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This healthy mac and cheese is a lightened up version of your favorite comfort food, but is still creamy and delicious! It’s packed with broccoli and spinach and is a great way to get your kids to eat more veggies.
Mac and cheese will forever be one of my favorite meals. It instantly brings me back to my childhood and reminds me of my sister. She taught me how to make all the pasta dishes you need to know how to make in high school and/or college — mac and cheese, buttered noodles and ramen. So, this healthy mac and cheese recipe is for you, sis!
Macaroni and cheese is a staple for most American families and for good reason. It’s easy to make, comforting, delicious and kids love it! But there is one problem with traditional mac and cheese… it’s pretty low in nutrients.
Since mac and cheese used to be a staple for me growing up and because I miss having a bowl every now and then, I wanted to make a lightened up version that sneaks in some green veggies. And if I do say so myself, this recipe turned out pretty darn delicious! It’s a mac and cheese I can feel good about eating and serving to my kiddos.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Healthier – This healthy macaroni and cheese is made with less butter, milk and cheese than classic recipes.
- Creamy and delicious – Even though this recipe is lighter, it’s still creamy, cheesy and sure to satisfy your mac and cheese cravings.
- Easy to make – This recipe comes together in under 30 minutes. It’s perfect for busy weeknights!
- Kid-approved – My kiddos gobbled up this mac & cheese, so I know yours will too!
Ingredients Needed
- rotini – I love using rotini pasta for this recipe, but feel free to use your favorite type of pasta. If you want to add protein to this recipe swap your regular pasta with chickpea pasta instead. I’ve made this recipe many times with chickpea pasta and it turns out delicious every time!
- broccoli and spinach – because you can’t have healthy mac and cheese without some veggies. It’s a great way to get your kiddos to eat more vegetables.
- butter – I prefer organic butter, but you can use whatever you have on hand.
- milk – I used unsweetened almond milk, but you can use regular milk as well.
- Laughing Cow spreadable cheese wedge – for this you need just one cheese wedge. You can find them at almost every grocery store in the cheese section.
- shredded cheddar cheese – I prefer to use pre-shredded reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese as a time saver, but you can always buy a block and shred the cheese yourself.
Find the full ingredient list with measurements in the recipe card below.
Recipe Variations
- Pasta: As I mentioned above, I love using legume pasta for a gluten-free option to amp up the nutrition count, but you can totally use whatever type of pasta you prefer. Shells, penne, or classic elbow macaroni noodles would all work well in this recipe.
- Cheese wedge: If needed, you can leave this out or sub it for 1 Tablespoon cream cheese (dairy or non-dairy).
- Want to swap the veggies? Not a fan of spinach and broccoli? Feel free to use other veggies! Zucchini, kale, mushrooms and bell peppers would all be delicious. You could also try my butternut squash mac and cheese for a different type of veggie-packed mac and cheese.
- Need to make this recipe vegan or dairy-free? I would recommend making my vegan mac and cheese recipe instead!
- Looking for a low-carb option? Try my baked cauliflower mac and cheese instead.
- Want to make baked mac and cheese? Try my healthy baked mac and cheese recipe instead. It’s made with almond meal instead of breadcrumbs and less dairy.
How to Make Healthy Mac & Cheese
This veggie-loaded mac and cheese couldn’t be easier to make. Let’s jump into the steps and get cooking!
Step 1: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add rotini pasta, return to a boil and cook for a total of 8 minutes or until al dente.
Step 2: Add the broccoli florets at the 4 minute mark.
Step 3: Drain the pasta and broccoli.
Step 4: In the same pot over low/medium heat add butter, milk, salt and pepper. Once butter has melted add the pasta and broccoli, cheese wedge and shredded cheese. Let cheese melt about 30 seconds. Stir everything together until pasta is well coated with the cheese sauce.
Step 5: Add in the chopped baby spinach and toss until wilted.
Step 6: Serve immediately with additional salt and pepper, if needed.
Brittany’s Tips
- Cut the broccoli small: Chop the broccoli florets into small, bite-sized pieces so they blend seamlessly with the pasta. This also helps them cook quickly and evenly when added to the boiling pasta.
- Go slow with the cheese: Let the cheese melt gradually over low heat, stirring often for a smooth, creamy sauce.
How to Serve Healthy Mac and Cheese
This mac and cheese is hearty enough to be served as a meal on its own, but if you want additional protein I recommend pairing it with an easy protein option like roasted chickpeas (or these air fryer chickpeas), baked tofu, pan seared salmon, grilled shrimp or chicken like my grilled apple cider vinegar chicken or basic grilled chicken.
You can also serve it alongside roasted vegetables like roasted brussels sprouts or a side salad for extra veggie goodness. I’d recommend one of these salads: garlicky kale salad, easy spinach salad or caprese salad.
How to Store
Store any leftovers in an airtight container for 4-5 days in the fridge. To reheat, add the mac and cheese to a saucepan and heat over medium-low, until warmed, stirring often to prevent burning. If needed, add a little bit of milk or water to thin out the sauce. Alternatively, you can reheat this in the microwave if you’re short on time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! While cheddar is a classic choice, you can switch it up with other cheeses like white cheddar, gouda, Monterey Jack, or even a mix of your favorites. I’ll sometimes add shredded parmesan to the mix for added flavor.
Yes! I’ve made this recipe many times with chickpea pasta and it has always turned out well for me. It’s a great way to add more protein to this dish.
More Pasta Recipes to Try
- Roasted Butternut Squash Pasta
- Penne alla Vodka
- Mushroom Stroganoff
- Creamy Pumpkin Pasta
- Healthy Hamburger Helper
- High Protein Cottage Cheese Mac and Cheese
Be sure to check out all of the healthy dinner recipes on EBF!
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.
Healthy Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 8 oz rotini pasta, or pasta of choice
- 2-3 cups broccoli florets, chopped small
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- 1 cup milk of choice , I used unsweetened almond milk
- 1 Laughing Cow spreadable cheese wedge
- 1 ½ cups reduced fat shredded cheddar cheese, more if needed
- 1 handful baby spinach, chopped
- sea salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add rotini pasta, return to a boil and cook for a total of 8 minutes, adding in the broccoli florets at the 4 minute mark.
- Drain pasta and broccoli.
- In the same large pot over low/medium heat add butter, milk, salt and pepper. Once butter has melted add in drained pasta and broccoli, spreadable cheese wedge and shredded cheese. Let cheese melt a little, about 30 seconds. Use a spoon to stir everything together until pasta is well coated with cheese, adding more cheese if needed.
- Add in chopped baby spinach and toss until wilted.
- Serve immediately with additional salt and pepper, if needed.
Notes
- Storing: Store any leftovers in an airtight sealed container for 4-5 days in the fridge.
- Reheating: To reheat, add the mac and cheese to a saucepan and heat over medium-low, until warmed, stirring often to prevent burning. If needed, add a little bit of milk or water to thin out the sauce. Alternatively, you can reheat this in the microwave if you’re short on time.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This post was originally published on March 1, 2019 and republished on January 13, 2025.
This was so good!
I left out the cheese wedge and it still felt creamy and indulgent.
I added ground beef to make it a full meal for dinner and it was still plenty cheesey without adding any extra. Everyone, even my preschooler, gobbled it up!
I’m excited to make it again and try a different cheddar!
Yay! So glad this recipe was a hit. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a review. I appreciate it!
This was absolutely disgusting. I wanted a healthy comfort meal for my toddler but this is not it. A huge waste of expensive ingredients. I am shocked there are so many positive reviews.
Hi Sarah – I am sorry to hear that this recipe did not turn out as you had hoped. Did you change anything about the recipe?
Not bad, but my cheese sauce came out a little grainy. I tried adding a splash more of milk but that just made it a little too liquidy. Any tips?
Sorry to hear that! Did you use pre-shredded cheese or shred it yourself? Sometimes this can happen if the cheese gets too hot. A couple tips: take the pot off the heat before stirring in the cheese, add it slowly in small handfuls, and use freshly grated cheese (pre-shredded has anti-caking agents that can make it grainy). That should help keep it smooth and creamy next time!
Hi. So excited to make this! My SIL gives birth soon and broccoli Mac is her comfort food. Do you think this would freeze okay to deliver as a freezer meal after birth?
Hey Devon – I’m not sure how this would freeze as I haven’t tried it! I would be concerned that the cheese sauce would thaw weirdly after being frozen, but let me know if you end up trying it!
I am pregnant and in my first trimester and eating is difficult. I was looking for a recipe that sounded appealing and was also high in protein and fiber, and came across this one. Full disclosure – I didn’t add any vegetables :p I have an aversion to broccoli at the moment, and I simply didn’t have any others on hand that sounded good. Even so, I darn near ate my weight in the creamy goodness that came from the rest of this recipe! So good! When my appetite is back I will try it again WITH the veggies!
AH YAY! Congratulations, Laura. I am so excited to hear that this recipe was a hit. Thank you so much for sharing your review & star rating, I really appreciate it. Best of luck on your pregnancy journey, hoping your appetite comes back soon!
Hello! What is the serving size? is it one cup for 395 cals? Please let me know!
Hi Halee – This recipe makes 4 servings and one serving is 395kcal and one serving is about 2-2.5 cups. If you decide to give this recipe a try, I would love to know how you enjoy it!
Sooooo Good! 😊
Yay! Glad they were a hit, Brynn!
I made this tonight and it was yummy. It is very similar to a less healthy version I’ve made many times that starts the cheese sauce with butter and flour. I made your cheese sauce in a separate pan to help the cheese melt evenly. I added 2 wedges of Laughing Cow to make it thicker and coat the pasta better. If you cheese sauce separates into oily or milky liquid with cheese clumps, your heat is too high. You need to melt on a low heat. You can try the Alton Brown method to fix it by putting the sauce in the blender and then back in the pan before combining with pasta and broccoli.Sometimes this works for me, sometimes it doesn’t but it’s definitely an improvement for a broken sauce.
followed recipe except i did the sauce separately and melted everything together first before mixing. unfortunately even after almost 10 minutes my pasta still crumbled to bits when i added it. ultimately everything was melted but the pasta was a mess. it’s edible but i’m disappointed…the sauce was quite wet and i had to cook it down some more.
So sorry to hear that!! I made this recently and didn’t have any issues, so wondering if it might be the brand of pasta. What kind of pasta did you use?
I was just wondering what is your serving size is? Thank you!
Hey Kelsey – I don’t remember what the servings were in cups, but this recipe serves 4 🙂
Hello!
I’m so excited to make this for my family tonight. How many servings does this recipe make?
Excellent!! Will try it for sure.
Really enjoyed this quick, one pot meal. My 6 year old ate it up! The spinach is hidden and while you can’t hide the broccoli it’s covered in a yummy cheese sauce. Adding this to the regular rotation.
Yay!! So pumped to hear this recipe was a hit, Melissa! Thanks so much for the review and star rating. I really appreciate it!
I made this tonight in a double batch, using half chickpea pasta and half whole wheat. I used 2% milk and 4 c. cheddar, without any of the Laughing Cow cheese. I also didn’t get the spinach in because I didn’t have it prepared to go in the pot on time… Not understanding the chemistry issue others mentioned with cheese globbing together, I decided to just make my cheese sauce in a separate pot, adding the pasta and broccoli after they were cooked. This worked perfectly. Mine may have been a bit less healthy than the original recipe, but still healthier than other mac ‘n cheese recipes out there, and very tasty and filling!
So glad this recipe turned out for you, Charis!! Thanks for making my recipe and for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it. 🙂
Agreed. A sad disaster. Had to throw it away after trying the stir the oily cheese globs in the pot of expensive pasta and broccoli. So frustrating and disappointing. I had this recipe saved for months and was almost in tears when it didn’t come together. (I know it sounds dramatic – but we really value good, healthy food here. We live in a rural area and it is hard to get anything other than basic white or wheat pasta for example).
Hey Kristen – I hated that this recipe didn’t work out for you so I decided to test it again over the weekend and I didn’t have any issues with the cheese melting. I’m trying to figure out what might have happened! What brand/style of cheese did you use? Did you use a laughing cow wedge as well?
I’ve always made mac&cheese from the box but wanted a less processed version that is easy/quick to make, and this is JUST THAT! I didn’t use the cheese wedge or butter, but still sooo creamy. I also used Banza chickpea shells and they worked fine. Also had frozen veg to use up so dumped those in. An A+ dinner!
Woo!! So glad you loved this recipe, Corin. Thanks for the review. I so appreciate it!
Absolutely fantastic!!! I’m a Mac and cheese fanatic and with adapting a healthier lifestyle I thought Mac and cheese was off the table, but it’s not! Thank you, Brittany, for always making delicious dishes that I can eat on my diet and that my kids will also eat (with their picky palates!!) Even my 9 month old approves!! As always, 5 stars!!
Woo!! So glad you loved this recipe. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a review. It means the world to me. 🙂
Made this with whole wheat pasta and it was delicious, quick and easy! And my kids loved it! Thanks
Ahh yay!! So glad this dish was a hit with the whole fam, Beth. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it!
I really, really wanted this recipe to work out. I had it saved on Pinterest for months.
We live in a rural area, so it was a challenge to get any pasta other than white or wheat. I finally got some via the internet and prepped everything in the morning to make sure it was done in time to feed us and the kids after work/school. Everything was going great until mixing in the milk and butter. The first attempt yielded instantly curdled milk. Ok. My bad, I used regular milk and the pot was too hot. Attempt #2 at this step was better until I added the pasta, broccoli, and cheese to the mix. The result was a pasta and broccoli partially cemented together in a mix of oily cheese globs in a think milky sauce. It looked terrible and we had to throw it away. It was getting late, so eggs and any leftovers were set out for the family.
This may not seem like a big deal, but with limited choices, we really value good, healthy food at home. Again, I really wanted this dish to work and am disappointed at the result.
Hey Kristen – I’m so sorry to hear this! I hate that the recipe didn’t turn out for you. 🙁 What kind of cheese did you use? And you didn’t change anything about the recipe?
Not good. Love the addition of the broccoli and spinach and such a good tip to cook it in the pasta water. The cheese and milk did not mix. Would have had the same outcome without adding any milk. Cheese probably should be added to the milk before adding pasta.
Not keen on the chickpea pasta either. This recipe turned into a sad disaster 🙁
Hey Lisa – so sorry to hear that this recipe didn’t turn out for you. What kind of cheese did you end up using? And the chickpea pasta is totally optional! You can make this with any type of pasta in the future.
I feel like this could be due to the reduced fat cheese. I’ve tried that stuff before and I will never use it again because it does not melt like regular cheese. However I also agree that making the sauce and then adding the pasta back in would be a great option… I tried it exactly as was written and my chickpea pasta ended up falling apart.
Barilla chickpea rotini is always the base of my go-to comfort food– usually with a tomato sauce, sauteed veggies, and Italian seasonings. However, tonight I was feeling indulgent and was craving good old fashioned mac and chees.
Not only did I already have every ingredient on hand beacuse it requires such simple ingredients, but the directions provided gave perfect results and I was able to enjoy a childhood favorite “sans neon-orange powder.
Great recipe that gave me exactly what I was looking for!!
Brittany,
This was absolutely delicious and my hubby loved it as well! Made it tonight with unsweetened plain almond milk and substituted 1 T. whipped cream cheese for the Laughing Cow (because I forgot it at the store 🤣) and added a bit more spinach than called for. I am super happy I now have a healthy comfort dish I can make that is quick and easy! Thank you and would love to try more of your recipes!
Karen of Florida
Ahh yay!! This makes me so happy to hear, Karen! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe. I appreciate you trying it and coming back to leave a comment + star rating. It means the world to me. <3
You didnt say how big a serving size is or how many servings this makes prepared. It sound awesome I’m excited to try this soon
Hey Suanne! It says at the top of the recipe that it yields about 4. 🙂
is the milk supposed to evaporate completely? cause mine ended up kind of watery/milky and the cheese didn’t really stick to the pasta
I was skeptical trying this recipe because of some of the reviews, but I love mac and cheese and having a healthy version for my kids to try was exciting for me. Unfortunately like some of the other reviews it didn’t come together for me. I did try and melt the cheese, milk and butter separately from the broccoli and pasta in case it wasn’t going to come together and I’m glad I did so that not all my ingredients were a waste.
The cheese did not mix well with the milk at all, it all clumped together and when it finally started to melt it just not form well at all.
I do love your cottage cheese mac and cheese though so if you’re reading this and wanting a foolproof mac and cheese that one is delicious!
Oh no!! I’m so sorry to hear that. What kind of milk and cheese did you use? Was it pre-shredded cheese or did you shred the cheese yourself?
Is it ok to use regular fusilli pasta over the chickpeas ones? I’m not a big plants pasta, and also during this pandemic is harder to source such deli.
Yes, any pasta will work!
This recipe looks delicious! I have yet to try the chickpea pasta — I’ll need to try it with this recipe.
Thanks so much for sharing!
Silly question but what is one serving? A cup, half a cup?
About a cup!
This sounds great and I’m looking forward to trying it. However please reconsider your recommendation of Laughing Cow – they have a record of animal cruelty and abuse – just thought it was worth a mention. Thanks :).
How can anyone not try this mac and cheese? My little one would absolutely love this.
I noticed you say serve immediately – how does it hold up if you make ahead? I wanted to bring it to an office potluck, so was planning on making it the night before.
Thanks!
Hey Rachel, I think that would be just fine! Do you plan to use regular pasta or a legume-based pasta?
I wanted to make this for a meal prep for my kids lunches. Do you think this will hold up and be good reheated? I was gonna make them in little muffin tins to serve easily. What are your thoughts? I guess it doesn’t hurt to try 🤷🏼♀️
It’s worth a try! It should be fine to store in the fridge for a few days I would imagine! Let me know how it turns out for you.
What exactly is a spreadable cheese wedge?
It’s a Laughing Cow spreadable cheese wedge.
Lovely idea and super delicious! Thank you for sharing it with us.
How could you go wrong with mac & cheese? This looks absolutely amazing. I can not wait to make this for my little one.
Honestly this recipe sounded really good! Unfortunately for the amount of stirring to mix the cheese sauce with the pasta, there’s no way that the chickpea pasta can hold up, all my pasta broke up immediately into little pieces. Though I love chickpea pasta sooo much maybe this isnt the best way to use it. Also I should’ve added flour since the milk was way too watery in the end.
Oh no! Sorry the recipe didn’t turn out as expected. Which brand of pasta did you use? I didn’t have any trouble with the Barilla pasta breaking apart. I know some brands are more fragile than others. You also shouldn’t have needed to stir the cheese for very long. Just curious, did you follow the recipe exactly or change some of the ingredients?
Oh. It looks so delicious. Am going to try it now.
Yay!! Let mw know how it turns out.
Maybe a dumb question but after draining the pasta do you add the cheese and milk with the stove off or do you feed it with heat (low/medium)?
Not a dumb question. Yes, you do need a little heat for the cheese to melt. I’ll add that to the recipe. Thanks for noticing. 🙂
What exactly is a “spreadable cheese wedge”?
Ha! I think I’m confusing a lot of people with the spreadable cheese wedge. It’s just one of those Laughing Cow cheese wedges — you can find them at almost every grocery store in the cheese section. If needed, you can leave this out or sub it for cream cheese (dairy or non-dairy). The cheese wedge is 21 grams so I’d about the same amount of cream cheese if you make that swap. Overall, it helps make the mac and cheese extra creamy. 🙂
What is a spreadable cheese wedge?
It’s similar to cream cheese. I used the creamy swiss Laughing Cow spreadable cheese wedge for this recipe!
The Irish cheddar cheese that you used, was that reduced fat? also do you know wgat brand you used?
Hi Erica – Yes, it was reduced fat. I always use Kerrygold Cheese! Hope you enjoy this recipe!