Sunday Supper, Lightened Up Mac & Cheese
After the holidays,
everyone is trying to eat healthier
after indulging in rich holiday foods
This easy to make Mac & Cheese is lightened up
so you can enjoy it and the kids won’t be able to tell the difference
This lightened up version uses 4% milk fat cottage cheese,
reduced fat milk,
and 2% cheddar cheese instead of full fat cheddar
This recipe is quick and easy because
you don’t have to cook the pasta,
it will soften and cook in the dish as it bakes
I used corkscrew pasta instead of macaroni
because it will grab and hold more sauce
Blend the cottage cheese with milk, nutmeg and mustard
with an immersion blender
Add the noodles and grated cheese to the milk mixture,
season, stir, and transfer to a cooking oil sprayed baking dish
This is a good time to add healthy Chia seeds if you want to use them
Stir well and bake at 350 covered for 30 minutes
Uncover and bake for 30 minutes more or until golden
You can see the little black dots of Chia,
but it just looks like pepper~
The pasta cooks perfectly
and you eliminated that whole time consuming step!
Not exactly diet food, but a step in the right direction~
LIGHTENED UP MAC & CHEESE
Ingredients
- 2 cups cottage cheese [4% fat]
- 2 cups 2% milk
- 1 tsp dijon mustard
- dash cayenne
- 1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
- 8 oz. 2% Sharp Cheddar grated [I like Cracker Barrel]
- 8 oz elbow pasta uncooked [I used corkscrew macaroni]
- 2 T chia seeds optional
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a food processor or blender, purée cottage cheese, milk, mustard, cayenne, nutmeg. Reserve 1/4 of the grated cheese for topping.
- In a large bowl, combine remaining grated cheese, milk mixture and uncooked pasta.
- Pour into prepared pan, cover tightly with foil and bake at 350 for 30 minutes.
- Uncover pan, stir gently, sprinkle with reserved cheese. Bake, uncovered, 30 minutes more, until browned. Let cool 5 minutes before serving. 6 servings
Notes
No one will ever know the difference!
I will be joining these fabulous parties and blogs:
Sundays on Silverado/ Happiness is Homemade
Between Naps on the Porch / Turn About Tuesday
Wednesday Linky Party / Karin’s Cottage Linky Party/ Creatively Crafty
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Jenna, thank you for a lightened up version of mac & cheese. It is one of my grands’ favorite foods. Happy Sunday, stay cozy and warm on this wintry day!
Thanks Pam, they will never know this is a slightly healthier version!
Yum!! Looks wonderful, and we all love some cheesy goodness in this house!!
Thanks Carole!
Interesting Mac and cheese made with cottage cheese. I still enjoy Kraft’s Mac and cheese. Something new to try Jenna.
Thanks Linda 🙂
Splendid! A non-traditional baked macaroni and cheese that I’m sure has all the flavor. I’ve used the low-fat products, and sometimes the flavor of the pasta itself is more pronounced.
Thanks Dorothy~
As we start the new year, saving a few calories is always good. 😊
Thanks Karen, Happy New Year!
There are so many wonderful versions of mac and cheese this one looks intriguing!
It’s a little bit healthier and you can’t tell the difference!
Still looks very inviting and moreish.
Thanks Angie!
Looks delish!
Thanks Patti!
Jenna, I love this lightened up version of mac and cheese and what a time saver to cook the pasta in the sauce! I hope you escaped the wintry mix and freezing rain that came through here last night and this morning! ❄️
P.S. I’m sending you an email about a custom order if you’re so inclined. 🎨❤️
Thanks Mary, no snow here but extremely cold temps! 🥶
Oh, this looks delicious! I like the idea of cooking the macaroni along with everything else. My Mom used to make a Mac and Cheese with cottage cheese. I loved it!
Another great recipe! Thank you!
Thanks Nancy!
Jenna, I’ve never heard of Mac and Cheese made with cottage cheese, but it looks delicious! I like cottage cheese by itself and it’s so good in lasagne so I’m guessing it’s pretty good in Mac and Cheese too. I also like the idea of cooking the pasta in the sauce. Pinning! I heard that you are getting some nasty weather down there so stay warm and cozy!
Thanks Kim! Yes, it’s bitterly cold here, and we aren’t used to that!!
It’s always a win-win when you can alter some ingredients and no one is the wiser!
It is a little less guilty!
Jenna, this sounds so easy without cooking the pasta. I will have to give this a try. Thanks for the recipe. Stay warm and enjoy the rest of the week.
Julie’s Creative Lifestyle
I love pasta dishes that don’t require pre cooking! Thanks Julie, I hope you like it!