Broccoli Mac and Cheese
on Jul 22, 2025
This homemade creamy Broccoli Mac and Cheese recipe is a lightened up version of a family favorite!
This broccoli mac and cheese is so delicious!
At this point I’m pretty sure my kids are made up of 70% macaroni and cheese.
I think it’s safe to say that if you are a parent, this beloved staple is in regular rotation in your home as well.
Today’s recipe is one of my favorites to make. It has a rich, homemade cheesy sauce and pairs perfectly with steamed broccoli.
When I was creating this recipe, I knew I wanted to make it be that ultra creamy cheese decadent mac and cheese of my dreams.
Adding a little bit of lightness with broccoli while still keeping it that traditional cozy comfort food was the perfect complement.
This makes a great weeknight meal that everyone will love!
Ingredients you will need
- Medium shell pasta: or any pasta you like.
- Unsalted butter
- All-purpose flour
- Whole milk
- Heavy cream
- Sharp cheddar cheese: freshly grated is a must for this recipe and melts a lot smoother than bagged shredded cheese.
- Salt
- Broccoli florets: cut into bite sized pieces.
How to make broccoli mac and cheese
Step 1: Boil a pot of water and cook the pasta to al dente according to the package instructions.
Step 2: Dice the broccoli into bite sized pieces. In the last 5 minutes of cook time, add the broccoli to the water with the pasta while it cooks.
Recipe Tip
Boiling the broccoli with the pasta not only saves time, but let’s you skip a whole step of steaming it alone. I found five minutes to be the perfect amount of time to cook bite sized broccoli florets to steamed tender texture.
Step 3: While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a medium sized sauce pan.
Step 4: Add the flour and whisk for 1 minute constantly.
Step 5: Stir in the milk and heavy cream and whisk until thickened, around 5 minutes.
Step 6: Drain the pasta and broccoli once the pasta reaches al dente.
Step 7: Remove the cheese sauce from the heat and stir in the salt and freshly grated cheddar cheese.
Joy’s Tip
Don’t skip grating the cheese yourself! Bagged shredded cheese contains a stabilizer to prevent caking which also means that it will not melt as smoothly as cheese from a block.
Step 8: Stir the drained pasta and broccoli into the cheese sauce. Serve immediately.
This is the ultimate comfort food that I feel a little bit better about eating since it also includes a serving of veggies too!
A serving of this recipe has 25 grams of protein in it and is guaranteed to please even your pickiest eaters.
I served this with a salad on the side and it was a big hit!
Storing
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
This recipe is ultra creamy, cheesy, and lick your bowl clean delicious.
Try this broccoli mac and cheese recipe for dinner next week!
More Dinner Favorites
Broccoli Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 8 oz medium shell pasta
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup whole milk
- ⅓ cup heavy cream
- 8 oz block sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups bite sized broccoli florets
Instructions
- Boil a pot of water and cook the pasta to al dente according to the package instructions.
- Dice the broccoli into bite sized pieces.
- In the last 5 minutes of the pasta's cook time, add the broccoli to the water with the pasta while it cooks.
- While the pasta is cooking, melt the butter in a medium sized sauce pan.
- Add the flour and whisk it for 1 minute constantly.
- Stir in the milk and heavy cream and whisk until thickened, around 5 minutes.
- Drain the pasta and broccoli once the pasta reaches al dente.
- Remove the cheese sauce from the heat and stir in the salt and freshly grated cheddar cheese.
- Stir the drained pasta and broccoli into the cheese sauce. Serve immediately
