Healthy Mac and Cheese for Kids

Name: Healthy Mac and Cheese for Kids
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 12 ounces cubed butternut squash ((I use the Trader Joe’s microwavable bag of squash)); 1 cup diced carrots; 1 cup water; 1 tablespoon butter ((or olive oil)); 2 garlic cloves (minced); 3 cups vegetable broth; 1 cup unsweetened plain almond milk ((or another plain, unsweetened plant-based milk or regular milk)); 1 teaspoon salt; Black pepper to taste; ¼ teaspoon dijon mustard; 2 1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese; 16 ounces whole wheat elbow noodles ((or pasta of choice))

by Kaileigh Gaffney on September 29, 2023 10 comments

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5 stars (6 ratings)

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A healthier twist on a comforting dish! This Healthy Mac and Cheese for Kids recipe is filled with veggies that are pureed and mixed into the dish. If you are looking to add in more veggies to your kids’ plate and your own, without compromising flavor, this recipe is for you!

Healthy Mac and Cheese is in a big white pan with a serving spoon in it.

Another recipe I love that blends in veggies discreetly is Kid-Friendly Refried Bean and Mushroom Tostadas!

Healthy Mac and Cheese With Veggies

This Healthier Mac and Cheese for Kids recipe incorporates pureed butternut squash and carrots creating a creamy texture and slightly sweet flavor. I love being able to include veggies in recipes when you don’t even notice them!

One of my favorite things about this recipe is that it is freezer-friendly and it makes a lot! I love freezing half of the recipe for a quick and easy meal for the family on a future busy weeknight. You could also make this Mac and Cheese over the weekend and freeze the whole recipe so you have enough for a future dinner and leftovers for lunch.

An overhead view of a bowl of healthy macaroni and cheese.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Baby-led weaning friendly. My 1.5-year-old has been loving this recipe for a while now and he only has a few teeth! I use the Solid Starts app to help me with baby-led weaning.

Quick. This recipe is ready in just about 25 minutes!

One-pot. I love that the actual recipe is cooked in just one pot! However, you will have to use a separate bowl and a blender/food processor to heat and blend the carrots and butternut squash. It’s easy though!

The pot that I used to cook the Mac and Cheese and that is shown in these photos is a Larder & Vine braiser. I use it for so many things! You can get 20% off any Larder & Vine product by using my code: SUPERMOMEATS

Healthy Mac and Cheese Ingredients

Butternut squash
Carrots
Water
Butter or olive oil
Garlic
Vegetable broth
Almond milk (plain and unsweetened)
Salt
Black pepper
Dijon mustard
Sharp cheddar cheese
Whole wheat elbow noodles

A side view of mac and cheese in a big serving dish with a serving spoon in it.

Ingredient Substitutions

Butternut squash – you can try replacing the butternut squash with another type of squash or sweet potato
Butter – you can replace the butter with olive oil or another type of vegetable oil
Almond milk – you can replace the almond milk with another type of plant-based milk (making sure that it is plain and unsweetened) or with regular milk
Dijon mustard – you can use regular mustard
Sharp cheddar cheese – using sharp cheddar really adds to the flavor, but you can use a milder cheddar if that’s all you have. You can also use a plant-based cheese if you want to make this recipe dairy-free/vegan.
Whole wheat elbow noodles – you can use whichever type of pasta noodle your family likes, including gluten-free noodles!

How to Make Healthy Mac and Cheese for Kids

STEP 1 – Cook the veggies

In a microwave-safe bowl, cover butternut squash and carrots fully with water. Cook in the microwave until soft, about 8 minutes.

Carefully remove the bowl from the microwave and strain the water. Pour the butternut squash and carrots into a high-speed blender or food processor, add 1 cup of water to it, and set aside to allow it to cool a little bit before blending.

STEP 2 – Cook the pasta

Meanwhile, in a large pot, melt butter and then add garlic. Sauté for about 30 seconds.

Add vegetable broth, almond milk, salt, pepper, and mustard and bring to a boil.

Once boiling, add pasta noodles and cook for amount of time the pasta package indicates. Do not strain the pasta once it’s cooked! You want to keep any extra liquid and flavor in the pot.

STEP 3 – Puree the vegetables

While waiting for the pasta to cook, puree the vegetables and water in the blender.

STEP 4 – Mix it together

Once pasta is cooked, stir in cheese and pureed vegetables until well combined. Serve right away. It gets less creamy over time!

How to Store

Fridge: Once cooled, store Mac and Cheese in an air-tight container for up to 3 days in the fridge.

Freeze: Let the Mac and Cheese cool completely. Then, place it in an air-tight freezer-safe container for an easy meal later on! I love using Soupercubes trays for easy, portioned freezing.

Reheat from frozen: Ideally, pull Mac and Cheese out of the freezer the night before and defrost in the fridge. But, if you’re like me and you forget to do this…simply defrost the Mac and Cheese (keep it in the Tupperware) in a bowl of water for about 10 minutes. The water doesn’t even need to be hot for this step!

Then, remove Mac and Cheese from the Tupperware and place it in a microwave-safe dish. Pour some almond milk (about ¼ cup) over frozen pasta and microwave for about 3-4 minutes, or until it’s cooked through. Stir to combine. Top with more shredded cheese if desired. Serve warm!

More Kid-Friendly Meals

Cheesy Vegetarian Flautas With Beans and Sweet Potato

Kid-Friendly Refried Bean and Mushroom Tostadas

Vegan One-Pot Tomato Vodka Pasta

Lemon Parmesan Baked Gnocchi With Zucchini and Chickpeas

If you tried this Healthy Mac and Cheese for Kids recipe or any other recipe on the blog, let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment/rating below!

5 stars (6 ratings)