• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Living Well Kitchen
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Appetizer & Snacks
      • Snacks
    • Main Dish
      • Vegetarian
      • Seafood
      • Meat
      • Poultry
      • Pork
    • Specific Recipes
      • Vegetarian
        • Vegan
      • Kid Friendly
      • Gluten Free
      • Dairy Free
      • Nut Free
      • Egg Free
      • Soy Free
    • Sides
      • Vegetables
      • Beans
      • Grains
      • Potatoes
      • Bread
      • Sauce
    • Salad
    • Soup
    • Drinks
    • Dessert
    • Slow Cooker
    • Instant Pot
    • Season
      • Winter
      • Spring
      • Summer
      • Fall
  • About
    • Meet Meme
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
  • Videos
  • Easy Meals
  • Quiz
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Easy Meals
  • Main Dish
  • Quiz
  • Videos
  • Health
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Easy Meals
    • Main Dish
    • Quiz
    • Videos
    • Health
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ร—

    Home ยป Recipes ยป Main Dish ยป Vegetarian Main Dish

    Holiday Macaroni & Cheese

    Published: Nov 18, 2012 ยท Updated: Aug 13, 2019 ยท Post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Super cheesy and full of veggies without all the junk of regular macaroni and cheese. Specks of red & green hot peppers add festive holiday color to the dish

    white bowl with holiday Macaroni and Cheese

    Disclosure: By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by the Southeast Dairy Association. I am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.

    Macaroni and cheese is the perfect winter meal because it's warm and comforting.

    Unfortunately, it's not the best option as it's loaded with tons of cheese, white pasta, butter, etc.

    And on top of that, what if lactose {the sugar found in dairy products} upsets your stomach?

    milk, cheese, casserole dish, spoon, and bowl of holiday macaroni and cheese on red placemat

    Macaroni & cheese or any dish with milk products for that matter are all out of the question.

    Luckily, you can prepare your normal dishes containing milk with lactose free milk! {You can find this right next to regular milk in your grocery store's dairy section.}

    Lactose free milk is made with the lactase enzyme to help break down lactose into simple sugars {glucose & galactose} that your body can more easily digest.

    casserole dish with holiday macaroni and cheese

    It's the same milk with all the same nutrients and protein, but it is easier for you to digest. Win win!

    In an effort to provide lactose sensitive people with some holiday recipes, The Southeast Dairy Association is challenging members of the Recipe ReDux to create "Festively Lactose Free" appetizer, entree, and dessert recipes using lactose free milk.

    So here is my festive holiday macaroni & cheese.

    close up of white bowl with holiday macaroni and cheese

    I love this recipe because it is super cheesy without all the fat & calories of regular macaroni and cheese.

    And my favorite part is that there is over 2 cups vegetables in the recipe. Most macaroni and cheese recipes have no vegetables.

    Chop the onions and cauliflower really small and you'll hardly even notice they are in there.

    fork with holiday macaroni and cheese, casserole of mac and cheese, milk

    This makes me so excited for the coming holiday season! I love Christmas time, and it makes me so happy to put red & green peppers in my macaroni and cheese to make it more festive. Plus, the spiciness helps warm you up when it's cold outside.

    white bowl with holiday Macaroni and Cheese

    Holiday Macaroni Cheese

    Super cheesy and full of veggies without all the junk of regular macaroni and cheese. Specks of red & green hot peppers add festive holiday color to the dish
    No ratings yet
    Print Rate
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Author: Meme

    Ingredients

    • 6 ounces uncooked macaroni about 1.5 cups
    • 1.5 cup cauliflower chopped, fresh or frozen
    • 1 teaspoon oil
    • 1 cup onion from 1 medium onion, finely chopped
    • 1 clove garlic minced
    • 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour or whole wheat pastry flour
    • 1.5 cup lactose-free 2% milk divided
    • 1 bay leaf
    • 1.5 cup cheddar cheese shredded, sharp (preferably white)
    • ยพ teaspoon salt
    • Pinch cayenne pepper
    • Pinch Pinch of paprika
    • โ…› teaspoon Ground black pepper
    • 1 small hot red pepper fresno
    • 1 small hot green pepper jalapeño or serrano
    • โ…“ cup whole wheat breadcrumbs
    • 2 tablespoon cheddar cheese shredded, sharp (preferably white)

    Instructions

    • Heat oven to 375°F.
    • Cook pasta in boiling water 5 minutes until almost tender; add cauliflower in the last 2 minutes. Drain, and set aside.
    • Meanwhile, heat oil in a medium sized saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook until tender, about 10 minutes. Add garlic and stir constantly for 1 minute.
    • Whisk ยฝ cup milk and 2 tablespoon flour together and add to saucepan with bay leaf. Whisk in remaining 1 cup milk. Over medium-high heat, bring to a boil while stirring and cook for 1 minute. Reduce heat to low and stir in cheddar, salt, red pepper, paprika, ground pepper, and butter. Cook, stirring until all melted and combined. Stir in half of the red pepper and half of the green pepper.
    • Turn off heat and stir in pasta and cauliflower. Spread macaroni mixture into a 2-quart square baking dish. Top with bread crumbs and cheese. Sprinkle with remaining red & green peppers.
    • Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown and edges are bubbling.

    Notes

    *Make this gluten free by using 1 tablespoon cornstarch in place of 2 tablespoon flour, and use equal amount of gluten free pasta. Skip the bread crumbs and sprinkle with peppers & extra cheese instead.
    Did you try this recipe?Be sure to leave a comment & recipe rating below. Bonus points for tagging @memeinge & #livingwellkitchen on Instagram! THANK YOU! xo

    [showhide type="post" more_text="Click here for Nutrition Facts" less_text="Clear Nutrition Facts"]
    *

    Nutrition Facts
    Holiday Macaroni Cheese
    Serving Size
     
    0.25 recipe
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    473
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    21
    g
    32
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    12
    g
    75
    %
    Cholesterol
     
    59
    mg
    20
    %
    Sodium
     
    852
    mg
    37
    %
    Potassium
     
    439
    mg
    13
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    53
    g
    18
    %
    Fiber
     
    3
    g
    13
    %
    Sugar
     
    8
    g
    9
    %
    Protein
     
    24
    g
    48
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    661
    IU
    13
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    32
    mg
    39
    %
    Calcium
     
    500
    mg
    50
    %
    Iron
     
    3
    mg
    17
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    *
    [/showhide]

    Meme

    More Vegetarian Main Dish

    • white bowl with avocado egg salad.
      Avocado Egg Salad
    • basket of an air fryer with a potato inside next to a plate of twice baked potatoes
      Air Fryer Twice Baked Potatoes
    • four twice baked potatoes on a plate
      Twice-Baked Potatoes
    • bowl with purple sweet potatoes covered in peanut butter
      Peanut Butter Potatoes
    • Yummly
    • Share
    • Tweet

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tracy_Nutrition says

      January 10, 2013 at 8:43 am

      Love health-i-fied mac n cheese recipes! This looks good!

      Reply
      • memeinge says

        January 10, 2013 at 10:47 pm

        Thanks!! I never liked mac & cheese as a kid, but homemade mac & cheese is soo good ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    2. Janice@macaroni and cheese says

      December 10, 2013 at 2:07 am

      We always try to pass our holiday with a great refreshment . So we makes some delicious food on this special day. My kids always request me to make some exceptional yummy food for them. That's why I think this above recipe of Macaroni & Cheese is a great alternative for that.Thanks for your above recipe. I will try this at my home as soon possible.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome!

    Meme (a brunette female) is holding umbrella and spinning around in front of the Eiffel Tower wearing a denim jacket, skirt, and blue shoesHi, I'm Meme, a thirty-something registered dietitian nutritionist from Alabama living in San Diego. Here to help you enjoy food, feel better in your body at any size, and live free of diets & shame.
    Read More

    Let's Connect

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Most Popular

    silver fork on a white plate with green beans and pork tenderloin with mashed potatoes covered in gravy.

    Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin

    jar of chocolate sauce with a spoon in it. empty small glass ice cream cups with a bowl of cherries on a wicker table

    Easy Chocolate Sauce

    Protein Pancakes from Living Well Kitchen

    protein pancakes

    white plate with a slice of zucchini lasagna

    Zucchini Lasagna

    stack of almond butter banana cookies with one cookie facing the front on wooden cutting board with a glass of milk, banana, oats, vanilla extract, and almond butter container

    Almond Butter Banana Cookies

    spatula holding a microwave cookie

    Microwave Oatmeal Cookie

    Gluten free Crab Cakes from Living Well Kitchen @memeinge

    Gluten free Crab Cakes

    chicken salad and a ritz cracker in a glass bowl on white table with green napkin

    No Mayo Chicken Salad

    Intuitive Eating

    brunette female holding a heart shaped pizza in a Parisian cafe

    Why Emotional Eating Isn't Bad

    hand holding an apple in front of apple trees

    Should I Eat Conventional or Organic Produce?

    havanese dog standing on arm of cream chair with a quilt in chair

    Intuitive Eating and Weight Loss

    brunette female sitting in a blanket in Versaille garden smiling and holding a container of container of food she is about to be eating

    What is Intuitive Eating

    Easy Meals

    Skillet Greek Chicken from Living Well Kitchen

    Skillet Greek Chicken

    close up of a bowl of lamb curry over rice sprinkled with mint and coconut flakes.

    Instant Pot Lamb Curry

    green napkin with spoons, two white bowls with pumpkin chili topped with cheese and green onions, blue pot of chili with orange spoon

    Pumpkin Chili

    Basil Balsamic Chicken Salad from Living Well Kitchen

    Basil Balsamic Chicken Salad

    Soup

    bowl of turkey white bean chili topped with fresh avocado next fresh avocado and cilantro.

    White Bean Turkey Chili

    two bowl of beef soup on blue and white napkins with silver spoons and garlic bread

    Instant Pot Vegetable Beef Soup

    steak potato soup in a bowl with green onions and grated cheese with a silver spoon next to potatoes, pot of soup and block of cheese

    Steak and Potato Soup

    blue and white napkins under two bowls of pumpkin soup topped with bacon next to a small bowl of bacon

    Pumpkin Soup with Bacon

    As Seen On:

    As Seen On

    In Season

    white bowl with avocado egg salad.

    Avocado Egg Salad

    two bowls of rotini topped with crawfish Monica sauce next to lemons, green onions, and a green napkin.

    Crawfish Monica Recipe

    basket of an air fryer with a potato inside next to a plate of twice baked potatoes

    Air Fryer Twice Baked Potatoes

    bowl of spaghetti squash topped with a turkey and tomato sauce and fresh basil next to garlic bread and a pot of sauce

    Spaghetti Squash with Turkey Meat Sauce

    Footer

    Living Well Kitchen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

    • Recipes
    • About

    Copyright © 2023

    We use cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Reject Read More
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT
    119 shares