100 Days of Real Food

menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
    • Welcome
    • Original 100 Day Pledge
    • 100 Day Budget Pledge
    • FAQs
  • My Cookbooks
  • Resources
    • Our Shop
    • Meal Ideas & Resources
    • Mini-Pledge Progam
    • School Lunch Packing Chart
    • Favorite Amazon Buys
  • Blog
    • What Is Real Food?
    • How to Start
      • Real Food Tips
      • Eating Out and Travel
      • Food Shopping
      • How to Cook
      • Kitchen and Home
    • School Lunches
    • Snacks
    • Kids
      • Picky Eaters
      • Fun Stuff
  • Meal Plans
    • Real Food Meal Plans
    • School Lunch Plans
    • Free Weekly Dinner Plans
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
    • Welcome
    • Original 100 Day Pledge
    • 100 Day Budget Pledge
    • FAQs
  • My Cookbooks
  • Resources
    • Our Shop
    • Meal Ideas & Resources
    • Mini-Pledge Progam
    • School Lunch Packing Chart
    • Favorite Amazon Buys
  • Blog
    • What Is Real Food?
    • How to Start
      • Real Food Tips
      • Eating Out and Travel
      • Food Shopping
      • How to Cook
      • Kitchen and Home
    • School Lunches
    • Snacks
    • Kids
      • Picky Eaters
      • Fun Stuff
  • Meal Plans
    • Real Food Meal Plans
    • School Lunch Plans
    • Free Weekly Dinner Plans
×
Home » Recipes

Whole Wheat Creamy Mac and Cheese

creamy mac and cheese recipe made with whole wheat noodles and cheese in a white bowl

Want to Save this Recipe?

Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you'll get great new recipes from us every week!

Save Recipe

I had a reader tell me that she and her husband decided to race against each other - one making homemade creamy mac and cheese and the other making it out of a box - and it took them the same amount of time!

Whole Wheat Creamy Mac and Cheese Recipe

To be honest, I can't even hardly eat the boxed stuff anymore because the taste of the powdered cheese just doesn't cut it for me like it did in the old days.

I've shared a mac and cheese recipe on the blog before, but recently discovered a different way to make it (below).

One night I was actually making Fettuccine Alfredo as a side dish, but I didn't have any fettuccine on hand so I used macaroni noodles instead. My younger daughter said "Oh mommy, thank you for making macaroni and cheese." (one of her favorites), and I said "Well, this isn't exactly 'macaroni' babe."

Creamy No Roux Mac and Cheese Recipe

But that gave me an idea. Instead of starting with a roux (butter and flour) to make macaroni maybe I could alter my Alfredo recipe and use less cream and lots more cheese for a new, creamy version of macaroni and cheese. And voila! Here you have it below...

Using Whole Wheat Macaroni in This Recipe

Dishes like mac and cheese are a great example of how easy it is to incorporate whole food comfort options into your weekly meal plan! This recipe for instance makes the simple switch to whole wheat macaroni for added protein and nutrients, as well as a creamy cheese sauce as opposed to a traditional roux. It's creamy, satisfying and much more nutritious than the boxed alternative. Enjoy!

You also need to try these Mac and Cheese Bites!

Creamy (Whole-Wheat) Mac and Cheese

Making mac and cheese from scratch is almost as easy as the boxed stuff, and the homemade version tastes SO MUCH better (at least in my opinion). With very little ingredients and only 15 minutes of your time, you can make this Creamy (Whole-wheat) Mac and Cheese recipe your family will love.
31 Reviews / 4.4 Average
Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Cook Time: 5 minutes mins
Total Time: 15 minutes mins
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: American
Method: Freezer Friendly
Diet: Egg Free, Peanut/Tree Nut-Free, Vegetarian
Print Recipe
Servings: 4 people
Save Recipe Saved!

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ½ cups whole-wheat macaroni (cooked according to package directions)
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • ⅓ cup heavy cream (plus an extra tablespoon, divided)
  • 1 ¼ cups cheese (freshly grated (mild cheddar, sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack or even better – a combination of different cheeses is highly recommended including a little Parmesan cheese if you have it))
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • pepper (to taste (this dish is great with pepper on top))

Instructions
 

  • In the pot you used to boil the noodles, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Stir in the ⅓ cup of cream until well combined.
  • Turn the heat down to low and add the noodles, cheese, salt and pepper and cook while stirring until the the cheese melts. Stir in the last tablespoon of cream at the end. Season with black pepper and serve immediately.

Notes

We recommend organic ingredients when feasible.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition Facts
Creamy (Whole-Wheat) Mac and Cheese
Amount Per Serving
Calories 444 Calories from Fat 225
% Daily Value*
Fat 25g38%
Saturated Fat 16g100%
Cholesterol 79mg26%
Sodium 426mg19%
Potassium 162mg5%
Carbohydrates 40g13%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 17g34%
Vitamin A 820IU16%
Calcium 289mg29%
Iron 2.1mg12%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Want weekly REAL FOOD meal plans made for you?→ Check It Out

More Recipes

  • Garlic butter steak bites.
    Garlic Butter Steak Bites
  • Chicken sausage sheet pan.
    Chicken Sausage Sheet Pan
  • Sausage stir fry.
    Sausage Stir Fry
  • Sausage broccoli pasta.
    Sausage Broccoli Pasta
46.2K shares

About Lisa Leake

Lisa is a wife, mother, foodie, blogger, and #1 New York Times Best-selling author who is on a mission to cut out processed food.

Comments

  1. Meg c says

    July 06, 2014 at 4:05 pm

    Love to add cut up turkey dogs to this recipe. Yum!!

    Reply
  2. rachel says

    June 08, 2014 at 10:41 am

    All I have on hand is mozerella. Do you think that will work?

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      June 09, 2014 at 2:11 pm

      Hi Rachel. It will be a stringy mac and cheese but I've made it with mozzarella before. ~Amy

      Reply
  3. Nini says

    April 23, 2014 at 12:19 pm

    You can also skip the butter and cream. I use only cheese and a little bit salt and my kids love it. I only tried to make boxed mac and cheese once and my kids did not like it at all. I also use whole wheat rice noodles sometimes and they like it that way as well. :)

    Reply
  4. Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

    April 14, 2014 at 10:37 am

    Hi Amber. Keeping it warm in a crock pot should work fine. ~Amy

    Reply
  5. Amber says

    April 10, 2014 at 6:04 pm

    Is it possible to make this recipe ahead? I want to make it for a birthday party. I plan to make it earlier in the day and keep it warm in a crock pot. Has anyone tried this? Will the sauce curdle?

    Reply
  6. lauren says

    March 12, 2014 at 6:58 pm

    Just made this using quinoa instead of pasta! Ahhh mazing!

    Reply
  7. Tricia says

    February 24, 2014 at 7:24 pm

    Thank you!! I've tried so many different homemade Mac and cheese recipes and my boys NEVER liked them! I served this tonight and it was a huge hit. Finally, a win for Mom in the mac and cheese department !

    Reply
  8. Jan says

    January 14, 2014 at 8:36 pm

    5 stars
    My husband and I love this recipe! We use a mixture of sharp cheddar and Dubliner cheese and add garlic pepper for a more adult taste. It's delicious!

    Reply
  9. Jess says

    January 05, 2014 at 1:37 pm

    This was awesome! My toddler loved my mom's baked mac n cheese which I'm pretty sure uses Velveeta (yuck!). This was perfect! And I really don't mind that it used such heavy ingredients. It's hard to get my toddler to slow down long enough to eat so he needs calorie dense, whole foods. Thanks!!

    Reply
  10. Little World Organics says

    January 04, 2014 at 8:34 pm

    I love this recipe and make it all of the time. I usually cut back on the cream and butter to make it a tad lighter. I actually am using your recipe on my dinner meal plan this week- I link to your recipe on my blog. Anyway, I think it's great that you are raising awareness regarding processed foods. Our blog supports your efforts. We strive to raise a similar awareness regarding organic infant formula, and other health issues related to babies. Check it out if you get a chance...
    -Elleigh
    http://www.littleworldorganics.com

    Reply
  11. Sara says

    January 02, 2014 at 10:15 pm

    What brand of heavy cream do you use? I have been using Horizon which has carrageenan in it. Which is bad for you right?

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      January 06, 2014 at 10:38 am

      Hi Sara. This is a very useful link: http://www.cornucopia.org/shopping-guide-to-avoiding-organic-foods-with-carrageenan/. It can help you locate a brand you might have access to. ~Amy

      Reply
  12. Franki says

    December 14, 2013 at 9:22 pm

    5 stars
    This was so delicious!!! I didn't have any elbow macaroni so I used penne, still amazing. Sooooo easy! I loved that it only uses one pot. Not much clean up!

    Reply
  13. Christy says

    December 10, 2013 at 6:59 pm

    4 stars
    This was a hit with my super picky 8 YO. Made it on Saturday and she requested it again tonight! Finally I can move away from the box. I made the granola bars too & LOVE them!

    Reply
  14. Tracy says

    December 03, 2013 at 6:39 pm

    4 stars
    I don't know what I did wrong, but I needed more heavy cream - and it still didn't stay creamy. It was good and the kids didn't complain that it wasn't box mac and cheese - so overall - it was a win!!! But, I actually thought it was too cheesy (oh my, I must have a fever)!

    Reply
  15. Christy says

    November 09, 2013 at 5:35 am

    5 stars
    This was so delicious!

    I do love mac n cheese, but I like it to stay creamy (straight from the pot onto the table) as I really dont like thickened sauce.

    This recipe did the trick! We had it with your over yummy tomato bisque soup and salad.

    Thank you!

    Christy

    Reply
  16. Becky says

    November 01, 2013 at 9:29 am

    Any idea how to make it dairy free? I could probably try goat cheese? Also, was looking for the recipe where you have peas and carrots mixed in :)

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      November 03, 2013 at 10:19 am

      Hi Becky. We have not attempted to make this dairy free. Let us know if you have success. I think you are talking about this post: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/04/10/real-food-tips-4-super-quick-wholesome-dinners/ for addition of veggies, but they could certainly be added just the same to the homemade version...no new recipe needed. ;) ~Amy

      Reply
  17. Amy says

    October 08, 2013 at 3:18 pm

    3 stars
    What did I do wrong with this? It tasted delicious (to me...my kids both took one bite and refused more). I think the main issue they had was the stringiness of the cheese. When I put the cheese into the milk/butter mixture, it turned into one semi-melted giant stringy cheese blob. It took turning up the heat and basically "cutting in" the cheese ball with the pasta. Once I had it as mixed in as it was going to get, the stringiness was still crazy!

    Reply
    • Monique says

      October 13, 2013 at 7:49 pm

      4 stars
      I had the same issue tonight. It tasted good but I was worried my 3 year old would chock on the cheese. From now on I will stick to the other recipe with the roux...that one turned out great!

      Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      October 18, 2013 at 12:52 pm

      Hello. Here the earlier version of the recipe that includes a slightly different roux: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2010/12/31/recipe-whole-wheat-macaroni-and-cheese/. ~Amy

      Reply
  18. Stephanie says

    October 04, 2013 at 10:33 pm

    5 stars
    Loved this but found no reason to shred the cheese- just cut it in cubes. Also used light butter and 2% milk. Threw in some fresh organic baby spinach for some green...Yum!

    Reply
    • Ros says

      March 03, 2014 at 3:46 pm

      Awesome tip! cut the cheese instead of grating.

      Reply
  19. laura says

    August 13, 2013 at 7:06 pm

    5 stars
    I MADE THIS TONIGHT WITH VEGGIE PASTA ADDED THE PROSCIUTTO AND OMG ITS WAS SOOO GOOD!! ALONG SIDE GRILLED EGGPLANT YUM!! THANKS FOR ANOTHER GREAT RECIPE!

    Reply
  20. Amy says

    July 29, 2013 at 12:27 pm

    TIP: My kids loved this so much that I increase all the ingredients respectively to use up a 2-lb block of cabot cheddar, since I shred it all at once in the food processor. It was a huge pot of sauce! Then I divided it into freezer bags and froze them. That way, when they want mac and cheese (even for lunch) I thaw the sauce in hot water while the noodles cook. Drain the noodles, cut the corner of the bag and squeeze the sauce right into the pot, stir, add the splash of heavy cream (ESSENTIAL!) and serve - VOILA - as simple as Velveeta Shells!!! Makes life just a little simpler!! They also like a package of tuna mixed in!!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      November 08, 2013 at 5:10 pm

      Never thought of doing that but now I'm going to try it. Thanks for the idea.

      Reply
    • Christy says

      November 09, 2013 at 5:26 am

      Amazing tip!

      Thank you!!

      Reply
    • Shawna says

      April 28, 2014 at 2:15 pm

      Hi Amy! I just made a 1/2 batch to test and love this super easy recipe...and have been looking for a real cheese recipe to batch and freeze the sauce. I also buy cabot in 2-lb blocks, but not sure how that translates into cups shredded. Since you've already been down that road, can you share your proportions? Also can you add your cups frozen sauce to pasta ratio? THANK YOU!!!

      Reply
  21. Corinne says

    June 11, 2013 at 10:11 am

    I posted earlier saying I wouldn't make it again because I felt it had too much fat. I found another recipe on this site which doesn't use as much cheese or heavy cream. https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2010/12/31/recipe-whole-wheat-macaroni-and-cheese/ I look forward to trying that version.

    Reply
  22. Jessica says

    June 08, 2013 at 4:58 am

    This was really yummy! I had some pasta already prepared that I needed to use so I think this took me 10 minutes start to finish! I used only 1 cup of cheese- about 1/2 sharp cheddar and 1/2 parmesan. I added some chopped spinach and also red chili pepper for a little kick. If I'd had broccoli I would have used that as well. Next time I think I'll also add garlic. Far better than anything from a box!

    Reply
  23. Mandy says

    May 29, 2013 at 11:25 am

    4 stars
    This mac and cheese is great

    Reply
  24. Corinne says

    May 22, 2013 at 7:53 pm

    2 stars
    I made this but I feel awful about feeding my kids so much cheese and heavy cream in one sitting. I won't make it again.

    Reply
  25. Amy M says

    May 18, 2013 at 10:10 am

    So glad I tried this. It truly was quick, easy and yummy!

    Reply
  26. Debbie N says

    May 12, 2013 at 7:13 pm

    I just tried this Mac and Cheese...YUMMY! And really quick.

    Reply
  27. Brittany Enders says

    May 10, 2013 at 1:16 pm

    Instead of cream I puree cottage cheese with a little milk in my magic bullet - makes the mac and cheese nice and creamy!

    Reply
  28. Lisa says

    May 09, 2013 at 10:36 pm

    What is an S cup? It says S cup of cream + 1 tbls.

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      May 10, 2013 at 10:41 pm

      Hi Lisa. It says 1/3 cup of cream plus 1 Tablespoon. :) ~Amy

      Reply
  29. Catherine says

    May 09, 2013 at 5:03 pm

    What brand of pasta is pictured here? When I make whole wheat noodles, they are more beige in color and my daughter doesn't like the grainy texture or look. I've tried cooking the noodles longer, but that didn't help. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      May 11, 2013 at 3:05 pm

      Hello Catherine. It is whole wheat macaroni from Earth Fare. The noodles look light because of the sauce. There can be a bit of an adjustment period when switching to whole grain pastas. Sometimes I used the 100% whole brown rice pasta as we transitioned and the kids really liked it. Hope that helps. ~Amy

      Reply
  30. Jennifer says

    May 09, 2013 at 3:18 pm

    Where do you get your whole wheat elbow macaroni? I can only seem to find 100% whole wheat penne, rotini, and spaghetti

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      May 11, 2013 at 2:58 pm

      Hi Jennifer. I have found it at Whole Foods and Lisa buys hers from Earth Fare. ~Amy

      Reply
    • Alzbeta says

      January 29, 2014 at 9:52 pm

      I got some from our local, everyday, Kroger yesterday! (King Soopers here, but same line of stores.)

      Reply
  31. Michelle Bennett says

    May 08, 2013 at 7:03 pm

    This is so yummy - I added 1/2 cup of pumpkin to it and it made it the same color as the box stuff - that is not why I added the pumpkin but it was a nice surprise :). Thanks so much for this blog and all your yummy recipes!

    Reply
  32. Gina says

    May 02, 2013 at 8:55 pm

    Lisa,

    Have you found an organic heavy cream in Charlotte that does not contain carageenan?

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      May 13, 2013 at 10:24 am

      Hi Gina. This link is a great resource: http://www.cornucopia.org/shopping-guide-to-avoiding-organic-foods-with-carrageenan/ and provides many options! I have found Kalona SuperNatural in Whole Foods but I do not know if it was in Charlotte. Good luck. ~Amy

      Reply
  33. Alexis says

    May 02, 2013 at 1:25 pm

    So excited to try this recipe tonight-I've been trying to get my husband to eat better but it's been a long process finally today he said I could make mac and cheese any way I wanted-so I'm going to do this recipe with broccoli and bacon-the cheese and bacon should cover the fact that its whole grain! Here's to trickery!

    Reply
  34. Planet Organics says

    April 26, 2013 at 3:06 pm

    This sounds so good! This would be easy to make with both organic and kosher ingredients, which are both things I prefer to cook with! Thanks for the healthy idea!

    Reply
  35. Miranda Pennock says

    April 25, 2013 at 6:08 pm

    I made this tonight for myself and my two daughters — almost 3 and 17 months — and I can't keep myself from nibbling on their leftovers. Honestly, I'm surprised they left any in their dishes! This recipe is going definitely being saved for nights when something quick and easy is all we have time for. Thank you!

    Reply
  36. Jorge Castro says

    April 24, 2013 at 3:26 pm

    It´s a grate post, thenk you for your article.

    Reply
  37. Jamie says

    April 24, 2013 at 1:31 pm

    I meant 5 stars!

    Reply
  38. Jamie says

    April 24, 2013 at 1:30 pm

    Super delicious, super easy. I should have doubled it. Thank you!

    Reply
  39. Terez says

    April 22, 2013 at 6:33 pm

    5 stars
    This is delicious!!!! Thank you for the welcomed alternative to the boxed mac and cheese!

    Reply
  40. Victoria says

    April 19, 2013 at 3:06 pm

    I was pleasantly surprised! I have been looking for a simple mac and cheese recipe to get away from the boxed, processed stuff. Although I am a bit worried with the amount of real cheese because my little one has constipation issues, but in moderation, this is a wonderful alternative! Way to go!! Thank you so much!

    Reply
« Older Comments
Newer Comments »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Recipe Rating




Welcome!


Meet Lisa! Lisa is a best-selling cookbook author, wife, mother, and passionate home cook. Lisa began blogging in 2010 and has created a community of millions of people who share her love of healthy living, real food ingredients, and family recipes.

Learn More

Popular

  • Chicken sausage pasta.
    Chicken Sausage Pasta
  • Steak with veggies.
    Steak with Veggies
  • Sausage and potatoes.
    Sausage and Potatoes
  • Spaghetti squash with meat sauce.
    Spaghetti Squash with Meat Sauce

Seasonal

  • Spaghetti squash boats.
    Spaghetti Squash Boats
  • How to cook spaghetti squash.
    How to Cook Spaghetti Squash
  • Air fryer popcorn chicken.
    Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken
  • Healthy blueberry pancakes.
    Healthy Blueberry Pancakes

Footer

↑ back to top

Browse

  • Cookbooks
  • Meal Plans
  • Recipes
  • Favorite Products
  • Free Downloads

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Blog

  • About
  • Comment Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Partner With Us
  • Contact

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 100 Days of Real Food