Baked Broccoli Mac and Cheese made with elbow noodles, shredded cheese and fresh broccoli. This simple weeknight recipe is always a hit with my entire family – even picky kids! Covered in a rich layer of buttery breadcrumbs and baked to achieve cheesy perfection, this dish is pure comfort food.
Baked Broccoli Mac and Cheese
Broccoli mac and cheese is one of my favorite comfort foods. I mean what’s not to love about broccoli and cheese combo (shout out to my other favs: cheesy broccoli and 15 minute broccoli mac and cheese with velveeta)?
If you’re looking for a simple homemade macaroni and cheese recipe, while sneaking in vegetables – this is it! My guess is there will be no leftovers!
Ingredients You Need
- Elbow macaroni noodles
- Fresh broccoli florets (you can totally use frozen broccoli if that’s all you have, just add it with the pasta!)
- Kitchen basics: butter, all-purpose, dry mustard powder, pepper
- Milk
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- Bread crumbs
How to Bake 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 leftover mac and cheese in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator. If stored properly, it will last up to 3-4 days.
If you want to ensure it lasts longer, you can freeze it for up to 3 months. Place the mac and cheese in freezer bags or freezer-safe airtight containers. Storing it in the freezer for a later date will be great for easy meal prep on busy weeknights!
Pin for later:
Quick-Baked Broccoli Mac 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!
Tammy Free says
Question: can you substitute regular mustard for the dry mustard? Thank you!
Pamela Reed says
Yes, you can substitute regular mustard for dry mustard powder in mac and cheese! Use about 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons of prepared mustard (like yellow mustard or Dijon) to replace the 1/2 teaspoon of dry mustard powder.
Carolyn says
In the oven right now! Smells and looks amazing! So creamy!!!
Pamela says
Enjoy this mac and cheese Carolyn!
cheflouisemellor says
Oooh I love broc mac n cheese… I have one on my site too!
Pamela says
Yummy!
ashley - baker by nature says
I seriously LOVE broccoli, so this baked mac and cheese situation is right up my ally! Love it! xo
Pamela says
Broccoli love forever! 🙂
Joy @ Baking-Joy says
This looks gorgeous Pamela, I love baked pasta recipes (particularly with broccoli, best vegetable ever!)
Pamela says
Broccoli is a winner for sure! Thanks Joy!
Monica says
Love the clear, vibrant pictures. And I always swoon at the sight of mac & cheese. I’m a fan!
Pamela says
Thanks Monica!
Sarah says
MMM, baby. I love broccolli in cheese sauce, I love mac n cheese; you KNOW i’m going to love this. Kudos to you on maintaining the perfect balance of gooey insides and crispy top!
Pamela says
Thanks Sarah! Goo balance is so important! 🙂
Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe says
I love the combination of broccoli and cheese. And let’s be real, who doesn’t love a good mac and cheese recipe? Perfect comfort food! I’m saving this recipe for a day when I need a comforting cheesy meal!
Pamela says
Great to her Amanda, I hope you have one comforting cheesy day! 🙂
Jamie says
This is one of my favorite ways to eat m&c. Adding something green to all that cheese makes me feel a little better about eating it. I usually add steamed broccoli and carrots to my fettucini alfredo too 🙂
Pamela says
I think adding a bit of vegetables to pasta always makes it yummier. Love adding broccoli and carrots! Yum!
Melinda's Musings says
Your photos are making me hungry!! Looks delicious, although I think I may substitute the Velveeta with some real cheddar or something else. But I love the broccoli addition. Pamela, I really enjoy your blog and I nominated you on my blog today for the Liebster Award! http://www.melindadiorio.com/2013/06/liebster-award-nomination-nominees.html
Pamela says
I’m glad they make you hungry, nom nom nom!
Thanks Melinda! HUGS! Will check this out.. really like this idea. 🙂
Cecile Hamel-Roy says
I honestly didn’t realize people still cooked with Velveeta – I thought only Baby Boomers such as myself were Velveeta fans. There’s nothing like Velveeta for creaminess – and I love that you also add Monterey Jack, another of my “faves”. Do you remember when Velveeta was selling a “Mexican” version of Velveeta? It made the BEST hot dip!! (This was in the ’80’s – I used to make it all the time and everyone loved it.)
Pamela says
I love Velveeta! I grew up on Velveeta boxed mac and cheese, so I love it all ways. I googled the Mexican version and it turns out they still sell it! I have to be on the lookout..
Faith @ Pixie Dust Kitchen says
I love that this is baked but is still ooey-gooey in the middle!
Pamela says
Hey Faith – best of both worlds, right?
Danielle @ Dani Cakes says
Oh My! My mouth is watering right now. Just saved this for future use 🙂
Pamela says
Hahaha, hope you enjoy Danielle!
Dan from Platter Talk says
Beautiful! I love the incorporation of seasonal broccoli with this traditional dish! What a great way to encourage healthy foods for kids – and adults! Very nicely done.
Pamela says
Thanks Dan! I think this could be a family favorite. 🙂
Katie says
I can’t eat mac and cheese anymore (the gluten and dairy thing…sigh), but back in the day, that was a staple for me. And I LOVED to add broccoli to it. I was more of a Kraft girl back then also, but even boxed mac and cheese seemed more gourmet with brocooli in it. Also? Salsa. Don’t knock it til you try it.
Pamela says
Kraft is delicious too, I welcome all mac and cheese with open loving arms!
Susan says
TO KATIE:
You can use a gluten-free elbow pasta and dairy-free cheese. Try it!
JW_Umbrella Treasury says
I can’t wait to try this! We got lots of broccoli from our CSA this week and your recipe seems like the perfect way to use it (I had been thinking of broccoli soup. But this would be so much better).
I loved Mac ‘n Cheese as a kid, but ONLY the Kraft kind. I can distinctly remember one time when my grandmother (fabulous cook) was babysitting me while my parents were away. I requested Mac ‘n Cheese for dinner and was expecting the orange stuff that comes out of a box. She made a version with béchamel, mustard, bread crumbs, and about six kinds of cheese…and I didn’t like it, at all. I ate it, of course, but I was so disappointed not to have gotten the Kraft kind. I hope my taste buds have matured by now : )
Pamela says
I have a awesome broccoli soup that I will posting.. probably in the fall when it gets chillier.. be on the lookout! It will knock your socks off! If you need it sooner, just ask and I will give it to you!
Lovely mac and cheese your grandmother made you… sounds divine!
Rosie says
This looks so yummy! I love putting broccoli in macaroni and cheese, but I haven’t made it for ages. After seeing your delicious looking photos, I think I’m going to have to make it one night this week!
Pamela says
I hope you have a lovely mac and cheese dinner this week! 🙂
jackie @ Marin mama cooks says
Ok, this looks amazing and so gooey and cheesy! Mac and cheese is the one thing that I have never made for my kiddos (homemade that is). I think I need to though! I love that you used a curly pasta rather than the traditional elbow macaroni. There’s just more nooks and crannies to absorb all that cheese. Ok, your broccoli looks so much better than any broccoli I have seen at the farmers market. I think your vegetables do so well because they are treated with such love and sung to! Happy Monday to you girl ! My site has been going down on and off all day and I’m frustrated! Not a happy Monday for Marin mama 😉 xoxo,Jackie
Pamela says
I hope you make it.. and I hope that your family loves it! And totally agreed, the more nooks that cheese can go into, so it can then go into my mouth, the happier I am. Cheese, isn’t it wonderful?
Hope your Monday gets better! PS. Your smores were requested 2 nights in a row! 🙂
Asmita says
Ultimate comfort food!
Pamela says
You got it! Thank you mac and cheese!
Mr. & Mrs. P says
We can eat mac n cheese all day every day.. Hands down our favorite dish!! YUM!
Pamela says
I love it too!
Kelly says
This looks irresistibly good. Love this oozy and creamy mac and cheese. The addition of your garden broccoli makes this even more mouthwatering 🙂
Pamela says
Thanks Kelly! Love that creamy goodness!
Anne ~ Uni Homemaker says
I have a weakness for mac & cheese and can never say no to them. Love the broccoli addition. I won’t feel so guilty about eating a big bowl of it. Thanks for sharing your recipe Pamela. 🙂
Pamela says
Hahaha, broccoli automatically makes it healthy, right? 😉
Pam says
It looks creamy, decadent, and delicious. I love the broccoli in there.
Pamela says
Thanks Pam!
Kelly @ Hidden fruits and veggies says
I looooove broccoli in my mac and cheese 🙂 Makes comfort food extra delicious. I’ve never tried putting dry mustard in my mac and cheese, but I know a lot of people do– I think I’ll have to be a little more adventurous next time I make it!
Pamela says
The dry mustard gives it a little bit of a extra kick, it’s really good! Hope you enjoy Kelly!
Koko says
I think I’m drooling! Looks great lady!!
Pamela says
Warning: this will make you drool! 🙂 🙂
Francine says
Oooh holy crap…
Pamela says
Yum Yum Yum!
Suzanne says
Yay!! got this post. Looks absolutely delicious. I love mac and cheese and adding broccoli makes it even more wonderful! So glad to see I am not the only one that uses velveeta or those kraft singles along with other cheeses. Makes it so creamy and delicious.
Pamela says
I’m a Velveeta fan for life! High 5.
Sophie33 says
A divine recipe, Pamela! It looks smashing & truly tasty too! MMMMMMMM!
Pamela says
Thanks Sophie!
Sophie33 says
I made it this evening & my husband Peter & I loved it so much, my dear friend! It was superb!!!!!! X
Pamela says
That makes me so happy, thanks for letting me know! 🙂
Jaclyn says
This looks sooo delicious. We eat broccoli more than any other vegetable, and I love a good mac n cheese. This is my idea of a rainy sunday kind of meal…I actually hope we have one of those soon so I can make this!
Pamela says
Jaclyn, I never thought I would say this.. but I hope it rains on Sunday for you! 🙂