Healthy Mac and Cheese (with Sneaky Sweet Potato)
Finally! A healthy mac and cheese recipe that your whole family will love. From sneaky sweet potato to high protein, less fat, and more fiber, this more nutritious baked pasta is STILL creamy and comforting. Easy to make gluten-free and freezing instructions included!
About the Recipe
I’m not sure Mac and Cheese can ever be categorized as “healthy.” But, since my kids love it so much, I’ve attempted several better versions than Kraft or the super decadent homemade version that is, including this Stovetop Mac and Cheese and this 6-Ingredient Instant Pot Mac and Cheese.
I’ve made and tweaked this recipe many times over the years, and my family (picky eaters included) give it two thumbs up. Of course, I like it because it’s yet another way to get vegetables into kid favorite foods.
I retested this for the 20th+ time last week (January 2025) and STILL love this recipe. I can eat it straight out of the pot!
What Makes This Mac and Cheese Healthy?
I’m not claiming this baked pasta is the healthiest recipe out there, but it’s my attempt at a more nutritious, less calorie-laden version that’s STILL yummy. Here are some good-for-you perks of this mac and cheese:
- Whole wheat pasta (instead of white pasta)- More fiber and nutrients. No one will ever know the difference! Or you could use a high protein gluten free pasta like Banza brand.
- Easy to make gluten-free – If you’re trying to avoid gluten or want extra protein, use a protein-rich, gluten-free pasta like Banza chickpea pasta instead.
- Less fat – I used pasta water (a natural thickener), 2% milk, and a little Greek yogurt to replace some of the usual fat (butter and heavy whipping cream). The cheese sauce still turns out rich-tasting.
- Sweet potato – This is a wonderful superfood veggie to add in for nutrition. It’s virtually tasteless and lends an orange-yellow hue that kids like.
- Whole wheat breadcrumbs (instead of white bread) – Top with whole grain breadcrumbs for even more fiber and added crunch. Or you can skip this topping and eat it straight out of the pot.
Ingredients Needed
So, here’s what you’ll need on hand…
- Whole wheat elbow pasta – Sub: gluten-free pasta like Banza’s rotini pasta.
- Sweet potatoes – Microwaved or baked until soft.
- Milk
- Plain full-fat Greek yogurt (sub: full-fat sour cream)
- Shredded cheddar cheese – Here’s how to shred your own cheese for better melting action.
- Whole wheat bread crumbs (sub: gluten-free bread crumbs)
- Optional: You can add a little hot sauce or mustard to enhance the flavor.
Have a Picky Eater in Your Family?
Many parents have been in your shoes, including me! For years, my younger kids would turn up their noses at vegetables and fruits.
While I kept offering a wide variety of healthy foods to them (kids often need to try something an average of 10x before they will like it), I also wanted to make sure they were getting the nutrition their growing bodies needed.
That’s why I came up with this ultimate list of ways to sneak fruits and veggies into kid favorites! You can even prep ahead and freeze many of these.
Be sure to Pin or save this resource to use again and again!
How to Make This Healthy Mac and Cheese Recipe
Prep Oven & Dish
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Coat a 9×13 casserole dish with cooking spray (or two 8×8 dishes and freeze one for later).
Boil Pasta
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook until tender but still a bit firm. Remove 3/4 cup of pasta water and set aside. (Don’t forget this step!) Drain pasta in strainer/colander and set aside. Toss with a little oil to keep from sticking.
Make Cheese Sauce
Meanwhile, place the sweet potato flesh (orange part), milk, pasta water, yogurt, salt and pepper into a blender and blend until smooth (this hides the vegs from keen eyes!). Note: If you don’t have a blender, use a fork to really mash the sweet potato and then whisk together all the wet ingredients.
Then pour the milk mixture into the same pot you cooked the pasta in. Stir frequently over medium-high heat and cook until the mixture is hot and nearly simmering. Remove from the heat and slowly stir in the cheese a little bit at a time. Stir until melted and smooth.
Combine Pasta and Sauce
Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce and stir to combine. Transfer the macaroni and cheese to the baking dish(es).
Prep Bread Crumb Topping
Stir together the bread crumbs, 1 tablespoon oil, and parsley in a small bowl. Sprinkle evenly over the top of the macaroni and cheese.
Bake
Bake for about 30-35 minutes, until the top, is lightly browned, bubbly on the edges, and hot in the middle. You can always turn on the broiler at the end if it’s not browned enough on top, but watch closely!!
What to Serve With This Recipe
Here are some healthy dishes I love to serve with this healthier mac and cheese…
Can You Freeze Mac and Cheese?
As freezer meal experts and cookbook authors, this is a question we’ve heard over the years. Freezing mac and cheese is possible, but we recommend doing it like this so it turns out tasting like a fresh meal:
- Put the casserole together and then freeze before baking it.
- Tightly wrap with a few layers of plastic wrap or foil and press out as much air as possible. (Air is the enemy of good freezer meals!)
- Freeze in the back of the freezer, so it will stay consistently frozen.
- When ready to bake, the best way to thaw is for about 24 hours in the refrigerator. Once it’s fully thawed, bake according to directions.
Learn about many more foods you can freeze and the best method for doing that.
Recipe FAQs
The traditional cheese (I’m talking about real cheese, not Velveeta) for mac and cheese is cheddar. However, feel free to try other shredded cheeses that melt easily, such as Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, Pepper Jack, and Gruyere cheese (so decadent!).
This mac n cheese is best eaten fresh, but leftovers aren’t too bad! Just store leftovers in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. Warm in the microwave. Add a splash of milk if it gets dry when rewarming.
I’ve tried freezing this in small batches for lunches. While it technically works, the pasta is noticeably more mushy. To warm, thaw completely in the refrigerator first and then warm it up.
More Recipes with Sneaky Veggies
How to Video
Healthy Mac and Cheese (with Sneaky Sweet Potato)
Ingredients
- Cooking spray
- 1 (16-ounce) package whole wheat elbow pasta (sub: gluten-free pasta, like Banza brand)
- 2 medium sweet potatoes (microwaved or baked until soft; about 1 1/2 cups)
- 2 cups milk (I used 2%)
- 3/4 cup reserved pasta water
- 3/4 cup plain Greek yogurt (The full-fat version tastes best, but non-fat will work. sub: sour cream)
- 1 teaspoon salt (plus more for pasta water)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard (optional; Trust me!)
- 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup whole wheat or Panko bread crumbs (or make homemade bread crumbs)
- 1-2 tablespoons avocado or olive oil (enough to coat the breadcrumbs)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley (minced; optional)
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Coat one 9×13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray (or two 8×8 dishes and freeze one for later).
- Boil Pasta (& Reserve Water): Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt the water with 2 teaspoons salt. Add the macaroni and cook until tender but still a bit firm.Important: Before draining, remove 3/4 cup of pasta water and set aside. Drain pasta in strainer/colander and set aside.
- Blend Sauce: While the pasta is boiling, place the sweet potato flesh (orange part), milk, pasta water, yogurt, salt and pepper (and optional mustard) into a blender. Blend until smooth (this hides the veggies from keen eyes and helps thicken the sauce).
- Finish Sauce: Then pour the milk mixture into the same pot you cooked the pasta in. Stir frequently over medium-high heat and cook until the mixture is hot and nearly simmering. Remove from the heat and stir in the cheese a little bit at a time (use a figure 8 stir pattern to prevent clumping). Stir until melted and smooth.
- Add Pasta: Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce and stir to combine. You can totally eat and enjoy at this point if you want OR transfer the macaroni and cheese to the baking dish(es).
- Make Topping: Combine bread crumbs, oil, and optional parsley in a small bowl. Sprinkle evenly over the top of the macaroni and cheese.
- Bake: Bake for about 30-35 minutes, until the top is lightly browned, bubbly on edges, and hot in the middle. (This may take more like 20-25 minutes, if baking a half portion.) If you want it to brown up a little more on top, turn on the broiler for 1-2 minutes (watch closely!).
Freezer Instructions
Notes/Tips
- The mustard really is a key ingredient and you can’t taste it. It simply cuts through the richness of the cheese and enhances the overall flavor of the dish, so I recommend adding it even if you have picky eaters.
- You can also add a few dashes of hot sauce to enhance the flavor, if you like a little heat.
- This recipe makes a large batch. I often divide it in half into two 8×8 inch casserole dishes and have one for dinner and freeze the other for later.
- Gluten-Free Version: Use gluten-free pasta. I like Banza brand. Omit the breadcrumbs or use gluten-free bread crumbs.
- How to Cook Sweet Potato for This Recipe: Using a small, sharp knife poke a few holes in the potato on each side. Then, cook using one of the following methods and let cool for 5-10 minutes before peeling:
- Microwave: Microwave for 2 minutes on high. Flip over. Microwave another 2 minutes. Flip over again and microwave in 1-minute increments until a knife is inserted easily into the middle.
- Bake: Preheat oven to 350°F. Place sweet potato on a parchment or foil-lined baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes. Then, flip over and bake another 30 minutes. Sweet potatoes are done when until a knife is inserted easily into the middle and skin feels crisp.
Nutrition
Photos and video by Whitney Reist of Sweet Cayenne.
we loved this! we do not typically eat sweet potatoes except at thanksgiving but i am trying to incorporate more veggies. my daughter is very picky about her mac and cheese and she loved this! thank you so much!
Yes! We love when the sneaky veggies pass the picky eater test. 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to leave a review Nannette.