35 Healthy Comfort Food Recipes (+ Healthy Mac and Cheese Recipe)
User Reviews
5
12 reviews
Excellent
-
Prep Time
5 mins
-
Cook Time
15 mins
-
Total Time
20 mins
-
Servings
4
-
Calories
395 kcal
-
Course
Lunch
-
Cuisine
Vegetarian
35 Healthy Comfort Food Recipes (+ Healthy Mac and Cheese Recipe)
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Here's a recipe for healthy mac and cheese that's packed with protein as well as 34 other healthy comfort food recipes you'll crave!
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Ingredients
- 1 oz box chickpea rotini pasta Barilla brand
- 4 cups broccoli florets
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- 1 cup milk I used unsweetened almond milk
- 1 spreadable cheese Laughing Cow wedge
- 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese about 6 ounces, reduced fat shredded, more if needed
- 1 handful baby spinach chopped
- salt to taste, sea salt
- black pepper to taste, sea salt
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add chickpea rotini pasta, return to a boil and cook for a total of 8 minutes, adding in the broccoli florets at the four minute mark. Drain pasta and broccoli.
- In the same large pot over low/medium heat add butter, milk, salt and pepper. Once butter has melted add in drained pasta and broccoli, spreadable cheese wedge and shredded cheese. Let cheese melt a little, about 30 seconds. Use a spoon to stir everything together until pasta is well coated with cheese, adding more cheese if needed. Add in chopped baby spinach and toss until wilted.
- Serve immediately with additional salt and pepper, if needed.
Notes
- I
- used organic Irish cheddar cheese and shredded it myself. In case you were wondering, let me just confirm that real cheese is 100x better than powdered cheese or even pre-shredded cheese. Fresh is always better and shredding the cheese takes no time at all. However, you can use whatever you prefer including reduced fat cheddar cheese.
- If you want to make this recipe vegan or dairy-free you can use vegan butter, vegan shredded cheddar cheese and 1 Tablespoon of vegan cream cheese instead of the spreadable cheese wedge.
- Pasta: As I mentioned above, I love using legume pasta to amp up the nutrition count. That said, you can totally use whatever pasta you prefer.
- Veggies: Not a fan of spinach and broccoli? Feel free to use other veggies!
- Cheese: I used organic Irish cheddar cheese and shredded it myself. In case you were wondering, let me just confirm that real cheese is 100x better than powdered cheese or even pre-shredded cheese. Fresh is always better and shredding the cheese takes no time at all. However, you can use whatever you prefer including reduced fat cheddar cheese.
- Vegan + Dairy Free: If you want to make this recipe vegan or dairy-free you can use vegan butter, vegan shredded cheddar cheese and 1 Tablespoon of vegan cream cheese instead of the spreadable cheese wedge.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Serving
1(made with reduced fat cheddar cheese)
Calories
395kcal
(20%)
Carbohydrates
42g
(14%)
Protein
26g
(52%)
Fat
17g
(26%)
Saturated Fat
7g
(35%)
Cholesterol
38mg
(13%)
Sodium
354mg
(15%)
Fiber
10g
(40%)
Sugar
3g
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 395 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1(made with reduced fat cheddar cheese) | |
| Calories | 395kcal | 20% |
| Carbohydrates | 42g | 14% |
| Protein | 26g | 52% |
| Fat | 17g | 26% |
| Saturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Cholesterol | 38mg | 13% |
| Sodium | 354mg | 15% |
| Fiber | 10g | 40% |
| Sugar | 3g | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
12 reviews
Excellent
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