & Cheese Muffins (EmilyBites)
• Crock Pot Buffalo Mac & Cheese (DrizzleMeSkinny)
• Baked Macaroni and Cheese (SkinnyTaste)
• Cheeseburger Mac Attack (HungryGirl)
• Skinny Alfredo Macaroni and Cheese (SkinnyKitchen)
• Cheesy Bacon Mac & Cheese Cups (DrizzleMeSkinny)

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