Who says comfort food can’t double as everyday fuel? If your love language is warm and creamy pasta, but you still want to hit your protein goals, let us introduce you to our Mini Protein Mac and Cheese Cups.
Made with creamy, probiotic-rich Lifeway Kefir, protein-packed Lifeway Farmer Cheese, and rich, golden Lifeway Salted Kefir Butter, this recipe offers a trio of Lifeway products and is a perfectly-portioned treasure everyone will love.
These mac and cheese cups offer everything you crave about the classic, homestyle kind with a rich, savory taste, but unlike a huge pot of pasta you have to divvy out, this version is baked into ramekins for single servings that feel like a personal hug in a bowl. Plus, beneath that bubbly, toasty topping lies a wholesome upgrade your gut and your muscles will both cheer for thanks to Lifeway.
How to Upgrade Mac and Cheese with Lifeway:
Lifeway Farmer Cheese is like cottage cheese, but cooler. It’s packed with protein and probiotics, and it’s smooth and spreadable, creating an ultra-luxe sauce with a mild, clean flavor. Meanwhile, Lifeway Whole Milk Plain Kefir brings kefir’s signature tartness, a divinely creamy texture, and complete protein that’s easy to digest since it’s lactose-free and made with live, active cultures. The real secret to this recipe’s richness is Lifeway Salted Kefir Butter; it adds a gourmet flavor to the blended sauce and toasts the breadcrumb topping to golden, crispy perfection.
Together, with a dash of savory spices and nutritional yeast, you get a sauce that’s luscious, satisfying, and nutrient-dense thanks to our wholesome, gut-healthy ingredients. Want to upgrade it even further? Use whole grain or gluten-free pasta for extra fiber and gut-healthy points.
Looking for Lifeway products near you? Discover Lifeway in a store near you here or shop online, and check out other cultured creations here.
The Benefits of Cultured Dairy for Better Health:
Research continues to show the importance of eating healthy foods, including cultured dairy such as kefir, for better gut health, a strong immune system, and to support the microbiome. Fermented foods like kefir hold important value in this line of research due to the link between the gut-brain axis and overall health.
Specifically, kefir has been shown to help diversify the microbiome, support the digestive system, reduce inflammation, support healthier blood sugar levels, and improve satiety since the bioavailable protein it contains triggers the release of GLP-1. Lifeway Kefir also contains a variety of nutrients that are vital for healthy bones and overall health, including vitamins D3, K, and B12 along with calcium and potassium. Along with our kefir, we also offer our creamy Lifeway Farmer Cheese, a high protein cheese made with live and active cultures to support a healthy microbiome that’s easy to spread and contains no added salt or sugar.
Prep Time: 25 mins Servings: 4Ingredients
- 11/2 cup dried elbow macaroni (use gluten-free if needed)
- 1 1/4 cup Farmer Cheese
- 3/4 cup Whole Milk Plain Kefir
- 1 1/2 tbsp. Salted Kefir Butter
- 1/2 cup nutritional yeast (for a cheesy flavor)
- 1 1/2 tsp. onion powder
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. smoked paprika
- 3/4 tsp. salt
- 2 tbsp. cornstarch
- 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
- 1/3 cup breadcrumbs (use gluten-free if needed)
- 1 tbsp. additional Lifeway Salted Kefir Butter
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350. Set aside 4 ceramic ramekins about 8 ounces in size.
- Blend Lifeway Farmer Cheese, Lifeway Kefir, 1 1/2 tbsp. Lifeway Kefir Butter, nutritional yeast, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt, cornstarch, and vinegar together until fully combined and creamy. Set aside.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil on the stove and add pasta. Cook until tender about 6-8 minutes. Drain off water and return pasta to pot. While the pasta is boiling, add the breadcrumbs and 1 tbsp. melted Lifeway Kefir Butter to a small bowl, mix until combined, then set aside. Pour the blended sauce over the pasta, mixing until the noodles are fully coated.
- Place 8 ounce ceramic ramekins on a small baking sheet, divide the pasta between the ramekins, and top each one with an equal amount of buttered breadcrumbs. Cover with foil and bake 10-12 minutes until golden and browned. Remove foil last 2 minutes if needed to allow them to brown and crisp up properly. Serve, and enjoy!
