Broccoli Pesto Mac & Cheese

The ultimate mac & cheese mix in - broccoli pesto! A yummy way to get your kids to eat more veggies.

Broccoli Pesto Mac & Cheese

Some exiting news – the book is done(!) and off to print this week. I’ll share some sneak peaks a little later but suffice it to say – I’m tired. I never thought I would say this but after shooting, testing, retesting, checking and rechecking so many recipes – I became a little “cooked” out. Over the last few weeks, while working through final copy and design edits, there’s been a lot of takeout around here and more than a few boxes of macaroni and cheese. But no one is complaining – especially not my mac & cheese-loving husband Jack. He would be more than thrilled if every night was mac & cheese night!

Right now we’re loving Annie’s Four Cheese Macaroni and Cheese with a few extra green touches, of course. This version with broccoli and broccoli pesto mixed in is one of our favorites…

Broccoli Pesto Mac & Cheese Broccoli Pesto Mac & Cheese

I make my broccoli pesto with blanched broccoli florets, basil, and pepitas. You can use pine nuts or walnuts if that’s what you have on hand. I love making pesto with pepitas because they are inexpensive, and they make your pesto a very vibrant green color. This pesto recipe makes extra, so you can either save the rest to mix into your mac and cheese again the next night, or slather it on your eggs & toast the next morning.

Broccoli Pesto Mac & Cheese

We’ve always been a big fan of Annie’s products – their Four Cheese Macaroni and Cheese is made with organic wheat penne pasta, and only high-quality non-GMO ingredients. Not to mention, it’s so creamy and delicious.

Broccoli Pesto Mac & Cheese

What do you like to mix into your mac & cheese? Share a photo on Instagram of your favorite “mix in” creation and hashtag it #mixinmonday.

5.0 from 3 reviews

Broccoli Pesto Mac & Cheese

 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Author:
Serves: 2
Ingredients
  • 4 cups broccoli florets (reserve 2 cups for the pesto below)
  • 1 (5.5 ounce) box Annie’s Four Cheese Macaroni & Cheese
  • ½ cup unsweetened almond milk, or regular milk
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
broccoli pesto: (this makes extra)
  • 2 cups broccoli florets, blanched
  • 3 tablespoons pepitas (or pine nuts)
  • Handful of fresh basil
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • Sea salt & freshly ground black pepper
optional toppings:
  • Handful of toasted pepitas or pine nuts
  • Pinches of red pepper flakes
  • Sprinkle of chives
Instructions
  1. Prepare a large saucepan of salted boiling water and a large bowl of ice water. Drop all four cups of broccoli florets into the boiling water and blanch for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until slightly tender but still vibrant green. Remove and immediately place immerse into the ice water for 1 minute, then drain.
  2. Make the pesto: In a food processor, combine 2 cups of the blanched broccoli with the pepitas, basil, and garlic. Pulse until combined. Add the lemon juice and a few generous pinches of salt and pepper and pulse again. With the blade running, add the olive oil until the pesto becomes smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings. Set aside.
  3. Rinse the saucepan you used for the broccoli, fill it with fresh water, and bring to a boil. Add the pasta and cook 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente, stirring occasionally. Drain the pasta in a colander. While the pasta is draining, add the milk and butter to the warm saucepan. Sprinkle the cheese over the milk and stir to combine. Add the cooked pasta to the saucepan and stir well. Stir in the remaining 2 cups of blanched broccoli florets until the broccoli is warmed through. Stir in a few scoops of pesto. Serve with extra pesto and optional toppings on the side.
  4. Store extra pesto in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.
Notes
tip: for a lighter pesto, sub half the olive oil with vegetable broth.

This post is sponsored by Annie’s Homegrown, which we love. Thanks for supporting the sponsors that keep us cooking!

33 comments

Leave a comment:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Rate this recipe (after making it):  

  1. Laurie L
    06.19.2020

    Hi! I made the pesto exactly as written, except I used blanched, sliced almonds in lieu of the pepitas in order to increase the amount of calcium in this dish. I used 2.5 tablespoons of lemon juice, which I reject because it turned out was too lemony and way too thin. Hence, it’s more like a broccoli-lemon sauce. So, I’ll have to add more basil and a tablespoon of nutrition yeast to improve it and turn it into a pesto.
    That said, take care.

  2. Laurie L
    06.18.2020

    Hi! Just wondering: does this broccoli pesto freeze okay? I assume it does, but please confirm.
    Thanks in advance as I have a big bag of broccoli to use up soon.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      07.12.2020

      yes (apologies for my late replies), the pesto will freeze great.

  3. Dan
    06.14.2020

    Kids just love this and so do we!

A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.