Zucchini Mac and Cheese | Formidable Kitchen

HELLO MAC AND CHEESE. WITH ZUCCHINI. So creamy. So luxurious. So tantalizing.

Over time I’ve gotten many requests for a wholesome mac and cheese recipe and you know the way I LOVE to loosen up consolation meals with irresistible artistic flavors and twists. I perfected this zucchini mac and cheese about 4 years in the past and it’s no totally different! It’s a lightened-up model of conventional mac and cheese that features a TON of shredded zucchini.

Now I do know what you might be considering: zucchini in mac and cheese, realllllllyyyy? AND I SAY YES, REALLY. I promise with my complete Robert Pattinson-loving-heart which you could’t even style the zucchini. It’s simply pure golden creamy tacky goodness up in that skillet.

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Welcome to the AK Summer time Collection

For the remainder of the summer time, we’ll be dedicating every week to pick out summer time produce! Week 4 is HERE and we’re celebrating stunning zucchini persevering with with this scrumptious zucchini mac and cheese recipe. Keep tuned on the weblog and on Instagram for every week’s produce spotlight, enjoyable movies, and extra.

What’s on this zucchini mac and cheese?

This zucchini mac and cheese is made with tremendous easy components that you just most likely have already got in your pantry and fridge. Your entire recipe takes about 20 minutes from begin to end, making it excellent for scrumptious weeknight meals that you just, your associate and kiddos will actually INHALE. Listed below are the 7 key components you’ll want:

• Pasta: I LOVE utilizing shells as a result of the cheese coats the within of every shell and offers it unbelievable tacky taste. Be happy to make use of gluten free pasta too!
• Butter: you solely want two tablespoons for the whole mac and cheese recipe.
• Flour: you should use complete wheat, all goal flour, or gluten free all goal flour to thicken up that scrumptious cheese sauce.
• Spices: we’re including garlic powder and onion powder to taste that scrumptious cheese sauce.
• Milk of selection: I usually make this with unsweetened almond or cashew milk as a result of we don’t purchase common milk. Nevertheless, you should use no matter milk you’d like. If you need a richer mac and cheese, use 2% or complete.
• Sharp cheddar cheese: I like to recommend shredding your individual cheese from a block of cheese. It melts a lot better as a result of it doesn’t have the stabilizers present in pre-shredded cheese.
• Zucchini: our secret star veggie that provides the right enhance of veggies to this tacky skillet.

Customise this more healthy zucchini mac and cheese

• Select a enjoyable cheese. It’s enjoyable to select a unique cheese to prime the mac and cheese. I attempted a spicy cheddar and it was unbelievable, however pepper jack, parmesan, sharp cheddar or gouda would even be scrumptious. It’s as much as you!
• Add extra veggies. Be happy so as to add much more veggies like peas or broccoli.
• Add a lift of protein. This dish can be scrumptious with hen or chickpeas!

Jazz it up with a breadcrumb topping

This zucchini mac and cheese can be scrumptious with a crispy breadcrumb topping! So as to add one:

• Combine 1/2 cup of breadcrumbs with 1 tablespoon of melted butter
• Sprinkle it on prime of your mac and cheese
• Bake it for about 20 minutes and revel in!

Ideas for making zucchini mac and cheese

This spectacular mac and cheese is simpler to make than you suppose! You’ll solely want one pot to boil the pasta and a skillet or one other massive pot to make the mac and cheese. In addition to watching the video to information you, listed here are a number of suggestions and tips to bear in mind whenever you make this recipe:

• Squeeze out the zucchini. Be certain that to squeeze the zucchini of all extra moisture. I exhibit how to do that within the video beneath.
• Use a block of cheese. I like to recommend shredding a block of cheese as an alternative of utilizing a bundle. It usually melts higher when shredded from the block!
• Timing is essential for the slurry. While you make your slurry sauce, it’s essential to have all of your components already measured out and able to go as a result of it’s a fast course of! As soon as the butter is melted, you’ll whisk in slightly little bit of the flour after which slowly add in milk, slightly bit at a time, alternating with the flour and vigorously whisking away any lumps. You need to find yourself with a clean paste each time with out too many lumps.
• Cheese it up. On the finish, you may both put the mac and cheese beneath the broiler for a couple of minutes to essentially get the highest melted and golden, OR you may be at liberty to easily stir within the cheddar cheese you placed on prime.

How one can retailer & reheat mac and cheese

• To retailer: retailer this more healthy zucchini mac and cheese in an hermetic container for as much as 3-5 days (if it lasts that lengthy!)
• To reheat: you may reheat it within the microwave to save lots of time, however I’d advocate including it to a calmly oiled baking dish and heating it within the oven for about 20 minutes at 375 levels F. It will assist the mac and cheese get that bubbly cheese issue again with out drying out.

Watch me make the zucchini mac and cheese

Extra zucchini recipes you’ll love

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I hope you like this simple zucchini mac and cheese recipe! For those who make it be sure you depart a remark and a score so I understand how you appreciated it. Get pleasure from, xo!

Recipe by: Monique Volz // Formidable Kitchen | Images by: Eat Love Eats

This put up was initially printed on August sixth, 2019, and republished on August 2nd, 2023.