Lighter Baked Macaroni and Cheese | Lite Cravings | Healthier Recipes (2024)

A healthier take on the cookout classic, Lighter Baked Macaroni and Cheese is packed full of gooey cheesiness. It can be made gluten free, too!

I know that I’m not alone when I say that Macaroni and Cheese is one of my all-time favorite foods. I’m not above the boxed stuff, either. But there’s something about a dish of baked mac and cheese that just hits different.

Years ago, Jeff and I used to cater parties for friends. He would smoke meat and I would prepare the sides. My mac and cheese was always a favorite. It has tons of butter, pounds of cheese, eggs, heavy cream. The works!

Maybe one day I’ll share that recipe with you all– Special Occasion Mac and Cheese? It’s heavenly! But that version is so rich and heavy that I can only eat it once in a while.

Many readers have asked me to come up with a Lighter Baked Macaroni and Cheese recipe, one that you can make as often as you want. Of course, I needed to make sure it didn’t taste like “diet food.”

So after many, many attempts, I’m finally here to share with you the BEST baked light mac and cheese recipe.

I’m also happy to share that this is easily made gluten free! I used a similar bechamel base as my Skinny Alfredo Sauce, using a combo of almond milk, cornstarch, and light cream cheese to mimic the classic sauce that is usually made with butter, flour, and whole milk.

Since the sauce itself is gluten free, I tried a version of this using gluten free pasta, and it turned out great! I like the Banza chickpea elbows the best.

HOw do you lighten up mac and cheese?

The first step is definitely the bechamel trick that I mentioned above. That saves a ton of calories and fat.

I tried to make this with full-fat cheddar cheese, but I found that the flavor wasn’t that much different than using a combination of reduced-fat cheddar and full-fat, grated parmesan. I found the cheddar at Target, though I’ve also seen the Lucerne brand of reduced-fat cheddar at Albertsons and Vons.

Grated parmesan is one of my go-to secret ingredients when a recipe needs a little something extra. It totally makes the sauce! I like Trader Joe’s grated parm. Don’t use the green bottle stuff! It won’t add the same flavor.

Add a bit of Greek yogurt in at the end to up the tanginess factor that you’d get with a sharp cheddar. The result is a creamy cheesy sauce with half of the calories and fat of regular recipes!

Once the sauce is ready, mix in your pasta and get ready to bake it. Top with a little extra cheese some a light sprinkle of panko breadcrumbs for extra crunch. Sprinkle with paprika for color.

Now comes the hardest part. You really need to let it cool off before eating. The pasta will continue to soak up some sauce, and everything will set up better. If you can handle the 10 minute wait, it’s so worth it! You’ll have this to look forward to.

If you’re looking for an easier mac and cheese that comes together in just 15 minutes, you have to check out my One-Pot Mac and Cheese.

I’d love to hear from you if you make this recipe! Leaving a starred review and comment below helps my blog grow. I’m always grateful when you can take the time to do that!

It also makes my day when you share your pics on Instagram and tag me (@litecravings). Don’t forget to use #litecravingsrecipes to make sure I see it. If I don’t get a chance to scroll through my tags quickly enough, I won’t see your post. I always make a point to look through the hashtags, though, so I’ll see it there!