Are you seeking a delightful and healthier alternative to traditional macaroni and cheese? Look no further! This article aims to guide you in discovering the best recipe for creating a flavorful Mexican-inspired macaroni and cheese dish while adhering to Weight Watchers guidelines. Embark on a culinary journey where we explore the fusion of traditional Mexican flavors with the comforting goodness of macaroni and cheese. With simple swaps and smart ingredient choices, you'll discover a satisfying meal that fits your Weight Watchers plan and tantalizes your taste buds. So, grab your apron, gather your ingredients, and prepare to indulge in a wholesome and delicious Mexican macaroni and cheese experience.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
MACARONI AND CHEESE
Try our take on a comfort food classic.
Categories Lunch,Dinner
Time 1h2m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350ºF. Spray 9-inch square baking dish with nonstick spray.
- Cook macaroni according to package directions, omitting salt if desired. Drain.
- Meanwhile, melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add flour and cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute; gradually whisk in milk until smooth. Cook, stirring constantly, until sauce bubbles and thickens, about 4 minutes. Stir in Cheddar, salt, mustard powder, and pepper; cook, stirring, until cheese is melted, about 1 minute longer.
- Remove saucepan from heat; stir in macaroni. Spoon into prepared baking dish. Sprinkle bread crumbs evenly over macaroni mixture; spray crumbs with nonstick spray. Bake until casserole is bubbly and top is golden, about 30 minutes. Yields 1/4 of baking dish per serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 162 kcal
LOW FAT MEXICAN MACARONI AND CHEESE
Found this in a Weight Watcher's cookbook of recipes from the magazine in 2000. This is fast to make and has a nice flavour. Not a zingy dish, but the kids and I enjoyed it. 2/3 of a cup is 3 WW points.
Provided by ladypit
Categories Mexican
Time 20m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Boil water for the macaroni. Cook the noodles in the water until done, usually 7-9 minutes.
- While the noodles are cooking cube the cheese.
- When the noodles are done drain them and then return to the pan.
- Add the cubed cheese and taco seasoning. Stir well, until the cheese is melted.
- When melted, add the salsa and serve.
MEXICAN MACARONI AND CHEESE
An easy to fix meal using your left over macaroni and cheese made into something new. It is a huge family favorite at my house! I made this up one day trying to figure out something for dinner and all I had was leftover macaroni and cheese and just threw some things together into a fantastic meal.
Provided by Cre8tive Kitchen
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 50m
Yield 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Break up the tortilla chips until you have between 1-2 cups depending on how much crunch you want in your meal.
- Cook the hamburger and drain the fat; make the taco meat according to the package directions.
- In a bowl, mix the leftover macaroni and cheese, taco meat, tomatoes or salsa, and the olives (set aside some olives for the top). Set aside.
- Spray a large baking dish (8x13 rectangle) with cooking spray and layer the broken tortilla chips on the bottom;.
- top with the macaroni mixture;.
- top with shredded cheese and olives.
- bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until cheese is browned and bubbly.
- Top with sour cream, tomatoes, salsa, or lettuce as desired after meal is cooked.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 274.8, Fat 19.5, SaturatedFat 9.8, Cholesterol 78.9, Sodium 415.5, Carbohydrate 3.1, Fiber 0.2, Sugar 0.1, Protein 21.3
STOVE-TOP MACARONI AND CHEESE (WEIGHT WATCHERS)
We enjoyed this easy and delicious macaroni and cheese. If following the Weight Watchers plan it is only 6 pts/serving. When I made it I used whole wheat elbow macaroni and a combination of Kraft 2% sharp cheddar and some Weight Watcher Mexican blend cheese. If you start the cheese sauce while the pasta is cooking everything will be done at the same time --so quick and so easy! Recipe source: www.weightwatchers.com
Provided by ellie_
Categories Cheese
Time 15m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain.
- While macaroni is cooking, in a large saucepan over medium heat whisk together milk, flour, salt, onion powder and pepper until blended.
- Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
- Reduce heat to a simmer, stirring often until thickened (2 to 5 minutes).
- Remove from heat; stir in cheese and Tabasco.
- Toss pasta with sauce.
WEIGHT WATCHERS FOUR CHEESE MACARONI AND CHEESE
This version of macaroni and cheese uses four different cheeses for maximum flavor. It's a hearty serving-well worth the indulgence. This is 7 points per serving.
Provided by CookingONTheSide
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 1h8m
Yield 9 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Coat a 3-quart casserole dish with cooking spray; set aside.
- Cook macaroni in salted water as directed on package; set aside.
- Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat.
- Slowly add flour, stirring constantly; cook for about 3 minutes.
- Slowly whisk in milk to thoroughly incorporate flour mixture.
- Stir in onion, paprika and bay leaf.
- Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring frequently; remove from heat.
- Combine blue cheese with about two-thirds of both types of cheddar cheese in saucepan and season to taste with salt and pepper; stir in macaroni. Pour half of macaroni mixture into prepared casserole dish and top with remaining cheddar cheeses.
- Pour in remaining macaroni mixture and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese; bake for 30 minutes.
- Let stand for about 5 to 10 minutes before slicing into 9 pieces.
- Yields 1 piece per serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 319.8, Fat 11.3, SaturatedFat 6.9, Cholesterol 33.7, Sodium 563.5, Carbohydrate 36.9, Fiber 1.8, Sugar 5.9, Protein 17.1
WW MACARONI AND CHEESE CASSEROLE - WW POINTS = 7
This recipe was featured in an email this morning from Weight Watchers. This and lots of other recipes can be found at the www.weightwatchers.com website. Was POINTS® Value: 18 Now POINTS® Value: 7 Servings: 6 Preparation Time: 15 min Cooking Time: 25 min Level of Difficulty: Easy Everyone's favorite comfort food, lightened up thanks to a request from Community user FISHINMA. Our version is rich and creamy but with a fraction of the calories and fat.
Provided by senseicheryl
Categories Grains
Time 35m
Yield 1 9 inch pan, 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400ºF. Coat a 9 X 9-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Cook macaroni in a large pot of boiling water until just tender, about 7 minutes; drain and transfer to a large bowl. Add soup, mayonnaise, cheese, pepper and pimentos; mix well to combine.
- Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish and top with cracker crumbs.
- Bake, uncovered, until top is golden, about 20 to 25 minutes. Slice into 6 pieces and serve.
MEXICAN MACARONI AND CHEESE
Make and share this Mexican Macaroni and Cheese recipe from Food.com.
Provided by blazeko
Categories Cheese
Time 1h
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, cook beef with onion flakes until beef is browned.
- Drain.
- In a large saucepan, cook the macaroni and cheese according to package directions.
- Stir in the meat and onion mixture, nacho cheese dip, salsa and green chiles.
- Reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes, or until heated through.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 469.7, Fat 22.6, SaturatedFat 12, Cholesterol 95.1, Sodium 1045.2, Carbohydrate 40, Fiber 2, Sugar 7.4, Protein 26.8
FOUR CHEESE MACARONI - WEIGHT WATCHERS
Each serving provides: 7 points. I found this recipe in Weight Watchers 123 Success Living With Points Week 2 Meal Ideas leaflet. I have not tried this recipe, but I'm posting it for safe keeping.
Provided by internetnut
Categories Cheese
Time 20m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Cook the macaroni according to the package directions; drain and return to the pot.
- Add the milk, cheddar, Monterey Jack, American, and mozzarella cheeses and pepper.
- Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the cheeses melt, about 5 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 244.3, Fat 4.7, SaturatedFat 2.7, Cholesterol 14.8, Sodium 277, Carbohydrate 32.7, Fiber 1.3, Sugar 1, Protein 16.7
WEIGHT WATCHERS BAKED MACARONI & CHEESE WITH BROCCOLI
This casserole-like dish hits the spot when you're in the mood for a hearty pasta recipe. Serve right away for the best flavor and texture. From the WW website, 1 serving = 5 POINTS.
Provided by xpnsve
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375ºF. Coat a shallow 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray.
- Cook pasta in a large pot of lightly salted boiling water according to package directions, adding broccoli to water 3 minutes before pasta will be done; drain pasta and broccoli and return to pot.
- Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat; add bread crumbs and cook, stirring often, until light golden, about 2 minutes.
- Remove from heat and transfer crumbs to a small bowl; stir in 1 tablespoon of Parmesan cheese and set aside.
- In same saucepan (wipe clean if necessary), whisk together milk and flour until blended; add onion.
- Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, whisking frequently. Reduce heat to low and simmer until thickened, about 2 minutes.
- Remove from heat and whisk in Cheddar cheese, mustard, salt, pepper and remaining 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese.
- Pour over cooked, drained pasta and broccoli; toss to mix and coat.
- Transfer to a baking dish and sprinkle top evenly with bread crumb mixture. Bake until bubbly at edges, about 20 to 25 minutes.
- Divide into 8 pieces and serve.
- Yields 1 piece per serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 245.8, Fat 3.1, SaturatedFat 1.5, Cholesterol 7.4, Sodium 685.6, Carbohydrate 40.2, Fiber 1.7, Sugar 1.8, Protein 13.7
Tips
- Use low-fat or fat-free milk and cheese to reduce the fat content of the dish.
- Add vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, or zucchini, to increase the nutritional value and fiber content of the dish.
- Use whole-wheat or whole-grain pasta to increase the fiber content of the dish.
- Add lean protein, such as grilled chicken or shrimp, to increase the protein content of the dish.
- Use a variety of spices and herbs to add flavor to the dish without adding fat or calories.
- Bake the macaroni and cheese instead of frying it to reduce the fat content.
- Serve the macaroni and cheese with a side salad or fruit to make a complete meal.
Conclusion
Mexican macaroni and cheese is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. By following these tips, you can make a Mexican macaroni and cheese that is both healthy and delicious.
This recipe is a great way to use up leftover chicken or ground beef. It is also a good way to get your kids to eat their vegetables. The dish is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. So next time you are looking for a quick and easy meal, give this Mexican macaroni and cheese a try.
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