Mac and Cheese with Broccoli
Creamy mac and cheese with broccoli made with pasta, milk, shredded cheese, butter, garlic salt, onion powder, and smoked paprika. A simple comfort dish for dinner or sides.
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Servings: 6
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp salted butter
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 c water
- 4 c milk
- 1 box uncooked elbow or shell pasta
- 3/4 tsp garlic salt
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
- 4 c shredded cheese
- 2 c steamed broccoli florets chopped
Instructions
Prepare the sauce base.
- Heat a large pot over moderate heat. Add the salted butter and allow it to melt completely.
Add the flour.
- Add the all-purpose flour to the melted butter. Whisk for 30 seconds.
Cook the roux.
- Continue whisking until the butter and flour mixture is smooth and lightly golden.
Add the water.
- Pour in the water and whisk until the mixture is fully combined and smooth.
Add the milk.
- Gradually whisk in the milk until incorporated.
Add the pasta and seasonings.
- Stir in the uncooked elbow or shell pasta, garlic salt, onion powder, smoked paprika, and ground black pepper.
Bring to a boil.
- Increase the heat as needed and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring often to prevent the pasta from sticking.
Cook the pasta.
- Cook for about 10 minutes, or until the pasta is tender. Stir frequently during cooking to ensure even texture and prevent scorching.
Reduce the heat.
- Lower the heat once the pasta is tender.
Add the cheese.
- Add the shredded cheese and stir constantly until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth.
Add the broccoli.
- Gently fold in the steamed chopped broccoli florets until evenly distributed.
Serve.
- Serve hot while the sauce is creamy.
Notes
To make this Mac and Cheese with Broccoli gluten free, replace the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free 1:1 flour blend or cornstarch slurry for thickening. Use certified gluten-free elbow or shell pasta and cook it only until tender, as gluten-free pasta can soften quickly. Confirm that the shredded cheese, garlic salt, onion powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, butter, milk, and broccoli are certified gluten free or processed without gluten cross-contamination. Stir gently after adding the pasta, as gluten-free pasta can break more easily.