This creamy mac & cheese with kale pesto is a comforting, veggie-packed twist on a classic favorite, combining a smooth, cheesy sauce with a bright, flavorful pesto. It’s the kind of dish that feels familiar but introduces new ingredients in a fun, approachable way for kids.

A key skill in this recipe is transferring ingredients. From pouring pasta into the pot to adding ingredients into the blender and mixing everything together at the end, children get to actively move food from one place to another. This hands-on step helps them see how ingredients change throughout the cooking process—like pasta softening or sauce becoming creamy—which builds both confidence and excitement to try the final dish.

Step 1: Make the Kale Pesto

Adult:
Combine kale, walnuts, parmesan cheese, garlic, and lemon juice in a food processor or blender.

Child:

• Help add ingredients into the food processor or bowl
• If doing by hand, help smash ingredients together into a paste

Step 2: Blend the Pesto

Adult:
Process until paste-like. Slowly drizzle in olive oil while blending until smooth.

Child:
Carefully help pour the olive oil slowly into the mixture while it blends.

Step 3: Set Pesto Aside

Adult:
Transfer pesto to a bowl and set aside.

Child:
Help scrape and transfer the pesto into a bowl.

Step 4: Cook the Pasta

Adult:
Cook pasta according to package directions, then drain.

Child:
Help pour the dry pasta into the pot (with supervision).

See tip below.

Step 5: Make the Cheese Sauce

Adult:
In a saucepan, combine milk, butter, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, paprika, and cauliflower florets.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 6–8 minutes until cheese is melted and cauliflower is tender.

Child (Mixing):
Help stir the mixture (with supervision).

Step 6: Blend the Sauce

Adult:
Transfer the cheese mixture to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth and creamy.

Child:

Help transfer the mixture. (With heat protection as needed and adult supervision.)

Step 7: Combine Pasta & Sauce

Adult:
Add cooked pasta and cheese sauce to a large bowl and toss until evenly coated.

Child:
Help mix and toss the pasta until all pieces are coated in sauce.

Step 8: Serve with Pesto

Adult:
Divide into bowls and top each serving with pesto.

Child:
Help spoon or gently pour pesto onto each bowl.

Optional Tip

Adult:
Add a splash of pasta water if the sauce is too thick.

Child:
Help pour a small splash of pasta water into the bowl.