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    Home » Recipes » Weight Watcher Recipes

    Skinny Creamy Mac and Cheese

    Published: Jun 23, 2015 · Modified: Nov 13, 2023 by Jenna · This post may contain affiliate links · 20 Comments

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    Skinny creamy mac and cheese is a lightened-up version of the classic and very low in points for Weight Watchers. It only requires 5 simple ingredients.

    Melted cheese topped with panko bread crumbs over mac and cheese.

    I couldn't believe my eyes at the points for 1 serving of this mac and cheese when adding this to the recipe builder!  Points are always listed in the notes section of this recipe below. 

    This mac and cheese is made slightly different than regular mac and cheese. You make a slurry out of the milk and flour and pour use that as a thickener instead of roux. It works trust me cause I’ve done it plenty of times with soup before. 

    Serve this as a side with protein and some fresh greens for a full meal. 

    If you're looking for more great low-calorie recipes try Spaghetti Carbonara or Low Sodium Taco Salad.

    Jump to:
    • What Ingredients do I need? 
    • How to make Skinny Mac and Cheese 
    • What can I serve with mac and cheese?
    • Equipment Needed 
    • Other Recipes To Try 
    • Skinny Creamy Mac and Cheese


    What Ingredients do I need? 

    Ingredients needed for skinny mac and cheese.
    • Medium sized shells - Use whatever type of small-sized pasta shape is in your pantry.
    • Milk - Dairy does not like me at all so I go for a lactose free milk such as Fairlife. It also has more protein in it.
    • Flour - is a type of wheat flour that is commonly used in cooking and baking. It is versatile and can be used for a variety of recipes, including bread, cakes, cookies, and pastries.
    • Sharp cheddar cheese - Reduced-Fat Cheese has a lower calorie count and less saturated fat than regular cheese, but it may also have a different taste and texture. It also helps with keeping the calorie count pretty low for this recipe. 
    • salt and pepper to taste
    • Panko bread crumbs - are a type of breadcrumb commonly used in Japanese cuisine. Panko bread crumbs can be found in most grocery stores and are often used as a substitute for traditional breadcrumbs in recipes.
    • Parsley for garnish
    • See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

    How to make Skinny Mac and Cheese 

    Step 1: In a medium sauce pan, boil the medium shells for 8-10 minutes until al dente.

    Step 2: While the noodles are cooking let the 2 cups of milk come to a simmer in a medium sauce pan. Whisk the remaining ½ cup of milk and ¼ cup of flour together in a bowl until the flour is combined. Add to the cups of milk that is simmering on the stove top. Let the milk and flour thicken for another 5 minutes. Add in salt and pepper for seasoning.

    Milk and flour combined in sauce pan.

    Step 3: Stir in the cheese until melted and combine the cheese with the noodles.

    Melted cheese and noodles stirred together in a pot.

    Step 4: Put the broiler on high and add noodles to some oven proof bowls such as ramekins. Sprinkle some panko over the top and let the panko brown in the oven.

    Mac and cheese in a ramekin ready for broiler.

    Serving Size: 1 cup

    What can I serve with mac and cheese?

    Mac and cheese is a classic comfort food that can be served as a main dish or a side dish. If you're looking for some ideas to serve with mac and cheese, here are a few suggestions:

    1. Air Fryer Chicken Breast: Adding some protein to your meal can make it more filling. Grilled chicken is a great option that pairs well with mac and cheese. Sometimes I'll air fryer some Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Nuggets and drizzle some buffalo wing sauce on top.
    2. Air Fryer Garlic Bread: A side of garlic bread can be a delicious addition to any pasta dish. Simply slice a baguette, brush with garlic butter, and toast in the oven.
    3. 5 Ingredient Tomato and Basil Blender Soup: A bowl of soup can be a comforting and satisfying side dish. Tomato soup or vegetable soup are great options that pair well with mac and cheese.

    Equipment Needed 

    Here are some tools that will help will help you with the recipes. All links will open in Amazon. Yes I do get a small earning if purchase from the link 

    Sauce Pan   - Enameled Cast Iron Covered Dutch Oven, 6-Quart, Blue

    Cheese Grater  - Rotary Cheese Grater - Round Tumbling Box Shredder for Vegetable, Nuts, Potato or Cheeses 

    Other Recipes To Try 

    • Tuna Rice Bowl
    • Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches on the Blackstone
    • Iced Smores Latte
    • Blackstone Chicken Wings


    If you tried this  Skinny Creamy Mac and Cheese any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you! Follow along on Tiktok @jennarecipediaries

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    Skinny Creamy Mac and Cheese

    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.6 from 5 reviews
    • Author: Jenna
    • Prep Time: 20
    • Cook Time: 20min
    • Total Time: 40min
    • Yield: 8 1x
    • Category: Easy
    • Method: Stovetop
    • Cuisine: American
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    Skinny creamy mac and cheese is a lightened-up version of the classic and very low in points for Weight Watchers. It only requires 5 simple ingredients. 


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 10 oz of medium sized shells
    • 2 cups of 1% milk plus ½ cup
    • ¼ cup of flour
    • ¾ cup of sharp cheddar cheese
    • salt and pepper to taste
    • 6 tablespoons of panko bread crumbs
    • parsley for garnish

    Instructions

    1. In a medium sauce pan, boil the medium shells for 8-10 minutes until al dente.
    2. While the noodles are cooking let the 2 cups of milk come to a simmer in a medium sauce pan. Whisk the remaining ½ cup of milk and ¼ cup of flour together in a bowl until the flour is combined. Add to the cups of milk that is simmering on the stove top. Let the milk and flour thicken for another 5 minutes. Add in salt and pepper for seasoning.
    3. Stir in the cheese until melted and combine the cheese with the noodles.
    4. Put the broiler on high and add noodles to some oven proof bowls such as ramekins. Sprinkle some panko over the top and let the panko brown in the oven.
    5. Serving Size: 1 cup 

    Notes

    WW  Points 5 Click here to see in recipe builder (will have to log in) 


    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 cup
    • Calories: 282
    • Fat: 9.34
    • Saturated Fat: 4.86
    • Carbohydrates: 34.91
    • Fiber: 1.6
    • Protein: 13.72

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @recipediariesww on Instagram

    More Weight Watcher Recipes

    • 3 Ingredient Guacamole
    • Air Fryer Stir Fry
    • Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breast
    • Homemade Applesauce Recipe

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jenna says

      July 22, 2018 at 7:46 am

      The recipe makes 8 servings total. Divide 8 equal portions.

    2. Sarah says

      July 20, 2018 at 11:54 am

      Is it 9 pts a serving? How much is in a serving?

    3. Tammy says

      December 28, 2017 at 10:18 pm

      Is serving size a cup or half cup or what?

    4. Jenna says

      October 31, 2017 at 8:23 pm

      Glad everyone liked it!

    5. Charlotte says

      October 31, 2017 at 4:34 pm

      Made this today, and the whole fam (including a picky toddler) loved it! I used an entire 1lb box of shell pasta but otherwise follow d the recipe exactly as written. Thank you!

    6. Heather Tietz says

      June 21, 2017 at 11:04 am

      I am confused on the serving size? And is the calories per serving?

    7. Becky says

      April 30, 2017 at 9:24 am

      I'm confused by the serving size. What does "8" mean?

    8. Robin says

      April 24, 2017 at 2:02 pm

      What does 8 serving size mean? 8oz?

    9. Kelly says

      June 30, 2015 at 1:12 pm

      very creamy, needs way more cheese. and more pasta cause that's a lot of sauce.

    10. Olivia @ livforcake says

      June 25, 2015 at 11:46 am

      This looks SO delicious and I love the lighter version!

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    Hey, I'm Jenna! I'm a graphic designer, photographer, and home cook from From Fargo ND. I love my Ninja Creami, Air Fryer, and Blackstone. I created this blog to share recipe tips and tricks with everyone, enjoy!

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