Frozen vegetables are the easiest upgrade to your favorite mac and cheese

Mac and cheese is the pinnacle of American comfort food, with a long list of boxed brands that are often as nostalgic and beloved as the more sporadic homemade stews. While your favorite brand of mac and cheese is always a welcome solution for a busy weeknight dinner, frozen veggies are the easy upgrade you need to round out the meal with a pop of color and nutrition.

Frozen vegetables are pre-cut and pre-cooked and contain just as much nutrition and vitality as their raw counterparts. Plus, almost any type of vegetable you can find in the frozen food section will taste delicious smothered in cheese sauce. For smaller or delicate vegetables, you can toss them right into a freshly made macaroni and cheese casserole straight from the freezer. The warmth of the cheese and pasta is enough to thaw them in time for you to set the table.

For larger frozen vegetables that need to be heated to thaw, you can boil them with the macaroni pasta and drain them in a colander before adding the cheese sauce. No matter which vegetables you choose, you won’t need to take any extra steps or adjustments to use them in a batch of boxed macaroni and cheese.

Read more: 25 Types of Potatoes and When to Use Them

Pairing vegetables with macaroni and cheese

A creamy cheese sauce pairs well with a wide range of sweet, savory, and even bitter vegetables. You can start with classic cheese and vegetable pairings. Cauliflower and broccoli are commonly served with cheese sauce, so you know they would be delicious additions to boxed macaroni and cheese. Peas, carrots, and corn will all provide a really nice crunch as well as a sweet complement to the rich flavor of the cheese. Stir in frozen kale or chopped spinach for a sophisticated, bitter finish that will balance the sharp, tangy flavors of the cheddar.

You can even sneak frozen vegetables into boxed macaroni and cheese, and the veggie haters in your family won’t know. The easiest way to do this is to stir frozen cauliflower into your noodles. The little bits of cauliflower will almost dissolve into the cheese sauce when you stir it into the macaroni.

Of course, you can also add frozen vegetables to your homemade macaroni and cheese. Look no further than Tasting Table’s Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese for proof; frozen butternut squash, butter, and broth simmer, then emulsify in a blender to create a creamy base that you stir in cheddar cheese and milk. You can also add frozen green beans to this decadent French Onion Mac and Cheese recipe by boiling them with the noodles and following these assembly steps.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.