Broccoli Mac and Cheese

This stovetop 15 Minute Broccoli Mac and Cheese is made with just 1 pot and only 3 ingredients. Grab your pasta, Velveeta cheese and broccoli and make this easy creamy homemade mac and cheese recipe for dinner soon! Kids will love how delicious it tastes! And adults will love how simple it is to make!

You guys, you’re going to love this Broccoli Mac and Cheese. It’s an easy one pot, three ingredient, 15 minute meal with tender pasta in a creamy Velveeta cheese sauce and plenty of fresh broccoli. It’s absolutely delicious and one of my favorite cheesy pasta dishes.

1 pot – Seriously.
3 ingredients – Noodles, cheese and broccoli. Boom, easy.
15 minutes – A real 15 minute meal. Not 15 minutes plus prep time. You might even finish in 13 minutes!

With recent chilly nights where I wrap a blanket around me, I crave comfort food. I want it hot. I want it cheesy. But I also want some vegetables because a garden girl always wants some freshness. Plus, I like to think that when you add vegetables to a recipe it makes it a little bit healthier. Examples are Glazed Carrot Donuts, Kidney Bean Brownies, Black Bean Brownies, Pumpkin Chili or Pumpkin Macaroni and Cheese. See, all healthy recipes. You agree, right? Okay, great.

To the rescue, Broccoli and Mac and Cheese. With comfort food, I want it quick. That way I don’t have to get out of my warm blanket for any more time than necessary. I could wear my pink house robe while cooking to stay warm, but trust me, no one wants to see that.
Broccoli Mac and Cheese is a hearty main course or side dish that always gets rave reviews. An easy and family friendly meal you’ll want to whip up again and again!

Ingredients For Broccoli Mac and Cheese

Like I mentioned above, you’ll only need 3 ingredients – pasta, cheese and broccoli. That’s it! And just look at that beautiful fresh broccoli from our garden!

How To Make Broccoli Mac and Cheese

The first step in this recipe is to cook elbow noodles according to box instructions. When you have 3 minutes left to go on the noodles, add broccoli florets to the pot; stir. Drain (DO NOT RINSE), and add noodles back into the pot. Turn off the stovetop and place pot back on the burner.

Now, add cheese cubes, and salt & pepper to taste. Let cheese melt and stir, about 2-3 minutes.

BAM! Ready in less than 15 minutes! Dinner is served!

What Pasta Is Best For Mac And Cheese?

Elbow pasta is my favorite to use when I make macaroni and cheese. My best advice is to NOT use a long, thin pasta like spaghetti or linguine. I also wouldn’t use shapes that are super tiny. Select a pasta type that has plenty of surface area and nooks and crannies to capture as much of that cheesy goodness as possible. Just be aware that different pasta shapes might have varying cook times.

What Is The Best Cheese To Use For Macaroni And Cheese?

This recipe calls for Velveeta cheese, which is my favorite for any type of mac and cheese. It melts so perfectly. However, you can successfully make this recipe with lots of different types of cheese. If I wasn’t going to use Velveeta, I would choose a medium or sharp cheddar cheese. However, don’t use an extra sharp cheddar or aged cheddar, because they will have trouble melting into a smooth sauce. Other cheese options that work well are mozzarella, Monterey Jack and fontina cheese. I recommend using freshly grated cheese for this recipe. The bags of pre-shredded cheese often contain additives that keep the cheese from melting very well.

Mac And Cheese Variations?

This broccoli mac and cheese is absolutely divine as is, but feel free to experiment and add other tasty ingredients to make this dish your own. Some fun options are:

• Bacon
• Cooked chicken
• Pepperoni
• Caramelized onion
• Hot sauce
• Lobster

The options are endless!

I typically serve broccoli mac and cheese as a cozy main course. But it is also fantastic served as a side with meatloaf or steak. My family begs for this dish and I’m fine with that. It couldn’t be easier and I love it just as much as they do!

More Mac and Cheese Recipes You’ll Love

Bok Choy Mac and Cheese
Jalapeño Mac and Cheese
Pumpkin Mac and Cheese

Did you make and love this recipe? Give it your review below! 👇 And make sure to share your creations by tagging me or using the hashtag #brooklynfarmgirl on Instagram!

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15 Minute Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese

Easy Broccoli Mac and Cheese is made with 1 pot and 3 ingredients. Kids will love how delicious it tastes! And adults will love how simple it is to make!

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword Broccoli Mac and Cheese

Prep Time 0 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Servings 6

Calories 282 kcal

Ingredients

• 1 16 oz box elbow noodles
• 1 small broccoli head cut up into small florets
• 8 oz Velveeta loaf or any cheddar cheese of your choice
• salt + pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Cook elbow noodles according to box. With 3 minutes left to go on the noodles, add broccoli florets to the pot, stir.  Drain (DO NOT RINSE),  and put noodles back in pot.  Shut off stove and place back on burner.

2. Add cheese cubes and salt and pepper to taste.   Let cheese melt and stir, about 2-3 minutes.   

3. Serve, enjoy!