22 Twists on Mac 'N' Cheese Dig into slimmed-down, flavor-packed versions that you'll love as much as the kids do.
By Heidi McIndoo, R.D. from Parents Magazine
1 of 23
Muffin Bites Mac 'N' Cheese 1 of 23 Ryan Liebe
Muffin Bites Mac 'N' Cheese These bites are perfect for an on-the-go snack or packing lunches—you can't go wrong either way.
1. Stir 1 egg into prepared mac ’n’ cheese
2. Spoon into 20 greased mini muffin cups
3. Sprinkle with shredded cheddar and pepper (optional)
4. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes at 400°F.
3 of 23
Better-For-You Baked Mac 3 of 23 Joseph De Leo
Better-For-You Baked Mac This fontina-cheese mac contains about 70 calories and 13 grams of fat fewer than typical baked versions.
Get the Recipe 4 of 23
Veggie Blend Baked Mac 4 of 23 Joseph De Leo
Veggie Blend Baked Mac "Kids will barely notice the carrots and onion in this version," says Curtis Stone, dad of Hudson, 2, and host of Top Chef Masters.
Get the Recipe 5 of 23
Greek Style Baked Mac 5 of 23 Joseph De Leo
Greek Style Baked Mac For extra flavor and nutrients, add artichoke hearts and garlic to mac 'n' cheese, suggests Victoria Shanta Retelny, R.D., author of The Essential Guide to Healthy Healing Foods and mom of two.
Get the Recipe 6 of 23
Greenalicious Baked Mac 6 of 23 Joseph De Leo
Greenalicious Baked Mac How will you persuade your child to eat spinach? Put it in their mac 'n' cheese, suggests Parents contributing editor Catherine McCord, a mom of two and author of Weelicious Lunches .
Get the Recipe 7 of 23
Sneaky Squash Baked Mac 7 of 23 Joseph De Leo
Sneaky Squash Baked Mac This vitamin A-rich veggie will blend in with the Cheddar cheese, says Sharon Palmer, R.D., author of the forthcoming book Plant-Powered for Life .
Get the Recipe 8 of 23
Protein Boost Baked Mac 8 of 23 Joseph De Leo
Protein Boost Baked Mac Give mac 'n' cheese a protein boost with edamame, says celebrity chef Cat Cora, a mom of four kids under age 10.
Get the Recipe 9 of 23
BBQ Inspired Baked Mac 9 of 23 Joseph De Leo
BBQ Inspired Baked Mac Chef Steve Chiappetti, of J. Rocco Italian Table & Bar, in Chicago says his kids like mac 'n' cheese with shredded chicken and barbeque sauce.
Get the Recipe 10 of 23
Simple Stovetop Mac 10 of 23 Joseph De Leo
Simple Stovetop Mac Yogurt adds creaminess to this speedy, lighter version.
Get the Recipe 11 of 23
French Onion Stovetop Mac 11 of 23 Joseph De Leo
French Onion Stovetop Mac Use Gruyére cheese and caramelized onions. It's a Parents test-kitchen fave!
Get the Recipe 12 of 23
Pasta E Fagioli Style Stove-Top Mac 12 of 23 Joseph De Leo
Pasta E Fagioli Style Stove-Top Mac Mix in cannellini beans, tomato puree, and rosemary, says Jeffrey Saad, author of Jeffrey Saad's Global Kitchen: Recipes Without Borders .
Get the Recipe 13 of 23
Mickey Approved Simple Stove-Top Mac 13 of 23 Joseph De Leo
Mickey Approved Simple Stove-Top Mac Walt Disney World chef Gary Jones makes a version with ground chicken and cumin.
Get the Recipe 14 of 23
Pizza Time Stove-Top Mac 14 of 23 Joseph De Leo
Pizza Time Stove-Top Mac Can't decide between pizza or mac 'n' cheese? Blend together the flavors with this recipe from Sarita Ekya, co-owner of S'MAC, a mac 'n' cheese hot spot in New York City.
Get the Recipe 15 of 23
Seafood Spin Stove-Top Mac 15 of 23 Joseph De Leo
Seafood Spin Stove-Top Mac Cat Cora stirs in a cup of chopped cooked shrimp and a pinch of Cajun seasoning just before serving.
Get the Recipe 16 of 23
Little Italy Stove-Top Mac 16 of 23 Joseph De Leo
Little Italy Stove-Top Mac Go more grown-up by adding baby spinach, oregano, and a little chili.
Get the Recipe 17 of 23
Better-For-You Boxed Mix 17 of 23 Joseph De Leo
Better-For-You Boxed Mix If you don't have the time or ingredients to make your own macaroni and cheese, opt for a healthier boxed version. My kids like Annie's Homegrown Shells & White Cheddar, and I'm a fan because it has less fat and sodium than many other brands and no artificial ingredients. Use the 10.5-oz. Family Size box to serve four, and prepare it according to the directions.
18 of 23
Mini Meatball Boxed Mac 18 of 23 Joseph De Leo
Mini Meatball Boxed Mac Heat frozen mini meatballs and stir them into the dish, says Carla Christian, Parents test-kitchen project manager.
Get the Recipe 19 of 23
Crab and Cheese Boxed Mac 19 of 23 Joseph De Leo
Crab and Cheese Boxed Mac Lori King, a chef at The Pantry, in Norwich, Connecticut, suggests mixing in a can of drained crabmeat during cooking.
Get the Recipe 20 of 23
Southwestern Boxed Mac 20 of 23 Joseph De Leo
Southwestern Boxed Mac Top the mac 'n' cheese with sautéed sliced bell peppers and onions, advises Jackie Newgent, R.D., author of The With or Without Meat Cookbook .
Get the Recipe 21 of 23
Creamy & Crunchy Boxed Mac 21 of 23 Joseph De Leo
Creamy & Crunchy Boxed Mac Retelny recommends adding ground flax seed and farmer's cheese to impart an extra-creamy texture and a mild nutty flavor.
Get the Recipe 22 of 23
Buffalo Chicken Boxed Mac 22 of 23 Joseph De Leo
Buffalo Chicken Boxed Mac Get the flavor of buffalo wings without all the fat of frying!
Get the Recipe 23 of 23
A Twist on Dogs and Cheese Boxed Mac 23 of 23 Joseph De Leo
A Twist on Dogs and Cheese Boxed Mac Add chicken sausage to the dish, suggests James O'Donnell, executive chef at Michael Jordan's Steakhouse in Chicago.
Get the Recipe 
