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–+ servings
A bowl of Healthy One Pot Broccoli Mac & Cheese with tender pasta, vibrant broccoli florets, and sliced mushrooms.

Healthy One Pot Broccoli Mac & Cheese

This one pot broccoli mac and cheese recipe is easy to customize with your favorite vegetables or proteins and always turns out creamy and cheesy. It is a quick, nutritious meal for busy families.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Vegetables
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 8 ounces baby bella mushrooms thinly sliced
  • 1 small white onion thinly sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
Pasta and Liquid
  • 1 pound uncooked pasta Recommend a shape with a 7-8 minute cooking time
  • 4 cups water
  • 1.5 cups half and half
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 generous pinch fine sea salt and freshly-ground black pepper for seasoning
  • 12 ounces broccoli florets cut into bite-sized pieces
Cheese
  • 2 cups freshly-shredded sharp cheddar cheese (8 ounces)
  • 1/2 cup freshly-grated Parmesan cheese (1 ounce)

Equipment

  • Large stockpot
  • Heatproof measuring cup

Method
 

  1. Heat butter in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and sauté, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 7 minutes or until most of their liquid has evaporated and the mushrooms are browned.
  2. Add onion and sauté for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and sauté for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  3. Add pasta, water, half and half, Dijon, crushed red pepper flakes, a generous pinch of salt and pepper and stir to combine. Bring the pasta to a boil, stirring occasionally to break up the pasta.
  4. Once the pasta reaches a boil, stir in the broccoli. Reduce heat to medium to maintain a low boil and continue cooking the pasta uncovered until it is just al dente.
  5. Check the liquid remaining in the pot. If there is more than about 1/2 cup, dip a heatproof measuring cup in to remove and save the excess liquid, and set it to the side.
  6. Stir in the cheeses until melted and combined. If the pasta seems too dry, stir some of the reserved liquid back in as needed.
  7. Taste the dish and season with additional salt and pepper as needed.
  8. Serve warm.

Notes

If the pasta shape you use requires more or less cooking time than 7 to 8 minutes, adjust the cooking time. You should aim to have about 1/2 cup of starchy pasta water remaining in the pot, removing any extra, before mixing in the cheese.

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