Cheesy Vegetable Macaroni Bake

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A comforting baked pasta dish with tender macaroni, mixed vegetables, and a rich cheese sauce, perfect for introducing kids to veggies. This American-inspired kid-friendly recipe, ready in about 45 minutes, pairs elbow macaroni, butter, all-purpose flour for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 30 min Serves 4 American cuisine 420 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces elbow macaroni and cook for 7-8 minutes until just tender. Drain and set aside.
  2. Step 2: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt 3 tablespoons butter. Whisk in 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour and cook for 1 minute until bubbling and golden.
  3. Step 3: Slowly whisk in 2 1/2 cups whole milk and continue whisking until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon, about 5-7 minutes.
  4. Step 4: Remove from heat and stir in 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese until melted and smooth. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.
  5. Step 5: Stir the cooked macaroni and 1 cup thawed frozen mixed vegetables into the cheese sauce until evenly combined.
  6. Step 6: Pour the mixture into a greased 8x8-inch baking dish. Sprinkle 1/2 cup bread crumbs evenly over the top.
  7. Step 7: Bake uncovered for 20 minutes until the top is golden and the cheese sauce is bubbly. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

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