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quick dinner ideas for family

Mac and Cheese With Hidden Vegetables

The most genius quick dinner idea for family with young kids. Creamy golden mac and cheese with pureed butternut squash secretly making it creamier and more nutritious. Kids think it just looks extra cheesy. They will never know. You're welcome.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 13 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 490

Ingredients
  

  • 400 g macaroni pasta
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup butternut squash puree canned or frozen thawed
  • Half cup whole milk
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Half teaspoon mustard powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Method
 

  1. Step 1: Cook macaroni in heavily salted water per package instructions
  2. Step 2: While pasta cooks warm butternut squash puree and milk together in saucepan over medium heat
  3. Step 3: Add butter garlic powder mustard powder stir until butter melts
  4. Step 4: Add cheese handful at a time stirring until completely melted between additions
  5. Step 5: Season well with salt and pepper taste and adjust
  6. Step 6: Drain pasta add directly to cheese sauce
  7. Step 7: Toss until every piece of pasta is coated
  8. Step 8: Serve immediately kids will never know what hit them

Notes

— Canned butternut squash
puree saves so much time —
find it near canned pumpkin
— Add cheese gradually
adding all at once
makes it clump
— Mustard powder is secret
ingredient that enhances
cheese flavor without
tasting like mustard
— Works with any short
pasta shape you have