Description
A creamy and delicious White Cheddar Mac and Cheese recipe featuring chickpea cavatappi noodles for a healthier twist, blended with a creamy cheese sauce made from white cheddar, cottage cheese, and milk. Perfect for a quick and satisfying main course.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Main Ingredients
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- 8 oz. chickpea cavatappi noodles (e.g., Banza)
- 1 small yellow onion, very finely minced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup low-fat milk (240 ml)
- 1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese (112g)
- 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
- 1 cup white cheddar cheese, shredded (112g)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Optional Toppings
- Fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Cook the elbow noodles according to the package instructions. Once cooked, drain, leaving them slightly wet, and set aside.
- Sauté the aromatics: While the pasta is cooking, spray a pan with cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Add the minced onion and garlic, sautéing until the onions become translucent and the garlic is fragrant.
- Prepare the sauce base: In a separate bowl, use an immersion blender or food processor to blend together the milk and cottage cheese until smooth and lump-free. Add the flour to this mixture and blend to combine fully. Pour the mixture into the pot with the sautéed onions and garlic.
- Thicken the sauce: Stir the mixture continuously over medium heat until the sauce begins to thicken. This process happens quickly and should take about 2-3 minutes.
- Add the cheese: Once the sauce has thickened, reduce the heat to low and stir in the shredded white cheddar cheese. Mix until the cheese is completely melted and incorporated into the sauce.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the pot and stir until the pasta is evenly coated with the cheese sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and garnish with fresh chopped parsley if desired.
- Serve and enjoy: Serve the mac and cheese hot, and enjoy it immediately for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Nutrition facts are always an estimate and will change with substitutions.
- Use any variety of chickpea noodles or regular pasta as preferred.
- Substitute whole wheat flour or 1:1 gluten-free flour to make the recipe gluten-free.
- Add hot sauce for a spicy kick if you enjoy a bit of heat.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
