Indulge in the comforting goodness of this Broccoli Mac and Cheese recipe. This classic dish takes the beloved macaroni and cheese to a whole new level with the addition of nutritious broccoli florets. The combination of tender pasta, creamy cheese sauce, and vibrant broccoli creates a satisfying and flavorful meal that will please both kids and adults alike.
This deliciously cheesy dish is perfect for weeknight dinners or potluck gatherings. Whether you're a mac and cheese lover or looking for a tasty way to sneak in some veggies, this Broccoli Mac and Cheese recipe is a must-try.
Table of Contents
Why you’ll love this
Creamy and Cheesy Goodness
This Broccoli Mac and Cheese recipe is the epitome of comfort food. With every bite, you'll experience a creamy, velvety texture that comes from the perfect combination of cheese and sauce. This dish takes traditional mac and cheese to a whole new level of deliciousness.
Quick and Easy Preparation
This Broccoli Mac and Cheese recipe is designed to be quick and easy to make. With simple ingredients and straightforward instructions, you can whip up this comforting dish in no time.
Family-Friendly Meal
Finding a dish that pleases the whole family can be a challenge, but our Broccoli Mac and Cheese recipe is a winner with kids and adults alike. The cheesy goodness combined with the vibrant green broccoli will have even the pickiest eaters asking for seconds.
Ingredients and substitutions for the best Broccoli Mac and Cheese
- Pasta: Shells or large macaroni style pasta was used here thanks to the way it swirls up the creamy sauce. You can replace with other small pasta types such as Orecchiette or Fusilli.
- Cheese: Mild cheddar cheese adds a nice subtle cheesy flavor.
- Milk: Whole milk was used thanks to it's richness, however, you can replace with dairy free milk.
- Plain flour: Helping to thicken our sauce, the amount is minimal so you can replace with corn flour or corn starch or even bread flour.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic was used as the flavor is strongest, however, you can replace with granules.
- Broccoli: Fresh broccoli was used though you can replace with frozen, if you prefer. It's best to thaw fully so your mac and cheese doesn't become too watery.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to make Broccoli Mac and Cheese:
Boil your water: Boil salty water in a heavy pot.
Broccoli: Blanche your broccoli until bright, set aside to cool.
Boil your pasta water: Get that water into a rolling boil and cook until al dente.
Melty garlic butter: Melt the butter with the sliced garlic.
1
Garlic breadcrumbs: Remove the garlic and stir to create your breadcrumb topping.
White sauce: Make your smooth white sauce with a whisk in hand.
Cheesy white sauce: Add handfuls of grated cheese to your sauce until smooth and melted.
2
Cut it: Cut the broccoli florets into 1 inch pieces.
3
Stir it: With a little pasta water, stir the pasta and broccoli into the cheesy sauce until fully coated.
4
Baking dish: Spoon into your baking dish.
Top it: Sprinkle over the garlic breadcrumbs.
5
Golden: Bake until golden.
Serve it: Spoon onto serving plates and dig in!
Equipment needed to make this
Saucepan: To cook your broccoli.
Large pot: To cook your pasta.
Grater: A grater is essential for the cheese for the bechamel, unless, you're using storebought grated cheese.
Saucepan: A small saucepan is also needed to make the béchamel sauce.
Baking dish: To bake your mac and cheese.
FAQs for the best Broccoli Mac and Cheese
Absolutely! While the recipe calls for cheddar cheese, feel free to experiment with different varieties such as applewood, gouda, or even a combination of multiple cheeses. This will add unique flavors and create a personalized twist to your Broccoli Mac and Cheese.
Yes, you can easily make this recipe gluten-free by using gluten-free macaroni and a gluten-free flour blend in the cheese sauce. Always check the labels of your ingredients to ensure they are gluten-free, and make any necessary substitutions as needed.
Certainly! You can make this dish ahead of time by preparing it up until the baking step. Simply assemble the macaroni, broccoli, and cheese sauce in a baking dish, cover tightly, and refrigerate. When you're ready to enjoy, bring it to room temperature and bake as directed. This is a great option for meal prepping or when hosting gatherings.
Yes, you can freeze any leftover Broccoli Mac and Cheese. Ensure it is cooled completely, then transfer it to an airtight container. It can be stored in the freezer for up to three months. To reheat, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and then bake until heated through.
More pasta recipes you'll enjoy
Broccoli Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 350 grams / 1 large broccoli florets only
Crispy topping
- 42 grams / ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 20 grams / 1 handful cheddar cheese grated
Cheese sauce
- 55 grams / 4 tablespoons butter
- 3 cloves garlic peeled and finely sliced
- 50 grams / 6 tablespoons plain flour
- 500 milliliters / 2 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon sea or kosher salt
- 200 grams / 7.05 ounces cheddar cheese grated
- 400 grams / 1 pound macaroni pasta
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 220C/430F.
Broccoli
- Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil, tossing in the broccoli florets and cooking until bright green, approximately 3 minutes.
- Drain and set the broccoli aside to cool.
Pasta
- Fill the large pot with enough water to cook your pasta and place on high heat until it has reached a rolling boil, add in ½ tablespoon salt.
- Cook your pasta per packet directions until a butter knife cuts through it with a little resistance.
Cheese sauce and crispy topping
- Meanwhile, place a large frying pan on medium heat and add in the butter and garlic until simmering and the garlic is beginning to turn golden at the edges.
- Remove from the heat and lower the heat to low.
- Remove the garlic (see note), place into a small bowl with the breadcrumbs and grated cheese for the topping, stir together and set aside.
- Add the flour to the melted butter and whisk until it resembles a smooth paste.
- Return the butter and flour to the heat, whisking in approximately ¼ of the milk until smooth, if it is too thick and slightly crumbly, add a further ? cup milk until the mixture is smooth.
- Whisk until it thickens to the point you feel resistance and it is lightly simmering at the edges.
- Add in a further ? of the milk and whisk to combine, repeating the process of whisking until it thickens to the point where you feel resistance.
- Add in a handful portion of the grated cheddar, whisking to combine and melt it until the sauce is smooth.
- Repeat the remaining grated cheese in handfuls until fully melty and your sauce is thick and smooth.
- Cut the cooled broccoli into 1 inch pieces and set aside.
- Set ? cup of the pasta water aside and drain the pasta.
- Add to the cheesy sauce alongside the broccoli and stir together until everything is well coated in the sauce.
Mac and cheese
- Spoon into your baking dish and smooth out.
- Top with the garlic breadcrumbs evenly and place in the oven for 15 minutes until golden on top.
- Remove and serve up.
- Dig in!
Notes
- Pasta: Shells or large macaroni style pasta was used here thanks to the way it swirls up the creamy sauce. You can replace with other small pasta types such as Orecchiette or Fusilli.
- Broccoli: Fresh broccoli was used though you can replace with frozen, if you prefer. It's best to thaw fully so your mac and cheese doesn't become too watery. You could also add in finely chopped spinach or scallions to your Mac and cheese for extra vegetables.
- Cheese: Whilst cheddar cheese is recommended, feel free to make this your own by using applewood, gouda, or even a combination of multiple cheeses.
- Making this gluten free: You can easily make this gluten free by replacing the pasta with gluten free pasta and thickening your sauce with cornflour.
- Preparing your Mac and cheese in advance: You can make this dish ahead of time by preparing it up until the baking step. Simply assemble the macaroni, broccoli, and cheese sauce in a baking dish, cover tightly, and refrigerate. When you're ready to enjoy, bring it to room temperature and bake as directed. This is a great option for meal prepping or when hosting gatherings.
- Freezing any leftovers: This is easy to freeze, once cooled completely simply transfer it to an airtight container. It can be stored in the freezer for up to three months.
- Making your own breadcrumbs: You only require two pieces of sliced bread for the amount of breadcrumbs in this, so place in the oven as you heat up until lightly toasted. Remove and cool with the garlic pieces, place into a blender and blend until the mixture forms rough breadcrumbs.
Nutrition
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