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Baked Turkey & Bacon Macaroni & Cheese Cups

December 7, 2010 by DanicasDaily 21 Comments

Happy Biggest Loser day all!!!  My post tonight is going to be FAST because it’s almost time to watch the “finale before the finale”!  I LOVE that so many of you are rooting for ADA – Go GIRL POWER!  Open-mouthed smile

I learned today from my co-worker that 1/2 cup of Egg Beaters has the same points+ value as a 1/4 cup!  Ummmm, why would you use any less than the full points+ Open-mouthed smile

I whipped up this quick scramble this morning while I packed my lunch.

Egg Beaters

1 organic zucchini, quartered

handful of mushrooms chopped

1 oz lean ham, chopped (1 pt+)

1/2 cup Egg Beaters (1 pt+)

Sea Salt & Black Pepper

I actually took my eggs to go to whip up breakfast “tacos” when I got to work.

TWO of my favorite Green Chile Corn Tortillas + Pumpkin Chipotle Salsa (4 pts+)

Salsa Tortillas

Scoop in some “Green Eggs n Ham”

Tacos

2 spicy, flavor packed breakfast tacos plus the extra on the side for 6 POINTS+!

Weight Watchers

Lunch wasn’t quite as exciting and was something I quickly threw together with what we hand on hand.

Quick Lunch for Weight Watchers

2 Slices Trader Joe’s Fat Free Multi-Grain Bread (3 pts+)

2 oz lean ham (2 pts+)

1 oz Low-Fat Sharp Cheddar Cheese (2 pts+)

Cranberry Mustard (0 pts+)

The same Arugula Salad with TJ’s Cranberry Walnut Dressing you saw on Sunday. (2 pts+)

There are so many good things on the menu this week to make, but, the one I’ve been wanting to make the most is putting a healthy spin on Giada’s Macaroni & Cheese Cupcakes.

My “healthified” version uses low fat cheese, extra lean ground turkey, less oil, less bread crumbs, less cheese, whole wheat pasta and turkey BACON!  I guess, I didn’t really stick to the recipe too much this time Smile

 

BAKED TURKEY & BACON MACARONI & CHEESE CUPS

Baked Macaroni & Cheese

INGREDIENTS

Vegetable cooking spray

1 cup dried Italian bread crumbs, divided

8 ounces extra lean ground turkey breast

1/2 cup onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

8 ounces whole wheat elbow pasta, you want small noodles

1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

1 1/2 cups low-fat sharp cheddar cheese, not mild

6 slices lean turkey bacon

1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered

2 cups broccoli, chopped and blanched

1-2 tablespoon olive oil for drizzling

INSTRUCTIONS

1.  Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray 2 (12-cup) muffin or cupcake pans with vegetable cooking spray. Using 1/3-1/2 cup of the bread crumbs, coat the inside of each muffin cup with bread crumbs, shaking off any excess.

2.  Spray a medium skillet with nonstick spray and place over medium high heat  Add the ground turkey, onion and garlic 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper and 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring frequently, until cooked through, about 5 to 8 minutes. Set aside and cover to keep warm.

3.  Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 7 minutes. Drain and add to a large bowl. Stir in the cooked turkey mixture, the cheeses and the turkey bacon. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

4.  Spoon the prepared pasta mixture into the cupcake molds, filling evenly to about 2/3 full. Arrange a few pieces of broccoli and tomato into each cup. Top with a thin layer of the remaining bread crumbs and drizzle with olive oil.

5.  Bake until golden brown, about 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes and carefully unmold with a spoon onto a serving platter.

Makes 8 servings, 3 muffin cups each, 10 points+

Nutritional Information per serving

image

STEP-BY-STEP

Spray your muffin tins with nonstick cooking spray and coat with about 1/3 cup of breadcrumbs shaking off any excess.

IMG_2900

“Brown” up your ground turkey, onion, garlic and seasoning, set aside.

Ground Turkey Breast

Cook your pasta according to the packaged directions.

Boiling Water

Make your “bacon macaroni & cheese mix”.  Add your drained pasta to your turkey mixture.

Giada's Baked Macaroni & Cheese Cupcakes

Add your TWO cheese.

Two Cheese Macaroni & Cheese

Plus cooked, crumbled turkey bacon!

Bacon

Stir to combine and taste to make sure your seasoning is good.  Ummm, can I just say with bacon and TWO cheeses it was already spot on Winking smile

Bacon Mac

Scoop into your prepared muffin tins.

Turkey Bacon Macaroni Cheese

Add a little broccoli to each muffin cup.

Broccoli

Then, a few tomatoes.

Tomatoes

Sprinkle with a light layer of your remaining breadcrumbs.  You will not use all your bread crumbs and that’s ok.

Baked Macaroni and Cheese with Bacon

Drizzle each muffin cup with a little olive oil. Bake at 375 for 15 minutes.  Allow to cool and serve.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

My muffin cups didn’t stay in “cup” until completely cooled and put away.  Either way it doesn’t matter because this recipe was “OFF THE HOOK” good!

Cheesy, noodley (yes, it’s a word!) with the sweetness of the tomatoes, crunch of the broccoli and smoky turkey bacon.

The Best Macaroni and Cheese I Ever Ate

I am soooo having this for lunch tomorrow ~ I cannot wait!  Leftovers rock Winking smile

The BEST PART…..I still have points+ left for CHOCOLATE tonight (during Biggest Loser of course LOL). I had 2, then, went back for 2 more (4 points+)

Dove Chocolate

Q’s:

What is one food or foods that is 100% worth the calories/points+ to you?

For me, it’s definitely macaroni & cheese, bacon, bread and chocolate.  But, really, I don’t discriminate, I think I LOVE all food and it’s worth the points LOL.

Night all!

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Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: Bacon, Eggs, Pasta, Turkey

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Comments

  1. 1

    Lauren says

    December 8, 2010 at 4:40 am

    I love the idea of making mac and cheese cupcakes! This is beyond brilliant!

    Reply
  2. 2

    Roz says

    December 8, 2010 at 7:03 am

    What a great idea to portion control mac and cheese by putting it in a muffin tin. Thanks for the tip!! And the food that is so worth the points for me?? Cheese. I’m crazy about it….

    Reply
  3. 3

    Kimberly B. says

    December 8, 2010 at 7:40 am

    Love this idea – I will definitely have to try this recipe out!

    Reply
  4. 4

    Noura says

    December 8, 2010 at 8:37 am

    Yes, I’ve been a big fan of the Egg Beaters specially since you can have a double serving for the same P+ “cost” as a single serving. I have an omelet almost every morning w/ this. Usually tossing in some veggies & feta cheese & brown rice if I have it.
    Did you know:
    1 Tablespoon of brown rice = 0 P+?
    but 2, 3, *or* 4 Tablespoons are 1 P+!

    Feta cheese crumbles are only 1 P+ for up to 2 Tablespoons! Def worth it!

    Today’s giant omelet consisted of: onions, bell pepper, zucchini, brown rice (1T), shredded carrots, feta cheese w/ 1/2 Cup Egg Beaters – add some dill – YUM! and only 2 points + This will hold me for at least 4-5 hrs.

    Paired w/ my own “home made” mocha – French pressed coffee (0 P+), 1 pkt of Nestle Fat Free Hot Chocolate Mix (0 P+), 1 Tablespoon Fat Free Vanilla Creamer (0 P+)!!! Zero Points+
    Still only a 2 P+ breakfast!!!

    Yesterday I had a similar breakfast, 5 oz of chicken breast (4 P+) w/ roasted veggies (1 P+) & a pear for lunch, a snack of WW Pretzel Blast bar (2 P+), which left me…. are you ready for this…. 20 P+ FOR DINNER!!!! I splurged on a sandwich w/ popchips for dinner, 2 snacks, and still couldn’t get all my points in! I went to bed w/ 3 points left from the day….

    I love this new plan! 🙂

    Reply
  5. 5

    Noura says

    December 8, 2010 at 8:41 am

    Forgot to mention – someone posted the other day about Fage 0% having only 2 P+ per serving, but my calculations give it 3 P+ (for a whole cup). I probably would only have 1/2 C anyway, but just wanted to clarify.

    Reply
  6. 6

    Josie says

    December 8, 2010 at 9:16 am

    I need to get some egg beaters!! I am gonna make those mac n cheese cups I think my kiddos will like em!

    Reply
  7. 7

    Jeanette says

    December 8, 2010 at 10:23 am

    The mac and cheese cups look amazing!!! Saved!!!

    Reply
  8. 8

    Maggie says

    December 8, 2010 at 10:27 am

    mac & Cheese looks yummy! I’ll have to try it!

    Reply
  9. 9

    Dee Dee says

    December 8, 2010 at 1:33 pm

    the recipes listed daily are they points plus?

    Reply
  10. 10

    janetha g. @ meals & moves says

    December 8, 2010 at 2:22 pm

    WINNER.

    Reply
  11. 11

    RunToTheFinish says

    December 8, 2010 at 3:36 pm

    A. That was a fast post? 🙂
    B. wow that is frigging amazing…you have the best ideas for dinners! I just toss it all together, but you make it so much more fun.
    C. I am a poopy bloggie friend, sorry I haven’t been commenting as much

    Reply
  12. 12

    BroccoliHut says

    December 8, 2010 at 5:50 pm

    LOVE the idea of making little “muffins” of single-serving pasta!

    Reply
  13. 13

    Mo says

    December 8, 2010 at 6:17 pm

    The mac and cheese sounds delicious! I’ll be making that soon.
    Thanks so much!

    Reply
  14. 14

    Foodie McBody says

    December 8, 2010 at 10:00 pm

    Macaroni and cheese cups? With BACON? Are you serious?!?!?!? I am going to make those TOMORROW! That looks so droolworthy. Thank you!

    Reply
  15. 15

    DanicasDaily says

    December 28, 2010 at 4:16 pm

    HI Dee Dee,

    For all the new recipes I’ve been posting since the new WW program started on 11/28, the values are for points+. I am working my way through my older recipes slowly to update them for the new points+ values.

    Thanks,

    Danica

    Reply
  16. 16

    BB says

    July 30, 2011 at 5:40 pm

    Hi- I just came across your blog and also just joined WW this week and this recipe looks AMAZING!!! I am also thrilled to have found your blog because I am definitely looks for tips on what to eat to get the most food for my points! Is this recipe 10 points plus for 3 muffins? I wasn’t sure I was reading it correctly. Thanks!

    Reply
  17. 17

    DanicasDaily says

    July 30, 2011 at 8:32 pm

    Hi BB,

    Congrats on taking the first step and joining WW – you are going to LOVE it. Yes, you read it correctly ~ you get 3 of these tasty bacon mac n cheese cups for 10 points+ ~ DEAL!

    I can’t wait to hear what you think.

    Danica

    Reply
  18. 18

    Karen Vaughn Davis says

    September 23, 2013 at 7:40 am

    My favorite indulgence are Mangoes,Pineapple, Watermelon, grapes, Cherries, peaches, and coconut. I love Coconut and pineapple ice cream bars. I know they are deadly rich and full of sugar. Cheese Cake and Lemon Ice box pie would come in next and then a little chocolate, but Almond Joys have to be my favorite candy. I wish I could just find a way to spray that taste into my mouth with out all of the calories..thanks for the recipe for the Turkey Mac and Cheese it sounds wonderful. Pasta of any kind in my biggest downfall…

    Reply

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About Danica

Whether she’s enjoying a dish at a local restaurant or whipping up a crowd-pleasing, nutritious meal at home, Danica has a passion for all things food. She believes in and follows the Weight Watchers principle of “all things in moderation” and chronicles her culinary adventures here. Besides sharing her daily eats and tasty, nutritious recipes, Danica connects others seeking a healthier lifestyle on her site and shares her travel adventures with her husband around the world.

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