Posted Oct 02, 2019, Updated Nov 11, 2024 If you are a parent, you probably make some form of mac and cheese weekly. I know I do, because my kids love it, and making homemade mac and cheese is so easy. I created this vegetable mac and cheese recipe to add a little nutrient boost to my kids’ favorite dish! Your whole family will love this easy veggie mac and cheese. Use your favorite pasta and veggies to customize this recipe to suit your family’s tastes. Also try our recipes for crock pot mac and cheese and baked mac and cheese!
Vegetable Mac & Cheese: Ingredients
Elbow macaroni. Use your favorite pasta. I prefer using shapes like wheels, bowties, rotini, etc. because the cheese settles in to every nook and cranny. You can also use gluten-free pasta to make this recipe gluten-free. Olive oil. avocado oil or butter are good substitutes. Vegetables. Use 2 cups of your favorite veggies. In this particular batch of vegetable macaroni and cheese I used 1 cup broccoli (cut small) and 1 cup shredded zucchini. Other ideas: yellow squash, carrots, bell peppers, onions, peas, tomatoes, cauliflower, butternut squash, etc. Salted Butter. unsalted butter is a good substitute. Flour. use gluten-free all purpose flour to make the recipe gluten-free. Garlic Powder. 1 teaspoon minced garlic sautéed with the veggies is a good substitute. Or you can omit the garlic if your kids don’t prefer it. Whole Milk. heavy cream, half and half or 2% milk are good substitutes. Sour cream. Greek yogurt works well too. Cheese. I prefer to use sharp cheddar or a mix of cheddar and gouda (yum). You can use your favorite cheese.
How to Make Vegetable Mac and Cheese
Let’s walk through this recipe step-by-step, and don’t forget to watch the video.
Cook Macaroni
Start by cooking the macaroni (or the pasta of your choosing). Always add a generous amount of salt to the water used to cook the pasta for the best flavor. When it’s finished, drain but do not rinse the noodles. The cheese adheres to the macaroni better if it is not rinsed.
Sauté Vegetables
While the pasta is cooking, sauté the vegetables in olive oil until they are fully cooked. The amount of time needed will depend on the veggies you choose. This is when the vegetables are cooked, so it’s important to make sure to cook them to your liking!
Make the Cheese Sauce
Once the veggies are cooked (or while they’re cooking) make the cheese sauce. Start by making a roux with the butter and dry ingredients. Then whisk in the milk and sour cream and finally add the cheese.
Assemble the Veggie Mac and Chees
Once the sauce is thick and the noodles and veggies are cooked, it’s time to put it all together. Add the cooked macaroni into the pot with the cheese sauce and stir. Next, add the cooked vegetables and stir gently until everything is combined!
Serve
Serve the vegetable mac and cheese immediately for the best taste and texture! You can leave the pot covered to keep the veggie mac and cheese warm while you finish preparing the rest of the meal (if serving this as a side dish and not the main event). Here are some dishes that would pair beautifully with this veggie mac and cheese:
It would make a fantastic side dish to this balsamic pot roast (one of our favorite main dishes)! Serve it alongside this avocado chicken salad! For a truly kid-friendly dinner, serve it with these healthy Sloppy Joes!
Store/Freeze
Store any leftover veggie mac and cheese in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months
Reheat
Place the mac and cheese in a microwave-safe dish, cover, and warm for 30-60 seconds, or until it’s heated through. You may need to add a splash of milk to restore the original creaminess, because the cheese sauce will continue to soak into the macaroni as it cools! If reheating from frozen, let thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature before reheating. If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can see your creations!
