You would think that young children would be pleased with any style of mac-and-cheese. It turns out, at least for my children, this is not the case. Somewhere along the line in their short lives, they became gourmets about this one singular dish. They don't mind veggies or meat being included, but the ultimate crime, according to them, is blandness. "Mom, it tastes like it needs new batteries." Oh. Ok.
I developed this recipe to find the perfect, foolproof lunch that they would never complain about. It couldn't be fancy, but it also couldn't be too one-note. This mac-and-cheese has never once been complained about, and it's easy to add veggies or proteins into without any drama. Pro-tip: it helps when you let them choose the noodle shape, too.
Notes
- Spicy: To make it spicy, add 1t of crushed red pepper flakes.
- Veggies: Add in steamed veggies like broccoli or cauliflower florets, or even cut green beans.
- Meat: Add in chopped up lunchmeats like ham or turkey, or any leftover cooked chicken you might have on hand. Even taco meat!
- Multi-Cheese: Try a mixture of cheese, like mozzarella and monterey jack, or cheddar and gruyere.
Storage
Store in a sealed container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Add a splash of milk if needed when re-heating to make it creamy again.
Related
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Grace Says:
Letting little kids pick the noodle shape sometimes is an easy way to make them much more agreeable about lunch.
📖 Recipe
Toddler-Approved Mac-and-Cheese
Ingredients
- 8 oz pasta, any shape
- 6 cups water
- 1 T salt
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella
- ½ cup shredded monterey jack, or any other melty cheese
- 1 t onion powder
- 1 t garlic powder
- ½ t salt
- ¼ t black pepper
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 T mustard
- 1 splash milk
Instructions
- Bring the water and 1T salt to a boil in a large pot, and then add your pasta. Cook the pasta according to the directions for the shape you chose. Then drain the pasta, leaving it in the pot. Add all the other ingredients and stir together until combined. Serve to raging toddlers with a kiss on the head.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!