I married a first-generation Greek. His go to comfort meal is “pita” (basically Spanikopita and every other variation of it) that his mom would make from scratch every week, not a simple thing like American meatloaf or some creamy casserole. Despite the fact that I love being in the kitchen and cooking, made-from-scratch phyllo dough and Greek dishes that try and compete with my mother-in-law’s are just not something I’m willing to do.
So for (almost) 10 years now, when I want to make a dinner I know he’ll love, my go-to is mac and cheese, the one “true” American meal he actually likes. Here’s the thing about mac and cheese though; it tends to leave your kitchen a complete disaster zone. Pots, pans, strainers and graters everywhere. Sticky melted cheese and milk situations congealing on things and almost too much clean up to make the meal even worthwhile…almost. I mean, I love my husband but sometimes that’s just more than I’m willing to deal with for a comforting dinner.
I’ve often thought about making it a one-pot meal but never could really figure out how to do so. Then it came to me, cook the pasta IN the milk. OMG, you guys, this is life changing. This Veggie Lovers’ Stovetop Mac & Cheese recipe is literally a one-pot meal. No roux needed and not even a colander in sight. If you have leftover cooked vegetables on hand, even better, just throw them in. If not, a simple quick steam (I used the microwave for convenience) is all you need. One word of caution though, this is definitely a time sensitive recipe so have all your prep work done before starting and make sure the cheese is grated and ready to go. The last thing you want is your pasta and milk sitting there waiting for you to grate cheese getting all weird in the pot.
This mac and cheese is so creamy, cheesy and decadent even meat-and-potatoes types won’t care that it’s loaded up with veggies. Although, a little sprinkling of crispy chopped bacon on top wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world if that’s your thing.
Veggie Lovers' Stovetop Mac & Cheese
Ingredients
- 3 cups cauliflower florets
- 3 cups broccoli florets
- 2-3 medum carrots (peeled and chopped (1 cup))
- 8 ounces whole wheat rotini (or similar shape pasta)
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (plus more to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper (plus more to taste)
- 6 ounces gouda cheese (shredded (about 1 1/2 cups))
- 4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese (shredded (about 1 cup))
- 2 ounces Parmesan cheese (shredded (about 1/2 cup))
- 3/4 cup frozen peas
- 1-2 tablespoons breadcrumbs for topping
- Red pepper flakes for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Steam the veggies. Fill a large pot with about 1 inch of water. Set a vegetable steamer inside and set over high heat. Place the veggies on the steamer. (If you don't have a vegetable steamer, just place the vegetables directly in the water). Cook, covered, until the vegetables are lightly tender, 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and drain in a colander. Set aside. You can also steam the veggies in the microwave by adding them to a microwave-safe bowl along with about 1/4 cup of water. Top with a microwave-safe plate and cook on high for about 3 minutes, until the veggies are tender. Be careful when removing the plate - lots of steam will escape!
- Make the mac and cheese. (Note: Have all of your cheeses grated and ready at this point!) Place the milk, pasta and seasonings in a medium stock pot (you’ll want a pot with high sides because you’ll be adding everything to this pot later) over medium-low heat.
- Stirring often so pasta doesn’t stick, cook until pasta is al dente (time will vary by brand/shape) and milk starts to thicken.
- Remove the pot from heat. Slowly sprinkle in the grated cheese, stirring constantly, until melted.
- Add the vegetables and stir gently until everything is well combined and coated in the milk and cheese sauce. Season to taste with more salt and pepper, if desired.
- Serve. Spoon into bowls and top with a sprinkling of breadcrumbs and/or red pepper flakes.
Notes
Meat option:
Top individual servings with cooked, chopped bacon.More macaroni and cheese recipes:
- The Best Macaroni & Cheese Recipe Ever – THE most popular recipe on Kitchen Treaty (for a reason)!
- Stove-Top Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese – seriously sneaky (you’d never know there are veggies!) yet incredibly rich and decadent
- Southwest Mac & Cheese (with optional chicken) – uber-cheesy pasta with black beans, corn, and chilies. A one-dish-two-ways recipe that can satisfy both vegetarians and carnivores
- Super Creamy Vegan Stovetop Mac & “Cheese” – proof positive that, surprisingly, you don’t actually need cheese to get a super-satisfying mac!
I’m so glad you’re here! I’m a vegetarian home cook, certified plant-based pro, and mom. I’m married to an enthusiastic carnivore, and my mission is to achieve peace in the kitchen – one tasty recipe at a time. These days, I also try not to ask to speak to the manager.
This Veggie Lovers’ Stovetop Mac & Cheese sounds and looks so Delicious!! Thanks for this recipe 🙂 Do you think I’d ruin it if I were to use 1% Milk in lieu of Whole Milk?
Hi Elizabeth, I do think that 1% milk would work, but the end result might not be as thick, rich, and creamy. If you try it please report back on how it works out!
So this is unusual but I’ll have to give it a try. I’ve made your traditional mac-and-cheese recipe numerous times and it’s always a winner!
This sounds really interesting but it seems to me a little light on pasta in ratio to the vegetables and cheese. Is that a conscious (health) choice? Would increasing both the pasta and the milk work? Thanks!
The pasta can really soak in the sauce – I’m always surprised how much sauce it takes! As far as the veggies, go, yes, it is packed with veggies on purpose – you can certainly lighten up on the veggies but I wouldn’t recommend changing the quantity of the pasta or the milk.
I cooked this the other day. Was easy and delicious. Definitely one to add to the recipe book. Thanks for the post!
I’m so glad you liked it! Thank you so much for coming back and leaving a review. 🙂
This was a pretty disappointing meal for us. The pasta turned out strangely grainy when cooked in the milk. The cheese sauce was too similar to Velveeta for the amount of money and work that went into it and there was way too much of the sauce. I get that the appeal is only using one pot, but there’s a reason for doing things the way they’re traditionally done. We didn’t make any changes to this recipe, but I wish I had . For anyone attempting this, I would suggest at least cooking the pasta separately in water and making more of the pasta. Also consider baking it afterwards to get some browning on the bread crumbs (panko breading is a great choice.)