Veggie Mac & Cheese

The perfect easy kids meal for busy weeknights or packing a lunchbox for school. This rainbow veggie mac and cheese is loved by toddlers, kids, teens, and adults, and a colorful way to inspire everyone in the family to eat more veggies. After all, who doesn't love a rainbow meal?
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rainbow vegetable mac and cheese vegan kids meal
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It’s hard to beat a bowlful of luscious, gooey mac and cheese. Quite possibly the most popular comfort food in America, if not further afield, anyone can understand the broad appeal. Tender noodles cooked al dente and smothered in a buttery cheddar sauce really speak for themselves. Even the pickiest eaters will gladly dig into this beloved kids meal without protest.

Simple and straightforward, classic mac is already a great go-to dinner, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have more fun with it. Create a pasta masterpiece by adding in a full rainbow of roasted vegetables that taste so amazing, you won’t even realize it’s healthy! Rainbow mac & cheese is the ultimate everyday meal that will never get boring.

This dairy free kids meal recipe was kindly sponsored by Goodles, makers of delicious vegan boxed mac and cheese. 

Why You’ll Love This Veggie Mac

  • Secretly nutritious: Kids who would otherwise turn up their noses at a plate of vegetables will gobble this veggie mac and cheese up. Adding a colorful array of produce into their diets helps them get a diverse array of vitamins and minerals, which are better absorbed through food than supplements.
  • Allergen-friendly: Everyone’s invited to the table! Since it’s vegan, it’s also naturally dairy-free and eggless. If you have celiac disease, use gluten-free noodles to keep wheat out of the equation.
  • Crowd-pleasing: Chopping the veggies small usually makes them more appealing to kids, so even veggie-haters can be won over with this approach.
  • Fast and easy: Use packaged vegan mac & cheese for truly instant gratification. Anyone who can boil water can whip this one up in minutes. If you plan ahead and roast the vegetables in advance, you can quickly accommodate the dinnertime rush.
  • Seasonal, all year round: No matter the weather, there’s always something fresh in local markets. Change the array of additions to keep things exciting 365 days a year.
  • Affordable: Start from scratch to get a restaurant-quality meal for pennies on the dollar. Save even more by using frozen vegetables and shopping produce sales.
Bowl of spiraled pasta with roasted veggies.

Boxed or Homemade Mac & Cheese?

Either will work great for this kids meal! You can use your favorite boxed vegan mac and cheese, or cook up your own from scratch. Everyone claims that their mom’s or grandma’s or great-grandma’s recipe is best, and honestly, everyone is right. It’s just hard to go wrong with mac and cheese!

If you want to make your own, here are a few excellent options to try:

There’s no shame in taking shortcuts either. For this version, we used the Goodles boxed mac, which is totally reminiscent of the boxed mac we had as a kid. Kids love it, and the Goodles ingredients are truly nutritious, which is a big win for health-conscious parents. Look out for the green Goodles box – that’s their vegan flavor!

Rainbow veggie mac and cheese in a bowl.

What Are The Best Vegetables To Use?

Consider this more of a blueprint than a formal recipe. You can mix and match any of your favorites, taking into consideration seasonality or just what you happen to have on hand. There’s no rule that you need to include one option of every color, and there are no bad combinations. Here are some ideas if you get stuck:

  • Red: Tomatoes, red bell pepper, radishes, or red pepper (if serving to adults)
  • Orange: Carrots, pumpkin, orange bell pepper, sweet potato
  • Yellow: Summer squash, yellow bell pepper, corn
  • Green: Zucchini, broccoli, green beans, snap peas, asparagus, Brussels sprouts
  • Purple: Eggplant, red onion, red cabbage, beets
  • White: Cauliflower, rutabaga, potato, button mushrooms

Here is our recipe for rainbow roasted veggies and roasted root veggies for two delicious options.

Tips For Roasting Vegetables Perfectly Every Time

A properly roasted vegetable is a thing of beauty. Golden brown with a gentle char around the edges and fork-tender all the way through, anything on the market will taste like the absolute best version of itself. Perfect your technique with these simple tips:

Cut everything to about the same size.

You want all the pieces to cook evenly, so consistency is key.

Space it out.

Give the vegetables room to breathe in there! Arrange them in one layer to properly brown the edges. Anything covered will simply steam, not roast. Divide it between two sheet pans if you need to, rotating them halfway through the cooking process.

Group similar vegetables together that will cook at the same rate.

That means it’s a good idea to combine root vegetables, like potatoes and carrots, on one sheet, while more tender cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli and cauliflower, on another.

Don’t be afraid of the heat.

Between 425°F – 450°F is ideal to brown the outsides and cook through the insides without the vegetables burning or turning into mush.

Season simply at first.

Stick with the basics for greater flexibility: Olive oil, salt, and pepper will never do you wrong. Add spices, herbs, and other flavorings to taste afterward.

Rainbow Sheet Pan Roasted Veggies for veggie mac and cheese.

Recipe Tips

  • Don’t have an oven, or just prefer to air fry? You can air fry the vegetables instead at 370 degrees. You may need to cook them in a number of batches, though, since air fryers are much smaller than conventional ovens.
  • Add more protein to make it a standalone meal. You can start by making your sauce with soy milk (unsweetened and plain), which has the highest protein content of any non-dairy option. Then, you can top the finished dish with anything from baked tofu to crunchy chickpeas, or simply serve some meatless nuggets on the side for picky eaters.
  • Double the recipe for meal prep or to feed a large family. You could even triple or quadruple it to feed a crowd if you’d like. The only thing potentially stopping you is the size of your pots and pans! The leftovers are also great in lunchboxes the next day.

Serving Suggestions

Veggie mac and cheese is an ideal one-bowl meal with everything you need and crave together, but there’s always room on the table for more. If you’re serving guests and want a more complete spread or simply want some variety for yourself, here are some great ideas for side dishes and accompaniments:

Storage

Store leftover veggie mac and cheese in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Leftovers should keep in the fridge for 5 – 7 days.

To reheat, warm in the microwave for 1 – 2 minutes, adding a splash of water to loosen up the sauce if needed. Stir well.

FAQs

What is veggie mac and cheese made of?

Veggie mac and cheese can be made with a variety of roasted vegetables and your favorite boxed mac and cheese. Switch up the vegetables depending on the season or with whatever you have on hand. It’s easily customizable!

What can you add to mac and cheese?

Mac and cheese is easy to adjust to a whole new flavor profile with just a few simple additions. You can add breadcrumbs for some texture, fresh herbs and spices for depth of flavor, peas and chickpeas to make it more filling, hot sauce to make it spicy, or any vegetable to give it more fiber and nutrition!

Is mac and cheese good for vegetarians?

Mac and cheese is typically vegetarian but not always vegan. Make sure to check the ingredient list to ensure there are no animal products present.

Veggie mac and cheese made with goodles boxed vegan mac.

Rainbow Veggie Mac & Cheese

Author: Michelle Cehn | World of Vegan
5 from 13 votes
This delicious veggie mac and cheese is perfect for kids, toddlers, and even adults. It's a kid's meal that you can actually feel good about. You can make this with boxed vegan mac or homemade recipes (we linked our favorites in the article) and a sheet pan of roasted veggies. 
rainbow vegetable mac and cheese vegan kids meal
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 2 boxes boxed vegan mac and cheese, we used Goodles’ vegan mac or one batch of homemade vegan mac and cheese, prepared according to box or recipe instructions.
  • Red bell pepper, diced
  • Carrots, sliced into small rounds or finely diced
  • Yellow bell pepper, diced
  • Broccoli florets, finely chopped
  • Red onion, finely diced (use purple cabbage if your kids don’t like onion)
  • Drizzle of olive oil or vegetable oil
  • Salt, sprinkle to taste
  • Pepper, sprinkle to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Chop veggies of choice into small bite-sized pieces (the smaller the better for kids). We used: red pepper, orange carrots, yellow pepper, green broccoli florets, and red onion (purple). 
  • Line baking sheet with a silicone baking mat, parchment paper, or oil, and add the chopped veggies. If you're involving the kids, add the veggies in rainbow color order so they can have fun with the rainbow effect! 
  • Drizzle with oil, and add a generous sprinkle of salt and pepper. Toss gently to evenly coat.
  • Bake for around 15-30 minutes, depending on the veggies used and the size you chop everything.
  • Prepare vegan mac and cheese according to box or recipe instructions. 
  • Add roasted veggies to the prepared mac and cheese, mix, and serve!

Video

Notes

Rainbow Veggie Color Options:
Red: Baby tomatoes, red bell pepper, red chili pepper (if serving to adults)
Orange: Carrots, orange bell pepper, sweet potato, pumpkin
Yellow: Yellow bell pepper, corn, squash
Green: Broccoli, green beans, zucchini, snap peas, asparagus, Brussels sprouts
Purple: Red onion, purple cabbage, eggplant
White: Cauliflower, rutabaga, button mushrooms

Nutrition

Calories: 342kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 11g | Sodium: 785mg | Potassium: 202mg | Calcium: 149mg | Iron: 2mg
Course dinner
Cuisine American
Keyword vegan mac and cheese, veggie mac and cheese

Veggie mac and cheese recipe and photos copyright of World of Vegan, all rights reserved. Thank you to our sponsor of this recipe, Goodles. We love their Vegan is Believin’ plant-based mac and cheese with white cheddar sauce and spiral pasta (the one in the green box). Photography by the amazing Kaylie Grace.

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Recipe Rating




20 comments
  1. 5 stars
    This is really the perfect kids meal

  2. Beatriz Buono-Core says:

    5 stars
    I’m shocked at how clean these Goodles Mac & Cheese are, the rainbow veggies make it the ultimate quick kids dinner! Love it 🙂

    • We do, too! Both the kids are not that fond of veggies, so this recipe helps a lot!

  3. 5 stars
    This is such a great recipe for kids! I was lacking ideas for healthy lunch, and this one is perfect!

    • We’re so glad to hear it, Teodora! This pasta recipe is tasty and fun for the whole family 😀

  4. 5 stars
    Easy, healthy and delicious. I is usually always have roasted vegetables on hand, so this is simple to throw together. Qq

  5. 5 stars
    Very easy, fun to make, and just yummy for a kids meal…and definitely for adults, too!

  6. 5 stars
    love how colorful this mac and cheese is! so incredibly appetizing!

  7. 5 stars
    Love how packed with veggies this mac & cheese is! Perfect lunch for the whole family!!

    • I love making this if we’re planning on being out the whole day. It’s easy and delicious for everyone!

  8. 5 stars
    Love eating my mac and cheez with these beautiful veggies!!

  9. 5 stars
    this mac and cheese turned out amazing! so so good and perfect for the entire family!

  10. 5 stars
    my picky little girl gobbled this up like no tomorrow. She really love the bright colors and flavours ! thanks

    • Yay! Isn’t it the best when you find something your child really likes and it’s healthy, too? 😀

  11. 5 stars
    So many colors and well-paired flavors! We were super delighted with this meal. My niece loved it!

    • I love that this is a dish that everyone in the family can love. Plus, everyone gets an added portion of veggies without really realizing it!

  12. 5 stars
    The whole family enjoyed this mac and cheese dinner! Great way to use up whatever veggies are on hand, too!

  13. 5 stars
    My little one LOVES this vegan Mac, and now that he’s a toddler, he’s getting pickier and it’s harder to get him to eat veggies, so this is perfect!!

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