One of my favourite ways to boost the nutrition in a classic cheese pasta dish is by blending in white beans! This Easy White Bean Mac and Cheese is creamy, cheesy, and packed with extra protein, fibre, and iron from white cannellini beans. It has all the comfort and familiarity of a classic cheese pasta while making a great lunch or dinner option that works well in lunchboxes, too.
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Table of Contents
Why You'll Love This White Bean Mac and Cheese
- Creamy and cheesy: The white beans blend smoothly into the sauce, creating a creamy texture that doesn't change the cheesy flavour
- Packed with protein, fibre, and iron: White beans add a nutritional boost to this classic comfort food while keeping it delicious and kid-friendly.
- Perfect for lunchboxes: Enjoy it warm in a thermos or cold as a pasta salad-style lunch. It holds up well for daycare, preschool, and school lunches.
- Made with simple ingredients: You only need a handful of pantry and fridge staples to make this easy meal.
- Great for meal prep: Make a batch ahead of time and enjoy leftovers for lunches throughout the week.
- Family-friendly: This easy pasta recipe is a meal that both kids and adults can enjoy together.
Ingredients for White Bean Mac and Cheese
Here is what you'll need to make this easy white bean mac & cheese pasta.
- Pasta noodles (of course macaroni is recommended, but I also love this recipe with rotini or penne)
- Olive oil
- Milk
- Garlic powder
- Salt
- Cheddar cheese
- White cannellini beans
See recipe card for quantities.
How To Make White Bean Mac and Cheese
Add the pasta noodles to a large pot of boiling water and cook according to package instructions.
While the pasta cooks, add the olive oil, milk, garlic powder, salt, and shredded cheddar cheese to a saucepan over low heat. Stir frequently until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.
Add the white beans and blend the sauce using an immersion blender (or carefully transfer to a blender) until smooth and creamy.
Add the sauce to the cooked pasta and stir until evenly coated.
Hint: Keep the heat low when melting the cheese. High heat can cause the cheese to become grainy or separate. Stir frequently and avoid letting the sauce boil for the smoothest, creamiest texture.
Substitutions
- Milk - We like using a full fat milk here, but you can use 2% milk, unsweetened fortified soy milk, or another plant-based beverage
- Pasta: Rotini, fusilli, penne, shells, macaroni, or bowties all work well. Shapes with ridges or curves are especially good for holding onto the creamy sauce.
Variations
- Add vegetables: Blend in ½ cup cooked cauliflower, sweet potato, butternut squash, or cooked carrots along with the white beans for extra flavour and nutrition.
- Broccoli White Bean Pasta: Stir in finely chopped steamed broccoli after combining the sauce and pasta.
- Peas & Cheese Pasta: Add 1 cup of thawed frozen peas to the cooked pasta before tossing with the sauce.
Looking for a dairy-free mac and cheese option? You'll love this Dairy-Free Mac & Cheese made with nutritional yeast and cashews and loaded with veggies!
Looking for other kid-friendly pasta recipes? Be sure to check out my Broccoli & Apple Mac and Cheese for Kids and my Chipotle Chicken Pasta Salad.
Equipment
- An immersion blender is helpful here for blending up the beans, but if you don't have one, you can use a blender. Be cautious when blending hot liquids - allow the steam to vent and avoid filling the blender too full.
Storage
Store leftover White Bean Mac and Cheese Pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The sauce will thicken up a bit as it cools, so to reheat, add a splash of milk and give it a good stir.
This pasta can also be frozen for up to 2 months. Allow it to cool completely before transferring to a freezer-safe container. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Toddler Tip
The white beans in this recipe aren't about "sneaking" in nutrition. Children benefit from learning about the foods in their meals and seeing a variety of ingredients served regularly. The white beans simply add extra protein, fibre, iron, and creaminess to the sauce while keeping it delicious and kid-friendly.
How To Serve White Bean Mac & Cheese for Kids
Serve this White Bean Cheesy Pasta with a fruit and/or vegetable on the side. Some of our favourites include bell pepper strips, cucumber slices, peas, broccoli, berries, apple slices, or grapes (cut age-appropriately). I also will often add a sprinkling of hemp hearts on top for a little extra iron.
This pasta works well for both lunches and lunchboxes. Pack it warm in a preheated thermos or allow it to cool and serve it cold, similar to a pasta salad. Either way, it's an easy option for daycare, preschool, or school lunches.
Below, I've served it in a thermos using the OmieBox, alongside some apple slices, berries, grapes and cucumber.
Need more school lunch ideas? Check out my post on Cold School Lunch Ideas and my favourite Toddler Bento Box Lunch Ideas.
FAQ
Yes. Cannellini beans work best, but navy beans, and great northern beans also work well in this recipe. They have a mild flavour and blend smoothly into the cheese sauce.
Yes, just make sure you cook them first! If cooking from dry, be sure the beans are fully cooked and tender before blending so the sauce becomes smooth and creamy.
Yes! This pasta is delicious both warm and cold. Pack it in a preheated thermos to keep it warm until lunch, or allow it to cool completely and enjoy it cold. It's a great option for daycare, preschool, and school lunches.
Recipe
White Bean Mac and Cheese
Equipment
- 1 Immersion blender Or regular blender
Ingredients
- 250 g pasta noodles 8 oz
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup milk full fat
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups cheddar cheese grated
- 1 cup white cannellini beans
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions.
- While the pasta cooks, add the olive oil, milk, garlic powder, salt, and grated cheddar cheese to a saucepan over low heat. Stir frequently until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth. Avoid letting the sauce boil.
- Add the white beans to the sauce and blend using an immersion blender (or carefully transfer to a blender) until smooth and creamy.
- Add the sauce to the cooked pasta and stir until evenly coated.
- Serve immediately or allow to cool before packing into lunchboxes.
Notes
Nutrition
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