Description
A lighter twist on classic mac & cheese using almond milk, vegetable broth, and almond meal for a creamy yet healthier baked dish.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 lb elbow macaroni
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup all‑purpose flour
- 2 cups unsweetened almond milk
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup almond meal or breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 °F and spray a 9×13″ baking dish.
- Cook macaroni until al dente; drain and set aside.
- In a saucepan over low heat, melt butter and whisk in flour to form a roux.
- Add almond milk, vegetable broth, salt, and pepper; bring to a boil, whisking until thickened.
- Remove from heat, gradually stir in 2 cups cheddar until smooth.
- Add pasta to the sauce and mix until well coated.
- Transfer mixture to baking dish, top with remaining cheddar and Parmesan, then sprinkle almond meal or breadcrumbs.
- Bake 20–25 minutes until bubbly and golden; broil 2 minutes if desired for crisp topping.
- Let cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- For extra veggies, mix in broccoli, spinach, kale, or zucchini.
- Hand‑shred cheese for creamier sauce; avoid pre‑shredded.
- To prep ahead, assemble (omit topping), refrigerate up to 2 days, then add topping and bake.
- Use gluten‑free pasta and flour if needed.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 recipe
- Calories: 505 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 923 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 81 mg