Broccoli Bacon Macaroni and Cheese

Creamy and comforting, this low-calorie Broccoli Bacon Macaroni and Cheese is homemade guilt-free comfort food at its best.

While many restaurant versions have between 400 and 700 calories, up to 30 grams of fat and 15 WW Points, or more per serving, this enlightened mac and cheese is made better with the addition of broccoli and bacon and comes in at just over 200 calories per serving!

How Many Calories and WW Points in this Broccoli Bacon Macaroni and Cheese Made Lighter?

According to my calculations, each generous 1-cup serving size has about 215 calories.

To see your WW PersonalPoints for this recipe and track it in the WW app or site, Click here!

How to Make RECIPE

Step 1: Gather and prepare all ingredients.

Step 2: Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package, adding the broccoli florets for the last 3 minutes of cooking. Drain well and add the pasta and broccoli back in the pot.

Step 3: Prepare the cheese sauce while the pasta cooks. In a small saucepan, combine evaporated milk, chicken broth, cornstarch, dry mustard, garlic salt, onion powder and black pepper. Over medium heat, whisk occasionally until mixture comes to a low bowl and thickens. Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup shredded cheese until smooth.

Step 4: Pour the cheese sauce over the pasta and broccoli mixture

and stir until evenly coated. Rewarm pasta over low heat if needed.

Step 5: Either stir in, or top with, remaining ¼ cup cheese, sprinkle with bacon bits and serve.

Step 6: Store any leftover mac and cheese in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Recipe Notes

Elbow macaroni works best in this recipe because it captures all the creamy goodness of the cheese sauce. But if don’t have elbows, try any short cylindrical pasta like ziti, rigatoni, or corkscrew shapes like fusilli.

Serving Suggestions

This creamy and comforting mac and cheese makes a great side to go along with Crispy Chicken Tenders, Baked Chicken, Hawaiian Kalua Pork, Slow Cooker Pork Chops, or Crock Pot Ranch Roast Beef. It also makes a great lunch all by itself!

Ways to Use Leftovers

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the microwave. Leftovers can be gently reheated in the microwave or in a small saucepan on the stovetop.

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Recipe source: Eat What You Love: Restaurant Favorites by Marlene Koch

*PersonalPoints® calculated by WW. *PointsPlus® and SmartPoints® calculated by Simple Nourished Living; Not endorsed by Weight Watchers International, Inc. All recipe ingredients except optional items included in determining nutritional estimates. SmartPoints® values calculated WITHOUT each plan’s ZeroPoint Foods (Green plan, Blue plan, Purple plan) using the WW Recipe Builder.

If you like this Creamy Broccoli Bacon Mac and Cheese, you might also like

Stovetop Mac and Cheese
Enlightened Macaroni and Cheese with Cauliflower
One Pot Cheeseburger Pasta
Easy American Hamburger Goulash

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