I’m all for finding new ways to incorporate healthy veggies into my families meals. This Broccoli Cheddar Meatballs with Mac and Cheese is a perfectly balanced meal that has flavor and comfort all wrapped into one dish.

The Best Recipe for Broccoli Cheddar Meatballs!

So this really weird thing happened to me today, my children behaved through the entire grocery shopping trip. Which has really never happened, at least not this smoothly and I must say at the end of my shopping trip, while walking out of the store, I felt a whole new feeling of “Mommin Like a Boss!” I held my shoulders up high, walked out of that grocery store door feeling like unicorns are real and fairy dust was in my back pocket.

I mean I’m realistic, the next time I’m shopping I’ll probably be the mom everyone goes back to staring at when my daughter throws her self down on the floor and my son tries opening the bag of chips from the cart, while he’s telling me that he will do “Whatever me want!”. BUT TODAY, I feel like a rock star and the way home was even better because no one cried, screamed or hit each other. Excuse me while I totally take all the credit for the good behavior today.

This meatball recipe was just like that recent shopping trip to Trader Joe’s, everything worked out perfectly. The broccoli and cheddar combination is admired by so many of us and cavatappi noodles with a creamy cheese sauce is a fantastic combination loved by all. If you’re in the mood for a comfort meal, but still want to deliver nutrition, then this is a perfect balance of both. I do have my one secret weapon I use in many of my mac and cheese recipes and that’s Trader Joe’s Unexpected Cheddar Cheese. A creamy cheddar cheese with hints of parmesan and something I can’t explain, but it’s oh so delicious.

These delectable Broccoli Cheddar Meatballs are all baked and ready to go on top of the creamy mac and cheese!

Highly recommend Unexpected Cheddar cheese if you have a Trader Joe’s near you, but you can also substitute for your favorite cheddar cheese of choice.

Broccoli Cheddar Meatballs with Mac and Cheese

Author: Whisking Mama
Total Time: 45 mins
Yield: 4-6 1x

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Ingredients

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MEATBALLS:
1 pound ground chicken (or turkey)
3/4 cup finely chopped broccoli
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 egg
1/8 cup whole milk
2 tablespoons ketchup
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder or 2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup finely chopped yellow onion
1/2 cup bread crumbs
2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley (optional)
olive oil
MAC AND CHEESE:
1 pound Cavatippa pasta (or other noodle of choice)
2 tablespoons of butter
2 tablespoons of flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3/4 teaspoon ground mustard
2 cups of whole milk
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (suggestion, unexpected cheddar cheese from Trader Joe’s)
TO GARNISH: Fresh chopped parsley if desired

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Instructions

MEATBALLS:
Preheat oven to 400F
Line baking pan with parchment paper
Mix all the MEATBALL ingredients (EXCEPT, olive oil) until incorporated
Form 1.5 inch meatballs and place on baking pan
Lightly drizzle or spray the meatballs with olive oil
Bake for 16 minutes or until desired internal temperature
MAC AND CHEESE:
Boil water in large stock pot for pasta and cook pasta until al dente according to the package
In medium sauce pan over medium/low heat melt butter
Whisk flour into the melted butter and cook for about 2 minutes
Add salt and pepper
Slowly whisk in the milk
Cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes to thicken
Add dry mustard, cheddar cheese and heat till cheese is melted through
Adjust seasonings at this point if needed
Pour cheese sauce over the pasta
Plate your Mac and Cheese placing your Broccoli Cheddar Meatballs on top, garnish with more fresh chopped parsley if desired

Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Category: Main Dish