Garden Vegetable Mac and Cheese (Printable)

Creamy three-cheese pasta with broccoli, carrots, and peas. A hearty, veggie-packed comfort dish the whole family will enjoy.

# 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 Steps:

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. In the last 3 minutes of cooking, add broccoli and carrots. In the final 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 to form a 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 is smooth.
06 - Combine drained pasta and vegetables with cheese sauce. Mix well and transfer to prepared baking dish.
07 - Mix panko with melted butter and sprinkle evenly over the top of the pasta mixture.
08 - Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until bubbly and golden brown. Let cool slightly before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The cheese sauce clings to every single piece of vegetable so nothing tastes plain or steamed
  • It bakes into that perfect bubbly golden state that makes the whole kitchen smell incredible
02 -
  • Undercook the pasta by one minute since it continues cooking in the oven
  • Remove the cheese sauce from heat completely before adding cheese to prevent separation
03 -
  • Grate your own cheese instead of buying pre-shredded for smoother melting
  • A pinch of smoked paprika in the sauce adds amazing depth
Go Back