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!

Nutriscore Rating: 66/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:20 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 4

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)

Directions

Step 1

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.

Step 2

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.

Step 3

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute or until fragrant.

Step 4

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.

Step 5

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.

Step 6

Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat it evenly in the veggie-packed sauce.

Step 7

Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese, salt, and black pepper (if using). Allow everything to heat through for an additional minute.

Step 8

Serve the Toddler Veggie Packed Pasta warm. Optionally, top with a sprinkle of more Parmesan cheese for extra flavor.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	1060.6 grams (1060.6g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1298

Total Fat 55.40g	71%
Saturated Fat 19.20g	96%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3.50g
Cholesterol 71mg	24%
Sodium 3626mg	158%
Total Carbohydrate 160.80g	58%
Dietary Fiber 14.90g	53%
Total Sugars 29.80g
Protein 43.40g	87%

Vitamin D 27IU	134%
Calcium 491mg	38%
Iron 5mg	25%
Potassium 1287mg	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.

Source of Calories

Fat: 37.9%

Protein: 13.2%

Carbs: 48.9%