Indulge in a culinary delight with our Creamy Macaroni Spinach Bake, a harmonious blend of flavors and textures that will tantalize your taste buds. This delectable dish combines the comforting richness of macaroni pasta, the vibrant freshness of spinach, and a creamy, cheesy sauce that brings it all together. Perfect for a cozy family dinner or an impressive potluck contribution, this versatile bake can be easily customized to suit your preferences. Explore variations such as adding succulent shrimp or crisp bacon for a protein boost, or incorporating tangy sun-dried tomatoes or roasted red peppers for a burst of flavor. Whether you're a seasoned cook or a novice in the kitchen, this recipe is sure to become a staple in your culinary repertoire. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and embark on a culinary journey that will leave you craving more.
Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!
CREAMY SPINACH & RIGATONI BAKE
Macaroni and cheese is one of the ultimate comfort foods. My recipe gives it an Italian twist. -Tammy Rex, New Tripoli, Pennsylvania
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 45m
Yield 10 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375°. Cook rigatoni according to package directions., Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook pancetta over medium heat until crisp, stirring occasionally. Remove with a slotted spoon; drain on paper towels. Discard drippings; wipe skillet clean., In same pan, heat butter over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook and stir until tender. Stir in flour, salt and pepper until blended; gradually whisk in milk. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; cook and stir until thickened, 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in cheese blend until melted., Stir in artichokes, spinach and pancetta. Drain rigatoni; add to cheese sauce. Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese., Bake, uncovered, until golden brown and bubbly, 20-25 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 643 calories, Fat 35g fat (20g saturated fat), Cholesterol 99mg cholesterol, Sodium 1438mg sodium, Carbohydrate 53g carbohydrate (8g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 28g protein.
CREAMY SPINACH BAKE
When my brother, sisters and I were growing up, Mom knew how to get us to eat our spinach. This casserole has a rich creamy sauce, french-fried onions and a cracker crumb topping. Who can resist? -Debra Falkiner, St. Charles, Missouri
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Side Dishes
Time 50m
Yield 10 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Beat in soup. Stir in spinach and onions., Transfer to a greased 2-1/2-qt. baking dish. Combine cracker crumbs and butter; sprinkle over spinach mixture. Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 30-35 minutes or until heated through.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 218 calories, Fat 18g fat (10g saturated fat), Cholesterol 38mg cholesterol, Sodium 468mg sodium, Carbohydrate 10g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 4g protein.
CREAMED SPINACH PASTA
This pasta nods to everyone's favorite steakhouse side, and it comes together in no time, making for a fine weeknight meal. One full pound of fresh spinach is cooked down in garlicky butter before cream is added, then simmered until thickened. The cooked pasta is added directly to the sauce, then tossed with ricotta cheese for even more richness. Fettuccine or tagliatelle pasta work best, but the creamy sauce will cling to any long noodles. Top with pine nuts, walnuts or hazelnuts for crunch, or leave the nuts out entirely. Serve as a side to grilled steak, chicken or fish, or serve it on its own, paired simply with a glass of bubbles.
Provided by Colu Henry
Categories dinner, easy, pastas, main course, side dish
Time 25m
Yield 4 to 6
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Add the ricotta to a large bowl; season well with salt and pepper and set aside.
- Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water and drain.
- Prepare your sauce while the pasta cooks: If using, cook the pine nuts in a deep 12-inch skillet over medium heat until toasted, stirring occasionally to make sure they do not burn, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl.
- Wipe skillet clean and melt the butter over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and sauté until pale golden, about 2 minutes. Add the spinach, stirring it in by the handful if needed, and cook until it wilts, adding a few tablespoons of the pasta water to help it along if needed, about 4 minutes. Season with salt.
- Add the cream, bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook until sauce begins to thicken slightly, about 2 minutes more. Stir in the nutmeg then season with salt and pepper. Add the cooked pasta directly to the skillet and toss until the noodles are glossy with sauce.
- Turn off heat and stir in the prepared ricotta, thinning the sauce with a bit of pasta cooking water if needed. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Divide among bowls. Top with pine nuts, if using, and pass grated pecorino or Parmesan at the table.
CREAMY MACARONI SPINACH BAKE
Make and share this Creamy Macaroni Spinach Bake recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Parsley
Categories Cheese
Time 45m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease a 13 x 9 casserole dish; set aside.
- Cook macaroni according to package; drain.
- Place hot, drained macaroni in a large bowl and toss with butter and softened cream cheese.
- Add all remaining ingredients to the bowl and gently mix together well.
- Pour into the prepared casserole dish.
- Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.
SPINACH-MACARONI & CHEESE BAKE
Got a picky eater you're trying to win over to the spinach fan club? Try this creamy macaroni and cheese casserole with garlic and fresh spinach.
Provided by My Food and Family
Categories Home
Time 1h
Yield 8 servings, 1 cup each
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Heat oven to 350°F.
- Add spinach to large pan of boiling water; cook 1 to 2 min. or just until wilted. Drain in colander. Use same pan to cook macaroni as directed on package, omitting salt. Meanwhile, melt margarine in separate large pan on medium heat. Add garlic and flour; cook and stir 1 min. Whisk in milk; bring to boil, stirring constantly. Add 2-1/4 cups cheese; cook and stir until melted. Stir in pepper.
- Squeeze excess water from spinach; chop finely. Drain macaroni. Add to cheese sauce; stir until evenly coated. Spoon half the macaroni mixture into 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray; cover with spinach. Top with remaining macaroni mixture and shredded cheese.
- Bake 30 min. or until golden brown. Let stand 10 min. before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 430, Fat 21 g, SaturatedFat 11 g, TransFat 0 g, Cholesterol 50 mg, Sodium 400 mg, Carbohydrate 41 g, Fiber 3 g, Sugar 6 g, Protein 19 g
SPINACH MAC AND CHEESE
This recipe was a successful attempt at trying to feed my family more spinach. They loved it and now prefer this version to conventional mac and cheese.
Provided by Lenka McDonald
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Macaroni and Cheese Recipes Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
Time 1h
Yield 10
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with 1 teaspoon butter.
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes.
- Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat while macaroni is cooking. Add flour and whisk until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour in a little milk and continue whisking. Pour in remaining milk and add frozen spinach. Cook, whisking constantly, until spinach softens and sauce thickens, about 5 minutes.
- Remove sauce from heat and stir in 2 cups Cheddar cheese; whisk until melted. Season sauce with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
- Drain macaroni and spread evenly in the prepared baking dish. Cover with cheese sauce. Mix well. Sprinkle remaining 1 cup Cheddar cheese on top.
- Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted, about 30 minutes. Turn on the oven's broiler and broil until a golden crust forms on top, about 3 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 425.8 calories, Carbohydrate 41.2 g, Cholesterol 59.5 mg, Fat 20 g, Fiber 2.8 g, Protein 20.5 g, SaturatedFat 12.3 g, Sodium 466.6 mg, Sugar 5.2 g
SPINACH MACARONI AND CHEESE
Make and share this Spinach Macaroni and Cheese recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Lori Mama
Categories Macaroni And Cheese
Time 30m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 425.
- In medium sized pot, over medium heat, melt butter.
- Add the flour and cook for 3 minutes.
- Pour in the hot milk and cook until thickened.
- Add the spinach, cheese, seasonings, horseradish and mustard.
- Mix well.
- Combine with the cooked pasta.
- Place in a greased cassarole dish.
- Bake in oven for 15 minutes or until bubbling.
Tips:
- For a creamier sauce, use heavy cream instead of milk.
- Add a pinch of nutmeg or cayenne pepper to the sauce for a little extra flavor.
- If you don't have fresh spinach, you can use frozen spinach that has been thawed and squeezed dry.
- Use a variety of cheeses for a more flavorful dish. Cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan are all good choices.
- Top the macaroni and cheese with bread crumbs or crushed crackers before baking for a crispy topping.
Conclusion:
Creamy macaroni and spinach bake is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. It is also a great way to get your kids to eat their vegetables. With a few simple tips, you can make this dish even more flavorful and enjoyable.
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