Lighter Baked Mac and Cheese without Flour
Servings 6 servings
This lightened up baked mac and cheese without flour is such an easy way to make homemade mac and cheese from scratch! Instead of making a roux, just melt the shredded cheese into the tastiest creamy cheese sauce before pouring it over the noodles and baking it to perfection. This baked macaroni is a true crowd-pleaser and is perfect for your next gathering!
Ingredients
- 8 oz elbow macaroni whole wheat or fiber-enriched
- 1 ½ cups evaporated 2% milk
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar divided
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉. Spray a 2 quart baking dish with nonstick spray.
- Cook elbow macaroni according to package directions for al dente pasta. Drain and set aside.
- In a large saucepan over medium heat bring the evaporated milk and butter to a simmer. Whisk in the salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Remove from heat and slowly whisk in 1 ½ cups of the shredded cheeses to the sauce until fully melted and smooth.
- Add in the macaroni noodles and toss to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Pour the macaroni into the prepared baking pan and top with the remaining ½ cup of shredded cheese. Bake for 15-20 minutes until the top is lightly browned and the sides are bubbling. Let rest for 5 minutes and serve.
Notes
- Adding cheese to the pot with the heat still on can cause it to turn grainy. When making a cheese sauce, it’s always best to remove it from the heat before incorporating the cheese.
- If you don’t have time to bake it, you can simply broil the cheese to melt it, and serve.
- Any small pasta shape would work here, such as rotini or shells. Just make sure to keep the pasta al dente, so that it doesn't overcook while being baked.
- Make sure the cheeses are freshly shredded. Pre-shredded bags of cheese contain an anticaking agent called cellulose (wood pulp) that keeps them from melting smoothly.
- Any of your favorite melty cheese would work here. Gouda, colby jack, smoked cheddar, and gruyere would work well. Substitute ¼ cup of the cheese for Parmesan for a sharper flavor.
- You could add in different proteins like cooked chicken or sausage or lightly steamed veggies like broccoli before pouring into the baking dish to make it a complete meal.
Nutrition
Calories: 373kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 19gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 59mgSodium: 519mgPotassium: 117mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 499IUVitamin C: 0.003mgCalcium: 301mgIron: 1mg
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