Broccoli Mac and Cheese (One Pot!)

A dutch oven with creamy Broccoli Mac and Cheese with a spoon in it.

Broccoli Mac and Cheese (One Pot!)

This Broccoli Mac and Cheese recipe is so creamy and easy to make! Serve it as a savory side dish or add chicken and make it a meal!

Prep Time10

Cook Time20

Total Time30

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 771kcal

Author: Stephanie

Ingredients

4 Tablespoons Butter
4 Tablespoons Flour
2 cups Milk any kind
2 cups Half and Half
2 cups Chicken Broth
1/2 chicken bouillon cube
12 ounces Cavatappi Pasta see below for other pasta options
2 ½ cups Broccoli Florets fresh or frozen
4 cups Sharp Cheddar Cheese shredded from a block.

Optional seasoning: [1/4 teaspoon each]: Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, and Paprika.

Instructions

Note: If using frozen broccoli, thaw it and pat it dry prior to adding it to the pasta.
Shred the cheese and set aside. It should be near room temperature when added to the pasta. I use Heluva Good! Sharp Cheddar. It melts well and the flavor is great.
Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Gradually whisk in the flour. Continue to whisk for about 3 minutes, until it turns golden.
Slowly half and half/milk a bit at a time, whisking as you do so. Add chicken broth, chicken bouillon, and optional seasonings.
Bring to a boil and stir in the pasta. Reduce heat to a gentle bubble. Stir occasionally, uncovered, for about 7 minutes. Add broccoli and stir to combine. Cover and cook for 4 more minutes or until pasta is cooked through.
Remove from heat. Gradually sprinkle in the shredded cheddar. Use a silicone spatula to gently combine as you do so. Serve!

Notes

Pro Tips:

Shred the cheese from a block, it won't melt well if it's pre-shredded from a bag. Allow it to come to room temperature prior to mixing into the sauce. This is the secret to an ultimate creamy consistency.
Cheese Options: I use Cracker Barrel Extra Sharp Yellow cheese for this recipe. A combination of Smoked Gouda, Monterey Jack, Gruyere, Fontina, and Mozzarella may also be used. Note that hard/crystalized/aged cheeses won’t melt as well.
Pasta Options: Medium Shells, Elbow Macaroni, Rotini, Fusilli/Bow Tie Pasta may also be used, just note that the cooking times may vary slightly.
1/2 bouillon cube was added to this recipe on 8/27/23 as it adds more savory flavor!

Make Ahead Method:

Cook the pasta until just under Al Dente.
Transfer to a 9 x 13 casserole dish and let it cool completely. Refrigerate for 1-2 days.
Let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes prior to baking.
Cover and bake for 350° for 30 minutes.
Optional: Uncover and top with crushed Ritz crackers or melted butter + breadcrumbs. Bake for an additional 7 minutes.

Nutrition

Recipe Source: TheCozyCook.com - For pro tips, step-by-step photos, storage information, and to save it to your account, visit https://framework-keystone.live/broccoli-mac-and-cheese/%3C/strong%3E%3C/p%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cscript%3Ewindow.wprm_recipes = {"recipe-33649":{"type":"food","name":"Broccoli Mac and Cheese (One Pot!)","slug":"wprm-broccoli-mac-and-cheese-one-pot","image_url":"https:\/\/thecozycook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Broccoli-Mac-and-Cheese-Recipe-f.jpg","rating":{"count":12,"total":60,"average":5,"type":{"comment":12,"no_comment":0,"user":0},"user":0},"ingredients":[{"uid":0,"amount":"4","unit":"Tablespoons","name":"Butter","notes":"","unit_id":12930,"id":3648,"conversion_item_snapshot":{"amount":"4","unit":"Tablespoons","timestamp":1778512466000},"type":"ingredient","unit_systems":{"unit-system-1":{"amount":"4","unit":"Tablespoons","unitParsed":"Tablespoons"}}},{"uid":2,"amount":"4","unit":"Tablespoons","name":"Flour","notes":"","unit_id":12930,"id":3770,"conversion_item_snapshot":{"amount":"4","unit":"Tablespoons","timestamp":1778512466000},"type":"ingredient","unit_systems":{"unit-system-1":{"amount":"4","unit":"Tablespoons","unitParsed":"Tablespoons"}}},{"uid":4,"amount":"2","unit":"cups","name":"Milk","notes":"any kind","unit_id":12935,"id":3650,"conversion_item_snapshot":{"amount":"2","unit":"cups","timestamp":1778512466000},"type":"ingredient","unit_systems":{"unit-system-1":{"amount":"2","unit":"cups","unitParsed":"cups"}}},{"uid":6,"amount":"2","unit":"cups","name":"Half and Half","notes":"","unit_id":12935,"id":3678,"conversion_item_snapshot":{"amount":"2","unit":"cups","timestamp":1778512466000},"type":"ingredient","unit_systems":{"unit-system-1":{"amount":"2","unit":"cups","unitParsed":"cups"}}},{"uid":8,"amount":"2","unit":"cups","name":"Chicken Broth","notes":"","unit_id":12935,"id":4205,"conversion_item_snapshot":{"amount":"2","unit":"cups","timestamp":1778512466000},"type":"ingredient","unit_systems":{"unit-system-1":{"amount":"2","unit":"cups","unitParsed":"cups"}}},{"uid":16,"amount":"1\/2","unit":"","name":"chicken bouillon cube","notes":"","id":13116,"conversion_item_snapshot":{"amount":"1\/2","unit":"","timestamp":1778512466000},"type":"ingredient","unit_systems":{"unit-system-1":{"amount":"1\/2","unit":"","unitParsed":""}}},{"uid":10,"amount":"12","unit":"ounces","name":"Cavatappi Pasta","notes":"see below for other pasta options","unit_id":12942,"id":12469,"conversion_item_snapshot":{"amount":"12","unit":"ounces","timestamp":1778512466000},"type":"ingredient","unit_systems":{"unit-system-1":{"amount":"12","unit":"ounces","unitParsed":"ounces"}}},{"uid":12,"amount":"2 \u00bd","unit":"cups","name":"Broccoli Florets","notes":"fresh or frozen","unit_id":12935,"id":4636,"conversion_item_snapshot":{"amount":"2 \u00bd","unit":"cups","timestamp":1778512466000},"type":"ingredient","unit_systems":{"unit-system-1":{"amount":"2 \u00bd","unit":"cups","unitParsed":"cups"}}},{"uid":14,"amount":"4","unit":"cups","name":"Sharp Cheddar Cheese","notes":"shredded from a block.","unit_id":12935,"id":3827,"conversion_item_snapshot":{"amount":"4","unit":"cups","timestamp":1778512466000},"type":"ingredient","unit_systems":{"unit-system-1":{"amount":"4","unit":"cups","unitParsed":"cups"}}}],"originalServings":"6","originalServingsParsed":6,"currentServings":"6","currentServingsParsed":6,"currentServingsFormatted":"6","currentServingsMultiplier":1,"originalSystem":1,"currentSystem":1,"favorite":false,"unitSystems":[1],"originalAdvancedServings":{"shape":"round","unit":"inch","diameter":0,"width":0,"length":0,"height":0},"currentAdvancedServings":{"shape":"round","unit":"inch","diameter":0,"width":0,"length":0,"height":0},"collection":{"servingsUnit":"","servingsUnitRaw":"","originalServings":"6","originalServingsParsed":6,"type":"recipe","recipeId":33649,"name":"Broccoli Mac and Cheese (One Pot!)","image":"https:\/\/thecozycook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Broccoli-Mac-and-Cheese-Recipe-f-500x500.jpg","servings":6,"parent_id":"33633","parent_url":"https:\/\/thecozycook.com\/broccoli-mac-and-cheese\/","cachedAt":1778512466,"modifiedAt":1723197245}}}