Garden Vegetable Mac and Cheese (Printable view)

Creamy elbow pasta with tender vegetables and triple-cheese sauce. A wholesome, veggie-packed comfort food the whole family loves.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 10 oz elbow macaroni

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 cup broccoli florets, chopped small
03 - 1 cup carrots, diced
04 - 1 cup frozen peas

→ Cheese Sauce

05 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
06 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
07 - 2 cups whole milk
08 - 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
09 - 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
10 - 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
11 - 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder
12 - 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
13 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Topping

14 - 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
15 - 1 tablespoon melted butter

# How To Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 2-quart baking dish and set aside.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook for 1 minute less than package directions. During the final 3 minutes of cooking, add broccoli and carrots. In the last minute, add peas. Drain and set aside.
03 - In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly to form a smooth roux.
04 - Gradually whisk in milk, stirring constantly until smooth and slightly thickened, approximately 4 to 5 minutes.
05 - Remove from heat. Stir in cheddar, mozzarella, Parmesan, mustard powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until cheese is melted and sauce achieves smooth consistency.
06 - Mix drained pasta and vegetables with cheese sauce until evenly coated. Transfer to prepared baking dish.
07 - If desired, combine panko with melted butter and sprinkle over the top of the casserole.
08 - Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until bubbly and golden brown. Allow to cool slightly before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Sneaks three vegetables into a comfort food classic without anyone noticing
  • The cheese sauce stays incredibly creamy even after baking
  • Works as a main dish or hearty side for weeknight dinners
02 -
  • Cooking the pasta 1 minute less than directions prevents mushy results after baking
  • Shred your own cheese instead of buying pre-shredded for smoother melting
  • The sauce will look thin before baking but thickens beautifully in the oven
03 -
  • Grate cheese from blocks for the smoothest melting sauce possible
  • Let the baked dish rest 5 minutes before serving so the sauce sets
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