Broccoli Mac & Cheese starts with a layer of broccoli with cheesy pasta added and then it’s baked to perfection.
Broccoli Mac & Cheese
I am a huge fan of Mac & Cheese, the homemade kind, not the boxed kind. This version has some broccoli added in and the best way to eat broccoli is with some cheese on it! If you are trying to add more vegetables into your diet, or better yet, into your kids diet, this is a good place to start.
Add the broccoli to the baking dish.
The broccoli is blanched then layered on the bottom of the baking dish. While the pasta is cooking you whip up the cheese sauce.
Add the cheese sauce to the pasta.
The cheese sauce is actually a healthy version using low fat milk, a mixture of flour and cornstarch to thicken the sauce and the amount of cheese is minimal for a cheese sauce.
Lastly you mix together some butter and bread crumbs to add to the top of the pasta. Lastly you bake the dish to combine all the flavors.
Enjoy!
Add the pasta over the top of the broccoli.
Add the bread crumbs.
The end product is delicious.
Ingredients
- 1 large bunch broccoli, cut into bite-size florets
- 1 pound pasta
- 2 1/2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup finely chopped shallots
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 3 1/2 cups low-fat milk
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 12 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded
- 6 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper
- 3 tablespoons bread crumbs
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with enough water to reach a depth of 2 inches and bring to a boil. Add the broccoli and cook for 1 minute; drain and rinse with cold water. Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish and add the broccoli in an even layer.
- Fill the same pot with salted water and bring to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente; drain.
- Position a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees . In a sauce pan, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add the shallots and cook, stirring, until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the flour for 1 minute. Whisk in 1 cup milk until thickened, then whisk in 1 cup more. Whisk the cornstarch into the remaining 1 1/2 cups milk, then whisk the mixture into the pot. Simmer, whisking, until the sauce thickens, 2 to 3 minutes. Lower the heat and stir in the cheddar and 4 tablespoons parmesan. Season with salt and pepper, then stir in the pasta. Spoon the mixture over the broccoli.
- In a small heatproof bowl, add the 1/2 tablespoon butter; microwave at high power until melted, about 20 seconds. Stir in the bread crumbs, the remaining 2 tablespoons parmesan and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture on the pasta. Bake until golden, about 15 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.
Notes
You can skip the broccoli if you would like, but I highly recommend it. If you don't have shallots, use a small onion in its place.
I used Rigatoni for the pasta, feel free to use any small shaped pasta for this recipe.
Adapted from Everyday with Rachel Ray
Steph @ Crafting in the Rain says
Looks yummy!
Cindy @Hun... what's for dinner? says
This looks like a really great Mac ‘n cheese. Thanks for sharing at Simple Supper.
Kristin KH says
Oh yum! This looks amazing and sounds delicious! Broccoli is my fave go-to veggie with pasta. You can’t go wrong with adding a little broccoli. Thanks so much for sharing at Tips and Tricks Tuesday!
trina says
Yum, yum, yum! I put broccoli in my mac n cheese all the time! I love it that way.
Thanks for linking up to our Twirl and Take a Bow Party. Hope to see you again this Tuesday!
Linda says
Gonna try this asap. I may add some shredded chicken breast. Yum!
Kay says
Shredded chicken sounds like a great addition!
Sally says
Do you really need to use cornstarch when you’re using flour? When I make a roux, I just use butter and flour.
Kay says
Traditionally a roux is flour and butter, I think the cornstarch is added because it’s a light recipe for the cheese sauce.
jess says
Could I make this, freeze it, then have it for another day?
Kay says
I have not frozen this dish, but in general pasta dishes do freeze well.
Laurie says
Your Tip Me Tuesday link is incredible this week! In fact, my readers would love to bookmark it in their craft rooms. Did you know that if you upload this blog post into your Tip Junkie craft room using at least 2 images, 2 steps, and blog post URL then Tip Junkie readers can favorite it which instantly bookmarks it so they can find it later? {Whoohoo!} ~ Laurie {a.k.a. the Tip Junkie}
http://www.tipjunkie.com/post/how-to-add-a-craft-room-project-on-tip-junkie/