Let's face it, sometimes we just crave warm, cheesy comfort food, especially in the form of pasta! At least I know I do!
As someone who loves food, I like to have a collection of recipes for easy weeknight meals on hand. This lightened-up version of mac & cheese still has all the creamy texture and amazing taste that you expect from baked mac and cheese, but it's essentially a one pot meal that you can whip up in just about 30 minutes, and as an added bonus it has an entire serving of veggies built in! WIN!!
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I grew up with my grandmother making baked mac & cheese on a pretty regular basis, so it has always been one of my favorites, and I do still take the time to make the baked, "fully loaded" version from time to time. But it's not a great option for an easy weeknight meal so when you crave creamy cheesy comfort food this quick and easy recipe is the answer.
Contents:
Notes from the Kitchen
I was hoping to make this a true one-pot recipe so it would be super easy as a weeknight meal but you really need to cook the pancetta separately, so I'll call it almost one pot as everything gets mixed up in the same pot you use for the cooking the pasta making clean-up relatively quick!
- If you want to do some of the prep for this recipe ahead of time, you can make the pancetta at the beginning of the week and keep it in the refrigerator for a couple of days. It doesn't stay quite as crispy but it still has a good crunch and still tastes fabulous!
- To get the cheese to melt well, you want the pot from the pasta to be hot, so if you are working on weekly meal prep and have another pasta dish planned you can throw some extra pasta in the pot and refrigerate that for later in the week. This dish does reheat quite well so sometimes I make a double batch so I have leftovers for lunch during the week.
- Don't forget to reserve some of the pasta water when you are draining the pasta. It's a key ingredient to achieving that creamy texture. This is a good habit to get into any time you are making pasta. Adding a little pasta water when you toss the sauce in can create a great texture for your dish.
How to make this recipe
This easy recipe comes together in just a few steps! Once you've cooked up the pancetta you just need to boil the pasta, quickly steam the peas and then toss everything back in with the warm pasta to give you creamy goodness.
Cook the pancetta
A small nonstick pan over low heat for about 7 minutes will give you the best results.
Steam the peas
Just over a minute in the microwave and they are ready to go into the pasta mixture.
Cook the pasta
Follow the package directions for al dente pasta then drain and reserve ½ cup of the pasta water.
Mix it all together
Add the pasta + cheeses, yogurt and pasta water to the warm pan. Keep string until a creamy sauce forms.
This easy mac & cheese recipe is something you'll want to make again and again, making it one of your favorite go-to weeknight meals!
Recommended Tools
6-Quart Pasta Pot with Strainer – I used to have a larger version of this pot but recently switched to the 6-quart version. Unless you are always cooking for a really large group, this size is a good bet for most kitchens.
More pasta recipes
If you are looking for other easy pasta dishes check out these reader favorites:
- Creamy Lemon Pasta. While this recipe is easy enough for a weeknight meal, the bright lemon flavor and parmesan breadcrumbs give it a touch of elegance.
- Deconstructed Skillet Lasagna. This skillet lasagna gives you taste without all the fuss of traditional lasagne, making it an easy weeknight meal for two!
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If you try this recipe, please let me know by leaving a comment with a star rating below. You can also take a photo & tag @urbanfoodiekitchen on Instagram.
Lighter Greek Yogurt Mac & Cheese with Peas and Pancetta
Ingredients
- 4 ounces pancetta, chopped
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 ¾ cups cavatappi or fusilli pasta
- 3 ounces soft goat cheese
- ⅓ cup plain greek yogurt
- 2 ounces white cheddar, grated
Instructions
- Cook the pancetta. Heat a medium non-stick skillet over medium-low heat. Add pancetta and cook for 7-9 minutes, until pancetta is crisp. Drain on a plate lined with a paper towel.
- Cook the peas. Place the peas in a small microwave-safe bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of water. Cover with a paper towel and microwave on high for 1 minute. Stir and cook for an additional 30 seconds.
- Boil the pasta. While the pancetta is cooking bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook for 6-7 minutes, until pasta is al dente. Drain, reserving ½ cup of the pasta water.
- Create the sauce. Pour the pasta back into the pot and place back on the stove, which should still be warm. Add the cheeses, yogurt and peas. Stir to combine. Add the pasta water and continue stirring until the cheeses melt and a creamy sauce forms.
- Serve. Divide pasta between 2 or 3 bowls, top with pancetta and serve immediately.
Notes
- This pasta reheats fairly well. I recommend microwaving for 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between, until the desired temperature is reached. Leave the pancetta off until after reheating.
- You can use regular or whole wheat pasta in this recipe. Cook according to package directions for al dente pasta.
This post was originally published in February 2018. It was updated in January 2025 with some new information and photos. No changes were made to the original recipe.
Analida @ ethnicspoon.com
I love this recipe and I can't wait to try it! I make my own goat cheese and a 1/2 gallon of goat milk makes about 8 to 10 ounces of cheese so I am alway looking for a way to use it up. Thanks for sharing! If you want to make goat cheese it is fairly simple: https://ethnicspoon.com/how-to-make-goat-cheese-recipe-chevre/
Veena Azmanov
This sounds so light, refreshing, healthy and nutritious.! Looks so pretty too. I love when recipes are so easy to make. Saving for later.
Amy Nash
This pasta sounds so wonderful, especially with that crispy pancetta! That, with the goat cheese, sounds totally yum! And how awesome to be able to indulge without going overboard.
Ashley @ Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen
Cavatappi is one of my absolute favorite types of pasta! The shape is perfect for dishes like this. And I'm seriously swooning over the pancetta and pea combo in here. You totally nailed it!
Karyl | Karyl's Kulinary Krusade
I love your tips for lightening up mac and cheese! I don't ever do that though 🙂 I figure if I'm gonna make mac and cheese, I'm going full force. But I do love goat cheese, so I'm gonna have to give this a try
Heather
This recipe sounds amazing! I love the reminder about reserving the pasta water for creaminess. Pancetta is one of my favorite things to add to mac and cheese the adding the peas is brilliant.
Anne Murphy
Goat cheese and yogurt sounds like a great combination! We used to live near a restaurant that specialized in macaroni and cheese, and while there's nothing like the classic creamy cheddar, we enjoyed trying some of the other variations. Now that I can't get theirs, nice to have other ideas to try!
Amanda
I love peas and pancetta in creamy pasta sauces! This lightened up version with goat cheese and greek yogurt sounds phenomenal! What a great dish to indulge in a healthier way.
Marissa Zurfluh
Now that is an interesting idea. I never though of yogurt in mac n cheese.
Madi
Using greek yogurt in mac and cheese is such a good idea! I need to make this!
Elena
What a great twist to a classic recipe! Love the idea!
Debbye
Love the combination of ingredients in this dish. The pancetta is a wonderful addition as is the goat cheese. Yummy!