Monday, October 17, 2011

Skinny Broccoli Mac and Cheese {recipe}


This is another Skinnytaste inspired recipe. Gina...that girl has a gift. I'm so glad to have found her blog months ago!

With cooler Fall weather approaching, we all put up our grills and lawn chairs to move back inside to enjoy comfort food. Many casseroles, soups, and crockpot recipes become our once again, favorites. This mac and cheese is a great addition to that collection of feel good food. It is surprisingly light and doesn't "weigh you down" as many pasta dishes too. I also really liked the broccoli as an added veggie. 

Again, I will use my husband as my rating scale (because he has a palate of a 6 year old. Love you!) and he enjoyed it. He would have preferred I skip the last step of putting it in the over to bake as he likes a "runnier" mac and cheese. Baking it caused it to become more like a casserole, but I think it would be great either way! 

Skinny Broccoli Mac and Cheese
adapted from Skinnytaste

Gina's calorie breakdown looks something like this:
Servings: 8 Serving Size: 1 cup Calories: 314.9


12 oz high fiber elbows
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp light butter (I used Brummel and Brown)
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup minced onion
2 cups skim milk
1 cup fat free chicken broth
2 cups shredded reduced fat sharp cheddar
salt and fresh pepper to taste
12 oz broccoli florets (I used a pre-cut bag of fresh found in the salad aisle)


If you don't choose to bake it, skip these 3 ingredients.
1/8 cup grated Parmesan
1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
cooking spray




As you can see, I keep Great Value in business.
Preheat oven to 375° (if you don't want to bake it, skip this step).Cook pasta and broccoli together in a large pot of salted water, according to package directions. Spray a baking dish with cooking spray (again, if you don't want to bake it, skip this step).




In a large skillet, melt both butters then add the onion and cook over low heat about 2 minutes. 




Add flour and cook  until the flour is golden and well combined. 






Add milk and chicken broth and whisk, raise heat to medium-high until it comes to a boil; cook about 5 minutes or until the sauce becomes smooth and thick. Add salt and pepper to taste.






Once the sauce is thick, remove from heat, add cheese and mix well until cheese is melted.Taste then add more salt and pepper if desired. Combine cooked macaroni and broccoli with sauce and combine well







If you don't want to bake it, you are done here! But, if you want to pop it in the oven to get a nice, golden brown crust on top, keep reading! 


 Pour into prepared baking dish. Top with grated cheese and breadcrumbs. Spray a little more cooking spray on top.Bake for 15-20 minutes. Enjoy! 





Please visit my link parties page to see who I linked up with this week! 


16 comments:

Kerryne said...

YUM... that sounds delish. I will have to give it a try! ;)

Allison said...

Thank you! :)

Tatum @ Tatum's Take said...

That looks so good!! I need to start eating before I go blog surfing. I instantly want all food that I see, especially when it looks this great, and healthy!

Lindsay said...

That sounds awesome! I would love to give it a try! Thanks for the recipe!

Kate @ craftwhatever said...

Saw this at CRAFT...this sounds so good! I really should try homemade macaroni and cheese. It's gross, but my kids prefer the box kind. The orange powder in the box kind! But I love putting broccoli in it- they gripe about it. I call it Macaroccli and Cheese! I think I am being clever and my kids think I am being evil...heh heh heh. : )

Allison said...

That is hilarious! My husband likes the kind from the box as well, but he doesn't add the milk and butter! Just noodles and weird orange powder!

Susan said...

Sounds great! I'll have to save this to try soon!

Allison said...

Thanks, Susan! Come back and let me know how it was!

I am LOVD said...

Thanks for the healthy recipe. Paula Deen and Dr. Oz did a recipe on a lower fat mac n cheese and it was so hilarious to watch them taste their results. They should have had your recipe!!!!

Allison said...

LOL! Paula Deen was clearly not in her element with a low fat mac and cheese. Thanks for stopping by!

Pounds4Pennies said...

Great pictures and documentation for this recipe. Thanks for sharing. I am always looking for ways to sneak veggies in to where my kids will eat them.

Allison said...

Thank you so much for stopping by! Your comments are so kind! I can't wait until my 15 month old son is old enough where I have to play the "hide the veggies" game! Let me know what your kiddos think, if you make it.

Jami said...

Hi Allison! Your recipe sounds so yuumy! I also have a husband with a 6 year old's palate!! We'll have to give this one a try! So glad you linked up to the Tuesday To Do Party!
Smiles!
Jami
www.blackberryvine.blogspot.com

Terri @ A Creative Princess said...

Yum! I love the idea of broccoli added! Thank you so much for linking up and sharing this at It's a Party!

Marie said...

I love a good homemade mac and cheese! I always try to add in a healthy veggie to get my kids to try it :) Can't wait to try this recipe! Thanks so much for linking up with us at Show & Share! Can't wait to see you again on Wednesday!

Marie
mylilpinkpocket.blogspot.com

Michelle said...

Healthy mac and cheese!!! I can't wait to try it. Thanks for sharing, I have definitely added this to my try list and pinned it!

I am a relatively new blogger and am hosting my first ever link party for a healthier lifestyle I would be honoured if you would share this fantastic looking recipe.

http://michellescraft.blogspot.com/2011/10/healthy-lifestyle-change-week-1.html

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