Hidden Vegetable Mac & Cheese Recipe

If you're looking for a way to make your meals healthier while still satisfying your comfort food cravings, then look no further than Hidden Vegetable Mac & Cheese. This delicious and nutritious recipe is perfect for those who love classic mac and cheese but want to incorporate some extra veggies into their diet.

The recipe is quite simple and easy to follow, and it only requires a handful of ingredients that you may already have in your pantry.

Here's everything you need to know to make this amazing dish:

Ingredients:

• 2 large carrots, peeled and diced

• 1-2 sweet potatoes, peeled and diced

• 2 cups of pasta shells, cooked and ready

• 1 cup of milk

• 2 cups of grated cheddar cheese

• 1 block of cream cheese, 8 oz.

• Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Begin by preparing your vegetables. Peel and dice two large carrots and one to two sweet potatoes.

2. Boil the vegetables in a pot of salted water until they are tender, which should take about 15-20 minutes.

3. While the vegetables are boiling, cook two cups of pasta shells in another pot according to the package instructions. Once cooked, drain the pasta and set it aside.

4. Once the vegetables are done, remove most of the leftover water from the pot, leaving just enough to help blend the vegetables.

5. Use an immersion blender to puree the vegetables until they are smooth and creamy.

6. Add in one cup of milk, two cups of grated cheddar cheese, one block of cream cheese (8 oz.), and salt and black pepper to taste.

7. Let the mixture boil for a few minutes until the cheese has melted and the sauce is thick and creamy.

8. Add the cooked pasta to a large bowl and pour the sauce over it. Mix well until the pasta is well coated with the sauce.

9. Let the mixture cool down for a few minutes before serving, as it will thicken up some more.

10. Now you're ready to enjoy your delicious and healthy Hidden Vegetable Mac & Cheese!

Why You Should Try Hidden Vegetable Mac & Cheese

Mac and cheese is a classic comfort food that most people love, but it's often not the healthiest option due to the high fat and calorie content. However, with this hidden vegetable version, you can enjoy all the deliciousness of mac and cheese while also getting a boost of nutrients from the veggies.

Here are some of the key benefits of this recipe:

1. Provides Nutrients: By incorporating carrots and sweet potatoes, you'll be getting a boost of vitamins and minerals that are essential for good health. Carrots are a great source of vitamin A, which is important for eye health, while sweet potatoes are high in vitamin C and fiber.

2. Lowers Caloric Density: By adding veggies to the recipe, you can reduce the overall caloric density of the dish. Veggies are low in calories and high in fiber, which can help you feel fuller and satisfied with smaller portions.

3. Easy to Make: This recipe is incredibly easy to make, and it only requires a few basic ingredients. You can even make it ahead of time and reheat it for a quick and easy meal during the week.

4. Great for Kids: If you're struggling to get your kids to eat their veggies, then this recipe is a great way to sneak them in. The creamy and delicious sauce will hide the taste of the veggies, so your kids won't even know they're there!

Easy Tips of The Trade

1. Let the cheese melt: Once all the ingredients are mixed, let the sauce boil until the cheese has melted. The heat should be kept low to prevent the sauce from burning. Stir the mixture occasionally to ensure that the cheese melts evenly.

2. Combine the sauce with the pasta: When the sauce is ready, it's time to combine it with the pasta. Move the pasta to a large bowl and mix the sauce with the pasta until well coated. The mixture should be stirred gently to avoid breaking the pasta shells. Make sure that the sauce covers each pasta shell.

3. Let it cool: Once the pasta and the sauce have been mixed together, let it cool down for a few minutes before serving. The mac and cheese will thicken as it cools, so it's important to allow it to cool down enough to eat. As it cools, it will "stiffen" up some, which will make it easier to serve and enjoy.

4. Enjoy: Once the mac and cheese has cooled down enough to eat, it's time to enjoy it. This recipe is delicious and healthy. The hidden vegetables add extra nutrients to the dish, making it an excellent option for picky eaters who may not get enough veggies in their diet.

   Comforting and Healthy

   Mac and cheese is a classic comfort food that most people enjoy. This recipe takes it up a notch by incorporating hidden vegetables to make it more nutritious. The sweet potatoes and carrots provide essential vitamins and minerals that are often lacking in traditional mac and cheese recipes. The cheese sauce is creamy, flavorful, and easy to make, and it pairs perfectly with the pasta shells. The best part is that this recipe is simple and quick to prepare, making it an excellent option for busy weeknights.

   Overall, this hidden vegetable mac and cheese is a must-try recipe that is sure to become a family favorite. It's perfect for picky eaters, busy moms, and anyone who loves a hearty and delicious meal. Try this recipe today and enjoy a bowl of creamy and nutritious mac and cheese that will satisfy your comfort food cravings while also providing essential nutrients.

Additional Tips for Making Hidden Vegetable Mac & Cheese

• Use a variety of vegetables: While this recipe uses sweet potatoes and carrots, you can also experiment with other vegetables like butternut squash, pumpkin, zucchini, or cauliflower. These vegetables are rich in vitamins and minerals and can be easily hidden in the cheese sauce.

• Don't overcook the vegetables: Overcooking the vegetables can make them mushy and affect the texture of the sauce. Cook them until they are tender but still hold their shape.

• Use good quality cheese: The cheese is the star of this recipe, so it's important to use a good quality cheddar cheese. It should be sharp and flavorful, and grate it yourself for the best results.

• Add breadcrumbs: If you like a crunchy topping on your mac and cheese, you can sprinkle some breadcrumbs on top before baking it in the oven. It will add a crispy texture to the dish.

• Customize the recipe: You can customize the recipe to suit your taste. For example, you can add some cooked bacon or ham to the sauce, or use a different type of pasta like penne or fusilli.

In conclusion, hidden vegetable mac and cheese is a great way to sneak some extra nutrients into your diet without sacrificing flavor. This recipe is simple, easy to make, and customizable, making it a great option for busy weeknights or family dinners. Give it a try and see how delicious and healthy mac and cheese can be!

Nutrition Information for Hidden Vegetable Mac & Cheese:

Serving Size: 1 cup (240g)

Calories: 382

Total Fat: 21g

Saturated Fat: 12g

Cholesterol: 64mg

Sodium: 407mg

Total Carbohydrates: 29g

Dietary Fiber: 3g

Sugars: 6g

Protein: 17g

So What’s The Catch?

This recipe is rich in carbohydrates, protein, and fat, which are essential macronutrients for our bodies. The high amount of fat in the recipe comes from the cheese and cream cheese, which are both high in saturated fat. However, this recipe also provides some nutritional benefits from the hidden vegetables, which add fiber, vitamins, and minerals to the dish.

The carrots and sweet potatoes in this recipe are high in vitamin A, which is important for maintaining healthy skin and eyes. They also provide vitamin C, which is essential for immune system function and collagen production. Additionally, these vegetables are good sources of potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure and fluid balance in the body.

The pasta in this recipe provides carbohydrates for energy, but it is important to keep in mind that this dish is relatively high in calories and sodium. As with any food, moderation is key, and this recipe should be enjoyed as part of a balanced diet.

Overall, hidden vegetable mac and cheese can be a delicious and nutritious addition to your meal plan, especially when paired with a variety of other healthy foods.

Trick or Treat?

One of the best things about hidden vegetable mac and cheese is that it's an easy way to sneak more vegetables into your family's diet. This recipe provides a tasty and creamy way to increase the amount of vegetables that your kids or spouse consume, without them even realizing it.

Carrots and sweet potatoes are two of the main vegetables used in this recipe, and they are blended together with the cheese and milk to create a smooth and creamy sauce. By using an immersion blender, the vegetables are pureed into the sauce, creating a sauce that is uniform in color and texture, making it much less noticeable to the eye.

In fact, the vegetables add a sweetness to the dish, which can be very appealing to kids, especially those who have a sweet tooth. This means that your kids may be more willing to try it and even enjoy it, without ever realizing that they are eating a dish that is high in vitamins and minerals.

You can also try other ways to add vegetables to your mac and cheese, such as adding chopped spinach, broccoli, or peas. You can also experiment with using different types of cheese or pasta to create variations on this recipe.

Overall, hidden vegetable mac and cheese is a great way to boost the nutritional value of a classic comfort food while sneaking in some veggies that your kids or spouse might not otherwise eat. By making small changes to your meals, you can help ensure that your family is getting the nutrients they need for a healthy and happy life.

Comforting and Delicious

If you're looking for a comforting and delicious meal that is also packed with nutrients, then you should definitely try making this hidden vegetable mac and cheese tonight! This recipe is easy to make and offers a creative way to increase your family's vegetable intake while still satisfying their cravings for a classic mac and cheese dish.

So why not give it a try and see for yourself how delicious and nutritious this recipe can be? You might just be surprised at how much you enjoy the subtle sweetness that the vegetables bring to this dish. And who knows, your family might not even notice the difference and will be asking for seconds! So go ahead and make this recipe tonight and enjoy a meal that is both healthy and satisfying.

Yield: 6-8

Author: Ashton

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Hidden Vegetable Mac & Cheese

Hidden Vegetable Mac & Cheese is a nutritious take on the classic comfort food that incorporates vegetables into the recipe. The recipe calls for two large carrots and one to two sweet potatoes, which are peeled and diced and boiled until tender. Two cups of pasta shells are cooked separately and set aside. The boiled vegetables are blended until smooth using an immersion blender, and then mixed with one cup of milk, two cups of grated cheddar cheese, one block of cream cheese (8oz), and salt and black pepper to taste. The sauce is boiled until the cheese has melted, and then mixed with the cooked pasta in a large bowl until well coated. The mixture will thicken as it cools down, and the final product is a creamy and flavorful mac and cheese dish that is also rich in nutrients.

Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 25 MinTotal time: 40 Min

Ingredients

• 2 Large Carrots, peeled & diced
• 1-2 sweet potatoes, peeled & diced
• 2 cups of pasta shells, cooked & ready
• 1 cup of milk
• 2 cups of grated cheddar cheese
• 1 block of cream cheese, 8oz
• salt & black pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Prepare your vegetables and boil them until tender.
2. Boil and have your pasta ready and drained as well.
3. Remove most of the leftover water from the boiled vegetables.
4. Immersion blend the vegetables and add in remaking ingredients.
5. Let boil until cheese has melted.
6. Move the pasta to a large bowl and mix the sauce with the pasta until well coated.
7. Once cooked down enough to eat it should “stiffen” up some.
8. Now all you have to do is enjoy and eat!

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Nutrition Facts

Calories

435.78

Fat

27.59 g

Sat. Fat

15.73 g

Carbs

31.6 g

Fiber

3.05 g

Net carbs

28.55 g

Sugar

7.06 g

Protein

16.02 g

Sodium

458.31 mg

Cholesterol

80.73 mg

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