The census bureau says the average American family of four throws away an average of 100 pounds of food per month! My guess it is mostly in unwanted leftovers and past ripe fruits and veggies. So I’ve been trying out recipes that use up common leftovers. One of those is Macaroni and Cheese. If you look online the typical recipe for leftover Mac and Cheese is fried Mac and Cheese balls or bites or something similar. While I have tried these (and do enjoy them). I wanted something that was more of a main dish and um…a little more healthy.

I have a Nacho Cheese Soup recipe that my son loves, so I thought why not use a similar soup base with mac and cheese and perhaps use chicken instead of beef. My sons favorite veggies are carrots, broccoli, celery and cauliflower, so they were added to the soup as well. Everyone enjoyed it and it was hard to tell leftover macaroni and cheese was the basis for the soup!

The recipe:

Mac and Cheese Leftovers Soup

1 2/3 cup chicken broth

1/2 cup broccoli chopped

1/2 cup cauliflower

1/3 cup carrots

1/3 cup celery

1-2 cups leftover Macaroni and Cheese

1/2 cup milk

1/3 cup shredded cheese

1/2 cup cooked cubed chicken

1 teaspoon grated parmesan

Combine the chicken broth and all the vegetables. Bring the broth to a boil and let the vegetables cook about 5 minutes. Turn heat to medium low, add the mac and cheese, milk, shredded cheese and parmesan cheese. Stir and cook until cheese is melted. Add chicken and heat through.

I served it with biscuits and fresh fruit.

Has anyone else come up with a great recipe for leftover Mac and Cheese? I’d love to hear it!