Healthy Mac and Cheese

Healthy Mac and Cheese

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: healthy mac and cheese

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 15

Total Time: 25

Servings:

Calories: 274kcal

Author: Megan Gilmore

This Mac and Cheese recipe uses NO flour or butter, but you wouldn't know just by tasting it. The secret ingredient adds extra fiber and protein to each bite.

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Ingredients

12 ounces elbow noodles (gluten-free, if needed)
1 (15-oz.) can cannellini beans (see notes; don't drain)
1 teaspoon Fine sea salt , plus more to taste
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon Ground black pepper
4 ounces Gruyere cheese , shredded
2 ounces Sharp cheddar cheese , shredded
pinch of nutmeg (optional)

Instructions

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season it with a teaspoon of salt. Once it's boiling, add the pasta and cook until tender, according to the package directions.
While you wait on the pasta, add the entire can of white beans to a high-speed blender. (Including the liquid; don't drain or rinse them.) Add 1 teaspoon of salt, the garlic powder, and black pepper, plus ¼ cup of water. Secure the lid and blend until very smooth.
When the pasta is done cooking, drain the noodles and set them aside for a moment. Pour the blended bean mixture into the pot and bring it to a boil on the stove. As soon as it's bubbling, turn off the heat and stir in the shredded cheese until it has melted.
Transfer the pasta back to the pot with the cheese sauce and stir well. Season with additional salt, to taste. (I add another ½ teaspoon, but this will vary based on the type of salt you use and your taste buds.) Add a pinch of nutmeg for an unexpected and delicious flavor, then serve warm with any extra toppings you like, such as cooked chicken or steamed broccoli.
Leftover mac and cheese can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Notes

Nutrition information is for roughly 1 cup of prepared mac and cheese, assuming you get 8 cups from this recipe. This information is automatically calculated and is just an estimate, not a guarantee.

Canned White Beans Note: I tested this recipe with 365 brand organic cannellini beans, which include salt on the ingredient label. If you use an unsalted brand, you may need to add more than the 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt this recipe calls for.

Cheese Note: This recipe is easy to adapt and can use any other cheese variety you have. I think parmesan would make it taste like Alfredo, so you could embrace adding more garlic and black pepper in that case, too.

Nutmeg Note: I started adding a pinch of nutmeg to mac and cheese after trying it an Ina Garten recipe. It pairs well with gruyere cheese but has a potent flavor, so don't overdo it!

Pasta Note: If you're trying to sneak this new cheese sauce past picky eaters, I recommend starting with a pasta they love. My daughter thinks this tastes just like Ina Garten's recipe if I make it with her favorite organic white noodles. But when I make it with chickpea-based pasta, she thinks it tastes "too healthy." You can slowly start to mix some more nutrient-dense noodles into your favorite white pasta to help them get used to the idea.

Nutrition