Easy Cheesy Vegetable Rotini Recipe

This post is sponsored by Black Creek, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

What would you like for dinner? It's the dinner dilemma question that moms everywhere find themselves asking towards the end of each day. And after a long, hot summer day that's a question that's best answered with a quick and easy one-dish meal that's a tried and true family favorite like this Cheesy Vegetable Rotini. Packed with garden-fresh vegetables and smothered in a delicious cheddar cheese sauce, it's sure to become a favorite for your family too!

What's on the menu tonight?
So what is for dinner tonight? When you ask your kids that question, what answers do you typically hear?

For my kids, it's usually one of two responses depending on who is doing the asking. With Mimi (my mom) the kids give a loud, unanimous shout of, "Pancakes!" Let's face it. Few people make better pancakes than Southern grandmothers. When I ask the question, the answer is an excited, bubbly chant of, "Pasta, pasta, pasta!" Pancakes and pasta--the two meals my kids love most.

As you might imagine, our family frequently eats pasta (and pancakes--not together. Although...that might make for an interesting meal. LOL!) And since pasta is a weekly staple on our dinner menu, I'm always looking for new ways to prepare delicious, nutrition-packed pasta dishes for my family like the Cheesy Vegetable Pasta I'm sharing with you today.

Tastes of Summer
Our family garden and our many visits to local farmers' markets keep our kitchen stocked with fresh produce and products all summer long. Most of the meals I prepare during summer are loaded with farm-fresh products. For this particular recipe, we're cooking up broccoli and carrots that were purchased from a local market.

One thing I haven't been able to purchase locally is cheese made from farm-fresh milk. That's why I love finding cheeses like this Black Creek® Cheddar that isn't loaded with tons of ingredients that I can't even pronounce. They pride themselves on making great cheeses that starts with great milk from the cows of Wisconsin. And I've just got to say that this is one of the tastiest cheddars I've eaten.

The pasta recipe I'm sharing today requires one 7 oz block of cheese, but I suggest you stock up with a few blocks for all your summer cooking and grilling.

It's dinnertime!
Move over mac and cheese! You've just been dethroned by a cheesy, vegetable-packed pasta. Ready to whip up this quick and easy dinner option that will have your kids shouting for seconds. Grab the cheddar and a few other ingredients, and let's start cooking!

Cheesy Vegetable Rotini Recipe
Ingredients

• 1  box uncooked rotini pasta
• 1 cup broccoli flowerets
• 2-3 medium carrots, sliced
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 4 tablespoons flour
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 7 oz shredded cheddar cheese or about 2 cups (I used Black Creek® Sharp Cheddar.)
• salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

1. In a large pot prepare the rotini pasta according to the package directions. Prep the vegetables.
2. In a second, smaller pot melt butter over medium heat. Add flour and stir together until smooth to make a roux.
3. Gradually add the milk and continue whisking until it's smooth and reaches a gentle boil.
4. Add the cheese 1/2 cup at a time and melt into the milk mixture. Remove from heat once all the cheese has been added and the mixture is smooth and thickened.
5. Add the carrots and broccoli to the boiling pot of pasta for the last 5-7 minutes of it's cooking time. Drain.
6. Pour the cheese sauce over the pasta and vegetables and gently fold together. Salt and pepper to taste.
7. Serve and enjoy!

Recipe Variations

• For a cheesier version, double the cheese sauce recipe and add as much as you'd like.
• Love meat? Grilled tender or tender pork and steak would be great additions.
• Need a dairy-free option? Skip the cheese sauce and season the pasta and vegetables with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkling of garlic salt and pepper.
• For a gluten-free dish, simply substitute with gluten-free pasta and gluten-free flour.
• Have other vegetables that you love? Why not use those? Peas, onions, corn, zuchinni, peppers, or even tomatoes would all be delicious!

Pin it!
Want to save this recipe for later? Know someone else who would love it? I'd be thrilled if you pinned it and shared with others.

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Your turn!

Do you have a go-to recipe that you like to whip up for your family? Is pasta a favorite family meal? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below! And for more recipe inspiration, feel free to spend some time browsing around here on my blog. Looking for another cheddar recipe, Black Creek® is a great source!

Happy cooking!