MACARONI AND CHEESE WITH GREEK YOGURT AND SPINACH

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Macaroni and Cheese with Greek Yogurt and Spinach image

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

cooking spray
1 (16 ounce) package dried elbow macaroni
4 thin slices prosciutto, or more to taste
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups fat-free plain Greek yogurt
½ (8 ounce) package reduced-fat cream cheese, cut into small pieces
1 ½ cups shredded Gruyere cheese
1 ½ cups shredded white Cheddar cheese
3 cups roughly chopped fresh spinach

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

Rădulescu Andrei-Valentin
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This is one of the best macaroni and cheese recipes I've ever tried. It's creamy, cheesy, and flavorful, and the spinach adds a nice touch of freshness.


Gomolemo Pheto
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I'm not a big fan of Greek yogurt, but I really enjoyed it in this dish. It added a nice tanginess that balanced out the richness of the cheese.


Ikbal Hossain Sakib
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This dish is a great way to get your kids to eat their vegetables. They'll love the creamy cheese sauce and the hidden spinach.


Ibrahim Imran
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I love how easy this recipe is to make. It's perfect for a busy weeknight meal.


sheilah williams
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This macaroni and cheese is delicious! The Greek yogurt and spinach add a unique and flavorful twist to the classic dish.


Ivy Makoro
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I've made this dish several times now, and it's always a hit. It's a great recipe to have in your back pocket for those busy weeknights.


Douglas Joe
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This recipe is a great way to sneak some extra vegetables into your kids' diet. They'll never know they're eating spinach!


Mirabel Isaac
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I'm not a big fan of spinach, but I actually really enjoyed it in this dish. It added a nice earthy flavor that complemented the cheese and macaroni.


Rodney Westerfield
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This dish is perfect for a weeknight meal. It's quick and easy to make, and it's always a crowd-pleaser.


Meheshi Sadamali
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I love that this recipe uses Greek yogurt instead of butter or milk. It makes the dish lighter and healthier, without sacrificing any flavor.


Sohaib
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This is my new favorite macaroni and cheese recipe! It's so flavorful and satisfying.


r har
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Yum! This macaroni and cheese is so creamy and cheesy, and the spinach adds a nice touch of freshness.


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This dish was easy to make and turned out great! I used whole wheat macaroni and added some extra vegetables, like broccoli and carrots.


sibrahim bukhari
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I've never tried macaroni and cheese with Greek yogurt before, but I'm so glad I did! It was creamy and flavorful, and the spinach added a nice pop of color and nutrition.


Md. Noman
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This macaroni and cheese was a hit with my family! The Greek yogurt and spinach added a unique and delicious flavor that we all loved.