{"id":60779,"date":"2017-08-06T09:15:35","date_gmt":"2017-08-06T13:15:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/?p=60779"},"modified":"2017-08-13T22:38:02","modified_gmt":"2017-08-14T02:38:02","slug":"healthy-mac-and-cheese-recipes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/recipes\/healthy-mac-and-cheese-recipes\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Delicious Mac and Cheese Recipes You Can Feel Good About"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"8<\/div>\n

You might have fond memories of boxed mac and cheese<\/a> as a kid, but their convenience \u2014 and deliciousness \u2014 come with a serious health risk. According to a recent report from The New York Times<\/em><\/a>, high concentrations of harmful chemicals called phthalates were found in macaroni and cheese mixes made with powdered cheese. That\u2019s why you\u2019re always better off preparing your own dishes at home, so you know exactly what goes into them.<\/p>\n

Whenever you\u2019re craving this comfort food<\/a> favorite, prepare one of these nutrition-boosting mac(aroni) and cheese recipes instead. We\u2019ve got a few vegan<\/a>, dairy-free options, too, made with creamy cashew \u201ccheese.\u201d You\u2019ll wonder why you ever reached for Easy Mac in the first place.<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>Are There Health Risks to Consuming Food Dyes?<\/a><\/p>\n

8 Healthy Mac and Cheese Recipes to Make Now<\/h3>\n

\"Healthier<\/p>\n

1. Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

If you want to amp up the nutritional value of your mac and cheese, this butternut squash recipe is the way to go. Rich in vitamin A, beta-carotene and fiber<\/a>, butternut squash lends a nutty and slightly sweet flavor. In this dish, the squash is blended into the cheese sauce, which gets a spicy kick from cayenne pepper. Don\u2019t forget to top the dish with the crunchy sage-scented breadcrumbs to complement the velvety noodles. Photo and recipe: Brandon Matzek \/ Kitchen Konfidence<\/em><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>12 Comfort Food Recipes (Without All the Carbs)<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Healthier<\/p>\n

2. Horseradish Mac and Cheese<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

Worcestershire sauce and horseradish help bring out the sharp, buttery and slightly sweet muenster and smoked gouda cheese sauce. For those who trying to cut back on calories<\/a> and fat, muenster is lower in fat than cheddar. Meanwhile, for lactose sensitive folk, gouda has very little lactose<\/a>, the sugar in dairy. Not exciting enough? Turn your dish into a confetti mac and cheese by adding diced red and green bell peppers, broccoli florets or peas. Photo and recipe: Dana Sandonato \/ Killing Thyme<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Healthy<\/p>\n

3. Healthy Mac and Cheese<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

This recipe makes it easy to practice portion control<\/a> since it makes just four servings \u2014 a cup for everyone at the table. Instead of cheddar, food blogger Lindsay Ostrom uses gruyere, a semi-soft cheese with a slightly nutty and earthy taste. Plus, at eight grams of protein per ounce, a little goes a long way. The butternut squash in the cheese sauce also helps boosts the fiber content, so you feel more satisfied from every bite. Photo and recipe: Lindsay Ostrom \/ Pinch of Yum<\/em><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>A Case for Dairy: Why You Should Have Some Cheese With That<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Healthy<\/p>\n

4. Vegan Mac and Cheese<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

You won\u2019t miss the cheese at all in this incredibly creamy vegan mac and cheese recipe. Garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika and Dijon mustard infuse the cashew cheese with mouthwatering flavor. Turmeric<\/a> boosts the anti-inflammatory benefits of this dish and gives it the golden yellow hue of cheddar. This recipe also calls for nutritional yeast, which provides loads of B vitamins<\/a>. Pro tip: Soak the cashews overnight to help soften them up before blending. Photo and recipe: Renee Blair \/ Life by Daily Burn<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Healthier<\/p>\n

5. Vegan Mac and Cheese with Cashew Sauce<\/a><\/h3>\n

We love the creative use of grated red potatoes, which mimic the chewy, soft texture of noodles, in this vegan-friendly mac and cheese recipe. Apple cider vinegar<\/a> and nutritional yeast enhance the flavor and nutritional profile of the creamy cashew sauce. Last but not least? Broccoli florets for antioxidant power. Photo and recipe: Kathryne Taylor \/ Cookie and Kate<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Healthier<\/p>\n

6. Bacon and Pea Macaroni and Cheese<\/a><\/h3>\n

We know what you\u2019re thinking: Bacon isn\u2019t healthy. But in this lightened up dish, it\u2019s a healthy indulgence. Thanks to unsweetened almond milk and Greek yogurt<\/a>, you\u2019ll cut back on the fat while adding some protein. Plus, Greek yogurt lends creaminess, so you don\u2019t have to use as much cheese. Toss in some peas for hints of green, and you\u2019ve got yourself a balanced meal. Photo and recipe: Chungah Rhee \/ Damn Delicious<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Healthier<\/p>\n

7.\u00a0Creamy Mushroom and Asparagus Pasta<\/a><\/h3>\n

Many of us don\u2019t have time to bake a mac and cheese casserole. That\u2019s where this 30-minute pasta<\/a> dish comes in. As you wait for the pasta to boil, prepare the creamy vegan sauce and saut\u00e9 the mushrooms and asparagus. Instead of cashews, we switch things up with vegan cream cheese. Photo and recipe: Dana Shultz \/ The Minimalist Baker<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Healthier<\/strong><\/h3>\n

8. Mac and Cheese Scrambled Eggs<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Mac and cheese for breakfast? Why not? In just 20 minutes, you can have a heavenly bowl of cheesey goodness to help you kick-start your day. Swapping in scrambled eggs<\/a> for half the noodles will boost the protein<\/a> and cut back on carbs in this super-easy recipe. The eggs are whisked with milk, hot sauce and mustard to make them extra creamy, while turkey bacon adds a crispy bite in each spoonful. Photo and recipe: Perry Santanachote \/ Life by Daily Burn<\/em><\/p>\n

Read More:
\n<\/strong>7 Healthy Fried Rice Recipes That Won’t Put You in a Food Coma<\/a>
\n9 Healthy Casserole Recipes Make Once, Eat All Week<\/a>
\n6 Easy Pasta Sauce Recipes That Aren’t Marinara<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With recent news of harmful chemicals in powdered cheese, homemade mac and cheese is the way to go. Check out these better-for-you recipes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":90,"featured_media":60808,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[425,27,424,9],"tags":[204,155,59,151,71,341,388],"class_list":["post-60779","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dinner","category-healthy","category-lunch","category-recipes","tag-cooking","tag-dinner","tag-healthy-substitutions","tag-lunch","tag-nutrition","tag-tax1living-well","tag-tax2nutrition"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60779","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/90"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=60779"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60779\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/60808"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60779"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=60779"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=60779"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}