Mac & Cheese Soup

I came across this recipe a few years ago and made some changes to suit our tastes. Because it starts with packaged macaroni and cheese, it’s ready in a jiffy.

—Nancy Daugherty, Cortland, OH

Takes: 30 min. • Makes: 8 servings

• 1 pkg. (14 oz.) deluxe macaroni and cheese dinner mix
• 9 cups water, divided
• 1 cup fresh broccoli florets
• 2 Tbsp. finely chopped onion
• 1 can (10 ¾ oz.) condensed cheddar cheese soup, undiluted
• 2 ½ cups 2% milk
• 1 cup chopped fully cooked ham

1. 1. Set aside cheese sauce packet from macaroni and cheese mix. In a large saucepan, bring 8 cups water to a boil. Add macaroni; cook for 8-10 minutes or until tender.
2. 2. Meanwhile, in another large saucepan, bring remaining water to a boil. Add broccoli and onion; cook, uncovered, for 3 minutes. Stir in the soup, milk, chopped ham and contents of cheese sauce packet; heat through. Drain macaroni; stir into soup.

1 cup: 263 cal., 9g fat (4g sat. fat), 28mg chol., 976mg sod., 32g carb. (6g sugars, 2g fiber), 13g pro.