Zucchini Mac and Cheese | Ambitious Kitchen

HELLO MAC AND CHEESE. WITH ZUCCHINI. So creamy. So luxurious. So tantalizing.

Through the years I’ve gotten many requests for a wholesome mac and cheese recipe and you understand how I LOVE to loosen up consolation meals with irresistible inventive flavors and twists. I perfected this zucchini mac and cheese about 4 years in the past and it’s no totally different! It’s a lightened-up model of conventional mac and cheese that features a TON of shredded zucchini.

Now I do know what you could be pondering: zucchini in mac and cheese, realllllllyyyy? AND I SAY YES, REALLY. I promise with my complete Robert Pattinson-loving-heart that you may’t even style the zucchini. It’s simply pure golden creamy tacky goodness up in that skillet.

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Welcome to the AK Summer season Collection

For the remainder of the summer season, we’ll be dedicating every week to pick out summer season produce! Week 4 is HERE and we’re celebrating stunning zucchini persevering with with this scrumptious zucchini mac and cheese recipe. Keep tuned on the weblog and on Instagram for every week’s produce spotlight, enjoyable movies, and extra.

What’s on this zucchini mac and cheese?

This zucchini mac and cheese is made with tremendous easy substances that you simply in all probability have already got in your pantry and fridge. The whole recipe takes about 20 minutes from begin to end, making it excellent for scrumptious weeknight meals that you simply, your companion and kiddos will actually INHALE. Listed below are the 7 key substances you’ll want:

• Pasta: I LOVE utilizing shells as a result of the cheese coats the within of every shell and offers it unbelievable tacky taste. Be at liberty to make use of gluten free pasta too!
• Butter: you solely want two tablespoons for all the mac and cheese recipe.
• Flour: you need to use complete wheat, all objective flour, or gluten free all objective flour to thicken up that scrumptious cheese sauce.
• Spices: we’re including garlic powder and onion powder to taste that scrumptious cheese sauce.
• Milk of selection: I sometimes make this with unsweetened almond or cashew milk as a result of we don’t purchase common milk. Nevertheless, you need to use no matter milk you’d like. In order for you a richer mac and cheese, use 2% or complete.
• Sharp cheddar cheese: I like to recommend shredding your individual cheese from a block of cheese. It melts significantly better as a result of it doesn’t have the stabilizers present in pre-shredded cheese.
• Zucchini: our secret star veggie that provides the proper enhance of veggies to this tacky skillet.

Customise this more healthy zucchini mac and cheese

• Select a enjoyable cheese. It’s enjoyable to select a distinct cheese to high the mac and cheese. I attempted a spicy cheddar and it was unimaginable, however pepper jack, parmesan, sharp cheddar or gouda would even be scrumptious. It’s as much as you!
• Add extra veggies. Be at liberty so as to add much more veggies like peas or broccoli.
• Add a lift of protein. This dish can be scrumptious with rooster or chickpeas!

Jazz it up with a breadcrumb topping

This zucchini mac and cheese can be scrumptious with a crispy breadcrumb topping! So as to add one:

• Combine 1/2 cup of breadcrumbs with 1 tablespoon of melted butter
• Sprinkle it on high of your mac and cheese
• Bake it for about 20 minutes and luxuriate in!

Suggestions for making zucchini mac and cheese

This spectacular mac and cheese is simpler to make than you suppose! You’ll solely want one pot to boil the pasta and a skillet or one other massive pot to make the mac and cheese. Apart from watching the video to information you, listed below are a couple of ideas and methods to bear in mind while you make this recipe:

• Squeeze out the zucchini. Ensure to squeeze the zucchini of all extra moisture. I reveal how to do that within the video beneath.
• Use a block of cheese. I like to recommend shredding a block of cheese as an alternative of utilizing a package deal. It usually melts higher when shredded from the block!
• Timing is essential for the slurry. While you make your slurry sauce, it’s necessary to have all of your substances already measured out and able to go as a result of it’s a fast course of! As soon as the butter is melted, you’ll whisk in just a little little bit of the flour after which slowly add in milk, just a little bit at a time, alternating with the flour and vigorously whisking away any lumps. It is best to find yourself with a easy paste each time with out too many lumps.
• Cheese it up. On the finish, you’ll be able to both put the mac and cheese below the broiler for a couple of minutes to actually get the highest melted and golden, OR you’ll be able to be at liberty to easily stir within the cheddar cheese you placed on high.

The best way to retailer & reheat mac and cheese

• To retailer: retailer this more healthy zucchini mac and cheese in an hermetic container for as much as 3-5 days (if it lasts that lengthy!)
• To reheat: you’ll be able to reheat it within the microwave to save lots of time, however I’d advocate including it to a flippantly oiled baking dish and heating it within the oven for about 20 minutes at 375 levels F. This may assist the mac and cheese get that bubbly cheese issue again with out drying out.

Watch me make the zucchini mac and cheese

Extra zucchini recipes you’ll love

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I hope you like this simple zucchini mac and cheese recipe! If you happen to make it make sure to depart a remark and a ranking so I understand how you appreciated it. Take pleasure in, xo!

Recipe by: Monique Volz // Formidable Kitchen | Pictures by: Eat Love Eats

This publish was initially revealed on August sixth, 2019, and republished on August 2nd, 2023.