It’s that dreaded meal again, your child is asking for Mac and Cheese and you are about to reach for a box. Face it, we have all been there a more times than we would like to admit. At least I know I have! I always feel guilty giving into the convenience of boxed Mac and only marginally better because I buy an Organic variety. Ok, well before we let all of the Mom-guilt set in, I have a solution for you. Here are 3 ways to dress up boxed mac and cheese for kids all with veggies, added protein and tons of flavor!
Mac and Cheese with Bacon, Tomato & Peas
Mac and Cheese with Bacon, Tomato & Peas is such a good combination, you will be tempted to eat it yourself! There is nothing "kid-food" about the flavors of this combo but my twins love it! First start with a box of Annie's Organic Cheddar Shells. I love combining shells with peas because the peas fit inside each noodle so nicely. Then you will need small plum tomatoes cut into quarters (to make them small and bite sized) and crumbled bacon.
- 1 box Organic Cheddar Shells Macaroni and Cheese
- 4 slices of bacon, crispy and crumbled
- ½ cup quartered plum tomatoes
- ½ cup frozen peas
- Cook bacon crispy and set aside to drain on a paper towel. Crumble once cool.
- Cook macaroni according to the box directions.
- In the last minute of boiling time, drop frozen peas in with the cooking pasta noodles.
- Drain all together once noodles are cooked.
- Toss with butter, milk and cheese packet according to boxed directions.
- Gently toss in tomatoes and bacon.
- Serve immediately.
Mac and Cheese with Hidden Cauliflower and Meatballs
This variation of boxed mac and cheese with hidden cauliflower and meatballs is such a home run! The trick here is to used riced cauliflower. If you can't find that in your grocery store you can simply chop the florets (no stems) of raw cauliflower until it is a fine mince. A food processor would also work! You want the pieces the size of rice. The next trick is to use an organic white cheddar macaroni so that the cauliflower is blends right in. Your kids won't see or taste it! For the mini meatballs, I buy these Earth's Best Frozen Beef Meatballs. They are teeny tiny and perfect for little mouths. This combination tastes like Swedish Meatballs in cream sauce.
- 1 box organic white cheddar mac and cheese shells
- 1 cup frozen Earth's Best Meatballs
- ½ cup uncooked riced cauliflower
- Cook macaroni according to the box directions.
- In the last two minutes of cooking time, drop meatballs in the boiling water with the cooking pasta.
- In the last one minute of cooking time, drop in cauliflower.
- Drain in a fine mesh sieve once noodles and cauliflower are cooked and meatballs are warmed through.
- Toss with butter, milk and cheese packet according to boxed directions.
- Serve immediately.
Mac and Cheese with Broccoli and Chicken Sausage
Last up we have classic macaroni and cheese with broccoli and chicken apple sausage. The broccoli and macaroni combination is a classic but add in small bites of sweet apple chicken sausage and you have yourself a hearty meal! I like both Aidells and Applegate's Chicken Apple Sausage but you can use any sausage your kids will eat. Make sure to cut it into tiny bites.
Mac and Cheese with Broccoli and Chicken Sausage
Ingredients
- 1 box organic macaroni and cheese
- 1-2 chicken apple sausages, cut into tiny pieces
- 1 cup chopped broccoli florets
Instructions
- Brown sausage in pan and set aside.
- Cook macaroni according to the box directions.
- In the 30 seconds of boiling time, drop in the chopped broccoli- it cooks fast!
- Drain all together once noodles are cooked.
- Toss with butter, milk and cheese packet according to boxed directions.
- Gently toss in sausage and serve immediately.
Which version are you excited to try? My kids loved them all but I think the bacon, tomato version is our ultimate favorite! Jackson however really went to town on the White Cheddar Mac with Meatballs. Yum!