Things You Can Make With Mac and Cheese
15 Sides That Make Mac & Cheese a Meal
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So, what goes with mac and cheese? Side dishes for mac and cheese can be as easy as sliced apples and carrot sticks or a bagged salad. Or you can steam a bag of frozen vegetables and call dinner done, too. When I have a little more foresight and time on my hands, though, I like to make mac and cheese feel more like a meal by pairing it with a vegetable side dish or two. Roasted vegetables, quick raw slaws, even a bean salad really transform mac and cheese into dinner.
Here are 15 of my favorite sides that make mac and cheese a meal.
Try Our Favorite Mac & Cheese Recipes
Simple Arugula Salad
A quick and easy, unfussy arugula salad tossed in a lemon vinaigrette and finished with shaved Parmesan.
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Succotash
Sweet corn and tomatoes helps ensure this colorful side is kid-friendly. What's even better is you can start with fresh or frozen veggies, depending on what you have on hand.
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Sautéed Broccoli Rabe
This step-by-step recipe for easy sautéed broccoli rabe involves quickly blanching the greens to reduce bitterness.
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Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad
Somewhere between a salad and a slaw, this Brussels sprout Caesar is ideal for partnering with mac and cheese. The dressing is slightly tangy and the salad is crunchy in contrast to the creamy macaroni. Plus this makes excellent leftovers.
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Sheet Pan Roasted Tomatoes & Mushrooms
The beauty of a sheet pan side is that you can roast a little something for everyone. The kids get sweet and juicy tomatoes, and the adults can fold both the rich mushrooms and the tomatoes into the creamy pasta.
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Cabbage and Apple Slaw with Honey-Lime Dressing
The slightly sweet honey dressing makes this fruit-and-veggie slaw a true crowd-pleaser. To ensure your kids love it as much as you do, chop the cabbage into extra-thin shreds.
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Garlicky Parmesan Sweet Potatoes
These potatoes are packed with garlicky flavor, and their crisp exterior is an ideal complement to the rich mac and cheese.
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Oven-Roasted Frozen Broccoli
This easy side dish doubles as a macaroni mix-in. Broccoli is my 8-year-old's favorite vegetable these days, so I've got a freezer stocked full of it. Did you know you can roast broccoli straight from the freezer? Just slide it right into the oven alongside the frozen mac and cheese.
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Tangy Carrot Slaw
This is one of my family's favorite slaws, and it's so simple my 6-year-old often makes it. Pre-shredded carrots from the produce section make it even faster.
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Easy Lemon-Ginger Spinach
Spinach cooks quickly on the stovetop, making it a smart and easy side for the nights when you just want to microwave that frozen mac.
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Cowboy Caviar
Often served as a dip, this no-cook recipe is actually the perfect make-ahead side. We love it mixed right into our bowls of mac and cheese.
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Salt and Vinegar Cucumbers
These no-cook cucumbers balance the richness of mac and cheese with their tangy, salty bite. If your kids love salt and vinegar potato chips, they will love these crisp cucumbers.
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Easy 10-Minute Garlic Broccolini
Broccolini is even easier to prep and cook than broccoli florets — plus, you can eat it with your fingers (though you didn't hear that from me).
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Apple-Bacon Slaw
This is everything I want in slaw served with cheesy pasta. It can be built on a base of cabbage or shaved Brussels sprouts, making it a versatile option for frozen mac and cheese night.
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What is your favorite frozen macaroni and cheese partner?
Meghan Splawn
Food Editor, Skills
Meghan was the Food Editor for Kitchn's Skills content. She's a master of everyday baking, family cooking, and harnessing good light. Meghan approaches food with an eye towards budgeting — both time and money — and having fun. Meghan has a baking and pastry degree, and spent the first 10 years of her career as part of Alton Brown's culinary team. She co-hosts a weekly podcast about food and family called Didn't I Just Feed You.
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Things You Can Make With Mac and Cheese
Source: https://www.thekitchn.com/best-sides-to-serve-with-frozen-mac-amp-cheese-259698