Life sure gets busy, doesn't it?
My kids are in school all day. But once they get home, our life is a whirlwind of homework, piano lessons, dance lessons, baseball practice, Cub Scouts, church activities, and more.
More often than I'd care to admit, dinner is thrown together at the last minute, or we resort to a drive-through window of a restaurant near our destination.
So, when I have a "night off" where everyone is home and I have time to breathe, I want to make my family a fun, nutritious dinner.
My kids absolutely adore mac 'n' cheese from the blue box. What kid doesn't? But I wanted something my husband and I could enjoy with our kids that tastes great and is better for us.
I put together a lightened up version of homemade Baked Mac 'N' Cheese.
I knew I wanted to incorporate my children's favorite cracker- Goldfish® crackers. Goldfish crackers always bring a smile to my children's faces, whether it's receiving them as a snack after their baseball game or just finding some in their lunch each day. With all the craziness in our lives, a little smile can be truly transformative.
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Then I crushed up about a cup or so of the Goldfish Made With Whole-Grain Cheddar crackers to use as a topping. (Delicious and wholesome? A win-win for me AND my kids!)
To make your Baked Skinny Mac 'N' Cheese, you will need the following:
Skinny Baked Mac 'N' Cheese
(printable recipe here).
- 1 box Elbow Macaroni (I use whole wheat pasta)
- 2 cups Sharp Cheddar cheese, grated
- 1 cup Vegetable Broth
- 1/4 cup Minced Onion
- 1/4 cup Flour
- 2 cups Skim Milk
- 1 1/2 TBSP Butter or buttery spread
- 2 Tbsp Parmesan-type grated topping
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 1 cup crushed Goldfish crackers
Begin by cooking your noodles according to the package directions. When finished, drain off excess water and place back in pot.
Spray a baking dish with cooking spray, then set aside. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
Use a skillet to melt your butter, then add your minced onion and cook over low heat for 2 minutes.
Add the flour and cook 1 minute or until flour is golden and well-combined.
Whisk in milk and broth, then heat on medium-high until it comes to a boil.
Cook an additional 5 minutes or so until it is thick and smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Remove from heat, then stir in cheese until melted.
Stir in cooked pasta, then pour into prepared baking dish.
Top with parmesan cheese, then cover with crushed Goldfish crackers.
Bake 15-20 minutes, then broil for a few minutes until your topping is crispy.
Serve in individual bowls with whole Goldfish crackers on top.
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My daughter called this “the best mac ‘n’ cheese I’ve ever tasted”! I’d call that a great endorsement!
