Kids love mac and cheese. It has been a staple with my kids and they are picky with a capital P. They are not fans of veggies, so I have to be creative with the way I present them. In the past I have sneaked them into Carrot Muffins and Spinach Muffins. Today, I am sharing a recipe for some deliciously cheesy Hidden Veggie Baked Mac and Cheese. It is so good that you won’t believe there are veggies in there.
Most of this hidden veggie baked mac and cheese recipe is made on the stove top. You just throw it in the oven for the last bit to bake.
You can certainly up the level of cheesiness in this recipe. I thought 2 1/2 cups were plenty, but you could go for 3 cups and have the ultimate cheesy meal. We used a cheddar/jack mix but you can use all cheddar if you want.
The secret veggie in the baked mac and cheese? Carrots! I pureed them ahead of time and froze them in an ice cube tray. They I just popped them out as needed.
I used one cup of thawed pureed carrot, but as with the cheese, you can up the amount of carrot. If you choose to do this, taste it as you go along to make sure you are not adding so much that it changes the taste of the dish.
After adding the milk and mixing all the ingredients, I poured it into a 2 1/2 quart CorningWare baking dish and popped it in the oven.
Thirty minutes later, my kids were chowing down on some scrumptious mac and cheese never knowing that they were getting some nutritious carrots as well. Mission accomplished!
This is a great recipe to bring to a potluck. This would also be delicious to make with some chicken, ham or other kind of meat mixed in. Yum! I’m getting hungry just thinking about it.
Hidden Veggie Baked Mac and Cheese
Hidden Veggie Baked Mac and Cheese - Food Fun Friday
Hidden Veggie Baked Mac and Cheese - for the picky eaters at your house. They will never know this yummy mac and cheese contains veggies!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 453 kcal
Ingredients
- 16 oz package of elbow macaroni
- 6 tablespoons of butter
- 2 1/2 cups of a mixture of shredded cheddar and jack cheeses
- 1 cup of milk
- 1 cup pureed carrot
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Boil pasta according to package directions.
- Drain and return to pot.
- Stir in butter over low heat until butter is melted. Remove from heat.
- Stir in cheese.
- Add in defrosted carrot puree and stir to combine.
- Add milk, salt and pepper.
- Transfer to a 2 1/2 quart greased baking dish and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.
Nutrition Facts
Hidden Veggie Baked Mac and Cheese - Food Fun Friday
Amount Per Serving
Calories 453 Calories from Fat 198
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 22g 34%
Saturated Fat 13g 65%
Cholesterol 62mg 21%
Sodium 394mg 16%
Potassium 252mg 7%
Total Carbohydrates 45g 15%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Sugars 4g
Protein 17g 34%
Vitamin A 66.8%
Vitamin C 1.1%
Calcium 30.9%
Iron 5.7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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jessica mink says
I must try this! My kids are so stinking picky. I doubt they will even eat this mac n cheese but heck it's worth a try. They notice when I try different hot dogs and even different boxed mac n cheese…anything different they notice but i am going to try this out! thanks for sharing:)
Aubrey says
Have you tried using different veggies with this too? I have some textural issues and if I can work veggies into a meal anywhere without having to choke them down that’s a major plus!
Vicky says
I haven’t, but wonder if cauliflower would work well too.
Kelly says
How do you disguise the bright orange color of the carrots? I can definitely tell there’s something else in there besides cheese, so my kids and husband will as well.
Vicky says
Hi Kelly, I actually didn’t notice the color was that different from mac and cheese we have gotten at restaurants or the boxed stuff. My family didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. You can try sprinkling some Parmesan cheese on top and hope that distracts. 🙂
Maria says
Did you boil the carrots before you pureed them?
Vicky says
Hi Maria, Yes they were boiled before being pureed.
Annemarie says
I love the carrot in there! It’s not only healthier than the traditional version, but prettier, too!
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says
Ah what a great way to hide some veggies. This would definitely go down a treat with my kids!
Veena Azmanov says
yessss! This is the perfect recipe for me. Looks VERY tasty! Now, this recipe will be one of my favorites. Great recipe. I like all the ingredients in it. thank you.
Adriana Lopez Martin says
Very clever hiding veggies for the kiddos to eat their food. At home we love veggies but our grandson does not like any green so it is challenging at times. Thanks for the tip!
Rebecca | Let's Eat Cake says
Great way to sneak some veggies in a comfort food dish! I also love trying butternut squash in my mac and cheese – makes it super creamy!