The Lightened-Up Mac and Cheese Recipes You Need in Your Life

The unexpected addition of pureed butternut squash to mac and cheese may raise a few eyebrows. However, the squash puree not only gives this lightened-up recipe its nostalgic orange hue (without any food coloring!), but also only adds an extra layer of creamy comfort, not calories, to the mix.

Cut back on calories and carbs with this spaghetti squash mac and cheese recipe. The versatile Fall squash lays the base, while broccoli adds even more vitamin A to this Fall recipe. The best part? The mix of lower-fat cheeses that results in a dreamy, rich-tasting sauce you can enjoy sans guilt.

In this vegan version of mac and cheese, cheese is replaced with nutritional yeast, butter with Smart Balance spread, and cream with veggie broth. This baked recipe brings a nice crunchy top to the table — a welcome addition in any macaroni and cheese recipe.

Pasta-less macaroni and cheese can be delicious — this cauliflower mac recipe is all the proof you need! The cheesy, creamy sauce full of coconut milk, extrasharp cheddar, and parmesan complements the cruciferous vegetable perfectly.

If you're not ready to give up pasta completely and would still like to bring some cauliflower to your bowl, try Michelle Obama's cauliflower mac and cheese that sneaks cauliflower into the sauce.

Keep things dairy-free with this vegan version of mac and cheese from LA's M Café. Loaded with extra veggies, like arugula, along with fresh herbs, this dish serves up big flavor while keeping it approved for vegans. Watch this video for the recipe, and then whip up a batch today.