How To Make Mac and Cheese Without Butter - A Delicious Low Calorie alternative

If you're anything like me, then you love macaroni and cheese. Unfortunately, the deadly combo of pasta and cheese can absolutely destroy your calorie-intake limits for the day. In fact, one cup of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese has about 400 calories, and let's be honest: who ONLY eats a cup of mac and cheese? I can certainly eat at least three cups myself!

Today, I'm going to show you how you can make mac and cheese without butter. 

Solution: use white flour as a Butter replacement

I find that using 1 tablespoon of flour with 1 cup of water is a fantastic replacement for 4 tablespoons of butter.

A typical serving of macaroni and cheese contains about 1 tablespoon of butter. That means you're eating about 110 calories along with over 10 grams of fat. Yikes!

On the other hand, flour has only 40 calories per tablespoon, and contains no fat whatsoever. The thickening properties of flour also allows the mac and cheese to maintain its delicious ooey-gooeyness without completely destroying the cheesy flavor.

Steps to use flour correctly for your Mac and Cheese

1. In a medium-sized pot, add 1 cup of water on high heat until the water starts to boil.
2. Once the water is boiling, add 1 tablespoon of flour. Reduce heat to medium.
3. Mix the flour and water mixture until you barely see any clumps.
4. Add in your Mac and Cheese mixtures and continue cooking as usual*, but do not add butter.

*Some Mac and Cheese brands tell you boil to boil your macaroni in water and then drain it, but I find that technique highly ineffective. Instead, for every box of macaroni and cheese add 1 and 1/2 cups of water and cook until the water evaporates. You may add more water if you see that the macaroni and cheese is evaporating too fast - about 1/2 cup at a time.

As a bonus, why not try replacing milk with water?

If you're really tight on calories and you need a further calorie reduction, try replacing milk with equal amounts of water. So for example, if the recipe calls for 1 cup of milk, replace it with 1 cup of water. The taste will be a bit bland so you may have to add a bit of salt, but when you're craving, you're craving, right? I've definitely used this tactic when I'm hungry for some Mac and Cheese.

Calorie comparisons per serving (1 Cup)

Calories in Mac and cheese with butter and 2% milk: About 400 Calories

Calories in Mac and cheese with flour and 2% milk: About 330 Calories

Calories in Mac and cheese with flour and water:  About 210 Calories

And that's how to make mac and cheese without butter! Did you find this article helpful? Do you have any suggestions? If so, please don't be afraid to post below!