Goat Cheese Mac and Cheese + Roasted Broccoli – a savory twist on the classic comfort food! Ready in 20 minutes and a perfect meatless weeknight option!
Easy Goat Cheese Mac and Cheese Recipe
You gotta try it!
I am a huge fan of goat cheese and this simple, delicious recipe showcases it’s wonderful flavor so well! Get this on your menu!
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Quick: This meal comes together so quickly – perfect for a crazy weeknight dinner!
- Different Flavor: I love regular mac and cheese, but this is such a refreshing spin on the classic!
- Filling: This is surprising filling and little rich – a little will go along way!
What You Will Need
- broccoli
- salt
- cavatappi noodles (feel free to use gluten free!)
- butter or ghee
- goat cheese
- ground black pepper
Recipe FAQs + Tips and Tricks
- Pasta: Feel free to use a different typo of pasta than cavatappi – just ensure whatever you use cook it al dente and don’t forget to reserve 1 1/2 cups of pasta water before draining the rest!
- Gluten-Free: You can definitely use gluten-free noodles! Jovial is my favorite gluten-free pasta brand.
- Broccolini: You could totally use broccolini instead of regular broccoli!
- Leftovers: Makes great leftovers! Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container. You might need to add a little melted butter, unsweetened almond milk or even little vegetable broth to help bring it back to life!
- Protein: If you are looking for a protein – serve with some grilled chicken breast or grilled chicken thighs!
How to Make Goat Cheese Mac and Cheese
Roast your broccoli and cook your pasta al dente.
Reserve pasta water and then drain pasta.
Add butter and goat cheese to the same pot you cooked your pasta in.
Pour in pasta water.
Whisk to combine and make a creamy sauce.
Add pasta back in and stir.
Then add broccoli back in as well as additional past water.
Continue stirring as the pasta soaks up the sauce. Serve and enjoy!
OTHER RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE:
- Fettuccine + Clams, Mussels and Bay Scallops
- Vegetarian Rice Bowl + Poached Egg
- Jackfruit Tacos + Creamy Poblano Sauce
- Bruschetta Chicken Pasta
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Goat Cheese Mac and Cheese + Roasted Broccoli
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 20 mins
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: American
Description
Goat Cheese Mac and Cheese + Roasted Broccoli – a fun spin on your classic Mac and Cheese!
Ingredients
- 1 lb broccoli (cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 1–2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 Teaspoon salt
- 12–15 oz cavatappi noodles (feel free to use gluten free!)
- 4 Tablespoons ghee (or butter), cut into small chunks
- 8 oz goat cheese, cut into small chunks
- pinch of salt and ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat: Preheat oven to 350.
- Water for Pasta: Heat water in pasta pot.
- Prep Broccoli: In the meantime, put broccoli on parchment-lined baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil and salt; massage oil into the broccoli.
- Roast Broccoli: Place in oven for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until slightly charred.
- Cook Pasta: Cook cavatappi per box instructions until al dente.
- Save: Save 1 1/2 cups pasta water.
- Drain: Drain remaining pasta water and leave pasta in colander.
- Combine: In the same pot you cooked the pasta in, combine butter, goat cheese, 1 cup pasta water and a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Whisk: Whisk until everything is melted and sauce is smooth.
- Pasta: Add pasta back into the pot and stir.
- Broccoli: Add broccoli and toss.
- Additional Water: Add remaining 1/2 cup of pasta water, as needed, to smooth out the sauce.
- Stir: Continue stirring as the pasta soaks up the sauce!
- Serve: Serve immediately.
Notes
- Pasta: Feel free to use a different typo of pasta than cavatappi – just ensure whatever you use cook it al dente and don’t forget to reserve 1 1/2 cups of pasta water before draining the rest!
- Gluten-Free: You can definitely use gluten-free noodles! Jovial is my favorite gluten-free pasta brand.
- Broccolini: You could totally use broccolini instead of regular broccoli!
- Leftovers: Makes great leftovers! Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container. You might need to add a little melted butter, unsweetened almond milk or even little vegetable broth to help bring it back to life!
Vickie says
Delicious and creamy!!
Zara says
I haven’t tried this recipe yet, but I am curious what cheese is best to use in your opinion? There is such a wide range of goat cheeses these days I can only imagine some would probably melt down better than the others. Maybe not.
Erin says
Hi Zara – so I would use a soft goat cheese similar to the Montchevre brand or Happy Farms – those soft 8oz packages seems to work the best!
Nikki says
I love Pasta. I tried more than 10 combination of pasta but I think you shared unique one plus healthy. I’ll try for sure.
Aleah says
I made this last night, and it was soooo yummy!!! My 3,& 5 year olds loved it and my husband couldn’t get enough of it either! Yum!! I think this is my new favorite lazy night meal!! Why did I never think of goat cheese mac n cheese?! I gave up diary & this is FINALLY just S good as when I liked dairy. 🙌🏼 Thanks!!!
Erin says
Hi Aleah! That makes me SO happy to hear! Thank you for taking the time leave your feedback – it means a lot!
Gayle Wheeler says
On my menu this weekend!
Erin says
Yay!!! So excited for you to try it! 🙂
Kathleen says
Goat Cheese AND Mac and Cheese. Two of my favorite things in the whole world!
Erin says
Yay!!! Mine too, Kathleen! 🙂