Fall Cooking Challenge #9- Skinny Broccoli Mac & Cheese

Mac & cheese is just one of those amazing comfort foods, especially on cold days. Texas is having it's typical yo-yo weather patterns (seriously, today- high in the 50s, two days from now- high in the 70s), but having baked mac & cheese is still fantastic! Add in the fact that it is reduced fat + broccoli makes me very happy!

Source; because my pictures never look this good

This is my ninth recipe in my fall cooking challenge, for those of you keeping track.


Recipe source: Skinny Taste

Skinny Baked Broccoli Macaroni & Cheese


Ingredients: 

12 oz high fiber elbows like Ronzoni Smart Taste

1 tbsp butter

1 tbsp light butter [I just used 2 tbsp light butter]

1/4 cup flour

1/4 cup minced onion

2 cups skim milk

1 cup fat free chicken broth

8 oz (2 cups) Sargento shredded reduced fat sharp cheddar

salt and fresh pepper to taste

12 oz fresh broccoli florets (I used pre-cut bag)

1/8 cup grated parmesan

1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs

cooking spray

Directions: 
Cook pasta and broccoli together in a large pot of salted water, according to package directions for al dente (or slightly under cook 2 minutes). Spray a baking dish with cooking spray. Preheat oven to 375°.

In a large, heavy skillet, melt butters. Add onion and cook over low heat about 2 minutes, add flour and cook another minute, or until the flour is golden and well combined. Add milk and chicken broth and whisk, raising heat to medium-high until it comes to a boil; cook about 5 minutes or until the sauce becomes smooth and thick. Season with salt and pepper.

Once the sauce is thick, remove from heat, add cheese and mix well until cheese is melted. Adjust salt and pepper to taste, add cooked macaroni and broccoli and mix well. Pour into prepared baking dish. Top with grated cheese and breadcrumbs. Spray a little more cooking spray on top.

Bake for 15-20 minutes, then broil for a few minutes to get the breadcrumbs golden.

Melting butter... highly exciting!

Sauteing the onions

Milk + flour + onions boiling

Adding the delicious cheese

All melted, now waiting for the pasta + broccoli to finish cooking

Almost done...

Mixing it all together

Before going in the oven...

Source; and again, let's pretend that this is my finished product

I highly recommend this dish-- fairly easy and very tasty! Plus it makes a lot so we were able to freeze half of it for later.