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Boxed Mac
& Cheese with a Twist
By Kim
H. (WV)
Transform ordinary boxed macaroni and cheese into a
creamy hidden veggie meal! This easy dinner recipe
adds yellow squash puree for extra nutrition while
keeping that classic cheesy flavor kids love.
- Category:
Main Dish
- Hidden Veggie
- Quick &
Easy
Prep: 5 minutes | Cook:
10 minutes | Yield: 4
servings
Ingredients
- 1 box macaroni and
cheese (any brand)
- Butter (as directed
on box)
- Milk (as directed on
box)
- 1/2–1 cup yellow
squash puree
- 1/4 cup grated
Parmesan (optional)
- Optional: peas,
carrots, corn, asparagus
- Optional: leftover
chicken, pork, or hot dogs
Instructions
- Cook macaroni
according to package instructions. Drain noodles
and keep in strainer.
- In the
saucepan, melt butter. Add milk, powdered cheese
packet, and 1/2–1 cup yellow squash puree.
- Stir until
smooth and creamy. If using frozen puree, allow
it to fully melt into the sauce.
- If desired, add
grated Parmesan for extra cheesiness.
- Return noodles
to saucepan and stir until coated.
- Add optional
vegetables or cooked protein and heat through.
- Adjust
thickness by reducing milk if mixture becomes
too creamy. Serve warm.
Kid-Friendly Tips
- Use fun pasta shapes to make dinner feel
special.
- Let kids sprinkle Parmesan on top.
- If they pick out visible veggies, don’t worry
— the squash is still in there!
Notes
Light yellow squash works best
for mild flavor and creamy color. Blend puree
until completely smooth to avoid visible vegetable
pieces.
Print
Recipe Card
Recipe,
image and content from Kids-Cooking-Activities.com
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