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cajun mac and cheese in a white bowl
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4.72 from 35 votes

Low Fat Cajun Mac and Cheese

Chickpea pasta with a spicy cheddar cheese sauce and roasted red peppers.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Side Dishes
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Banza mac and cheese recipe, cajun mac and cheese, chickpea pasta mac and cheese recipe, healthy mac and cheese, low fat mac and cheese
Servings: 11 Servings
Calories: 145kcal
Author: Mason Woodruff

Ingredients

  • 8 oz Banza Pasta Elbows or your choice of pasta
  • 2 Tbsp 28g Light Butter
  • 1 Tbsp 8g All Purpose Flour
  • 1/2 C 120mL Skim Milk
  • 1 C 112g Freshly Shredded Sharp Cheddar
  • 1/2 Tbsp Cajun Seasoning*
  • 1/2 Tbsp Paprika
  • 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
  • 1 C 227g Fat Free Greek Yogurt
  • 2 Tbsp 30g Dijon Mustard
  • 5 oz 140g Roasted Red Peppers**, chopped

Instructions

  • Bring a pot of salted water to a boil for the pasta. Cook the pasta 2 minutes less than instructed on its packaging.
  • Heat a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Add the butter and melt. Add the flour to the melted butter and cook/stir for 30-60 seconds until you have a thick paste that smells slightly toasty.
  • Add the milk and use a rubber whisk (for nonstick pans) or spatula to mix everything together. Continue cooking and stirring until no lumps remain and you have a thick mixture that leaves a trail when you drag your spatula/whisk across the bottom of the pan.
  • Add half the cheese, stirring until evenly melted. Add the remaining cheese and stir until smooth. Reduce the heat to low.
  • Add the paprika, cajun seasoning, and black pepper. Stir well before adding the chopped peppers, Greek yogurt, and dijon mustard. Cook for another 30-60 seconds until you have a smooth sauce.
  • Drain the cooked pasta and add to the cheese sauce, gently folding everything together. Serve with fresh chopped parsley, if desired.

Video

Notes

*Check out my Five Guys cajun fries seasoning for a cajun seasoning alternative.
**I used Trader Joe's Fire Roasted Red Peppers.
Each serving of mac and cheese has 4 Smart Points.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/2 Cup (90g) | Calories: 145kcal | Carbohydrates: 14.8g | Protein: 10.3g | Fat: 5.6g