I was in the mood for some good Mac & Cheese today but wasn’t sure what kind to make. I was standing in the kitchen and I guess I had that “look” when my wife reminded me that we had some broccoli in the fridge that I needed to use before it went bad. So here you have it. My Broccoli Mac and Cheese recipe!
You all know how much I love my Mac & Cheese. I mean I have a whole category of recipes dedicated to Gourmet Mac & Cheese recipes. And I must say, they are all delicious! My Baked Mac and Cheese recipe is super easy to make.
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This Mac & Cheese tastes just like… Broccoli coated in melted cheese! Good thing it’s a Broccoli Mac & Cheese or I would be in trouble. The cayenne and paprika give this Mac & Cheese a little bit of a kick.
I find the combination of sharp cheddar cheese, broccoli and spices make this one of the more interesting Mac and Cheese recipes I’ve made.
What is Al Dente
When making Mac and Cheese, it’s important to cook the pasta al dente to ensure to best texture possible. If you are not familiar with the term “al dente”, it means cooking the pasta so it’s still chewy and form and that it will hold its shape when the sauce is added to it.
Is this Mac and Cheese Spicy
Depends. If you eat a lot of spicy food as I do, no this dish is not spicy. But if you aren’t used to eating spicy food, you might find the cayenne and paprika a little too much. You can safely leave out those two spices without affecting the overall flavor of this dish.
Ingredient Substitution
An alternative to using chicken broth is Better Than Bouillon. I often use it when I don’t have broth on hand.
Gather your Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients to make this Broccoli Mac & Cheese recipe (see recipe card for quantities): Macaroni, Broccoli Florets, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Unsalted Butter, Yellow Onion, All Purpose Flour, Cayenne Pepper, Paprika, Whole Milk, Low Sodium Chicken Broth, Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Dijon Mustard and Ground Black Pepper.
How to Make Broccoli Mac and Cheese
- In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook for five minutes. Add the broccoli and cook for four minutes or until the pasta is cooked al dente and the broccoli is just tender. Drain and return to the pot.
- Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, heat the oil and butter until it melts. Add the onions and cook for 3 to 5 minutes. Add in the all purpose flour, cayenne pepper and paprika. Whisk until the roux bubbles up.
- Whisk in the milk and chicken broth and bring to a quick boil. Once it bubbles, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until the sauce thickens about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Add the cheese to the sauce mixture and stir until melted. Stir in the mustard and season the sauce mixture with salt and pepper to taste.
- Combine the pasta and cheese mixture and toss to combine. Transfer to a large serving dish and serve.
Broccoli Mac and Cheese
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Ingredients
- 1 lb Elbow Macaroni
- 2 ½ Cups Broccoli Florets
- 1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2 Tbsp Unsalted Butter
- 1 small Yellow Onion, finely chopped
- 3 Tbsp All Purpose Flour
- ½ Tsp Cayenne Pepper
- ½ Tsp Paprika
- 3 cups Whole Milk
- 1 Cup Low Sodium Chicken Broth
- 3 Cups Sharp Cheddar Cheese, grated
- 1 Tbsp Dijon Mustard
- Ground Black Pepper
Instructions
- In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook for five minutes. Add the broccoli and cook for four minutes or until the pasta is cooked al dente and the broccoli is just tender. Drain and return to the pot.
- Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, heat the oil and butter until it melts. Add the onions and cook for 3 to 5 minutes. Whisk in the all purpose flour, cayenne pepper and paprika. Whisk until the roux bubbles up.
- Whisk in the milk and chicken broth and bring to a quick boil. Once it bubbles, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until the sauce thickens, about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Add the cheese to the sauce mixture and stir until melted. Stir in the mustard and season the sauce mixture with salt and pepper to taste.
- Combine the pasta and cheese mixture and toss to combine. Transfer to a large serving dish and serve.
I just love this Mac and cheese with the broccoli. The broccoli’s gives it a different taste which I love.