In today’s post, we’ll cover some of the best options for Substitutes For Butter In Mac And Cheese. Butter has a lot of health benefits but these benefits are often outweighed by the adverse effects that ingesting large quantities of saturated fat can cause. Here’s why you might want to skip the butter and use some of my favorite butter substitutes instead.
Why Do You Need Butter For Mac And Cheese?
The question of why you need butter in mac and cheese has been asked many times before. Most people believe that it’s just for taste, but there are other reasons as well.
1. Butter adds flavor to the dish.
The richness of the butter will enhance the flavor of your macaroni and cheese. It also adds a creamy texture to the dish while adding some moisture to it.
2. Butter helps create a creamy sauce.
If you want your macaroni and cheese to have a creamy sauce then adding butter is definitely necessary. This is because butter contains fat which helps make a creamy sauce when mixed with flour or cornstarch.
3. Butter helps thicken the sauce.
Adding butter will help thicken the sauce of your macaroni and cheese so that it doesn’t become runny or watery anymore when cooked in an oven or on top of an open flame source like an oven or stovetop burner or even in a microwave oven (if you’re using one).
13 Substitutes For Butter In Mac And Cheese
Macaroni and cheese are one of the most popular comfort foods in the United States. It’s basically a big bowl of melted cheese, but you can make it healthier by replacing some of the butter or cream with other ingredients. Here are five substitutes for butter in mac and cheese:
1. Buttermilk
The acidity of buttermilk helps balance out the richness of the cheese, making it a good choice to replace some of the butter in your macaroni and cheese recipe. You can also replace some or all of the milk with buttermilk for a richer flavor.
2. Heavy Cream
Heavy cream is another ingredient that will help cut down on fat while keeping your dish creamy. Instead of using all milk, try using heavy cream mixed with whole milk as a replacement for part of the butter in your macaroni and cheese recipe.
3. Half & Half
A combination of half whole milk and half cream works well as a substitute for butter in macaroni and cheese recipes because it cuts down on fat while still keeping things creamy enough to make you happy!
4. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil has become very popular lately thanks to its health benefits (it’s high in healthy fats that your body needs). It also tastes delicious when used as a cooking oil instead of butter. If you like the taste of coconut, this is a good alternative that will provide you with healthy fats and help cut back on the fat in your macaroni and cheese recipe.
5. Coconut Flour
Coconut flour is another gluten-free alternative that keeps your dish from becoming too heavy. When made with coconut flour, your macaroni and cheese will be lighter and fluffier, with a slightly sweet edge.
6. Yogurt
The next substitute for butter in mac and cheese is yogurt. Yogurt is made from milk (obviously) and it can be used as a substitute for butter in recipes like this one because it has a similar consistency and flavor profile. The only difference between yogurt and butter is that yogurt has fewer calories and less fat than butter does, so if you’re looking for something healthier but still want an ingredient with a good flavor profile, then yogurt is a good option for you!
7. Ghee
Ghee is clarified butter. It’s made from butter but with all of the milk solids removed, so it doesn’t have any dairy products in it at all. Ghee has a lower smoke point than regular butter, but it makes up for this by having more flavor than traditional butter does.
8. Lard
Lard is rendered pig fat (or sometimes beef fat). It has a very high smoke point and is often used when frying foods because of its stability at high temperatures (just like butter). Lard has a very neutral flavor and can be used in any recipe that calls for butter or vegetable oil. It also has less saturated fat than butter does, making it healthier than many other options on this list as well!
9. Olive Oil
Olive oil is great for baking because it has a high smoke point (the temperature at which an oil starts burning). That means it won’t burn when exposed to high heat for long periods of time — perfect for making cheesy baked pasta dishes like mac and cheese!
10. Vegenaise Vegan Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise is a creamy sauce made with oil, eggs and vinegar. Vegenaise is a vegan alternative that’s cholesterol-free and contains no trans fats. It’s also low in saturated fat and sodium compared to real mayonnaise, making it an excellent choice for heart health.
11. Butter Buds Butter Flavor Sprinkles
Butter Buds are made with hydrogenated oil, which means they have trans fat. The company does offer an organic version without artificial colors or flavors, but it still contains hydrogenated oil and has only 2 g of fat per serving compared to 6 g for the original product.
12. Plant Milk Powder
Plant milk powder is a non-dairy product that can be used as an alternative to dairy milk in powdered form. Use it as a substitute for butter in any recipe where you need liquid dairy products such as cream soups or sauces.
13. Cream Cheese
Cream cheese can be used as a substitute for butter in your Mac & Cheese recipe. The creaminess of the cheese will add an extra dimension to your dish, but it doesn’t have quite the same richness as butter does. To get the best results with this substitution, use full-fat cream cheese instead of reduced-fat cream cheese. This will give you more fat content and help keep your sauce from breaking down when it’s cooked in the oven.
3 Vegan Mac And Cheese Recipes
There are a number of options for vegan mac and cheese. Although the recipes vary, most of them include nutritional yeast, which has a cheesy flavor, and cashews or other nuts. If you don’t have time to make your own macaroni, try some of these store-bought varieties:
1. Annie’s Organic Macaroni And Cheese Dinner in Boxes
This is a classic box of macaroni and cheese made with real butter and milk. It’s not vegan because it contains dairy products.
2. Bountiful Bean Vegan Macaroni And Cheese Dinner
This gluten-free product uses non-dairy milk and vegan cheese to create a creamy sauce that tastes similar to the original recipe but without dairy products.
3. Daiya Vegan Macaroni And Cheese Dinner
Daiya is known for its dairy-free cheese alternatives, and this one is no exception! The company says this product contains “real cheese flavor” without any dairy ingredients whatsoever (although it does contain soy).
FAQs
1. Can I use olive oil or vegetable oil instead of butter?
Yes! These oils are both great substitutes for butter. They can be used as a replacement for up to half a stick of butter in your recipe without changing its flavor too much.
2. What do I need to substitute butter in mac and cheese?
You’ll need some sort of fat or oil that can be heated without burning at high temperatures. Butter is an ideal substitute, but you can use margarine or olive oil as well. Some recipes call for peanut butter or mayonnaise, which can add flavor but don’t work as well as fats when it comes to cooking.
3. Is there an easy way to substitute butter in macaroni and cheese?
Yes, there are several ways to do so: Use olive oil instead of butter; melt butter with milk before adding it to your recipe; use half milk and half oil (or another liquid); make a roux with flour and milk before adding it to your mixture or use evaporated milk in place of whole milk. You can also add sour cream or yogurt for a tangy flavor (just remember yogurt will curdle if cooked too long).
4. Can I use butter instead of margarine in my macaroni and cheese?
Butter has a higher fat content than margarine, so it makes the dish more unhealthy. However, if you’re craving the taste of real butter in your macaroni and cheese, then go ahead and use it as long as you don’t mind the extra calories. If you want to cut down on some of those calories, then consider using olive oil or coconut oil instead of margarine because both contain fewer calories than butter does per serving size.
5. How many calories are in a cup of macaroni and cheese?
One cup of cooked macaroni and cheese has 330 calories, 2 grams of fiber, and 4 grams of protein.
6. Is there such thing as diet macaroni and cheese?
Yes! Diet versions usually contain less fat than regular versions. They may also contain artificial sweeteners like aspartame or sucralose, which can be an issue for some people who have diabetes or other health conditions
In Conclusion
We hope this article has provided you with some insight into Substitutes For Butter In Mac And Cheese that much healthier by using substitutes for butter. We know that this recipe is always on your list of comfort foods, so we encourage you to give these tips a try. And if you have any other substitutes for butter in mac and cheese that you think are effective, please let us know in the comments below.
