This delicious mac and cheese for baby and toddlers has the perfect amount of crustiness on the outside and cheesy goodness on the inside.

It’s made with the perfect combination of freshly grated Parmesan cheese and shredded cheddar cheese, giving it a delicious savory flavor.

This recipe is the only way my family will eat mac and cheese. They never used to eat mac and cheese until I started making it this way.

Why I Created This Mac and Cheese for Kids

I created this mac and cheese for kids because my older toddler didn’t like pasta.

So I was looking for recipes I could make using pasta, that weren’t the traditional spaghetti and meatballs.

I needed more carb variety in our diet besides the usual rice and bread. That’s when I got the idea to make mac and cheese.

So I tried a few recipes on the internet, as well as some boxed mac and cheese recipes. No one in my family liked how they turned out.

That’s when I realized that if I was going to get my toddlers to eat mac and cheese, then I was going to have to create the recipe myself.

That’s when this baby-friendly mac and cheese was born.

Important Recipe Notes on Toddler-Friendly Mac and Cheese

I used bacon in my recipe (but it’s optional)

I wanted to quickly point out that my recipe uses bacon because I made it for a toddler and an older kid.

If you’re making this mac and cheese for a baby doing baby-led weaning, then you should skip the bacon altogether. It’s just an optional add-on to the recipe anyway.

Bacon isn’t recommended for children less than 12 months of age, and the official advice is to wait until your baby is between 12-24 months to introduce them.

That way, they’re not getting too much sodium. The good news is that you don’t need bacon to make this recipe at all.

Freshly grated parmesan cheese will level up this recipe

One important difference between my recipe and others out there is that I use freshly grated parmesan cheese to make it.

The deep flavor of the parmesan cheese soaks into the pasta to give it the delicious taste that my mac and cheese is known for.

I highly recommend that you don’t skip this step. Something about parmesan cheese takes this mac and cheese to a whole new level.

Freshly grated cheddar cheese gives the best results

Freshly grated cheddar cheese is another ingredient that makes my kid-friendly mac and cheese stand out from the rest.

I’ve tried powdered cheddar cheeses before, and they don’t taste good at all because they are highly processed and filled with preservatives.

That’s why fresh cheddar cheese is the way to go.

Ingredients For Baby & Toddler Mac and Cheese

Pasta – use pasta that’s of the shorter variety. If you’re making this Mac and cheese for a baby, then use elbow pasta, penne, or similar types that are short. This will allow your baby to easily grab them to feed themselves.

Parmesan cheese – it’s important to use freshly grated Parmesan cheese rather than powdered Parmesan. Powdered Parmesan cheese has no flavor and won’t make your Mac and cheese taste good.

Cheddar cheese – cheddar cheese helps the pasta to stick together. It also gives it the distinct yellow color that we’re used to seeing in Mac and cheese.

If you don’t have cheddar cheese, you can also use Mexican cheese mixes to make this Mac and cheese for your kids. I’ve done that before and it still came out great.

Breadcrumbs – breadcrumbs are for coating the top of the Mac and cheese. This is what makes it very crispy on top. I used panko breadcrumbs for this purpose.

Bacon – this adds to the crunchiness of the Mac and cheese crust. It’s optional so you don’t have to add it if you’re making this Mac and cheese for a baby.

Jump to Recipe

Cooking Directions For Toddler-Friendly Mac and Cheese

Set the oven to 365 degrees Fahrenheit
Cook the pasta according to package instructions until soft. Drain the pasta.
In a baking tray, combine the pasta, cheddar, and Parmesan cheese. Mix well to combine.
Sprinkle some breadcrumbs on the top of the pasta, and spread the crumbled bacon over it.
Sprinkle a little more cheddar cheese over the breadcrumbs and bacon.
Place the Mac and cheese in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the top becomes golden brown.
Remove from the heat and serve when cooled.

FAQs About Mac and Cheese For Baby and Toddlers

Is Mac and cheese good for toddlers?

Mac and cheese is a great meal to feed toddlers for many reasons. The cheese contains essential vitamins such as vitamin D and calcium (source), which help in building strong muscles and bones.

The pasta used for Mac and cheese also contains carbohydrates which provides toddlers energy.

What Goes Well With Mac and Cheese For Toddlers?

Protein goes well with Mac and Cheese for toddlers

If you’re not serving Mac and Cheese with bacon already in it, then you should serve it with a protein source.

Some proteins that go well with Mac and cheese are chicken drumsticks, breaded chicken cutlets, and meatballs.

You can also use plant proteins like peas, string beans, and tofu.

You should follow my tofu meatballs recipe.

Vegetables go well with Mac and cheese for toddlers

Since most Mac and cheese recipes don’t use vegetables, you can serve them on the side.

Vegetables like green beans, carrots, and peas go well with Mac and cheese.

You can either incorporate them into the recipe itself before baking or serve them on the side.

Fruits go well with Mac and cheese for kids

Fruits go well with Mac and cheese. The sweetness of the fruits contrasts with the savory flavors of the Mac and cheese.

This balance helps enhance the meal even more.

How To Serve Mac and Cheese For Baby-led Weaning

If you’re serving this Mac and cheese for baby-led weaning, then you should read the serving guide below

6-9 Months old

Babies between 6-9 months old can enjoy Mac and cheese served in a bowl or directly on the high chair tray.

Allow babies to scoop the Mac and cheese up with their bare hands. This will make it easier for them to feed themselves.

9-12 months old

When a baby is between 9-12 months old, they can enjoy mac and cheese with a preloaded spoon or fork. If they become frustrated, allow them to continue eating with their bare hands.

12- 24 months and older

Toddlers between 12 and 24 months can be served mac and cheese with a fork for them to feed themselves. You can continue to preload the fork if needed.

Mac and Cheese For Kids Storage Tips

Can I refrigerate kid-friendly Mac and Cheese?

You can refrigerate this kid-friendly Mac and cheese for up to a week in the fridge.

Just make sure you store it in an airtight container like a Pyrex.

Can I freeze this baby-friendly Mac and cheese?

You can freeze this baby-friendly Mac and cheese for as long as you need.

The best way to freeze Mac and cheese is in an individual container in small portions.

That way, you won’t have to defrost the whole tray when you only need a small portion.

For best results, freeze the mac and cheese in a freezer-safe Pyrex container.

Reheating BLW Mac and Cheese

In the oven

To reheat BLW Mac and cheese, you need to defrost it first.

Then set your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and place it in the oven to heat until the center is piping hot. Make sure to allow the Mac and cheese to cool before serving.

In the microwave

You should always defrost Mac and cheese before reheating in the microwave. This will prevent it from heating up unevenly.

Depending on the portion size, you can reheat in the microwave for 1-4 minutes until it’s hot in the middle.

Tips for Picky Eaters

Don’t pressure

Give your baby or toddler a chance to say no. It’s okay if they don’t like what we serve them. Keep trying.

It takes at least 30 exposures for a baby to begin liking a food, so don’t give up.

Make it into a game

Sometimes I create games around the food I serve to get my kids interested in eating.

A game we’ve played in the past is called “Here comes the airplane… open the garage”. This encourages them to open their mouth as I bring the food in like an airplane.

Sometimes my kids will try new foods this way.

Easy Mac and Cheese For Baby, Toddlers & Kids

Recipe by AghoghoCourse: Lunch, DinnerCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

servings

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time