17 Healthy Mac & Cheese Recipes
Healthy macaroni and cheese recipes for the whole family to enjoy! All the carby comfort you expect from mac and cheese but with some added nutritional benefits to round off your dinner.
I’ll say upfront that we are using the term “healthy” in quite a specific way today. These mac and cheese recipes are legit, high calorie, high fat, high carb comfort food… but with added nutritional punch from vegetables or plant based proteins to round off the meal.
These recipes are ideal if you just want a one bowl comforting meal, but find mac and cheese on it’s own a little too “same-y” or a little too rich. Adding healthy extras can put a little variety to your bite, and in some cases cut through the richness of the dish.
They’re also great if, like me, you could eat plain mac and cheese all day every day and have no complaints… but you want to be conscious about getting enough fruits and veggies in your diet, in the most delicious ways possible.
Many of these are also great recipes for children, especially those fast growing babies and toddlers who really need lots of calories, fats and carbs to keep them growing! By adding some veggies and / or additional protein to the mix, we can make a well rounded and complete meal which meets their needs well.
17 Healthy Mac & Cheese Recipes
Healthy macaroni and cheese recipes for the whole family to enjoy! All the carby comfort you expect from mac and cheese but with some added nutritional benefits to round off your dinner.
Smoky Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese with Goat Cheese
A lighter, healthier stovetop mac and cheese, with a luxurious texture and a big flavor boost from roasted butternut squash, goat cheese and smoked paprika. An easy kid friendly vegetarian dinner.
Kale Mac & Cheese
A simple mac and cheese recipe for babies, toddlers and kids! This stovetop mac and cheese is mixed with finely chopped kale for additional texture and nutrition. Perfect for baby led weaning and for babies and toddlers who are exploring new textures. Kale is a super healthy food for children and this cheesy, comforting pasta is the perfect introduction to it!
Blue Brie & Spinach Mac & Cheese
A quick and easy stovetop mac and cheese recipe, using blue brie (cambozola), which makes a creamy, deliciously flavorful sauce. This is a fantastic vegetarian recipe, just 20 minutes and 6 ingredients, and such a treat for fancy cheese lovers!
Sweet Potato Mac & Cheese with Roasted Garlic
A dreamy one pot stovetop mac and cheese with a delicious roasted garlic and sweet potato sauce. This healthier sweet potato mac and cheese has a luxurious texture thanks to the creamy roasted garlic and pureed baked sweet potato. It's easy to make in just one pot, with no roux, for the perfect weeknight family dinner.
One Pot Green Goddess Avocado Mac and Cheese
A deliciously creamy but light macaroni and cheese, with a grown up flavor profile inspired by Green Goddess dressing. Cooks in one pot for an easy, fun and nutritious dinner!
Healthy Mac and Cheese with Turmeric
From Christina at Dessert for Two.
Mac and cheese with extra nutritional goodness from turmeric, broccoli, and nutritional yeast.
Smoky Vegetable Mac and Cheese
From Karen at Soup Addict.
Legit mac and cheese with grilled vegetables that add color, smokiness and all round deliciousness.
Mac and Cheese with Lentils (Instant Pot)
From Samantha at My Kitchen Love.
The lentils dissolve during the cooking process and truly go undetected by all, but they add huge iron and fibre values to to this dish.
Beet and Carrot Mac and Cheese
- From Shweta in the Kitchen.
- Beet and Carrot Mac and Cheese is everything you want in a classic Macaroni and cheese pasta with the added boost of nutrition and beautiful color that will make you reach for more! Kid-approved, family friendly recipe that can be enjoyed for Valentine’s Day or any time you crave it!
Pumpkin Mac and Cheese
From Katie at Hey Nutrition Lady.
Lighter than your average mac and cheese thanks to the addition of pumpkin, this is a vegetarian meal the whole family will love.
Macaroni Peas
From River Cottage Veg, published on Food 52.
A comforting bowl of green, cheesy peas make a surprisingly perfect base for this macaroni dish.
One Pot Vegetarian Chili Mac
From Joy at Build Your Bite.
All the flavors, protein and nutritional value of bean chili combined with the comfort of mac and cheese!
Veggie Lovers’ Stovetop Mac & Cheese
From Gina of Running to the Kitchen and Kare at Kitchen Treaty.
Do you love cheese-smothered veggies? And do you dig mac and cheese? Then this creamy, cheesy, veggie-packed mac and cheese recipe is for you. Broccoli, cauliflower, peas, and carrots join up with whole-wheat pasta plus three cheeses for comfort food with a veg-heavy twist.
Zucchini Macaroni and Cheese
From Bernadette at Goodie Goodie Lunchbox.
This simple kid friendly Zucchini Macaroni and Cheese comes together in no time for a quick weeknight meal that the whole family will adore. This recipe is also perfect as a non sandwich lunchbox idea.
Chipotle and Broccoli Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese
From Louisa at Living Lou.
In under thirty minutes have a creamy and spicy homemade chipotle and broccoli stovetop macaroni and cheese on the table!
Vegan Mac & Cheeses
Luxe Butternut Squash Hummus Mac and Cheese
From Alexandra at Occasionally Eggs.
Healthy, oil free butternut squash and hummus mac and cheese. This vegan version of the classic uses protein packed hummus to add a cheesy flavour – no nutritional yeast needed.
Vegan Mac and Cheese Recipe with Cauliflower & Butternut Squash
From Nicole at Delicious Everyday.
A Vegan Mac and Cheese that you don’t need to feel guilty about! This healthy mac and cheese contains hidden veggies but it is so creamy and delicious that you’d never know.