This “Roasted Vegetable Macaroni & Cheese” overflows with delicious vegetables. And the creamy, lighter sauce is simple to make and full of flavor!
Prep Time15 minutesmins
Cook Time45 minutesmins
Total Time1 hourhr
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: pasta, vegetarian
Servings: 6-8 servings
Ingredients
1large red bell peppercored and diced
1medium sweet potatopeeled and diced
1yellow squashde-stemmed and diced
1small head of broccoli floretschopped into bite-sized pieces
1(8-ounce) package button or baby portabella mushroomsquartered
1small white onionpeeled and diced
2Tablespoonsolive oil
1head garliccloves peeled
1(12-ounce) can 2% evaporated milk
1large egg
1/2teaspoonsalt
1/4teaspoonground black pepper
1/2teaspoonsmoked paprika
pinchof cayenne
12ounceselbow macaroni (or any shape of pasta)
1Tablespoonbutter
8ouncesfreshly-grated smoked or sharp white cheddar cheese (do not use pre-grated cheese)
1/4cupfreshly-grated Parmesan cheeseplus extra for garnish
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°F. Prepare a large baking sheet (or two medium-sized baking sheets) with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
In a large bowl, toss diced vegetables with olive oil. Season with a few generous pinches of salt and pepper. Spread the vegetables out in an even layer on the baking sheet(s). Place the garlic cloves in the center of a sheet of aluminum foil, then wrap the foil around them to form a sealed packet and place the packet in the center of the baking sheet. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until vegetables are soft and have begun to brown a bit around the edges, giving them a stir halfway through and checking on the garlic to be sure that it doesn’t burn.
While the vegetables are roasting, bring a large pot of generously-salted water to a boil, and cook the pasta until al dente. Drain the pasta, and then return the pasta to the pot and toss with butter over medium-high heat until melted.
Meanwhile, in a separate bowl, whisk together the evaporated milk, egg, salt, pepper, smoked paprika and cayenne until combined. As soon as the butter is melted with the macaroni, pour in the evaporated milk mixture and stir until combined. Continue cooking over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, for about 2-4 minutes, or until the sauce comes to a simmer.
Remove pan from heat and stir in the grated cheddar and Parmesan until melted. Then gently stir in the roasted vegetables and roasted garlic cloves until combined. Serve immediately, topped with extra Parmesan cheese if desired.