Lightened Mac & Cheese Bake (Printable Format)

A creamy mac & cheese bake featuring snowflake pasta and a crisp breadcrumb topping made lighter with reduced-fat cheese.

# What's Needed:

→ Pasta

01 - 10.5 oz snowflake-shaped pasta (or any fun-shaped short pasta)

→ Cheese Sauce

02 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
03 - 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
04 - 2 cups low-fat milk
05 - 1 cup reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
06 - ½ cup reduced-fat mozzarella cheese, shredded
07 - ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
08 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
09 - ½ tsp garlic powder
10 - ¼ tsp ground black pepper
11 - ¼ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
12 - Pinch ground nutmeg (optional)

→ Topping

13 - ¼ cup whole wheat breadcrumbs
14 - 1 tbsp olive oil
15 - 1 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
16 - 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional)

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F and lightly grease a 1.5-2 quart baking dish.
02 - Boil salted water in a large pot. Cook pasta until just al dente according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
03 - Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour continuously for 1 minute to form a roux.
04 - Gradually whisk in milk, cooking and stirring constantly until thickened, about 4 to 5 minutes.
05 - Remove from heat and stir in cheddar, mozzarella, Parmesan, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, black pepper, salt, and nutmeg until smooth and cheeses melt.
06 - Add cooked pasta to cheese sauce and stir until fully coated.
07 - Pour mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
08 - In a small bowl, mix breadcrumbs, olive oil, Parmesan, and parsley if using. Sprinkle evenly over pasta.
09 - Bake for 15 to 18 minutes until topping is golden and sauce bubbles.
10 - Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Creamy and comforting
  • Made lighter with reduced-fat cheese
02 -
  • For extra veggies stir in 1 cup of steamed broccoli or spinach before baking
  • Serve with a crisp green salad for a balanced meal
03 -
  • Use fun-shaped pasta like snowflakes to delight kids and guests
  • Make sure not to overcook the pasta to keep it firm in the bake
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