Dreams do come true — in the form of our One Pot Broccoli Mac and Cheese! If you’ve been on the hunt for a delectable one-pot pasta dish that’s a breeze to make, easy to clean up, and a surefire hit with your family, you’ve hit the jackpot.
And let’s talk about easy—20 minutes in the kitchen, tops. More time for you to shine elsewhere! After the feast, you’re looking at just one dish to clean (plus maybe a measuring cup), making this recipe a true champion in the dinner game.
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How to make this One Pot Broccoli Mac and Cheese
The magic of our One Pot Broccoli Mac and Cheese doesn’t stop at its tantalizing taste — it’s a hands-off wonder too! Once you’ve conquered the broccoli chopping and gathered all your ingredients, consider your work pretty much done. From there, it’s smooth sailing with minimal hands-on action.
- In a pot, add your pasta, chicken broth (or broth of choice), broccoli florets and seasonings. Stir everything together, bring the liquid up to a boil and cover.
- After the pot begins to boil, reduce the heat to medium low and allow everything to cook together for about 10-12 minutes, or until the pasta has reached your desired texture.
- Once the pasta is cooked, add in the cheeses, heavy cream and whole milk. Stir everything together for creamy goodness! At this point you can add a little extra milk, cream or seasoning to your taste preferences.
- Optional: set your oven to broil and pop your delicious mac and cheese in for a few minutes to crisp up the top. Make sure to keep a close eye so that it doesn’t burn!
- Serve up this delicious meal and basque in the compliments you are bound to receive.
The benefit of one pot pasta dishes
Our One Pot Broccoli Mac and Cheese not only delivers on the cheesy goodness but also takes the crown for a lightning-fast cleanup. Imagine the joy of having just one dish to tackle post-feast — it’s a total kitchen win!
Plus, it’s not just about the convenience; it’s the flavor infusion that happens when everything cooks in that single pot. Every bite is a celebration of simplicity and taste. So, whether you’re all about the easy cleanup or the enhanced flavor, this recipe has you covered!
Typically when you aim to cook pasta perfectly, you are boiling it in salted water in order to season the pasta as it absorbs the water and softens up to an al dente texture. The salt is super important here because it enhances the flavor of the pasta itself.
However, when you make this mac and cheese in one pot, you are getting the added flavor of the chicken broth (or broth of your choice) instead of water. Additionally, the seasonings and broccoli will add a further depth of flavor to the pasta itself making this dish an absolute flavor bomb!
From the time you’ll save cooking AND cleaning all the way to the jam packed bites of flavor, this One Pot Broccoli Mac and Cheese is going to be a game changing recipe that you’re going to want to add to your family’s monthly meal plan.
Why we love adding broccoli to this mac and cheese dish
If you’ve ever had a Panera Bread Broccoli Cheddar Soup, you know the magic that comes from the combination of broccoli and cheese — especially for the kiddos. Incorporating broccoli into this mac and cheese is a happy medium between allowing our kids to fall in love with veggies while also gently hiding just how green and healthy it is.
And by cooking the broccoli together with the pasta and cheese, the texture is absolute perfection. If you have a picky eater in your house, you know how important it is to achieve the right balance between crunchy and soggy when it comes to broccoli.
Furthermore, cruciferous vegetables like broccoli contain vitamins, minerals, and tons of antioxidants, making them a hero in the category of immune boosting veggies. Incorporating more broccoli into our meals, especially during cold and flu season, can help fortify our immune system. Who doesn’t love delicious food as medicine?
Love this recipe but cooking for someone with a dairy allergy?
There are plenty of dairy-free cheeses and dairy-free milks on the market these days, making it super straightforward to transform this dairy packed recipe into a delicious dairy-free mac and cheese. Simply grab your go-to dairy-free alternative and swap out the dairy items in this recipe! That way everyone can enjoy this delicious one pot meal! You can also try this dairy-free pasta recipe.
Common Questions about One Pot Broccoli Mac and Cheese
We love cavatappi but short pasta shapes like macaroni, shells, or rotini work best for one-pot mac and cheese.
Absolutely! Frozen broccoli is a time-saver and works perfectly in this recipe. Just make sure to thaw it and drain off any excess moisture.
Yes! Get creative! You can add chopped bacon, diced tomatoes, or even a sprinkle of breadcrumbs for extra crunch.
You sure can! Make it ahead of time, store it in the fridge, and reheat it gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.
One Pot Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 16 ounces uncooked pasta
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth or broth of choice
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 3 cups broccoli florets
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt more or less to taste
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper more or less to taste
- 1/2 cup cheddar cheese grated
- 1 cup monterrey jack cheese grated
- 1/2 cup heavy cream or milk
- 1/2 cup whole milk
Instructions
- Add pasta, broth, garlic, broccoli, and seasonings. Stir. Bring to a boil, and cover. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 10-12 minutes or until pasta is tender.16 ounces uncooked pasta, 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth or broth of choice, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 3 cups broccoli florets, 3 cloves minced garlic, 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Add cheese, heavy cream remaning ingredients and stir until nice and creamy. Add a splash of milk if you like it creamier. Option: Feel free to broil in the oven for a few minutes to crisp the top!1/2 cup cheddar cheese, 1 cup monterrey jack cheese, 1/2 cup heavy cream, 1/2 cup whole milk
Video
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Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Best mac & cheese ever♡ It’s easy and fast and delicious. My family loved it, I’ll put it on the yummy list.
Thank you so much, Shary! 😊
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
Absolutely delicious and so easy! My son loved it!
Thank you, Denise! We’re so glad it was a hit. 😊
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
Delicious recipe! I agree with other commenters that the additional 1/2 cup of milk is unnecessary (the video doesn’t show it being used either). I’d skip it and then if you think you need more liquid then add it at the end. I also didn’t add any additional salt, but did throw in a few shakes of ground mustard and on dash of cayenne. I definitely plan to make this again!
Thank you for the feedback, Noelle! We’re so glad you enjoyed the recipe. 😊
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
Made the Broccoli Mac & Cheese for dinner..with Chickpea pasta!
GREAT MEAL!
Thank you, Debra! We’re so glad you enjoyed it! 😊
Xo,
Alia & Radwa