10 Yummylicious Macaroni And Cheese Recipes For Toddlers

Written by MomJunction MomJunction
Last Updated on

Does your child insist on eating macaroni and cheese for breakfast, lunch, and even dinner? Are you looking for any mac and cheese recipe for toddlers so as to please them? Do you want to ensure that your child gets the goodness of other foods along with macaroni cheese? If this sounds like you, or someone you know, consider reading our post.

Mac and cheese for toddlers are not as unhealthy as you think. Macaroni is a healthy source of complex carbohydrates. It boosts your child’s energy levels while giving him a healthy dose of calcium and protein. And cheese, as you all know, is an excellent source of calcium. You can also add chopped veggies or vegetable puree to the macaroni and cheese to enhance its nutritional value.

Read on for some delicious and healthy recipes of mac and cheese for toddlers.

1. Sweet Potato Mac And Cheese:

Mac And Cheese For Toddlers - Sweet Potato Mac And Cheese
Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • 1 medium sweet potato
  • 2 cups of whole wheat elbow macaroni, cooked
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups of milk
  • ½ teaspoon of Dijon mustard
  • 2 cups of freshly grated cheddar cheese
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste

How To:

  1. Bake the sweet potato for 1 hour at 400 degrees.
  1. After the sweet potato has cooked, scoop out the flesh and mash well.
  1. Heat olive oil in a saucepan and add flour to it. Whisk for 1 minute.
  1. Then pour in the milk, whisking slowly. Cook until the mixture thickens
  1. Now add in shredded cheese, mustard and mashed sweet potato.
  1. Remove from the heat and season with salt and pepper.
  1. Now stir in the macaroni and mix well.

2. 5 Minute Mac And Cheese:

Mac And Cheese For Toddlers - 5 Minute Mac And Cheese
Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
  • ½ pound of shell pasta, cooked
  • ¾ teaspoon of kosher salt
  • 1 cup of whole milk
  • ½ teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper

How To:

  1. In a bowl, place milk, cheese, pasta and salt and microwave for 3 minutes.
  1. Stir and microwave for another 2 minutes.
  1. Stir until creamy and smooth.

[ Read: Paneer Recipes For Toddlers ]

3. Quick Bake Chicken Mac And Cheese:

Mac And Cheese For Toddlers - Quick Bake Chicken Mac And Cheese
Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • 150 grams of soft processed cheese
  • 400 grams of macaroni pasta, cooked
  • 4 slices of cooked chicken, chopped
  • 1 spring onion, finely sliced
  • 2/3rd handfuls of breadcrumbs
  • 25 grams of Parmesan, grated
  • 150ml of whipping cream
  • Salt and pepper to taste

How To:

  1. In a saucepan, add cheese and whipping cream and bring it to boil.
  1. Remove from the heat and add sliced spring onion and cooked chicken.
  1. Add pasta and season with salt and pepper.
  1. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, and place under a hot grill until cooked.
  1. Serve the macaroni and cheese recipe for toddlers immediately.

4. Stovetop Mac And Cheese:

Mac And Cheese For Toddlers - Stovetop Mac And Cheese
Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • 1 ¼ cups of uncooked elbow macaroni
  • 1 cup of low-fat milk
  • 1 ¼ cups of cheddar cheese
  • 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
  • 1/8 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon of salt
  • ¼th cup of breadcrumbs
  • 1 tablespoon of butter, melted

How To:

  1. Cook pasta according to package instruction, drain and leave it aside.
  1. In a saucepan, combine milk and flour. Cook on medium heat for 2 minutes.
  1. Now add cheese, pepper and salt and whisk until smooth.
  1. Add pasta and cook for 2 minutes.
  1. In a sauce, mix butter and bread crumbs and cook for 2 min.
  1. Sprinkle over the macaroni and serve.

[ Read: Pasta Recipes For Toddlers ]

5. Cauliflower Mac N Cheese:

Mac And Cheese For Toddlers - Cauliflower Mac N Cheese
Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • 200 grams of cauliflower florets
  • 185 grams of macaroni, cooked
  • 1 tablespoon of corn flour
  • 250ml of milk
  • 55 grams of cheddar, grated
  • 2 tablespoons of mascarpone
  • 55 grams of gruyere cheese, grated
  • ¼ teaspoon of Dijon mustard

How To:

  1. Steam the cauliflower florets for 15 to 20 minutes until soft.
  1. Meanwhile, combine milk and cornflour and whisk for 2 min.
  1. Now stir in the cheese, mascarpone, and Dijon mustard.
  1. Now add cauliflower and season to taste.
  1. Add the cooked macaroni and cook for 2 minutes.
  1. Garnish with Parmesan cheese and serve.

6. Spinach Man N Cheese:

Mac And Cheese For Toddlers - Spinach Man N Cheese
Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • 4 cups macaroni, cooked
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 tablespoon of butter
  • 1 cup of skimmed milk
  • 1 tablespoon of flour
  • 3 oz. of Gruyere cheese, shredded
  • 3 oz. Cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1 egg
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 cup of cooked spinach
  • Salt and pepper to taste

How To:

  1. In a saucepan, melt butter and add flour. Now add milk and garlic and bring the mixture to boil.
  1. Add the cheese and mix well.
  1. Remove the sauce from the heat and add the egg and egg white.
  1. In another bowl, combine spinach, pasta, cheese sauce, salt, and pepper and mix well. Serve hot.

7. Quinoa Mac And Cheese:

Mac And Cheese For Toddlers - Quinoa Mac And Cheese
Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter
  • 3 cups of cooked quinoa
  • 3 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
  • A pinch ground nutmeg
  • 1 ½ cups of whole milk
  • 4 additional teaspoons of butter
  • ¼ teaspoon of salt
  • ¾ cup of panko bread crumbs
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 8 oz. grated cheddar cheese

How To:

  1. In a saucepan, add 3 tablespoons of butter and flour and stir continuously. Add milk and bring it to boil.
  1. Now stir in salt, nutmeg, and cheese.
  1. Remove from the heat, mix cooked pasta, quinoa, and top with Parmesan cheese.
  1. In a bowl, combine bread crumbs and butter and sprinkle over the macaroni.
  1. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

[ Read: Zucchini Recipes For Toddlers ]

8. Carrot Mac And Cheese:

Mac And Cheese For Toddlers - Carrot Mac And Cheese
Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • 4 large carrots, peeled
  • 2/3 cup of water
  • 4 cups of penne pasta, cooked
  • 2 cups of Cheddar cheese
  • 1 ¼ cup of milk
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoon chives

How To:

  1. Steam the carrot for 20 to 25 minutes until it softens. Process the carrot using a little bit of milk.
  1. In a mixing bowl, combine cooked pasta with carrot puree.
  1. Add 1 ½ cup of cheese, chives, salt and black pepper to the macaroni mixture.
  1. Transfer to the baking dish, sprinkle the leftover cheese and bake for 20 minutes.

9. Avocado Mac And Cheese:

Mac And Cheese For Toddlers - Avocado Mac And Cheese
Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • 10 ounces of elbow macaroni, cooked
  • 2 avocados, peeled and pitted
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1/3 cup of chopped fresh cilantro
  • 2 tablespoons of butter
  • 2 tablespoons of fresh lime juice
  • 1 cup of milk
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups of shredded Pepper Jack cheese
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

How To:

  1. In a food processor, place avocado, garlic, lemon juice, cilantro, and salt pepper and process until creamy.
  1. In a saucepan, put butter and flour to make a thick paste. Add milk and stir until smooth.
  1. Then add cheese and cook for a minute.
  1. Place macaroni in a bowl and pour the avocado sauce over it. Add the cheese sauce and mix well.Season with salt and pepper and serve.

[ Read: Smoothie Recipes For Toddlers ]

10. Butternut Squash Mac And Cheese:

Mac And Cheese For Toddlers - Butternut Squash Mac And Cheese
Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • 1 pound of macaroni, grated
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons of butter
  • ½ medium-sized onion, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves, chopped
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups of chicken stock
  • 1 cup of butternut squash pureed
  • 1 cup of cream
  • 2 cups of Cheddar cheese, grated
  • ½ cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • Salt and black pepper

How To:

  1. In a saucepan, add olive oil and butter. Then add thyme and the chopped onion and cook for 2 minutes.
  1. Add flour and cook for another 10 minutes.
  1. Then add stock, butternut squash and cook until it acquires a smooth consistency.
  1. Then add cream and bring the sauce to a bubble.
  1. Stir in the cheese, pepper, nutmeg and salt.
  1. Add the cooked pasta and toss well.

It won’t even take you more than 30 minutes to prepare these healthy recipes of macaroni cheese for toddlers. So, entice your little one with these delicious macaroni and cheese recipes, but, don’t overdo it. Twice a week is perfect. Do you have any more macaroni and cheese recipes? Tell us about them here.

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