10 Cozy Recipes to Warm Your Soul This Winter!

cheddar cheese

🥗Healthier: low-fat cheese

💰Cheaper: processed cheese

Low-fat cheese reduces calories while maintaining flavor.

milk

🥗Healthier: almond milk

💰Cheaper: evaporated milk

Almond milk is lower in calories, while evaporated milk is often cheaper.

butter

🥗Healthier: olive oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Olive oil is healthier, while margarine is often less expensive.

parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: grated Romano cheese

Nutritional yeast is dairy-free, while Romano is often cheaper.

Prepare the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F.

Boil the pasta: Boil the macaroni according to the package instructions, then drain it and set aside.

Make a roux: While the pasta cooks, add the butter to a large skillet that's oven proof or a Dutch oven and melt over medium heat. Once the butter has melted whisk in the flour and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until the mixture is lightly browned. This will remove the raw taste of the flour. Whisk in the salt and pepper.

Add milk to the roux: Add the milk and whisk to remove lumps. You can add it all at once or a bit at a time whisking rigorously until smooth.

Add cheese and Worcestershire sauce: Add the provolone cheese and half of the cheddar cheese and whisk until smooth. Add the Worcestershire sauce and stir well. Taste for seasoning and adjust as necessary.

Cook sauce: Cook over medium-high heat until the sauce starts to thicken and bubble, should take about 5 minutes. Turn off the heat.

Add macaroni: Add the cooked macaroni to the skillet and stir it until combined. Top with remaining cheddar cheese and sprinkle smoked paprika over the cheese.

Bake: Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 15 minutes until the top starts to brown and sauce gets bubbly.

Serve: Serve while warm.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens