• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
southern discourse
  • Home
  • Recipe Box
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Bread
    • Brunch/Breakfast
    • Casseroles
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Salads
    • Sandwiches
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Hospitality
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Everyday
  • My South
    • Events
    • Monday Coffee Break
  • About
    • Meet Stacey
    • Privacy Disclosure
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipe Box
  • My South
  • Hospitality
  • About
  • Meet Stacey
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Creamy Broccoli Mac & Cheese

     

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    Creamy Broccoli Mac & Cheese is made on the stovetop in just one pot and is the ultimate in comfort food side dishes. With lusciously melted cheddar, cream cheese, fresh chopped broccoli and elbow pasta, this is one homemade macaroni and cheese recipe that gets to the table in less than 30 minutes!

    creamy broccoli macaroni and cheese in a bowl with spoon to show cheese sauce, pasta and broccoli

    If you love macaroni & cheese and are a true fan of “all things cheesy” side dishes, you’ll also love my Ultimate Pepper Jack Mac & Cheese, Easy Creamy Fettucine Alfredo and Baked Gouda Cheese Grits.

    creamy stovetop broccoli mac and cheese as a side dish for dinner

    Macaroni and cheese is always a winner! Classic, inviting and just the right amount of dreamy indulgence, who doesn’t love a golden helping of mac & cheese? And this recipe? Well, it’s all that and then some.

    With a bit of chopped broccoli, it’s a great way to sneak an extra veggie to the table while amping up your menu’s yum factor. Kids love it, husbands love, it’s a tried and true keeper. And while it rocks a Wednesday night, it’s also right smart on the holiday table.

    Ingredient photo for stovetop macaroni and cheese with fresh broccoli

    Broccoli Mac & Cheese Ingredients

    • elbow pasta
    • broccoli crowns or florets (I use fresh broccoli so that I can chop it small without a lot of stalk, like my family likes it.)
    • sharp cheddar cheese
    • cream cheese
    • half & half
    • chicken broth
    • butter
    • flour
    • ground mustard, garlic powder, paprika, black pepper
    making sauce and adding pasta and broccoli to show how to make recipe

    How To Make Creamy Stovetop Broccoli Mac & Cheese

    To begin this recipe, I like to have everything chopped, grated and measured out before I start cooking.

    Boil Macaroni and Broccoli. This recipe boils the pasta and the broccoli (one after the other) in the same sauce pan using chicken broth and water.

    In a large sauce pan, cover macaroni with chicken broth, then add enough water to allow pasta room to boil. Cook just until al dente. Remove pasta from the brothy water and set aside.

    Add chopped broccoli to broth and boil for 3-5 minutes, just until tender. Drain pasta and broccoli together.

    Make Sauce. Put the same sauce pan back on the stovetop. Melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour, making a smooth paste. Then whisk in the seasonings. Continuing to whisk, slowly pour in half & half, then chicken broth. Add cheese one handful at a time, whisking until each melts before adding another. Lastly whisk in cream cheese.

    Add the Goods. Fold in drained macaroni and broccoli and you’re ready to serve!

    pro tip for creamy melted mac and cheese sauce
    Close up of finished broccoli mac and cheese to show creamy texture

    What to Serve with Broccoli Macaroni & Cheese

    This creamy, cheesy side dish is perfect for the holiday table and easily takes the place of a traditional broccoli cheese & rice casserole. But it’s also great for any weeknight too! Partner it up with any of these proteins to make a meal your family will love. Or enjoy it by itself for a warm, welcoming lunch!

    • Crock Pot BBQ Chicken Thighs
    • Easy Pepper Crusted Pork Loin
    • Classic Chicken Fried Steak Fingers
    • Crispy Ranch Chicken Tenders
    • Juicy Lucy Broiler Burgers

    Substitutions

    Pasta. Don’t want to use elbow macaroni? Pasta shells, rotini and bow ties are great options for this dish.

    Broccoli. To skip the steps of chopping & boiling the broccoli, use frozen broccoli. Run it under warm water in a colander, drain well and fold into mac & cheese according to the recipe.

    Spice. Add a little red pepper flakes to bring the heat!

    Make it a Meal. Add leftover holiday ham or chopped rotisserie chicken to make this an all-in-one meal!

    A bowl of broccoli macaroni and cheese as a comfort food meal

    Other Comfort Side Dishes You’ll Love

    • Fluffy Mashed Sweet Potatoes
    • Southern Cornbread Pudding
    • Louisiana Dirty Rice
    • Horseradish Mashed Potatoes with Garlic & Cream Cheese
    • Ultimate Scalloped Potatoes

    IF YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE, BE SURE TO LET ME KNOW!

    RATE IT, LEAVE A COMMENT OR SNAP A PHOTO.

    Tag me on Instagram at #southerndiscourse
    creamy broccoli macaroni and cheese in a bowl with spoon to show cheese sauce, pasta and broccoli

    Creamy Broccoli Mac & Cheese

    Creamy Broccoli Mac & Cheese is made on the stovetop in just one pot with lusciously melted cheddar, cream cheese, fresh chopped broccoli and elbow pasta.
    No ratings yet
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: classic, comfort food, family meal, holiday
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Servings: 5 people
    Author: Stacey | SouthernDiscourse.com

    Ingredients

    • 8 ounces elbow macaroni (about 2 cups, uncooked), prepared in chicken broth & water
    • 2 cups chopped broccoli florets
    • 4 tablespoons butter
    • 1/4 cup flour
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
    • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
    • 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
    • 2 cups half & half
    • 1/2 cup chicken broth
    • 3 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese (8 ounce block)
    • 2 ounces cream cheese, cubed

    Instructions

    • In a large sauce pan, cover uncooked macaroni with chicken broth. Add about 2 C of water to give pasta room to boil. Cook to al dente. Remove pasta from sauce pan, keeping broth and water. Set macaroni aside.
    • Add chopped broccoli to same broth/water mixture. Let boil 3-5 minutes or just until broccoli is tender. Drain broccoli with pasta.
    • Put saucepan back on the stop over medium heat. Melt butter. Sprinkle in flour. Whisk until there are no lumps and flour makes a thick paste. Whisk in seasonings.
    • Whisk in half & half, continuing to whisk until there are again no lumps. Whisk in broth.
    • Added grated cheese one handful at a time. After each handful, whisk slowly until cheese is melted before adding another handful. Add cream cheese and whisk until smooth.
    • Fold in pasta and broccoli and serve!
    Creamy Broccoli Mac & Cheese is made on the stovetop in just one pot and is the ultimate in comfort food side dishes.  With lusciously melted cheddar, cream cheese, fresh chopped broccoli and elbow pasta, this is one homemade macaroni and cheese recipe that gets to the table in less than 30 minutes!
    Join The Discourse Now!

    Join The Discourse Now!

    Subscribe to receive the latest recipes, entertaining ideas, weekly menus & encouragement! 

    You have Successfully Subscribed!

    Share this!

    • Facebook
    • Yummly
    • Email

    You Might Also Like...

    • A layered spaghetti with cream cheese, taco seasoned ground beef, black beans, corn, spaghetti pasta and melted cheese makes an easy family dinner.

      Million Dollar Mexican Spaghetti

    • Easy fresh strawberry pie is a no bake dessert loaded with ripe strawberries in a flaky pie crust, topped with whipped cream.

      Easy Fresh Strawberry Pie

    • This quirky layered salad is a southern classic that never fails to be a true hit at cookouts, potlucks and family gatherings. Ridiculously and surprisingly delicious, Southern Cornbread Salad is a stunner, loaded up with layers of cornbread, marinated black eyed peas, tomatoes, corn, green onions and bell pepper, bacon, cheddar cheese and a cool and creamy buttermilk Ranch dressing.

      Southern Cornbread Salad

    « Monday Menu #77
    Fried Cinnamon Apples »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Southern Discourse is a place where you can find southern family dishes, along with special recipes and table settings.  We’re bringing connection & friendship back to the table by wrapping everything in the faith and grace from which true hospitality springs!

    Read More →

    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    Southern discourse cookbook

    Get your FREE Southern Discourse Mini Soup Cookbook!

    Get all of the latest from Southern Discourse & this mini cookbook when you SUBSCRIBE!

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    JOIN SOUTHERN DISCOURSE

    With so many choices in the blog world, my hope is that at Southern Discourse you will find a place where you feel at home, where the conversations are honest and relatable, a place where you are encouraged and know you belong.  A place that makes a real difference in your day-to-day and walk with Christ.  By using the subscribe button, you become an important part of SD and are sure to never miss a post or contest!  I look forward to our conversations- the kind that could only happen on a porch, in a swing, between great friends.

    PRIVACY/COOKIE DISCLOSURE . ABOUT . CONTACT

    Copyright © 2021 Southern Discourse