I love this recipe! This baked mac and cheese is healthy, high in dietary fibre, easy to make and comfort food at its best. This dinner recipe is perfect for a chilly evening in with your family. It’s also great the next day to take to work – that is if there’s anything left!
I’ve been making this recipe for several years and I’ve refined it and changed it over time. It’s based on Skinnytaste’s recipe for Skinny Baked Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese.
I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
Ingredients to make Baked Mac and Cheese
2 1/2 cups of 100% whole grain short pasta (I used rotini)
4 cups of broccoli or cauliflower (or a mixture of both)
2 tablespoons of butter
1/4 cup of whole wheat flour
2 cups of skim milk
2 cups of reduced fat cheddar cheese
salt and pepper to taste
Herbes de Provence to taste
4 tablespoons of parmesan cheese
What you need to make Baked Mac and Cheese
Please note, this post contains affiliate links. If you purchase an item using one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, please see my disclaimer page.
Pre-heat your oven to 375 degrees and lightly spray a casserole dish with olive oil spray. I use an oval-shaped casserole dish and it seems to work well.
Bring lightly salted water to a boil.
Once the water has boiled, cook the pasta per the instructions on the box and add in the broccoli/cauliflower so it gets cooked as well.
After the pasta is cooked al dente (still a bit firm), drain the pasta and the broccoli/cauliflower and set them aside. Once the pasta and veggies cool down, chop the cooked veggies into bite sized pieces.
Using the same pot you used to cook the pasta (to make clean up easier and faster), melt the butter on low heat (so as not to burn the butter or the pot).
When the butter has melted, add the whole wheat flour and mix until fully combined.
Then add in the skim milk, season lightly with salt and pepper and add in the Herbes de Provence to taste.
Bring the milk mixture to a boil and let simmer for around 5 minutes, mixing with a wooden spoon several times. When the milk mixture has thickened a bit, take it off the heat. Then add in the two cups of cheddar cheese. Stir the cheese in the milk mixture until fully melted.
Once the cheese has melted, add in the pasta and broccoli/cauliflower. Combine the pasta, veggies and cheese mixture until fully covered.
Place the pasta, veggie and cheese mixture into the prepared casserole dish. Flatten out the top a bit to make sure that the pasta is evenly spread out. Then top the pasta mixture with the grated parmesan cheese (if you happen to add more than 4 tablespoons don’t worry – I won’t tell anyone…)
Bake the casserole uncovered for 20 minutes.
Who doesn't love warm and yummy #mac&cheese! Click To TweetIf you think this dish looks yummy (which it totally is), you should also take a look at my Pesto Pasta with Roast Tomatoes!
Mother of 3 says
This look so delicious! Pinned.
easypeasylifematters says
This sounds and looks so amazing, perfect comfort food! 🙂
Marilyn Lesniak says
Thank you so much for linking at #overthemoon! I look forward to seeing what you share every week. Please come back for #WonderfulWednesday or #ThursdayFavoriteThings. Don’t forget to comment your link #’s so I can be sure to visit and you get a chance to be featured! Pinned and shared.
Kathleen - Bloggers Lifestyle says
Quick and easy baked mac and cheese, I love the addition of all the vegies.
Kathleen
Bloggers Pit Stop
Nicole Salama says
Thanks Kathleen I like adding something healthy to something as yummy as mac and cheese
Marie says
This looks delicious! I love baked pasta dishes. Thanks for sharing your recipe with us at Merry Monday this week!
Nicole Salama says
Thanks very much Marie!
Elaine Matthews says
Oh this looks yummy!! I love the addition of the vegetables!! Can’t beat a great Mac & Cheese recipe!! Thanks for sharing on My 2 Favorite Things on Thursday! Hope to see you again tomorrow!! Pinned!
Nicole Salama says
Thanks Elaine and thank you for pinning the recipe!
Janet Trieschman says
There is no better comfort food than mac n cheese! Thanks for sharing your post with us a Creatively Crafty http://tryit-likeit.com/link-party-it
Nicole Salama says
I totally agree Janet! It’s one of my favourites for sure
Mrs. AOK says
This looks and sounds gooood! Thanks for sharing with us at #MMBH!
xoxo
Nicole Salama says
Thanks so much!
Winnie says
It looks fantastic and I’d love to try it with broccoli (we looooooove broccoli)
With some green salad and it’s the perfect dinner for us 🙂
Nicole Salama says
Thanks Winnie! Hope you enjoy
Ilka says
Baked mac and cheese sounds great – especially with a healthy spin like this! Pinning!
Nicole Salama says
Thanks Ilka – hope you like it!
mainy - myrealfairy says
Oh yummy, I love this! I always get in the cooking mood when I read recipes and this is no exception!
mainy – myrealfairy
#KCACOLS
Nicole Salama says
Thanks Mainy hope you enjoy the recipe
Laura @ Dot Makes 4 says
This looks amazing! I’m going to make this for tea tonight! 🙂
Laura xx
#KCACOLS
Nicole Salama says
Hope it turned out well for you Laura!
Sarah says
Words can not explain how much I love mac n cheese. Will be trying this one. #KCACOLS
Nicole Salama says
Hope you enjoy it Sarah it is super yummy!
Bread says
Nom, take out the cauliflower and this would be perfect 😉 #KCACOLS
Nicole Salama says
That’s what’s so great about the recipe add or delete some or all of the veggies and it’s still delish
Helen Fern says
Thanks for sharing on the “What’s for Dinner” link up!
Nicole Salama says
Thanks Helen!
Amanda says
I do love mac and cheese, its proper comfort food. I haven’t tried it your way with veggies before, but it looks good. I have tried it with chopped bacon in it, and that is yummy. I have to use gluten free pasta and flour though, but it is still delicious.
Your photos look great too.
Amanda. #kcacols
Nicole Salama says
Thanks Amanda! I’ve tried it with gluten free pasta as well and it’s worked well. Hope it turns out well for you
A Moment with Franca says
This looks yummy!! Quick and easy to make even for terrible cookers than me!! LOL Thanks so much for sharing this recipe at #KCACOLS. I love having you here and it would lovely to see you again on Sunday!! 🙂 xx
Nicole Salama says
Thanks Franca! It is super easy and yummy. If you can boil pasta and turn on the oven you’ve got this one 🙂
Lola - Parenting By Numbers says
Ooh this looks yummy! #KCACOLS
Nicole Salama says
Thanks Lola hope you enjoy1
Lela says
Oh wow, this sounds great! I’d love to try it! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe at Inspiration Thursday!
Nicole Salama says
Thanks Lela it’s a really easy and yummy family recipe – hope you enjoy it!
RACHEL BUSTIN says
Mmmmm that looks really yummy and also a quick and easy meal xx
#KCACOLS
Nicole Salama says
Thanks Rachel – hope you enjoy!
Emma says
Oh wow, that looks amazing and really easy to make too! My kids would love that #KCACOLS
Nicole Salama says
Thanks Emma it is easy to make – hope you and your kids enjoy the recipe
Jess Powell (Babi a Fi) says
Oh, yum! This looks fab!
Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next Sunday x
Nicole Salama says
Thanks Jess!
Carlee says
Yum! I love using whole wheat pasta and flour where I can. We all enjoy mac and cheese and broccoli and cauliflower are a great addition! Thanks for sharing at Throwback Thursday.
Nicole Salama says
Thanks so much Carlee! Hope you enjoy it
Dana says
We definitely have similar tastes as I just made this last week! I am really loving how simple the recipes are from Skinnytaste.com and also how you’ve modified it by adding caulifower.
Nicole Salama says
Thanks Dana!