Best 5 Quick Creamy Macaroni Cheese With Spinach Recipes
**Creamy Macaroni and Cheese with Spinach: A Savory and Satisfying Dish for All Occasions**
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food experience with our creamy macaroni and cheese with spinach, a delectable dish that combines the classic flavors of macaroni and cheese with the vibrant freshness of spinach. This recipe is a perfect balance of creamy, cheesy goodness and a touch of earthy green, making it a hit with both kids and adults. Whether you're looking for a quick and easy weeknight dinner or a hearty side dish for a special occasion, this macaroni and cheese with spinach is sure to satisfy your cravings. With its simple ingredients and straightforward preparation, this dish comes together in no time, allowing you to enjoy a delicious and comforting meal without spending hours in the kitchen. So, get ready to embark on a culinary journey and discover the delightful flavors of this creamy macaroni and cheese with spinach.
MACARONI AND CHEESE WITH GREEK YOGURT AND SPINACH
An awesome take on macaroni and cheese! Fat-free Greek yogurt and low-fat cream cheese gives the sauce a very creamy and flavorful base--without all the fat found in heavy cream--and shredded cheeses add lots of intense flavor. Fresh spinach and salty prosciutto perfectly complement the dish!
Provided by Katie Mancuso
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Macaroni and Cheese Recipes Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
Time 1h
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Set an oven rack to the top position and preheat to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking pan with aluminum foil. Coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- 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. Drain macaroni, reserving 2 1/2 cups pasta water. Pour macaroni back into the pot.
- While the macaroni is cooking, place prosciutto on the prepared baking pan.
- Cook prosciutto on the top rack of the preheated oven until dry and crispy, but not burnt, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and chop roughly. Lower the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and lower the rack to the middle position.
- Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and whisk for 1 minute. Add garlic powder, cumin, red pepper flakes, and pepper; cook for 1 minute more. Whisk in Greek yogurt and cook until heated through and bubbling, 2 to 3 minutes. Whisk in 1 1/2 cups of the reserved pasta water; cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add cream cheese and stir until melted. Add a generous 1/4 cup each of Gruyere and Cheddar cheeses, stirring until thoroughly melted; repeat until all cheese had been added and sauce is thick. Stir in as much of the remaining pasta water as necessary to reach desired consistency.
- Stir spinach into the cooked macaroni. Add cheese sauce; stir until combined and macaroni is coated. Pour into the prepared baking pan and sprinkle prosciutto over top.
- Bake in the preheated oven until edges are bubbling slightly, 15 to 20 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 353.3 calories, Carbohydrate 32.2 g, Cholesterol 49.6 mg, Fat 17.5 g, Fiber 1.7 g, Protein 16.5 g, SaturatedFat 9.9 g, Sodium 241.4 mg, Sugar 2.6 g
QUICK & CREAMY MACARONI & CHEESE WITH SPINACH
We don't think of this creamy mac and cheese as a dastardly trick to get kids to eat spinach. We think of it as a clever (and very effective) ruse.
Provided by My Food and Family
Categories Home
Time 25m
Yield 5 servings, about 1 cup each
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Cook macaroni as directed on package, omitting salt.
- Meanwhile, heat 1 Tbsp. oil in large saucepan on medium heat. Add spinach and garlic; cook and stir 3 min. or until spinach is wilted. Spoon into bowl; set aside.
- Heat remaining oil in same saucepan. Whisk in flour; cook and stir 1 min. Gradually whisk in milk; cook and stir 3 to 5 min. or until thickened. Add cheeses; cook and stir 2 to 3 min. or until shredded cheese is melted.
- Drain macaroni. Add to cheese sauce along with the spinach; cook and stir 3 min. or until heated through.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 530, Fat 28 g, SaturatedFat 13 g, TransFat 0 g, Cholesterol 55 mg, Sodium 490 mg, Carbohydrate 47 g, Fiber 3 g, Sugar 7 g, Protein 23 g
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 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
QUICK CREAMED SPINACH
The inspiration for this creamy side dish came from a local restaurant. I lightened up the original recipe by using fat-free half-and-half and fat-free cream cheese. I goes great with most any entree. -Susan Geddie of Harker Heights, Texas
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Side Dishes
Time 15m
Yield 5 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a large nonstick skillet, saute onion and garlic in butter until tender. Stir in flour until blended. Gradually whisk in half-and-half until blended. Bring to a boil over medium-low heat; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until slightly thickened., Add the cream cheese, salt, nutmeg and pepper, stirring until cream cheese is melted. Stir in spinach and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese; heat through. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 131 calories, Fat 4g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 12mg cholesterol, Sodium 704mg sodium, Carbohydrate 13g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 10g protein.
Tips:
- Choose the right pasta. Elbow macaroni is the classic choice for mac and cheese, but you can also use other short pastas like penne, shells, or rigatoni.
- Cook the pasta al dente. This means that the pasta should be cooked until it is tender but still has a slight bite to it.
- Make a roux. A roux is a mixture of butter and flour that is used to thicken the cheese sauce. Be sure to cook the roux until it is golden brown, as this will give the cheese sauce a rich flavor.
- Use a good quality cheese. The cheese is the star of the show in mac and cheese, so it's important to use a good quality cheese that melts well. Cheddar is the classic choice, but you can also use other cheeses like Gruyère, Parmesan, or Fontina.
- Add some vegetables. Vegetables like spinach, broccoli, or cauliflower can add a healthy boost to mac and cheese. Cook the vegetables until they are tender before adding them to the cheese sauce.
- Season the cheese sauce to taste. Salt, pepper, and garlic powder are all good seasonings for mac and cheese. You can also add other spices like paprika, cayenne pepper, or chipotle powder.
- Top the mac and cheese with breadcrumbs. Buttered breadcrumbs add a nice crunchy topping to mac and cheese. You can also use crushed crackers or grated Parmesan cheese.
Conclusion:
Mac and cheese is a classic comfort food that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It's a versatile dish that can be customized to your liking. Whether you like it cheesy, creamy, or vegetable-packed, there's a mac and cheese recipe out there for you. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy meal, give one of these mac and cheese recipes a try. You won't be disappointed!
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