MACARONI 'N' CHEESE ITALIANO

Macaroni 'n' Cheese Italiano image

"I've always liked macaroni and cheese, but my husband prefers macaroni with tomato sauce. So I added spaghetti sauce and mozzarella to give my mac and cheese an Italian flavor," writes Isabelle Wolters of Scituate, Massachusetts.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Dinner

Time 45m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 17

Ingredients

2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
3/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 cup meatless spaghetti sauce
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 cups fat-free milk
1-1/4 cups shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese
1/2 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
2 plum tomatoes, seeded and sliced

Steps:

Cook pasta according to package directions until cooked but firm. Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, saute the onion, celery and green pepper in oil until tender. Stir in spaghetti sauce, basil and oregano. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Drain macaroni; stir into sauce. Transfer to a 2-qt. baking dish coated with cooking spray; set aside. , In a saucepan, combine the flour, salt, nutmeg and cayenne. Gradually stir in milk until smooth. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat; stir in cheddar and mozzarella cheeses until melted. , Pour over macaroni mixture. Top with Parmesan cheese and tomatoes. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 262 calories, Fat 9g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 25mg cholesterol, Sodium 406mg sodium, Carbohydrate 31g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 16g protein. Diabetic Exchanges