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Macaroni & Cheese w/ Greek Yogurt

Macaroni & Cheese w/ Greek Yogurt

I don't try and turn every dish into a health food. If I'm going to make Cheese Curds? I'm not going around trying to find diet-friendly cheese. We all need splurge foods. That having been said, I make macaroni and cheese probably once a month. And, as much as I absolutely adore copious amounts of cheese? I don't tolerate milk quite that well. So, while swapping out milk for Greek yogurt might be a slightly healthier option? You can also add in some wine or something to balance things out. I use this as my base macaroni and cheese recipe, though. It's a great starting place to add in anything like spinach, broccoli, squash, seafood, etcetera.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Equipment

  • Large Baking Dish
  • Oven
  • Large Pot
  • Skillet
  • Stovetop

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lbs. macaroni (I used linguini in this recipe because I was out of macaroni-shaped pasta)
  • 1/4 c. butter
  • 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. pepper
  • 1 tsp. mustard
  • 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 ½ c. Greek yogurt
  • 1/2 c. pasta water
  • 2 c. cheddar cheese grated
  • 1/3 c. parmesan grated

Instructions
 

Cook Pasta

  • Add about 4 inches of water to a large pot and bring to a boil over high heat.
  • Cook pasta according to the manufacturer's instructions. This typically entails boiling for about 8-12 minutes, or until barely al dente.
    The pasta will cook another half hour in the oven, so make sure not to overcook them during this stage!
  • DO NOT DRAIN. Remove the pasta from the water with a slotted spoon or pour the water into a heat-safe bowl. Since Greek yogurt isn't as thin as milk or cream in classic macaroni and cheese recipes, you will need to cut it with the pasta water. Tap water will not taste the same. You want to use the water that the pasta has been boiling in.
    You may want to stir it occasionally to keep the noodles from sticking together.

Prepare Roux

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Lightly coat the bottom and sides of a large baking dish with olive oil and set aside.
  • Preheat saucepan on medium-heat. Add 1/4 cup butter and melt.
  • Immediately when the butter melts, add flour and stir constantly until incorporated. This should take about 3 minutes.
    Do NOT brown or overcook, though. You just want the butter and flour to incorporate until you add the spices.
  • Add salt, pepper, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir constantly for 5 minutes, or until lightly browned.
  • Add Greek yogurt, a little at a time, and stir constantly until incorporated after each addition. Adding too much at once can cause the roux to separate. Although this is less of an issue with yogurt as it is milk or cream, it is still something to watch out for!
  • Meanwhile, grate the cheddar cheese and add to roux 1/2 cup at a time. Mix constantly until fully incorporated.
  • Add just enough of the reserved pasta water to thin out the sauce. I typically use about 1/4 to 1/2 cup. Although it does vary slightly from batch to batch.
    You want the sauce to be about the consistency of an Alfredo sauce. It should spread easily, but is not a liquid. I would suggest airing on the side of caution and adding less, mixing the pasta in, and then adding more if necessary for it to achieve the quintessential macaroni and cheese texture.
  • Add noodles and stir until fully coated in the cheese sauce.
    If necessary, add more water to achieve the right consistency.

Bake Macaroni & Cheese

  • Pour macaroni and cheese into greased baking dish.
  • Grate parmesan cheese over the top.
  • Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the top begins to brown.
  • Let cool slightly and cut into 2-inch squares. Serve immediately.

Tips, Tricks, & Notes

  • You can reheat macaroni in the oven at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes. However, macaroni and cheese doesn't necessarily reheat well! After refrigeration, the noodles typically harden and the lasagna tends to dry out. The pasta will likely overcook during this process. And the cheese tends to separate and get oily if you reheat too rapidly.
  • Whatever you do, absolutely do not put macaroni and cheese in the microwave!!
  • Alternatively, you can reheat on the stovetop. Just place in a skillet with a lid and slowly bring the heat to medium. When the macaroni begins to soften, carefully spear with a silicone spatula to separate. Continue to heat with the lid on and stir occasionally. You may need to add additional milk or Greek yogurt to this to help prevent the noodles from drying out and the cheese from separating.