This Baked Broccoli Mac and Cheese recipe is full of flavor and delicious cheesy goodness! Made with elbow noodles, shredded cheese and fresh broccoli.
Baked broccoli mac is one of my favorite comfort foods. Pair creamy cheese sauce with both filling and hearty broccoli and pasta, and you practically have a complete meal. It’s a great recipe because it holds the best flavors, and offers a fun, crunchy topping, making it a crowd pleaser for the entire family.
The Best Baked Broccoli Mac and Cheese
The best thing about this Baked Broccoli Mac and Cheese recipe is that it’s full of cheesy flavor and incredibly filling! If you’re looking for total comfort food, but with healthier elements (I’m not calling this a healthy dish y’all – it’s mac and cheese!), this is the recipe to consider. The cheesy broccoli will add protein, fiber, and vitamins to help nourish your body without sacrificing flavor.
The crunchy, breaded topping to this mac and cheese adds a fun contrast to the otherwise soft texture, making each bite even more delightful. If you’ve ever had trouble getting your kids (or partner) to eat their veggies, this is a delicious way to dress them up and hopefully open their minds to more broccoli in the future.
While this dish is great to make at home for the family, it’s also great to take to potlucks and office parties. Most people love mac and cheese—and will be tempted to take some even if they’re not a huge fan of broccoli. Once they get a taste, they’ll be tempted to try the whole thing, and perhaps you’ll turn them into a broccoli believer too!
Baked Broccoli Mac and Cheese Ingredients
- Elbow macaroni
- Fresh broccoli florets
- Butter
- All purpose flour
- Dry mustard powder
- Pepper
- Milk
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- Bread crumbs or panko breadcrumbs
How to Make Baked Broccoli Mac and Cheese
Preheat your oven before getting started. While you wait, cook the macaroni and broccoli in boiling water. Drain and place in baking dish. You can use either a 9×9 or 11×8 baking dish.
In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat and slowly add the dry ingredients. Mix until smooth. Repeat for the milk and cheese.
Pour cheese sauce mixture on top of macaroni and broccoli and mix to fully coat the noodles.
Add bread crumbs on top of the mac and cheese, and bake until the cheese bubbles on top!
Serve with some sweet cornbread for a full comfort meal and enjoy!
Storing Leftovers
Store in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator. If stored properly, it will last up to three to five days. If you want to ensure it lasts longer, you can freeze it for up to three months. Place in freezer bags or freezer-safe, airtight containers. This can also double as a frozen casserole dish, just use cooking spray to coat a foil pan, bake, and save. Storing it in the freezer for a later date will be great for easy meal prep on busy weeknights!
Baked Broccoli Mac and Cheese FAQs
What cheese is best in mac and cheese?
For this recipe, I find using shredded cheddar cheese works great! If you want to make it extra creamy, try using Velveeta cheese because it melts nicely, smooth and creamy. Monterey Jack also works well because of its higher butterfat content which allows it to melt easier. Sharp cheddar, Gruyere, and Colby jack can also work if you have those on hand.
What is the best seasoning for mac and cheese?
For this recipe, I kept it simple and used dry mustard powder and black pepper. However, there are many seasonings you can use for a traditional mac and cheese recipe. A few examples are garlic powder, red pepper flakes, onion powder, etc. Either of those (or a combination) will make a great way to spice up and season your mac and cheese dish. Next time, you can try one or two of those out! Top with parmesan cheese for even more flavor!
Can I make this even faster?
Craving mac and cheese fast? Try my 3 ingredient, 15 minute broccoli mac and cheese recipe!
Can I make mac and cheese the day before?
Yes, you can definitely make your baked broccoli mac and cheese dish ahead of time. I’d suggest no more than two days before, though. You can either make the entire dish two days before and reheat it later, or make the melted cheese sauce ahead of time and heat it up to pour over the day of, then bake.
More Delicious Cheesy Recipes
- Best Cheeseburger Soup
- Crockpot Mac and Cheese
- Tomato Macaroni And Cheese
- Cheesy Skillet Lasagna
- Cheesy Broccoli
- Pumpkin Jalapeno Mac And Cheese
- Slow Cooker Broccoli Cheese Potato Soup
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Baked Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese
PrintIngredients
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 4 cups broccoli florets chopped into small florets
- 1/2 cup butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard powder
- 2 cups milk
- 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup bread crumbs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Add elbow noodles and broccoli to a large pot of boiling water. Cook noodles according to the package instructions (along with broccoli). Drain pasta and broccoli and pour in 9×9 baking dish.
- In a saucepan melt butter over medium heat. Add flour, pepper and dry mustard and continue to whisk until smooth.
- Add milk and continue whisking until creamy and thickened.
- Add shredded cheese and continue mixing until you have a smooth cheese sauce.
- Pour this cheese mixture on top of pasta and broccoli in baking dish and stir to fully coat the noodles. Sprinkle bread crumbs evenly on top.
- Bake for 25 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy!
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