Toddler Veggie Packed Pasta
Transform mealtime into a nutritious and delicious experience with this Toddler Veggie Packed Pasta! Perfectly tailored for little ones, this quick and easy recipe combines tender pasta with a medley of kid-approved vegetables like zucchini, carrots, broccoli, and cherry tomatoes. Tossed in a creamy yet light sauce made from cream cheese, milk, and Parmesan, this dish is a wonderful way to sneak extra veggies into your toddler's diet without sacrificing flavor. Ready in just 30 minutes, it's a time-saving, wholesome meal that the whole family can enjoy. Ideal as a main course, this pasta is guaranteed to become a household favorite!
Log this recipe in SnapCalorie
Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 2 cups Penne pasta (or any small pasta shape)
- 1 medium Zucchini
- 1 medium Carrot
- 1 cup Broccoli florets
- 1 cup Cherry tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil
- 2 cloves Garlic
- 3 tablespoons Cream cheese
- 0.25 cup Milk
- 0.25 cup Grated Parmesan cheese
- 0.5 teaspoon Salt
- 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper (optional)
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the penne pasta according to the package instructions until al dente, then drain and set aside.
While the pasta cooks, prepare the vegetables. Grate the zucchini and carrot using a medium grater. Chop the broccoli florets into small, toddler-friendly pieces. Halve the cherry tomatoes.
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute or until fragrant.
Add the grated zucchini, grated carrot, broccoli florets, and cherry tomatoes to the skillet. Sauté the vegetables for 5–7 minutes, stirring frequently, until the veggies are softened and the tomatoes are slightly blistered.
Reduce the heat to low and stir in the cream cheese and milk. Cook for 2 minutes until the sauce becomes creamy and well combined.
Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat it evenly in the veggie-packed sauce.
Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese, salt, and black pepper (if using). Allow everything to heat through for an additional minute.
Serve the Toddler Veggie Packed Pasta warm. Optionally, top with a sprinkle of more Parmesan cheese for extra flavor.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
1298 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 55.4 g | 71% | |
| Saturated Fat | 19.2 g | 96% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3.5 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 71 mg | 24% | |
| Sodium | 3626 mg | 158% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 160.8 g | 58% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 14.9 g | 53% | |
| Total Sugars | 29.8 g | ||
| Protein | 43.4 g | 87% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.7 mcg | 3% | |
| Calcium | 491 mg | 38% | |
| Iron | 4.5 mg | 25% | |
| Potassium | 1287 mg | 27% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
