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Home » Recipes » Thermos Lunches

Veggie Mac and Cheese Soup Thermos Lunch Idea

By Laura Fuentes Updated Aug 22, 2024

4.88 from 25 votes

Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.

Your kids are going to love this cheesy veggie mac and cheese in their thermos!

Are you looking for more kid-friendly veggie recipes? This Veggie Macaroni and Cheese soup recipe is a winner, and it makes an amazing lunch, when packed in a simple thermos.

blue thermos with macaroni and cheese soup with vegetables

Veggie Mac and Cheese Lunch

This veggie mac and cheese is a delicious hot meal your kids can enjoy from school, thanks to a thermos container! It’s such a cozy option for cold days and a yummy switch from the usual sandwiches, wraps, and bentos. It’s also a yummy way to include vegetables in your child’s school lunch.

Since it includes pasta and a creamy cheese broth, it also makes a more appealing way to serve veggies in this tasty winter lunch.

Of course, you can swap out the ones in this recipe for any chopped veggies you know your child would prefer. Frozen green peas, diced zucchini, red bell pepper, and chopped tomatoes are all great options.

Looking for more tasty lunch ideas you can easily pack? You’ll find a ton of them here:

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Ingredients

Delicious and nutritious recipes don’t need anything fancy! Check out the simple ingredients list:

  • Macaroni: dry macaroni, any other dry pasta, or boxed macaroni and cheese.
  • Chicken broth or stock: homemade or store-bought.
  • Frozen veggies: broccoli, cauliflower, and carrot blend. Or swap them for vegetables of your choice.
  • Whole milk: or half and half to make this soup creamy.
  • Shredded Cheddar cheese: melted cheese is a kid’s favorite!

 For the ingredient measurements, check the recipe card below.

Boxed or Homemade Mac and Cheese Soup for Lunch

Since we all love homemade mac and cheese and the boxed mix, I’ve included directions on how to make this cozy soup with both. 

It’s pretty simple, prepare the mac and cheese according to directions, add the extra liquid and frozen veggies, and simmer until everything is thickened and heated through. Easy! 

How to Make Veggie Mac & Cheese

Making this recipe couldn’t be any easier! Moms are happy, and little bellies are full!

  1. Cook the pasta
    Cook the pasta according to the package directions.
  2. Cook the veggies
    In a large saucepan, bring the broth to a boil over high heat. Add the vegetables, and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium.
  3. Combine
    Add the cooked macaroni, shredded cheese (or powdered cheese), and milk to the veggies and broth. Stir to combine until the cheese is completely melted. Remove from heat. 

Related: Top 5 Thermos Containers We’ve Tested

How to pack Mac and Cheese in a Thermos 

There’s a way to keep food hot in a thermos for hours, and below I share step-by-step directions on how to do that with this cheesy soup:

  1. Preheat the thermos container with boiling water. This step is optional, but it helps.
  2. Heat the soup in the microwave or stovetop to a piping-hot temperature.
  3. Drain the water from the thermos.
  4. Fill the thermos with the very hot soup.
  5. Close the thermos container and pack it inside a lunch bag.

How easy is that?! You can also check out this short video:

Veggie Mac & Cheese Soup | Easy Thermos Lunch

Servings: 4
Cook Time: 15 minutes mins
Total Time: 15 minutes mins
Your kids are going to love this cheesy veggie mac and cheese in their thermos!
4.88 from 25 votes
Print Pin

Ingredients

Homemade mac and cheese:

  • 1 ½ cups dry macaroni pasta, or other
  • 32- ounce carton reduced-sodium chicken broth/stock
  • 16- ounce bag frozen broccoli, cauliflower, and carrot blend
  • ¼ cup whole milk or half and half
  • 1 ½ cups shredded Cheddar cheese

With boxed macaroni and cheese:

  • 6- ounce box macaroni and cheese
  • 32- ounce carton reduced-sodium chicken broth/stock
  • 16- ounce bag frozen broccoli, cauliflower, and carrot blend
  • ¼ cup whole milk or half and half
  • 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Instructions

  • Cook the pasta according to the package directions.
  • In a large saucepan, bring the broth to a boil over high heat. Add the vegetables, and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium.
  • Add the cooked macaroni, shredded cheese (or powdered cheese), and milk to the veggies and broth. Stir to combine until the cheese is completely melted. Remove from heat. 

To Pack in a Thermos:

  • Preheat the thermos container with boiling water. This step is optional, but it helps.
  • Heat the soup in the microwave or stovetop to a piping-hot temperature.
  • Drain the water from the thermos.
  • Fill the thermos with the very hot soup.
  • Close the thermos container and pack it inside a lunch bag.

Equipment

Thermos
Green durable thermos
Wide Opening Thermos

Nutrition

Serving: 1 lunch | Calories: 303kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 373mg | Potassium: 692mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 819IU | Vitamin C: 101mg | Calcium: 265mg | Iron: 2mg

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Comments

    4.88 from 25 votes (11 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Beatriz Lopez says

    August 05, 2016 at 6:43 pm

    5 stars
    I was wondering what thermos containers you use. They look like they have a really wide opening and that seems really convenient. Thanks!

    Reply
    • MOMables says

      August 06, 2016 at 5:39 pm

      Beatriz, the thermos containers we use and love can be found here: https://www.momables.com/how-long-is-it-safe-to-keep-food-hot-in-a-thermos/. I hope this helps!

      Reply
  2. Stephanie says

    July 08, 2015 at 3:30 pm

    4 stars
    I have made this twice and I am having the same problem a couple of other commenters have had with the cheese not breaking down in the broth. It just sticks to everything. We love the flavor but the texture of the cheese in it is weird. Is there something I could do different?

    Reply
    • MOMables says

      July 10, 2015 at 10:07 am

      another solution is to leave the cheese for the end and sprinkle it on top. It won’t be creamy-cheesy but still delicious -and you use less cheese.

      Reply
  3. Dawn says

    January 29, 2015 at 12:26 pm

    4 stars
    I made this for my family, but couldn’t get the shredded cheddar cheese to melt into the broth. It kind of just stuck to the cauliflower. I used a block of cheese that I shredded myself to avoid the gritty cellulose coating on pre-shredded cheese.
    When it wasn’t melting in, I turned up the heat a little to see if that would help, but it just made it turn chewy.
    Any suggestions on how to get it to melt in better?

    By the way – my family did eat it as it was, the picky kid needed some coaxing but finished his meal. It would just go better if the soup part were cheesy instead of broth.

    Reply
    • Ellinor says

      March 05, 2016 at 9:50 pm

      5 stars
      I would maybe mix the cheese with some warmed milk or maybe melted butter before I would mix it in with the pasta.

      Reply
  4. Heather says

    September 03, 2013 at 3:50 pm

    5 stars
    Thx for the reply! We love your site & menus.

    Reply
  5. Heather says

    September 03, 2013 at 1:15 pm

    5 stars
    Looks like a great thermos meal. Do u make it day of? Or does it reheat well?

    Reply
    • MOMables says

      September 03, 2013 at 1:47 pm

      I typically make it the night before (when the kitchen is already dirty), store it in the fridge and reheat in the morning. check out this post about heating up thermoses.

      Reply
  6. Robyn says

    September 02, 2013 at 8:00 am

    5 stars
    I’m thrilled to report that both of my kids, ages 5 and 3, like this soup! Phew. Love it when I can make the same lunch for everyone and we’re all happy.

    Reply
    • MOMables says

      September 02, 2013 at 2:17 pm

      success Robyn!

      Reply
  7. Jen says

    August 28, 2013 at 10:16 am

    5 stars
    Excited to make this recipe! Do you add the cheese (powder packet) that comes with the mac and cheese and then additional cheddar cheese at the end?

    Reply
    • MOMables says

      August 28, 2013 at 11:13 am

      Jen, you make the mac and cheese according to the box directions. Then add to the soup.

      Reply
  8. C. Burk says

    August 24, 2013 at 11:45 am

    4 stars
    Do you add the prepared mac n cheese to the veggie/broth mixture undrained? I did not drain my veggies and my dish came out very soupy.

    Reply
    • MOMables says

      August 24, 2013 at 11:59 am

      prepare mac and cheese as per box directions, set aside. Make the “soup”. Then add prepared mac and cheese into the soup. It’s a mac and cheese soup.

      Reply
      • Caisy Gordon says

        November 01, 2020 at 9:56 am

        5 stars
        We did it like a soup. It was delicious, and so easy! My husband and daughter both loved it even without the cheddar cheese. Thank you for sharing this recipe!

        Reply
  9. Kristen A says

    August 16, 2013 at 3:55 am

    5 stars
    Can you freeze this into portions and use later for lunches?? Thanks!

    Reply
    • MOMables says

      August 16, 2013 at 10:22 am

      You sure can! just make sure you under cook the pasta a little–“aldente”

      Reply
  10. Dani C says

    August 14, 2013 at 7:09 am

    5 stars
    We love thermos lunches too! We use the 10 oz funtainers but love the one in your pic with the wide mouth. Can you share which thermos you use? Thanks!

    Reply
    • MOMables says

      August 14, 2013 at 9:58 am

      Hi Dani! I the two that I use are linked in our store.

      Reply
  11. Sarah says

    August 13, 2013 at 12:46 pm

    5 stars
    Love this idea. We have Annie’s on hand for ‘one of those days’, but this is a great alternative to using them!

    Reply
  12. Shay Van Raalte says

    August 13, 2013 at 10:43 am

    5 stars
    This looks amazing! My biggest hurdle is finding things that they will eat and that I feel will stay at a safe temperature. My oldest is going into 5th grade this year, and it will be almost 6 hours from the time we put her lunch into her lunch box, and the time she gets to eat it. I’m not sure what will stay safe (warm items…..) to eat. :)

    Reply
    • MOMables says

      August 13, 2013 at 5:31 pm

      Shay, this will stay safe in a thermos just fine.

      Reply
laura fuentes momables holding a lunch bag and lunch boxes

My name is Laura Fuentes
I’m here to help you simplify school lunches with fresh ideas your kids will actually eat.

Mom of 3. Certified in Integrative Nutrition. 5x Cookbook Author.

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