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Creamy Broccoli Mac and Cheese, another one of my favorite weeknight dinners. Takes less than 30 minutes to prepare and the kids absolutely love it!
When it comes to dinner dishes, I don’t like to make complicated meals that take longer than 30 minutes to make. After school we barely have time to get through dinner time and start on kids homework or head out for activities. I have having to wash many dishes as well. So I keep it simple. This Broccoli Mac and Cheese is made in one pan, and that’s about it. Delicious and easy!
Looking for other delicious pasta recipes? Why not also try my Creamy Chicken Alfredo Pasta Recipe and my Spicy Shrimp Pasta!
Why you’ll love this Broccoli Mac and Cheese
- Loaded with veggies. Loaded with broccoli, to be precise! A nutrient rich veggie that’s the perfect texture to complement the pasta.
- A deliciously cheesy sauce. A rich and creamy homemade cheese sauce, made with cheddar and perfectly seasoned.
- Easy to make. The perfect weeknight meal. Only a handful of pantry staples needed and it comes together in less than 30 mins.
Ingredients you’ll need
- Pasta
- Flour
- Butter
- Milk
- Cheddar Cheese
- Broccoli
- Seasoning: salt, onion powder, garlic powder
How to make Creamy Broccoli Mac and Cheese
- Cook the pasta – Drain and set aside.
- Make the cheese sauce – In a pot/pan add butter and flour then add in the rest of the sauce ingredients.
- Combine – Add the cooked pasta back in, mix together and allow to cook for a few more mins. Finally add in the broccoli florets.
- Serve and enjoy!
Recipe notes and tips
- When cooking the pasta be sure to stir the pasta as soon as you drop it in boiling water, to avoid the pasta sticking.
- Ideally shred your own cheese, it melts better than pre shredded.
- I used sharp cheddar for a solid cheese flavor, but you can use mild cheddar if you want a milder cheese flavor.
- To speed thing up, you can use pre-cut fresh broccoli.
- Top with some fresh parsley for a pop of color and freshness.
FAQ’s
What’s the best pasta to use for Mac and Cheese?
Aside from the obvious (macaroni!), there’s plenty of other options. You ideally want short pasta with plenty of nooks and crannies for that homemade cheese sauce to cling to. Pasta options are shell pasta – as shown in this recipe – as well as with rotini, cavatappi or fusilli. Just keep in mind that different pasta shapes have varying cook times.
What to serve with Mac and Cheese?
This recipe is filling on it’s own but you can totally amp things up with a variety of sides. Here’s some ideas:
- Brussels Sprouts Salad
- Easy Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
- Mexican Street Corn Salad
- The Best Roasted Garlic Bread
Variations to this Broccoli Mac and Cheese recipe
This mac and cheese recipe is super easy to make and perfect for add ins! You can add some pieces of grilled chicken cubes if you want to add proteins to it. It makes it even more complete. You could also add:
- Sun dried tomatoes
- Parmesan cheese
- Hot sauce
- Green onions
- Cream cheese
Is this recipe kid friendly?
HOW TO PREPARE THE CREAMY BROCCOLI MAC N’ CHEESE:
This recipe makes a great lunch box food option! They can easily warm it in school or if you have a punch box that keeps the temperature warm, that would be awesome! I pack my kids lunch in an Omie Lunch box(available on amazon) and I absolutely love it. When Zane was young, he would only eat certain foods from home that needed to stay warm, and it was a life saver!
Other pasta recipe you might like
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Creamy Broccoli Mac N’ Cheese
Ingredients
- 8 oz pasta shells
- 2 tbsps. flour
- 3 tbsps. butter, full fat butter
- 1.5 cups pasta water, save after cooking pasta
- 1.5 cups milk
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 cups chopped broccoli florets
- 1.5 tsp salt, adjust to taste
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1.5 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Start by cooking the pasta as directed.Save 1.5 cups of pasta water. Drain the pasta and set aside.
- In a pan or pot, melt the butter and add the flour. Mix until they are well incorporated.
- Add the milk, pasta water, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and mix very well until you obtain a smooth creamy texture.
- Add the cheddar cheese and mix again until the cheese melts and incorporates with the creamy sauce. At this point you can add the cooked pasta shells, broccoli florets and mix everything together one more time.
- Let them cook for a few minutes until the broccoli florets are tender and then remove to serve.
Notes
- When cooking the pasta be sure to stir the pasta as soon as you drop it in boiling water, to avoid the pasta sticking.
- Ideally shred your own cheese, it melts better than pre shredded.
- I used sharp cheddar for a solid cheese flavor, but you can use mild cheddar if you want a milder cheese flavor.
- To speed thing up, you can use pre-cut fresh broccoli.
- Top with some fresh parsley for a pop of color and freshness.
