Easy and delicious homemade White Cheddar Mac and Cheese with a healthy twist! This is a fiber and protein-rich version of the childhood classic - with a creamy cheese sauce and all!
My kids have been ordering mac and cheese at restaurants for years, and they all agree that Panera makes it "the best." So.... of course I had to come up with a version that isn't quite as high in saturated fat or salt, lol! Can you tell I'm a dietitian? 😉
This recipe for white cheddar mac and cheese is made with real cheddar cheese, whole grain pasta, and a few simple ingredients that give it a boost of fiber and protein without sacrificing that creamy, cheesy goodness we all love. It's cozy, comforting, and kid-approved - basically everything you want in a bowl of mac and cheese, with a little extra nutrition mixed in.
And don't worry - there are no weird ingredients or complicated steps here. Just a simple homemade cheese sauce tossed with pasta for an easy weeknight meal that the whole family can enjoy. Serve it as a main dish with some veggies or fruit on the side or pair it with your favorite protein for a more complete meal.
If you're looking for a healthier mac and cheese that still tastes like the real deal, I think you're going to love this one!
Quick Look:
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Total Time: 12 minutes
- Servings: 6
- Flavor: simple, comforting
- Best for: main dish or side dish; easy lunch or dinner.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easy recipe This recipe is so easy that my 12-year-old can even make it. 🤩
- Simple Ingredients Pasta, white cheddar cheese, flour, milk, Dijon mustard, and olive oil.
- 10-Minutes! The key to making this in 10 minutes is to make the cheddar cheese sauce in the microwave as the pasta cooks on the stovetop.
Dietitian Tip
Mac and cheese served warm, with a creamy texture and one consistent color is what makes it a favorite comfort food for many, especially children.
Still, homemade macaroni and cheese is often very high in saturated fat, while being low in fiber, which is not good for heart health. This is why I created this recipe that uses olive oil instead of butter, 2-percent milk instead of heavy cream, and pasta that is higher in both fiber and protein.
Now, don't get me wrong. My version is not 'low' in saturated fat or sodium because it's still made with cheese, but the amount is lower than most traditional recipes.
And, to clarify - I'm not saying you should never allow your kids to eat traditional mac and cheese (made with butter and whole milk or cream), I'm just letting you know that there are different ways to make it. 😊
Ingredient Notes
- Pasta I like to use Barilla Protein+ elbow pasta to make mac and cheese because it's higher in fiber and protein and the look and taste of it are more similar to traditional pasta. Whole wheat pasta will work just as well.
- Cheese Sharp white cheddar cheese adds the best flavor. I didn't think medium cheddar cheese had enough flavor, and extra sharp was too sharp for my kids.
- Milk Use 2% or whole milk for the best creamy texture.
- Flour Un-bleached all-purpose flour. You can use whole wheat flour, but the sauce will look more grainy and not as white.
- Oil I use extra virgin olive oil. Avocado oil or melted unsalted butter can be used instead.
- Dijon mustard A little goes a long way. I tried doubling the amount and my kids didn't like it.
How to Make White Cheddar Mac n Cheese
Here is a brief summary of how to make white cheddar mac and cheese from scratch. For a complete list of ingredients and full instructions, please scroll down to the recipe card below.
- Use a large pot or Dutch oven to cook pasta to al dente according to the package instructions. Drain pasta.
- While the pasta is cooking, make a white sauce in the microwave.
- Add the grated cheese to the white sauce. Stir until the cheese is melted.
- Use a spatula to stir the cheese sauce into the cooked pasta. Serve and enjoy!
Helpful Tips
- For best results, do not use package pre-shredded cheese. The anti-caking agents added to pre-shredded cheese will give the sauce a different texture and will make it harder for the cheese to melt.
- Once cooled to room temperature, store leftovers refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Recipe Variations
- Add hot sauce for a little spice.
- Sprinkle Old Bay seasoning on top of the mac n cheese to level up the flavor.
- If you have time, turn this into oven baked mac and cheese to change it up! All you need to do is pour the mac and cheese in a square baking dish, sprinkle with panko breadcrumbs (or almond meal) and little bit of parmesan cheese, then bake in the oven until the top is light golden brown in color.
What to Serve with Mac and Cheese
Some of these ideas are inspired by what my kids choose to order with a small mac and cheese as a 'you pick two' at Panera.
- Veggies Fresh vegetables, side salad, air fryer broccoli, Roasted Brussels sprouts. A simple veggie works well as a side dish for mac and cheese.
- Applesauce Storebought or homemade. A sweet apple balances out savory mac and cheese quite well.
- Barbecue Chicken When served as a side dish, mac and cheese pairs well with BBQ chicken, pulled pork sandwiches, and more.
- Butternut Squash Soup Mac and cheese with vitamin-rich soup - comfort food at its finest!
Questions You May Have
Yes, it can. However, I find it much easier (and quicker!) to make the sauce in a microwave, still the cheese sauce can be made on the stovetop if you prefer.
To make the sauce on the stovetop, first, whisk the oil, flour, and salt together in a large saucepan. Add the milk, whisk well, and cook over medium heat. Whisk frequently until the sauce thickens and is bubbly. Turn the heat off, then whisk in the cheese.
Leftovers can be stored in the fridge. Be sure to let it cool to at least room temp before placing it in the refrigerator.
For best results, you should make mac and cheese the same day you will be serving it.
More Easy Dinner Recipes
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📖 Recipe
10-Minute White Cheddar Mac and Cheese
Equipment
- 1 medium mixing bowl Microwave safe
- 1 pasta strainer For pasta
- 1 Whisk For sauce
Ingredients
- 1 ½ Cups Barilla Protein+ or Chickpea pasta Can use any type of elbow macaroni pasta.
- 1 ½ Cups 2% Milk
- 2 Cups White cheddar cheese Grated. Do not use pre-shredded.
- 2 tablespoon Flour
- 2 tablespoon olive oil extra virgin
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard Smooth dijon, not the kind with grains.
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- Pinch Pepper
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to the package instructions. Once pasta is al dente, drain pasta and set aside.
- While pasta is cooking, make the cheese sauce: First, whisk together flour, oil, salt, and pepper.
- Add milk to the flour and oil mixture. Whisk very well.
- Place the bowl with the milk mixture in the microwave and microwave for 3-4 minutes, stopping every 45 seconds to whisk the mixture. The mixture is ready when it is thicker and bubbly.
- Remove the bowl from the microwave and immediately stir in the white cheddar cheese and dijon mustard.
- Pour the cheese sauce over the drained pasta. Stir to combine.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- My favorite type of pasta to use when I make this is Barilla Protein+ because it's higher in protein and the color and texture are so similar to traditional elbow macaroni pasta.
- Do not use pre-shredded cheese to make this mac and cheese. Anti-caking agents are added to packaged pre-shredded cheese that changes the texture and keeps it from melting as easily.
- Most mac and cheese recipes call for whole milk or cream. I tried different kinds of milk to reduce the amount of saturated fat. 2% milk worked very well but when I made this with skim milk it wasn't as creamy.
- I have used whole wheat flour in place of all-purpose flour, and it worked, but it had a darker color.
- For extra flavor, try topping it with Old Bay seasoning or hot sauce. My daughter's friend gave me the idea for Old Bay - it's delicious!
- Let cool completely before storing leftovers in an air-tight container in the fridge.
- The cheese sauce can be made on the stovetop instead of in a microwave, but it will take longer. Instruction on how to make the cheese sauce on the stove can be found toward the bottom of the recipe post.
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