As parents, some days all we want is a no-fuss, no-fight, easy-to-prepare meal idea. One that kids won’t turn their noses up at, and you won’t have to spend hours preparing. For my family, that meal is mac and cheese! Quick, easy, and always satisfying—it’s a recipe I can count on time and time again.

Though the classic boxed kind has its charm, we’re taking it up a notch for this recipe. Today, we’re discussing a healthy, nutritious mac and cheese recipe full of those good-for-you ingredients. From carrots and cauliflower to broccoli and butternut squash—your options are endless. And the best part? Your kids won’t even realize that they’re eating a whole serving of veggies!

And, trust me, I understand the occasional dinnertime tantrums when a side of veggies makes an appearance. That’s why I’m sharing this hidden veggie mac and cheese recipe—it’s nutritious, delicious, and completely meltdown-free.

Hidden Vegetable Mac and Cheese Recipe: Kid-Friendly Favorite

I love coming up with creative, kid-friendly meals that are full of nutrients and packed with flavor. From my homemade chicken soup recipe to cauliflower pizza crust, it’s amazing what a little creativity and picky toddlers will do for you! I talked about nutritious mac and cheese in a previous post, but today’s recipe will be a little different.

We’re not just looking at one way to sneak veggies into mac and cheese, we’re looking at two! Even better, both recipes are completely customizable and easily adaptable to different preferences and dietary restrictions. But before we dive straight into these healthy mac and cheese recipes, let’s first cover all of our bases. What veggies can you use, and how can you possibly hide them?

What Vegetables Go With Mac And Cheese?

Not a fan of specific vegetables? Don’t count these recipes out just yet! You can use a variety of different nutrient-packed picks to make hidden veggie mac and cheese. Let’s take a look at all of the options!

Broccoli
Cauliflower
Peas
Spinach
Carrots
Green Beans
Brussels Sports
Asparagus
Red, Green, or Yellow Peppers
Zucchini
Sweet Potatoes

In the recipes below, I’m incorporating veggies such as zucchini, sweet potatoes, and cauliflower. If those don’t sound super yummy to you, swap them out for veggies your family will love! All of the steps remain the same, and the process is just as easy.

How To Hide Veggies In Mac And Cheese

We all wish we could just throw a handful of veggies into the mac and cheese and serve it as is, right? It’s quicker, easier, and of course, much more convenient. But what if I told you that there are a few other methods that are just as easy? And, on top of that, don’t involve tantrums, meltdowns, or those dreaded back-and-forths.

They do require a little extra prep time and a bit of creativity, but they satisfy hunger and spread smiles every time. Which, if you ask me, is always worth the few extra minutes of prep time in the end. Let’s talk about some of my favorite methods for hiding veggies in mac and cheese!

Vegetable Noodles: This is a fantastic way to incorporate a healthy serving of veggies without little ones even realizing it. You can either grab a boxed version or whip up some yourself. Some veggie noodles can even have a slightly sweet taste compared to regular noodles.
Vegetable Cheese Sauce: Worried that your kids may be iffy about the different colored noodles? Just mix the veggies in with the cheese sauce instead! You can even puree them so the consistency of the sauce remains the same.
Diced Vegetables: If your kids are already used to whole veggies, dicing and adding them into the pasta is a fantastic option! They won’t be as hesitant about taste, textures, or new colors, and might find this a more comfortable alternative.
Breadcrumb Topping: When in doubt, make veggie breadcrumbs! This method does require the most prep time, but it’s oh-so-yummy. You can use vegetables like cauliflower, corn, broccoli, or zucchini. Just blend them, toss them in cheese, and bake until they’re golden brown. Voila! Now you have a much healthier alternative to traditional breadcrumbs.

Hidden Vegetable Mac and Cheese Recipes

Vegetable Noodles

For parents of kiddos who love a little color in their food, this one’s sure to be a new favorite! Let’s explore a quick, easy, minimal-prep way to make this healthy mac and cheese recipe with veggie noodles.

Ingredients:

2 large zucchinis (a fantastic gluten-free option!)
1 tbsp olive oil
(Optional): ½ tsp garlic powder
(Optional): 1 tbsp nutritional yeast
1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
¾ cup milk (dairy or non-dairy)
1 tsp of salt and pepper (or more if necessary)
½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Instructions:

Step 1: Cut off the ends of your zucchini—you don’t need those! Once you’ve cut the ends, use a spiralizer or peeler to cut the rest of the zucchini into spirals. You want the final product to resemble that classic noodle shape!
Step 2: Now that you’ve prepared your noodles (or Zoodles if you want to make it extra fun for little ones!), add them to a bowl. Mix in your garlic powder, salt, and pepper, and let the noodles rest for about 20 minutes.
Step 3: After your noodles have been sitting for a little while, drain any liquid from the bowl. If necessary, pat them dry with a towel to absorb excess moisture.
Step 4: Place a skillet over medium-high heat and add your olive oil. Once warm, pour in your cheese (or nutritional yeast) and milk, and stir.
Step 5: Once the mixture begins to bubble, add in your zucchini and stir until everything is evenly blended.
Step 6: Now that your zucchini is ready, pour it into a baking sheet. Top it off with parmesan cheese and it’s ready to go!

Vegetable Cheese Sauce

For anyone just starting their journey of incorporating hidden veggies into mac and cheese, I recommend beginning here. It’s the easiest way to sneak these ingredients in without the confusion and funny looks from little ones!

Ingredients:

8 oz dry pasta
1 ¼ cups milk (dairy or dairy-free)
1 cup cauliflower florets
1 cup cubed sweet potato
1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 tsp Dijon mustard
(Optional): ½ tsp garlic powder
1 tsp of salt and pepper (or more if necessary)
2 tbsp butter

Instructions:

Step 1: Cook the pasta according to the directions. Once it’s finished cooking, drain your noodles and set them aside.
Step 2: Fill a pot with water and place it on the stove until it begins to boil.
Step 3: As you wait for that water to boil, prepare your veggies accordingly. In this case, chop your cauliflower and sweet potatoes until you feel they’re an appropriate size. You don’t have to make them super small—just small enough to cook and toss in a blender.
Step 4: Once your veggies are prepped and ready, place them into the pot over medium heat. Leave them in for about 8-10 minutes or until tender.
Step 5: When the veggies are tender, transfer them to a blender. Add the milk and garlic powder and blend until smooth.
Step 6: Add your blender mixture to a pot and place it on the lowest setting. Mix in your butter, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper, stirring until evenly blended. This should only take a few minutes—just ensure that your cheese sauce is completely melted!
Step 7: Once you finish up with the cheese sauce, add it to the cooked pasta and stir.
Step 8: Transfer to a baking dish and serve!

Make mealtime easy with this yummy, hidden veggie mac and cheese recipe!

It’s no secret that finding those go-to recipes as a parent is hard. It feels like every recipe is either super yummy and unhealthy, or super healthy and bland. But when you hide veggies in your mac and cheese, you get a recipe that’s both healthy and delicious! You save yourself stress, make your little ones happy, and get to enjoy a new comfort food. It doesn’t get any better than that!

For fun and imaginative independent play ideas, our new book, Playful by Design is out NOW! It’s a guide to transforming your home into a place of creativity and connection, igniting kids’ imagination, and fostering independence.

Check out the Mothercould blog for more nutritious meal and snack ideas, as well as engaging sensory play recipes! And, for more in-depth tutorials, helpful cleaning tips, and exciting activity packs, download the Mothercould in Your Pocket resource.

HIDDEN VEGETABLE MAC AND CHEESE RECIPE: KID-FRIENDLY FAVORITE