It’s hard to imagine healthier macaroni and cheese because pasta and cheese tend to be decadent. Healthy Baked Mac and Cheese with Broccoli changes everything! I include both the regular and healthier/skinny swapped ingredients to make this dish deceptively good for you and give you options!
For the healthier option, I make the sauce using light butter, whole wheat flour, and skim milk. Add cheeses and some seasonings. Finally, mix everything together with cooked noodles and broccoli. The broccoli lightens up the heaviness of the noodles and you’ll be shocked at how delicious my Healthy Baked Mac and Cheese with Broccoli is!
The richer option is really just swapping a few of the ingredients for their full-fat friends – easy substitutions either way.
Recipes Similar to Healthy Baked Mac and Cheese with Broccoli:
Lightened Up Chili Mac Casserole Recipe
Healthy Alfredo Sauce Made with Cauliflower
Family Friendly Healthy Mac and Cheese
How is This Dish Lighter Than Regular Mac and Cheese?
Traditional mac and cheese is made with a roux-based white sauce with lots and lots of cheese melted into it. A roux is a butter/flour/milk combination that is the base for so many sauces, like béchamel, alfredo, and cheese sauce. My sauce uses skinny swaps of whole wheat flour for extra servings of whole grains, light butter for less fat and calories, and skim milk for the same reason. It allows the dish to be eaten freely without guilt. You’d never know this was a guilt-free mac and cheese by just tasting it!
Making your meals lighter will pay off once you step on the scale, and you can barely tell the difference between this mac and cheese and a full-fat variety. For more low fat meals, try my Asian Shrimp Stir Fry!
Ingredients in Healthy Baked Mac and Cheese with Broccoli
- wide egg noodles or elbow macaroni
- fresh or frozen broccoli florets
- butter (skinny swap light butter)
- olive oil
- milk (skinny swap skim milk)
- low-sodium chicken broth
- all purpose flour (skinny swap white whole wheat flour)
- plain bread crumbs
- onion powder
- salt
- black pepper
- garlic powder
- paprika
- shredded cheddar cheese (skinny swap reduced-fat shredded cheddar cheese)
- grated Parmesan cheese (skinny swap reduced-fat grated Parmesan cheese)
How to Make Healthy Baked Mac and Cheese with Broccoli
Preheat the oven to 375° F. Coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
Cook the macaroni according to package instructions until al dente.
In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute.
Gradually whisk in the milk and chicken broth and cook until the mixture thickens about 5-7 minutes, whisking often. Stir in the cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.
In a separate pot over medium high heat, boil the broccoli florets for 5-7 minutes until tender. If using frozen broccoli you might need to boil for a few additional minutes. Drain.
Mix the cooked macaroni, cheese sauce, and broccoli in a large bowl. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
In a small bowl, mix the breadcrumbs and olive oil. Sprinkle over the top of the mac and cheese mixture.
Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Healthy Baked Mac and Cheese with Broccoli
Ingredients
- 1 12-ounce bag wide egg noodles or elbow macaroni
- 2 cups frozen broccoli florets or 1x 10oz bag of frozen broccoli
- 4 tbsp salted butter or 2 Tbsp light butter for skinny swap
- 4 tbsp all purpose flour or whole wheat flour
- 2 cups milk or skim milk
- 1 cup chicken broth or low-sodium
- 2 tbsp olive oil or 1 Tbsp for skinny swap
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese or reduced fat
- 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese or reduced fat
- 1 cup plain bread crumbs or 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375° F. Coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
- Cook the macaroni according to package instructions until al dente.
- In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute.
- Gradually whisk in the milk and chicken broth and cook until the mixture thickens about 5-7 minutes, whisking often. Stir in the cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.
- In a separate pot over medium high heat, boil the broccoli florets for 5-7 minutes until tender. If using frozen broccoli you might need to boil for a few additional minutes. Drain.
- Mix the cooked macaroni, cheese sauce, and broccoli in a large bowl. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- In a small bowl, mix the breadcrumbs and olive oil. Sprinkle over the top of the mac and cheese mixture.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly.
- Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
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