Rainbow Veggie Pasta Swirls
Rainbow Veggie Pasta Swirls
Ingredients
For the Colorful Pasta
- 12 ounces rotini pasta
- 2 carrots, peeled and finely shredded
- 1 zucchini, finely shredded
- 1/2 red bell pepper, finely diced
- 1/2 cup frozen peas
For the Creamy Cheesy Sauce
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- 1
Let's get cooking! First, grab a big pot and fill it with water. Ask a grown-up to help you put it on the stove over high heat to boil. Once it's bubbling, add the rotini pasta and cook according to package directions until it's al dente (that means perfectly cooked, not too soft!).
⏱️ 10 min
- 2
While the pasta is cooking, let's get our rainbow veggies ready! You can help by carefully shredding the zucchini and carrots, and dicing the red bell pepper into tiny pieces. (Grown-ups, you might need to help with the chopping!)
⏱️ 8 min
- 3
When the pasta is almost done, add the shredded carrots, zucchini, diced red bell pepper, and frozen peas right into the boiling pasta water for the last 2 minutes of cooking. This will make them nice and tender!
⏱️ 2 min
- 4
Now, it's time to make our super creamy cheese sauce! In a medium saucepan, ask a grown-up to melt the butter over medium heat. Once it's melted, sprinkle in the flour and whisk it for 1 minute until it forms a smooth paste. This is called a 'roux'!
⏱️ 3 min
- 5
Slowly pour in the milk, whisking constantly to avoid any lumps. Continue to whisk until the sauce thickens, about 3-5 minutes. It should be nice and bubbly!
⏱️ 5 min
- 6
Take the saucepan off the heat. Now for the cheesy magic! Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese and grated Parmesan cheese until they are completely melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy. Add the salt and pepper, and stir it all together.
⏱️ 2 min
- 7
Once the pasta and veggies are cooked, ask a grown-up to carefully drain them in a colander. Return the pasta and veggies to the big pot.
⏱️ 1 min
- 8
Pour the yummy cheese sauce over the pasta and veggies. Gently stir everything together until every swirl of pasta and every colorful veggie is coated in the creamy sauce. You can help by stirring carefully!
⏱️ 2 min
- 9
Serve your Rainbow Veggie Pasta Swirls warm and enjoy your colorful, cheesy meal! Great job, chef!
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Rainbow Veggie Pasta Swirls
Ingredients
For the Colorful Pasta
- 12 ounces rotini pasta
- 2 carrots, peeled and finely shredded
- 1 zucchini, finely shredded
- 1/2 red bell pepper, finely diced
- 1/2 cup frozen peas
For the Creamy Cheesy Sauce
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- 1
Let's get cooking! First, grab a big pot and fill it with water. Ask a grown-up to help you put it on the stove over high heat to boil. Once it's bubbling, add the rotini pasta and cook according to package directions until it's al dente (that means perfectly cooked, not too soft!).
⏱️ 10 min - 2
While the pasta is cooking, let's get our rainbow veggies ready! You can help by carefully shredding the zucchini and carrots, and dicing the red bell pepper into tiny pieces. (Grown-ups, you might need to help with the chopping!)
⏱️ 8 min - 3
When the pasta is almost done, add the shredded carrots, zucchini, diced red bell pepper, and frozen peas right into the boiling pasta water for the last 2 minutes of cooking. This will make them nice and tender!
⏱️ 2 min - 4
Now, it's time to make our super creamy cheese sauce! In a medium saucepan, ask a grown-up to melt the butter over medium heat. Once it's melted, sprinkle in the flour and whisk it for 1 minute until it forms a smooth paste. This is called a 'roux'!
⏱️ 3 min - 5
Slowly pour in the milk, whisking constantly to avoid any lumps. Continue to whisk until the sauce thickens, about 3-5 minutes. It should be nice and bubbly!
⏱️ 5 min - 6
Take the saucepan off the heat. Now for the cheesy magic! Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese and grated Parmesan cheese until they are completely melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy. Add the salt and pepper, and stir it all together.
⏱️ 2 min - 7
Once the pasta and veggies are cooked, ask a grown-up to carefully drain them in a colander. Return the pasta and veggies to the big pot.
⏱️ 1 min - 8
Pour the yummy cheese sauce over the pasta and veggies. Gently stir everything together until every swirl of pasta and every colorful veggie is coated in the creamy sauce. You can help by stirring carefully!
⏱️ 2 min - 9
Serve your Rainbow Veggie Pasta Swirls warm and enjoy your colorful, cheesy meal! Great job, chef!
⏱️ 1 min